{"id":18568,"date":"2021-07-07T10:17:18","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T14:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=18568"},"modified":"2023-04-28T20:55:18","modified_gmt":"2023-04-29T00:55:18","slug":"make-your-small-business-sustainable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-715453-3009179.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/make-your-small-business-sustainable\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Make Your Small Business More Sustainable"},"content":{"rendered":"
Small businesses can have a surprisingly big impact on the environment. As a small business owner, it’s up to you whether that impact is positive or negative. Small business sustainability is a growing practice in the mind of environmentally conscious brands.<\/p>\n
Consumers are more willing than ever to invest in non-toxic, eco-friendly products to protect their families and the future of the planet. Today, businesses of all sizes are choosing more environmentally sustainable practices in response, and their customers are noticing.<\/p>\n
The numbers speak for themselves:<\/p>\n
Not only does eco-consciousness help you stay competitive in today’s market, but it sends a positive message of environmental awareness that helps elevate your brand.<\/p>\n
If you’re starting a small business<\/a>, take a look at these ten ways you can make your process more sustainable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Small business sustainability starts at the source. The first step toward making your business more environmentally friendly is asking the following questions about your source materials:<\/p>\n In other words, does your supplier integrate strong ethical, social, and environmental performances in the production of the materials? An example of this might be responsible water usage in manufacturing.<\/p>\n Make sure your materials are manufactured by ethical suppliers that pay their employees fair and livable wages.<\/p>\n These materials have a minimal impact on the environment, and they do not contain toxic or ozone-depleting substances. Examples include:<\/p>\n Make sure you source your goods and services from local suppliers to support the local economy and cut down on transportation costs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to the EPA<\/a>, “containers and packaging alone contribute to over 23% of the material reaching landfills in the US.” You can significantly reduce your brand’s pollution contribution by changing the way you package your products.<\/p>\n Swap out single-use containers for materials that break down quickly and effectively, like corn starch, mycelium, wood pulp, and seaweed.<\/p>\n If your packaging contains two different types of polymers, for example, that can render it unrecyclable. If you must use plastic, stick to one type.<\/p>\n Have you ever liked a product’s branded packaging<\/a> almost as much as you liked the product itself? The more stylish, sturdy, and\/or useful your packaging is, the less likely it is to end up in a landfill. Your customers will probably find a future use for a reusable drawstring bag with your logo<\/a> on it, for example.<\/p>\n1. Your product source materials<\/h2>\n
Are they sourced sustainably<\/a>?<\/h3>\n
Are they fairtrade?<\/h3>\n
Are they made with recyclable, renewable, and\/or biodegradable materials?<\/h3>\n
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Do you practice green procurement?<\/h3>\n
2. Eco-friendly packaging<\/h2>\n
Go with biodegradable packaging<\/h3>\n
Don’t use a mishmash of materials<\/h3>\n
Make it fun \u2014 and functional<\/h3>\n
Make your logo now <\/h2>\n