There are a wide variety of green initiatives that businesses can implement to become more sustainable and eco-conscious. And they don’t have to be changes implemented overnight – there are many preparatory steps that can be taken to identify opportunities to become greener.
If you’re looking for green initiatives to make your company more planet-friendly, here are some of the prime examples:
Switch to renewable energy sources
It’s now easier than ever to access green energy packages. As well as the selection of specialist green energy providers, many mainstream providers now offer green energy tariffs too – giving you greater choice to purchase all of your electricity and gas from renewable sources.
Renewable energy can come from many sources, including wind turbines, solar panels, hydropower stations and biomass plants. Making the switch to green energy is quick and easy, and the team here at Utility Bidder can help.
Arrange an energy audit
Energy prices have risen at an unprecedented rate in recent times, having a significant impact on the financial stability of businesses across the UK. So, as well as thinking about where you source your energy from, it’s important to consider how you use these resources.
It’s easy to waste large amounts of power due to inefficiencies. Spotting these inefficiencies, however, can be much more difficult. This is where regular energy auditing can help. These audits monitor the power you use in your workplace – often to the individual pieces of equipment and machinery.
The results an energy audit can provide will allow you to see at a glance where you’re using excessive amounts of energy. With an audit you’ll be able to identify which green initiatives you can take to make your premises more energy efficient – whether it’s turning down heating and air conditioning systems, replacing inefficient devices or turning off equipment when it’s not in use.
Increase recycling, reduce waste
How can recycling affect businesses? Well, you may find your organisation gets through a lot of resources, from plastics to paper to chemicals. It’s important to make sure you take advantage of recycling schemes to prevent as much of this waste ending up in landfill.
You may also find prime opportunities to reduce waste in your business – whether that’s water waste , unnecessary electricity consumption, or adapting manufacturing processes to make them less wasteful. Naturally, the less resources you waste, the less money you waste.
A big part of this is simply about educating employees about the importance of preserving resources – from both an environmental and a cost standpoint.
Focus on green procurement
Green procurement or green purchasing policy (GPP) refers to purchasing goods and services that cause minimal environmental impact. So, for example, buying recyclable products and equipment that are designed to reduce energy or water consumption.
Become recognised as a green business
Want your customer base to be aware of the green initiatives you’ve been focussing on (such as switching to 100% renewable energy )? Gaining an official accreditation that recognises these steps is the route to go down.
For example, businesses can obtain the Green Mark, an internally recognised environmental accreditation and route to ISO 14001. If your company gains this certification, you’ll be provided with a set of marketing tools designed to help you promote your achievements in environmental sustainability.
Take advantage of government support
There are various forms of government support available to businesses to help make them more environmentally responsible. This includes loans and grants that can help to fund the purchase of energy efficient equipment, as well as other government-sponsored initiatives, such as the provision of free business advice on this topic.
The types of support open to your organisation will depend on a range of factors, including your location, the project you are planning and the nature of your business.
Finding and applying for government support can seem daunting, but you can discover more about your options online. You can visit the GOV.UK finance and support finder to get more information.