Benefits of Reducing Your Carbon Footprint in Your Business

With global warming and climate change being at the forefront of British media and peaceful protests, it’s more important than ever to seriously consider the impact your business could be having on the environment. There are many advantages to reducing your carbon footprint, and we’re here to present you with a few of them.

The benefits of reducing your carbon footprint

Reducing your carbon footprint will help you to identify waste and disposal inefficiencies within your business. It may be that you’re spending a considerable amount on disposal which isn’t at all environmentally friendly, when you could be saving money by sustainably disposing of the same waste. Here are a few other benefits that come with being more eco-friendly.

Reduce costs by recycling waste 

Reducing, reusing and recycling waste can significantly lower costs. The way in which a company deals with waste paper, for example, can save both the environment and your pocket as a business owner. Include employees in the scheme and perhaps even offer incentives to dispose of waste paper responsibly.

• Don’t use materials unnecessarily
• Reduce paper usage by printing/writing on both sides of the paper
• Reuse scrap paper for writing memos or bulletins, instead of using fresh paper or writing in notepads
• Recycle all waste paper, this can be done commercially, and encourage staff to do the same at home.

It can attract new customers and help to retain existing ones 

If a business, no matter how big or small, promotes environmentally friendly practices, they’re more likely to retain existing customers and attract new as well. Consumers are always happy to see that companies are beginning to take the environment, and the impacts of climate change seriously. To remain completely legitimate in your new environmental practices, ensure you’re conforming to all laws and regulations, and use this to further promote your brand.

Improves sustainability 

If your business becomes less dependent on natural resources in comparison to certain competitors, along with responsibly disposing of waste, then your business stands a great chance of long-term success, helping to sustain your brand.

How to reduce your carbon footprint

There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint, whether that be at home or at work. In this modern age, it’s important for companies, no matter how big or small, to be more environmentally friendly. As a result, we’ve put together a few tips for reducing your carbon footprint:

Use public transport or car share or cycle to work

The way in which we travel to and from work can have a huge impact on the environment. Instead of every employee driving to work in their own cars, find someone who lives nearby and car share with them. Alternatively, you could catch the bus, tram or other modes of public transport. It would even be worth getting up a little earlier and cycling instead.

Ensure the building is properly insulated 

Make sure to eradicate all draughts and keep the building warm with quality insulation and weather stripping, where applicable. In the winter, this will naturally help to keep the warmth in and the cold out, so you can refrain from turning the heating on. During the summer months, this will ensure the building is kept cool, without the need for air conditioning.

Turn off equipment which isn’t being used 

It’s important that all electrical equipment and appliances are switched off (at the plug) when not in use, things you should remember to turn off include:

• Kettles
• Microwaves
• Coffee machines
• Computers
• Lights
• Electric fans/heaters
• Phone/laptop chargers

Consider solar panels 

This can be a major investment, but it would be a worthwhile one. However, it will prove to be highly cost-effective in the long run, as well as being highly beneficial to the environment.

Source local food

Whether you give out free fruit to employees or have a designated canteen for your workers, it would be worth locally sourcing the food you supply. Although this may be slightly more expensive than your current arrangement, it will significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Reuse and recycle

Although this has been touched upon already, it’s important that as much as possible is recycled or reused. Place recycling bins throughout the office and encourage employees to dispose of their waste responsibly. You could even introduce an incentive to further promote and emphasise the importance of recycling in the workplace.

Woodford Recycling are happy to help

Our team of professionals are able to help your company with the safe and responsible disposal of your waste. We always aim to recycle 100% of the waste we receive, so you can rest assured that the rubbish we collect from you will be disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

We have a whole host of waste management services that your company can benefit from, including the responsible disposal of wood, timber and general waste. We’re even able to collect hazardous waste, should you have any. 

Here at Woodford Recycling, we’re proud to offer first-class waste management solutions and skip hire services to domestic and commercial clients throughout Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborugh, Stamford and the surrounding areas. If you’d like some more advice, or if wish to enquire about the recycling services we offer, get in touch with a member of our knowledgeable team today – we’re always happy to help.