The idea of sustainability is often used to describe environmentally friendly businesses. But what does business sustainability look like? Furthermore, how can a business be sustainable in the long term? These questions can be hard to answer, but there are examples of environmental sustainability that companies can undertake; these include:
- Creating a Green Culture
A green culture can take many forms. For example, it could mean having sustainable materials on hand to make your products or taking care of the waste produced by your business. It could also mean making environmentally friendly choices in your own life, such as reducing your carbon footprint and taking public transportation instead of driving. In each case, you consider the environment and prioritize it.
Green cultures are a great example of environmental sustainability because they help businesses become conscious of their impact on the world around them and make people more aware of how they can improve that impact for good.
- Green Business Certification
Another way to identify a green business is by looking for one certified as such. There are many different types of certifications but choosing one that is respected within your community is important. For example, if you live in Brisbane, Australia, look for a certification from the Australian Green Business Network (AGN). Local governments and businesses around Australia recognize the AGN. In addition to this national recognition, AGN also has international recognition from countries like Japan, where some cities require companies doing business with them to be certified green through AGN’s system.
- Becoming Carbon Neutral
When you become carbon neutral, your greenhouse gas emissions are balanced by a reduction of equal magnitude in another area. This can be achieved by reducing the energy you use and investing in renewable energy such as solar power or wind turbines.
Benefits of being carbon neutral include improved air quality; reduced dependence on foreign fossil fuels; improved public health (due to less pollution); cleaner water (less runoff); cleaner soil; lower CO2 levels in the atmosphere; better biodiversity due to fewer habitat changes and enhanced agricultural productivity due to better soil quality.
- Going paperless
For a business, a great example of examples of environmental sustainability includes going paperless. If you must produce a document, scan it, and send it via email instead of printing it out and faxing it. The same goes for anything that needs signing (agreements, contracts).
Cloud storage like Dropbox or Google Drive will allow you to store your files in a virtual space where they can be accessed from any device. This makes them much more convenient than hard drives that need to be plugged into computers whenever you want to access information on them.
Another way for businesses to go paperless is by using electronic forms. They are increasingly replacing paper ones because they allow people’s information to be stored electronically, so they don’t have to print out multiple copies before sending them off. In addition, this method saves time for both sender and recipient alike since there will be no delays due to lost mail or incorrect information due to either party forgetting something vital information.
Sustainable Technologies for a Better Future
Environmental sustainability is a growing field, and it’s important to remember that what has been done so far is just the beginning—and there’s still plenty more for us to explore. These are just a few examples of environmental sustainability. There are many more ways that businesses and organizations can help the planet. There is no doubt that the planet would be in a much better condition if everyone took some responsibility for their impact on the environment. If you are a conscious business looking to implement some of these examples of environmental sustainability, it is best to avail the services of a reputable sustainability consulting firm.
