7 achievable ways to turn your business green

Want your business to run greener, cheaper, and more sustainably, but don’t know where to start?

These seven achievable steps to going green could be exactly what you need. From energy to green transport, each step has the potential to make a huge impact while remaining a realistic goal for busy organisations.

Start with an energy audit, and then let the journey unfold – soon, you’ll have a business that’s both greener and more cost-efficient.

Jump to:

• Auditing your current energy use
• Emission tracking and carbon capture
• Switching to renewable energy
• Green transport options
• Expanding your recycling
• Choosing green suppliers
• Green business accreditation

Get your department heads on board and spend some time reviewing your energy consumption across the business. You’ll likely find areas where you can cut back easily – such as switching off electronic devices when not in use or replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs.

Along with the small changes, an energy audit will highlight major energy demands your business has. Understanding these needs and their impact makes it easier to reduce or offset them in the future.

As a business, you know that the first step to improvement is measurement – and this applies to carbon emissions too.

There are several cloud-based tools available to help you calculate your business’s carbon footprint. These tools are a perfect follow-up to your energy audit, enabling you to track your emissions as you implement green initiatives – ideally, seeing them trend downwards.

Ready to level up? Consider investing in carbon capture solutions to minimise the impact of the emissions you produce, rather than simply offsetting them.

This one’s a big step, and it won’t happen overnight. But by breaking it down into smaller, achievable tasks, you can make real progress:

1. Research green energy suppliers with business tariffs
2. Explore the possibility of installing solar panels on-site
3. Calculate how much this will save you, both in emissions and cost
4. Build a step-by-step timeline for the switch

For maximum impact, choose a supplier offering 100% renewable energy. You might even find some cost-saving bonuses along the way, such as discounts on traceable energy or incentives to shift energy use away from peak times.

Cut both emissions and travel expenses with this simple solution:

Travel less – and when you do travel, use public transport when possible. With video conferencing advances, there’s often no need for colleagues in different locations to attend every meeting in person.

To reduce emissions even further, incentivise green transport options for your employees with these benefits:

• EV salary sacrifice scheme – Save employees up to 40% on the latest electric vehicles, which are packed with smart tech and eco-friendly features.
• Cycle-to-work scheme – Offer savings on bikes through pre-tax salary deductions, which are great for reducing emissions and boosting overall health and wellbeing.
• Carpooling scheme – Encourage employees to share rides, cutting down emissions and freeing up valuable space in your company car park.

Thanks to the expansion of recycling services, it’s easier than ever to recycle more of your business’s waste.

Paper, cardboard, glass, cans, plastics, and food waste – it’s all doable. Set up separate bins for each type across your premises to make it easy for employees to get on board.

Support sustainability across your supply chain by partnering with suppliers who have strong green credentials.

There are plenty of options to explore: eliminate single-use plastics from packaging, offer sustainable meals in your canteen, or use biodegradable materials in your products to reduce landfill waste. But don't stop there for maximum impact.

As businesses increasingly shift to cloud software, one area often overlooked is the sustainability of your IT providers. Storing data in the cloud means housing it in third-party data centres, which have significant energy requirements. By choosing cloud providers who use green data centres, you can further reduce your carbon footprint.

Several accreditation schemes recognise businesses that operate responsibly. The B Corporation certification is one of the most prestigious, and achieving it is a real accomplishment.

These accreditations not only highlight your green efforts but also act as a seal of credibility, helping your business stand out and appeal to eco-conscious consumers.

Bear in mind, certifications like B Corp don’t happen overnight. But take it step by step, and enjoy the benefits along the way – reduced emissions, more efficient business practices, and increased appeal to a sustainability-focused audience.

By taking these seven achievable steps, you can start transforming your business into a more sustainable, cost-efficient, and environmentally responsible operation. Whether it’s reducing your energy consumption, choosing greener transport options, or obtaining green accreditation, every small change adds up to make a big difference.

Not only will you be doing your part for the planet, but you’ll also set your business up for long-term success in a world that’s increasingly focused on sustainability. So, what are you waiting for? Start today, and watch your business go green – while saving money and improving efficiency along the way.