Here are seven ways that you can really make a difference:
Staff engagement is key
You need to have a strong vision of what you are trying to achieve and ensure it’s supported by measurable goals. The leadership team has to be in agreement and ensure that a specific plan is in-line with the culture of the organisation. Everyone should be given a role to play, which should be relevant to their specific job. Everyone should embrace the changes or they just won’t work out.
Go green with the clean
Switching to vegan/cruelty-free products in the bathrooms and for cleaning can have a strong impact. Everyone is becoming (rightly) conscious about our climate so is switching to use refillable bottles to reduce waste, as well as compostable washing up brushes to ditch the plastic waste. Saving on water can also help hugely. Check the kitchen taps are turned off properly and that water is not being wasted.
Choose paperless
Many of our clients have become practically paperless over the past three months. They encourage staff and their own clients to follow suit and instead of spending on paper, split that money between sustainable charities or plough it back into training staff on sustainable issues. One of our allies who freelances followed suit and ended up buying trees with the savings.
Many businesses have changed admin processes and introduced iPads to reduce the quantity of printing and switched to recyclable stationery supplies too. Brands are upping their recycling game to now include on-site collection of glass, crisp packets, batteries and even pet-food pouches.
Walk to work or get on your bike
We promote wellness across and have noticed many big-name brands and businesses do the same. We’ve noticed an increase in more than 70% of our clients focussing on fitness and feeling good from within. Some of our clients host daily yoga and mindfulness sessions, with many savings schemes offered to those staff – including regular freelancers – who opt to walk or cycle to work.
Switch off
Even by switching off computers at the plug, turning off lights when no-one is in that meeting room or not boiling a kettle and wasting surplus water are all vital steps we’ve noticed many of our clients are taking to be more sustainable.
These all have an effect on reducing our carbon dioxide emissions from power stations and is obviously better for the environment – not to mention saving money in a savvy, sensible way.
Use renewable energy
From some brands and business’ opting to lease hybrid or electric vehicle cars through to switching their energy suppliers, things are changing with the way many creative businesses are sourcing energy.
The government has huge targets for this year and it’s brilliant that so many of our clients are making huge headway in this area.
Focus on spreading the Sustainability word
Ultimately, people buy into people and word of mouth is key.
When it comes to attracting new business, it helps to be proud of sustainability changes you’ve already made and those you are planning to. Some of the bigger brands lose new business to smaller companies simply because their culture and beliefs aren’t consistent with modern trends