As you probably know by now, we’re all about green and conscious brands. We love it. It makes us jump out of bed in the morning. We’re seeing a revolution of brands that want to do better and are striving to make an impact by offering all kinds of conscious products or services that are better for the environment. When it comes to doing conscious business, we believe in a holistic approach. It’s not just about your sustainable or conscious offer, it’s also about the way you run your business behind the scenes and everything else around it. From your marketing materials to the platform your website is hosted on, you can be mindful of the environment and make earth-friendly choices. Below we share 10 easy-implementable tips that almost any business can incorporate.
Switch to green hosting for your website and email. Did you know that your online presence also leaves a carbon footprint? We might not notice it, but it does. Everything we do on the internet contributes to our digital carbon footprint: from streaming data to uploading and transferring data. The internet is the fastest growing carbon polluting industry on the planet (source). Green hosting has a lower impact on the planet than regular hosting because for example they use renewable energy and other sustainable power resources. At The CoCo we are hosting our website and email on Greenhost.
As an entrepreneur you’re collaborating with all kinds of people for various tasks and projects. Think of photographers, designers, agencies, coding companies, legal advisors, coaches and more. When choosing your people to work with, choose intentionally. When you collab with like-minded conscious people it will cause a positive chain reaction.
Carbon offsetting is a way to compensate for your emissions by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving elsewhere (source). Have a look online to see which offsetting projects suit you best. A good example of an offsetting project is a charity that plants trees. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air This way you can compensate for your emissions. You can calculate your emissions (an estimation) by using various online tools, or there are companies that can do it for you. We are still looking into how we can do this for The CoCo too.
Embrace the digital era when it comes to business tools. Strive to be a paperless-office. Nowadays we rarely need to print anything, not even for administration purposes. We can proudly say that The CoCo is a digital-only business! We even made a hidden joke about it in our email signature hehe.
Impact is also in the small things you do on a daily basis. Switch to a plant-based lunch, drink from reusable coffee cups, clean the office with non-toxic and eco-friendly cleaning products and put on a sweater before turning up the heaters. It’s in the small details but earth will thank you!
If you can get away with online-only marketing: that’s even better. But of course some businesses also need real life marketing materials. Be mindful of the materials you use. Nowadays there are so many eco-friendly options available. Think of using recycled paper, printing with vegetable inks, biodegradable packing fillers, compostable mailers, up-cyled boxes etc. Make intentional choices about your packaging and shipping materials, there’s much more possible than you think.
Give back by donating to a charity that fits your business. For example you can donate a percentage of your yearly profits. We can imagine that your business is still small or you’re maybe even in a start-up phase, but there’s always a way you can contribute, even if it’s a small gesture. When your business grows your contribution can grow along with it. We’ve done this recently by donating 50% of our orders from that week to Wereld NatuurFonds, and we plan on doing much more in the future.
Did you know electrical devices still use energy when they’re turned off but are still plugged in the wall? By creating a simple routine of unplugging all your devices at the end of the day, you’re not only saving earth’s resources but also lots of money. Also unplugging devices directly when they’re fully charged makes a big difference.
Do you ever wonder where your business money goes? Or a more important question: what does your bank do with your business money? Well, believe us: you should worry about it because it’s dirty business. Choosing a green and ethical bank makes an incredible difference. We have our business bank account at Triodos, one of the most sustainable banks in the world! Knowing they don’t invest our money into shady projects without us knowing it, makes us sleep better at night.
As CEO of your business you are the biggest factor when it comes to your businesses impact on the planet. When you’re also making conscious choices in your personal life on top of your business-life that maximizes your impact.
Don’t get overwhelmed after reading this. Remember that no one and no business is perfect. Start small, every step is one in the good direction. Make one change at a time and together we can make a difference. Woohoo, we cheer you on!