Green Business: Making Green From Building Green

 

Starting a business is a challenge in itself, but starting out with corporate responsibilities on your mind can be even harder. That doesn’t mean it won’t be worth it because, well, what could be more rewarding than launching a startup that, at its very core, is concerned about the environment? Making green while going green; it’s cheesy but it is more doable than ever before, and that is because trends in consumer behaviour have shifted.

People are looking for more environmentally-friendly alternatives to a wide range of products and services, which is one of the reasons entrepreneurs are looking to go green. They have seen an opportunity to do something worthwhile and make it a financial success story.

One of the most popular areas is eco-friendly construction, which has seen sustainable energy become a big factor in the final product. But is it possible to launch a business that makes the process of construction greener? The answer is yes.

Waste

One of the big areas in which your construction company can become greener instantly is in the way it recycles. The bottom line is, the less that goes into landfills the better, and the construction industry is no exception to that rule. As such, the first step you should take is to invest in front lift bins for business waste management, this way you will make the whole recycling process smoother, more efficient and less wasteful.

It may not seem like a big deal, but a waste truck uses a lot of energy, so making it easier for them to collect and go will reduce the effects on the earth. The next thing you can do is update the rules on each of your sites that state the importance of separating materials into different skips. This has already begun to change with plasterboard having to be separated, but the more proactive you are the more green you will be.

Materials

One of the big trends that we hope will become mainstream in the next decade is the use of recycled materials, and there are already certain suppliers that are selling eco-friendly products to the infrastructure industry, companies like Axiom. Instead of peddling the traditional materials of steel and concrete, they are supplying companies with recycled plastic. But that is just a niche area.

In Colombia, there is an architect that has found a way to build entire houses out of blocks and bricks that are made up with a wide-range of recycled plastics. In the UK, hempcrete is now being developed to meet industry standards, while others are using cardboard to construct houses, once more pushing the boundaries of what is doable.

Machinery

Forecasts have predicted that electric vehicles used in construction, mining, and agriculture will be worth about $80billion, which means the big manufacturers have realized the need to develop in this area.

As such, you should look at exploring this market too because there are a lot of hybrid and all-electric tools and vehicles already out there, all of which will help make your construction business be far greener than your competition, and that can be a real selling point for developers.

The Importance Of Networking For Green Businesses

Anyone can run a decent marketing campaign, and manipulate their customer base into paying for a product or service. However, if you want a brand that really stays in the hearts and minds of your target market, you need to make sure you’re thinking about social and environmental responsibility.

Like a lot of modern business owners, you probably devote a lot of your resources to being as green as possible.

However, this is only half the battle. In order to make sure you’re really thriving, you’ll need to network with other progressive companies and explore new opportunities.

Here are just a few of the reasons why every green business owner needs to think about networking.

1. It helps in expanding your knowledge base

First and foremost, networking with other green enterprises will do a lot to expand your knowledge base. When you’re taking steps to make your business go green, there’s no way that you’ll be able to be an expert in every little area.

Still, if you’re always taking steps to reach out to other business owners, who have gone through all the struggles and triumphs inherent in building a greener company, you’ll be able to learn all kinds of things you didn’t know before.

If you attend a large green-orientated conference such as Chile’s Renewable Energy Conference or send a trusted representative, you’ll certainly come out of it knowing more about green business than you did before.

2. Growing Through Social Media

Another big reason to do more networking, which applies whether your company is overly eco-friendly or not, is that social media has the potential to open a lot of doors. Don’t get me wrong, expos and conferences are brimming with opportunity.

There are certain benefits to physically showing your face at these gatherings that you can never gain by sitting at a computer.

However, if you’ve only just launched your venture, walking into a massive conference center full of people pressing their business cards into your hand might be a very daunting prospect.

While social media certainly has its shortcomings, it can still be a very effective way to network with influential professionals within your industry. You’ll be able to take your time researching various companies, rather than getting yourself into high-pressure situations and making promises out of courtesy.

Furthermore, leveraging social media will let you reach out to professionals all over the world, rather than just in your local area.

3. Business Exposure

Finally, by sponsoring networking events, you’ll be able to reap various benefits which will  help in your exposure. Pretty much any good networking event will offer considerable benefits to attendees willing to sponsor it.

At the very least, you’ll be listed among other, more established brands and have your logo dangled in front of potential investors. Some events will even give you time on a podium in front of thousands.

This will draw more attention to your business and could lead to some very promising partnerships. Before you decide to sponsor any event, though, do some research into the other attendees, and your potential ROI from it. There’s nothing worse than turning up and realizing that you’re shooting below your league!

4 Amazing Green Business Tips You Must Try Out

 

To enjoy business success, you need to have a good reputation. If you want to achieve this, then you need to make your business look good in the public eye.

One way to do this is to run a green business. Make your company environmentally friendly, and you’ll get a positive reaction from consumers.

Many entrepreneurs are aware of this, yet still, avoid it. Why?

Because they think it takes too much time and money to go green. But, this isn’t the case.

I have four tips that will help you green your business without much effort:

 

1. Start a Car-Sharing Initiative

Employees traveling to and from work can create a lot of air pollution. You may not like to think so, but the responsibility falls on your company. There are steps you can take to reduce the air pollution your employees make.

The best way is to start a car-share initiative by encouraging your staff to share rides to work. So, instead of five people driving five cars, they all fit into one. It’s simple, effective, and makes your business look brilliant.

 

2. Stop Printing

Printing documents can make your business very environmentally unfriendly! It’s a massive waste of paper and electricity. There’s very little need to print anything nowadays. With mobile devices, you can view documents on the move.

Keep them on your phone/tablet instead of printing them out every five minutes. The only thing you’ll need to print out is important contracts that need signing.

And, even then, you can digitally sign for certain things these days! Cut down on how much you print, and your business will be very green. You reduce paper usage and save on energy bills too.

 

3. Take Care When Packaging Products

Packaging your products is an easy way to make your business very bad for the environment.

A lot of companies use loads of cardboard and recyclable materials when packaging their items. Combine this with the air pollution the delivery trucks create, and you’re not doing a very good job.

Thankfully, there are some tips to help you out. Firstly, use packaging that’s better for the environment. Companies like the Postal Tube Shop sell postal tubes that you can use instead of boxes.

They require less material, and can be better for the environment. Secondly, ensure your packaging can be recycled. This way, you minimize the waste you’re creating.

 

4. Recycle In the Office

On the topic of recycling, it’s something you need to do in the office. There are numerous things in an office that can be recycled. The most obvious of which is paper.

First and foremost, try and use scrap paper as much as you can. Instead of jotting a note down on an A4 sheet and binning it right away. Use it until it can’t be used anymore.

Then, throw it in the recycling instead of general waste. Recycle everything and buy recycled products too. You can get office stationery that’s made out of recycled goods. It’s an easy and effective way of making your business greener.

Not only will these tips enhance your reputation, but they can also save money too. If you’re green, you reduce energy bills. Plus using stationary as much as possible, helps cut down office expenses.