Posted by Managementguru in Business Ethics, Business Management, CSR, Principles of Management
on Jan 26th, 2021 | 0 comments
Gone are the days businesses could simply dispose of their waste without giving it much thought. Nowadays, with the focus firmly on the environmental impact waste is having, businesses have to consider what they can do to reduce the damage they are doing to the planet. So what can businesses do? Here are a few things to think about. Reduce The first thing a business can take a look at is if there are any ways to reduce the amount of waste created in the first place. One thing they can do is check out exactly what’s going in the trash and consider if there are reusable or waste-free solutions. If you have a water cooler for example, get rid of disposable cups and encourage employees to use reusable cups and water bottles. It’s small changes like this that can make a big difference. With advancements to modern technology and business software options, there’s never been a better time for switching to a paperless office. Digitizing documents and using cloud-based storage can not only help reduce your carbon footprint but it can also help reduce a business’s bottom line by reducing paper, printing, and storage costs. You can get more ideas for reducing your waste here. Reuse The next step towards a greener business is to reuse. Can you save packing boxes and use them for your own shipping? How about replacing single-use pens or printer cartridges with refillable alternatives? Again, the solutions which work for you will depend on your individual company and your current business practices, but moving to reusable could save your business money in the long run. Take a look around, and you might find lots of ways to go reusable at work. Recycle While recycling has numerous benefits both for business and the environment, in the US, there are no national laws making recycling of any kind of material mandatory. So to find out what your legal responsibilities are, you will need to check local and state government requirements when it comes to recycling. But don’t let that stop you from reducing your trash. There are many materials that can be recycled and many reasons to do it. If you still need persuading, it’s worth knowing that not only is it the right thing to do environmentally, but as recyclables become a more valuable commodity, the more opportunities arise to actually sell your waste. If your company produces a lot of recyclable waste, it might be worth investing in machinery which can help deal with the materials more cleanly and efficiently, such as balers, conveyors and shredders. Materials such as cardboard, textiles, foam, plastics, cans, and bottles can be compressed in balers and then baled for transport to a recycling facility. There’s lots of information at balingwiredirect.com about baling machines and the equipment needed to run them. You’ll also find some blogs about the types of material you can recycle. With innovation, smart thinking, and growing demand for eco-friendly products, the recycling industry is expanding and diversifying. Waste Advantage Magazine have reported on the top 15 recycling industries, but there are many more besides these. Perhaps you can use these industries and the examples above to transform your business into a greener...