Many organizations claim eco-friendliness, but few are genuine about their efforts. A sustainability claim here and a meeting with an environmentalist there may be enough to soothe our planet’s viability concerns for many people.
However, we can’t help but think that executives could be doing more with sustainability in their companies.
Of course, committing to green infrastructure, going carbon-neutral, and eliminating fossil fuel usage are extensive ways to save the planet.
Although grand gestures are noble for sustainability, don’t discount the little things you and your employees can do to make your organization more sustainable.
Here are five simple ways executives can make their organizations more eco-friendly.
Implement a Recycling Routine
Many people’s knowledge of eco-friendly practices starts and stops with recycling. Although becoming more eco-friendly requires much more than a recycling routine, it’s still a must-have practice in your organization to promote sustainability.
Not only is it integral to show your employees how to recycle food and product waste properly, but it’s also vital to focus on properly disposing of e-waste.
E-waste is described as no longer working, wanted, or usable electronics. This resource explains that “it’s estimated that only 20% of e-waste is properly disposed of. That leaves the roughly 80% that remains to sit in landfills and pollute the environment with toxic chemicals.”
You’ll have to make room in your budget for a recycling company specializing in e-waste — but it’s worth it if it means being part of the solution rather than the problem.
In addition to implementing a recycling routine, you should make composting a regular practice in your office.
Make Composting Regular Practice
Experts have this to say about composting: “composting turns feedstock from your office into a product useful for gardening, landscaping, or fertilizing office plants. Through decomposition
of organic materials, your composting system diverts your office waste from the waste stream and turns it into a dark, loose, soil-like material.”
Setting up a composting system in your organization can be simple, so long as you’ve chosen the right system, get all of your employees on board with honoring it, and have drafted composting guidelines simple enough for everyone to grasp.
Introducing simple water-saving methods is also a way to make your company more sustainable.
Introduce Water-Saving Methods
Water waste is one of the biggest challenges in sustainability. People are using way more water than they need to, and it’s adversely affecting our environment. In addition, companies worldwide admit that saving water in the workplace isn’t at the forefront of their sustainability efforts.
However, something as simple as turning off the water while you apply soap to your hands or ensuring the company dishwasher is full before using it can help save water in your organization.
You could even take things a step further by replacing appliances known to waste water. For example, experts say that “replacing old, traditional faucets with low-flow models can reduce water flow by at least 30% and save hundreds of liters of water annually.”
It’s a creative solution to reducing water waste in the workplace, but it does come with sizable upfront costs. However, it can be considered a simple eco-friendly adjustment because it only needs to be done once, with minor maintenance requirements each year.
It’s also integral to continuously learn about sustainability if you want the best chance at making your organization more eco-friendly.
Continuously Learn About Sustainability
Continuously learning about sustainability is a massive part of making your organization more eco-friendly. If you don’t know much about sustainability when you start this journey, that’s okay. Just don’t stay there.
If you’re serious about making your company more sustainable, you must keep up with tips, news, trends, and other information on nursing the planet back to health. You should also understand how small acts can contribute to a better world. It isn’t so much about doing one big thing as it is about doing many small things consistently.
So, start with an internet search on sustainability and let your curiosity lead the way from there. Then, follow sustainability experts, influencers, and activists on social media, pick up their books, and attend their events if you’re committed to sustainability and getting your employees on board with the movement.
Lastly, experiment with eco-friendly measures one day at a time.
Experiment with Eco-Friendly Measures One Day at a Time
Making your organization as eco-friendly as it can be in a day isn’t realistic. Instead, you should plan to experiment with eco-friendly measures and take them one day at a time. It’s a good idea to start by defining your short and long-term sustainability goals.
Be sure that they’re measurable and reflective of what you can truly commit to. Then, attach simple ways to make your organization more eco-friendly to each goal. Track consistency with each measure and how it’s helping you progress toward your overall sustainability goals.
If you aren’t making progress after a considerable period, it may be time to adjust how you’re being more sustainable in your company. However, don’t feel like you have to jump to more significant environmentally-friendly commitments. Instead, swap one simple way to make your organization more sustainable for another one and experiment that way.
Conclusion
Environmental and human sustainability mustn’t be treated as an afterthought any longer. Instead, executives should prioritize eco-friendly practices in their businesses, starting with the small gestures above. When you start small with sustainability, it’ll likely lead to consistency, build up motivation among your team, and result in more extensive eco-friendly commitments in the future.
