7 Steps To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Starting a green business or making an existing one greener can often seem like a daunting task. There's always more you can do, but the most important thing is to do something! Little steps in the right direction are certainly better than going backwards or not moving at all. Thankfully, many sustainable business practices are not only eco-friendly, but they\u2019re friendly on the company budget as well. So even if the benefits to the planet are hard to see, benefits to your bottom line may be more visible. Printing Less = Using Less Paper Paper makes up about 35% of our waste stream even though it\u2019s one of the easiest materials to re-use and recycle! You can help reduce this waste by using as little paper as possible, and being smart about the paper you do use. First of all, you don\u2019t need to print every e-mail. Just organise your inbox to make e-mails easier to find and reference. You can encourage others not to print your e-mails as well. Make back-up copies of important files and e-mails and keep them on an external drive, instead of storing boxes of paper files. When you do need to print important documents, make sure you use a sustainable paper, and set your printer or copier to print on both sides of the page. Go Digital with Your Documents A great way to reduce paper use and get contracts and documents signed more quickly is to use electronic signatures. Adobe Acrobat Professional allows you to sign PDF files digitally, as well as create PDF documents with signature fields for clients to sign. Pull that Plug You aren\u2019t working all hours of the night, so why does your computer need to be on? Turn off everything you possibly can before you leave the office each day. You can also set your monitor to turn off after a few minutes of inactivity. Speaking of energy efficiency, make sure you stock your office with energy-saving appliances and compact florescent light bulbs. Get Waste Wise Place paper recycling bins in convenient locations all over the office, next to copiers and mail boxes. Keep clearly labelled bins in several central locations such as break rooms. Everywhere there is a rubbish bin, there should be a recycling bin. If you have a canteen or break room in your office, consider adding a compost bin. Work with Like-Minded Companies Chances are there are businesses in your area that are also going green or certified green. Network with them and use their services when you need them. Part of being a green business is making sure that you do your best to ensure that your supply chain is green, too. Seek out green vendors for your business needs, whether it is printing business cards, hosting your website, or cleaning your office building. Institute a Company Recycling Program for Electronics In addition to recycling the usual paper, cans, and bottles in the office, don\u2019t forget about the e-waste that is so essential to businesses and so toxic to the environment. When old electronic equipment finally bites the dust, don\u2019t just bin it, but make it company policy to recycle everything you can. Many computer manufacturers offer take-back programs for old computers, so make use of them. Build Your Office Green from the Floor Up If you\u2019re lucky enough to be able to afford an office renovation, go green from the floor to the roof. Use eco-friendly flooring options made from renewable or recycled materials. Use sustainable fabrics made from hemp or bamboo for window coverings, or get them second hand. Lengths of bamboo make great curtain rods, too. Following these steps will help to reduce your Carbon Footprint sooner than you think!

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