Lucy - BQ Magazine EditorWhat does it mean to improve your company’s green credentials? The easiest definition is that it means you focus on ways to make your business more environmentally friendly. In other words, you do things or operate in a way that’s a lot better for the environment than other businesses. Business owners assume that “going green” requires lots of effort and investment with minimal returns, but that’s not the case.
You’ll see some of the top ways to improve your green credentials in the post below, but before we begin, we’d like to discuss why this matters and the positive impact it can have on your business.
The Benefits of Going Green
First of all, improving your company’s green credentials means you’re helping the planet as a whole. It’s better for all life on earth if every business focused on sustainability because this would lower carbon emissions and reduce the threat of global warming.
That should be a big enough reason to convince any business to go green, though it also helps that this movement yields benefits on the business side of things.
According to research from PWC, over 80% of consumers say they’re willing to pay more for sustainably sourced or produced goods. Furthermore, these consumers would pay, on average, 9.7% more for those goods.
More research corroborates these facts, with a NielsenIQ survey revealing that 34% of global consumers are more likely to buy products from businesses with green credentials, and 78% of US consumers feel better when they do so.
The bottom line is that having green credentials and focusing on sustainability can help your business see the following:
- An influx of customers
- More money is spent by customers
- Gain a competitive advantage
- Improve your overall reputation
You’re pretty much nailing some of the main things you want from any business investment, so let’s jump into some of the different ways you can improve your business’s green credentials.
How To Improve Your Company’s Green Credentials
As noted in the introduction, going green doesn’t have to be a titanic struggle that rips up the business playbook and forces you to do costly and unorthodox things. Yes, it will require some investment, but it will easily be one of the smartest investments your business ever makes. You should also note that you see almost immediate benefits from green investments, which makes them all the more worthwhile.
1. Invest in Cleaner Energy Sources
Perhaps the simplest way to instantly earn more green credentials is by making new energy investments. Ditch your reliance on the grid and power your business through solar or wind farms. You’ll find a lot of commercial solar opportunities that help you use cleaner energy sources and reduce your company’s carbon footprint. Most of these opportunities can be claimed through government incentives, too, which will reduce the upfront investment.
Commercial solar – or wind power – will help your business lower its energy bills, giving you the added benefit of saving money. Most importantly, it’s a clear sign that your company’s trying to be more sustainable, which looks great for your overall branding. Consumers, and other potential business partners, look upon you in a more positive light because you’re making a bit commitment to being eco-friendly.
2. Become a Paperless Company
Okay, the first sentence from the previous point was a lie; this is the simplest way to earn more green credentials. If we’re being completely realistic, no business needs to use paper anymore. What’s the point? Everything can be handled online, and if customers or clients want paper versions of documents, they can print them themselves.
Make the move to digital documentation and rely on the cloud to become a paperless company. Again, it’s one of those sustainability moves that’s easy to make yet has a profound impact on how people perceive your business. You can make a big deal out of this to wave the sustainability flag and gain credit from consumers. Moreover, the lack of paper in your business reduces office waste and can also trim the fat from your business expenses.
3. Make Your Products Sustainable
Do you want to make sure your customers know you’re a green company? Well, you’ll need to invest in sustainable products/services. Common ideas include:
- Making things from sustainable materials
- Packaging products in recyclable materials
Customers need to see that you’re making an effort, and this is usually the best way to do just that. Someone is more likely to buy a product or commit to a business when it uses recyclable packaging, as opposed to plastic packaging. This is because you’re doing something that makes them feel a bit more responsible. Using clean energy and going paperless means that your business becomes more sustainable, and people will appreciate that, but they also want to have an impact themselves.
If they know that they’re buying products made from sustainable materials, and with packaging that doesn’t end up in a landfill, they’ll have a clearer conscience. Think of the best ways to make your products sustainable, and you’ll reap all of the rewards.
4. Find Eco-Friendly Partners
You can split this into two main categories:
- Supply partners
- Additional partners for your business
Find suppliers who focus on sustainability to grow your green credentials and prove that you’re trying your best to be eco-friendly. At the same time, reach out to other companies or charities to partner with your business. For instance, you could partner with a charity that focuses on recycling or cleaning up the oceans. This shows that you’re willing to donate and work with charitable causes dedicated to improving the planet. It boosts your green credibility and can be enough to encourage customers to pick you over other businesses.
Partnering with eco-friendly charities or non-profits is particularly beneficial because you can host events to raise money for them. You give your partners a better spot in the limelight while also benefiting from the reputation increase. Moreover, you can always let your partners sponsor any business conferences or events you put on, shining the light on them as much as possible. It becomes a mutually beneficial arrangement – but through it all, you’re displaying a clear commitment to going green.
5. Establish Clear Recycling Initiatives
Recycling is a buzzword in the green world, and it’s not something you can afford to ignore when running a business. You need to prove to consumers that you’re doing your bit to reduce waste and stop filling up landfills.
Sure, a big part of this comes from your sustainable products with packaging that can easily be reused or recycled. At the same time, you must set up clear recycling initiatives in your workplace. There should be signs everywhere encouraging people to recycle, with obvious points to place various recyclable materials.
This is especially important if customers visit your premises regularly. Imagine entering a store or an office building and seeing loads of recycling bins and an obvious push for people to recycle. You instantly recognise that you’re dealing with an eco-conscious business, so it scores major green points. This will happen to your business when people interact with it, so focus on crafting obvious and beneficial recycling initiatives.
In summary, going green matters for a couple of key reasons. It helps the planet, which is always a big plus, but it also helps your business succeed. Green companies are viewed with more appeal than non-green ones because consumers want to spend money on sustainable businesses. You can make your company look a lot greener by applying the five ideas in this guide.