It’s more important than ever to consider sustainability when planning your company strategy. And contrary to popular belief, going green doesn’t have to be expensive — your company can SAVE money!
Not only is it better for the environment and future generations, but it’s an excellent way to attract customers. According to a study by IBM and the National Retail Federation, nearly 80% of consumers in the U.S. and Canada think it is important that a brand is sustainable or eco-friendly.
Here are 4 ways you can go green and help your company save money:
1. Switch to post-consumer waste (PCW) paper, paper products, and packaging.
The general rule is to try and not use paper as much as possible. But when it comes to products your company and employees may need, from paper towels to printer paper, make sure it’s eco-friendly. Post-consumer waste options (which literally reuse recycled paper) use less energy to process than new wood pulp. Look for options like Kimberly-Clark Professional’s GreenHarvest products, which use recycled fibers, or Watson Gloves’ Stealth Hero (these polyester knit gloves are made from 25% post-consumer plastic bottles).
2. Use biodegradable products
Often, companies purchase large quantities and/or concentrated forms of cleaning solutions to save money — the downside is that these can often be hazardous, creating handling, storage, and disposal issues. Switching to green cleaning products is a win-win — you can protect the environment and keep your staff safer! Walter’s Air Force AF-Clean™ degreasers not only produce residue-free cleaning, but they’re biodegradable, reducing the chemical waste stream and lowering its environmental impact. But when you’re looking for biodegradable products, you don’t just have to look at cleaners! Watson Gloves’ Stealth Zero line uses the Reclaim™ additive, which helps the gloves fully degrade in 5 years in moderate landfill conditions. Once biodegradation begins, the gloves are converted into biogas and create energy to fuel our homes, businesses, and communities.
3. Use LED lights
While it’s true that LED lights are often more expensive than incandescent bulbs, they’re also more durable, energy efficient, safer, and last much longer, helping you save money in the long run. From your office lights, to flashlights (like Pelican’s handheld LED options), to headlamps (look no further than Energizer’s HeadsUp LED headlamps), swapping standard bulbs for LED ones can save you hundreds of dollars a year.
4. Use longer-lasting products
The logic here is pretty straightforward — the longer your tools last, the less you’ll have to replace them, resulting in less waste. It’s all about finding manufacturers using clean technologies to produce more products that are resistant to regular wear-and-tear. One example is 3M™ Floor Pads — they not only last longer than competitive products, but are able to strip floors with 1 pad compared to 4x as many competitive pads, leading to fewer floor pads in landfills. Another example is Milwaukee’s M18™ REDLITHIUM™ HIGH OUTPUT™ Battery, which offers more power and run-time for many of Milwaukee’s power tools.
By just making a few changes, you can cut thousands of dollars off your bills and make yourself more attractive to eco-conscious consumers. And most importantly, you’ll help shift the world to a more sustainable future.
