Creating a Sustainable Buisiness

By Lucas Nyhus

Businesses and Climate Change:

In a dire year of news regarding Climate Change, 2018 cast big businesses in a not so good light. Lack of regulations on companies led to higher carbon emissions, leading to the Carbon Majors Report finding that just 100 companies are responsible for 71 percent of carbon emissions worldwide. Many reports came out around this time all reporting the same findings, businesses are increasingly responsible for the threat of Climate Change. On the flipside of these findings, the RE100 was founded in 2014 and really found its footing in 2018, as the public became increasingly aware of the dire threat of Climate Change. Ikea started the RE100 in 2014 to unite 100 big businesses against the changing climate of the world, and legally bind them to commit to 100 percent renewable energy. Today, their numbers are boasting well above 100 businesses, and include such mega corporations as Coca-Cola, Facebook, Google, and General Motors. Some set the minimum goal to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2035, whereas some, such as: Google, LEGO, and Wells Fargo, have already reached the goal and are comfortably source all their energy from renewables.

Starting an Eco-Friendly Business:

        Step 1 - Ditching Paper

I believe that there is an important thing that businesses should consider first and foremost if they want to pave the way to an eco-friendly enterprise. This is something most companies don’t even consider, but could make a great deal of difference, and that is simply going digital. Every business uses paper for something: receipts, letters, memos, et cetera. In some scenarios paper is absolutely necessary, but it is easier than ever now to go digital for your operations. Consider what paper is non-essential to your operation, and transition that usage to a digital environment.

Step 2 - Eliminate Waste

Waste is obviously a growing problem, the more people there are the more trash will be brought about! But, there are numerous methods of cutting corners for businesses trying to reduce their waste output. Many companies have ditched paper receipts in exchange for digital receipts, and companies that have reported that it was a seamless process. Paper in general is growing more and more obsolete as personal computers have become incredibly easy to access for individuals. Going digital is better for keeping records, increasing productivity, and sharing messages with coworkers faster, and you can cut down on your waste at the same time.

Step 3 - No More Plastic

Plastic is becoming increasingly controversial as the average person finds out more about how plastic is affecting our ecosystems. The news over the past few years about plastic has been distressing, and more and more people are pushing for industries to move into alternative forms of plastic. Recently, Trader Joe’s announced that they would be reducing a million pounds of plastic due to customer feedback. That’s a lot of plastic, and they have already begun alternative methods of packaging, such as biodegradable bags for produce and exclusively using paper bags for purchased goods. The alternatives are out there already, it’s just a matter of companies committing to getting rid of plastic in their business.

Committing to an Eco-Friendly Business:

        The easiest part of starting a business is just taking the initiative to start it, the difficult part comes with making the effort to expand your business. In the complicated process of growing your business to its highest potential, it may come with some detriment to your original vision: becoming more corporate-centric, losing focus on what is most important to the business, focusing more on financial gain than using the business to create actual change. One of these costs may even be losing the eco-centric vision of your business. To combat this, you must keep control of the business and resist those who will sway you into ditching your efforts for the sake of monetary gains.