Tackle Your Business's Direct Impact on the Environment
There are many factors to think about when it comes to environmental responsibility for your business. Some issues might feel slightly detached from your company, such as the sustainability and ethics of certain parts of your supply chain. However, there are many instances where you can consider the more direct impact your activities have on the environment. These are things that you have a lot more control over, making them easier to tackle. Your business will never be perfect when it comes to sustainability and the environment, but that shouldn't stop you striving for better by examining the different areas where you can make changes.
Address the Moving of Materials and Products
In some industries, the transportation of certain materials or completed products is a key issue. When moving things around, there is often a risk of some sort of environmental contamination or pollution if you're not careful. To address this, it might be necessary to ensure you have the best bulk material handling equipment and solutions. It could be important to solve problems like potential lost materials that come loose while being moved or dust that could cause air pollution. As well as being environmental issues, these can be health and safety hazards for employees.
Improve Handling of Waste
Making changes to how waste is handled is something that businesses of any size and in any industry can do. Of course, some companies might require more specialised services and systems to help them dispose of waste in the most responsible way. Improving how your business handles waste can include reducing the risk of any hazards or pollution. It could also mean making steps to recycle more or even finding ways to make use of byproducts. Reducing the total amount of waste your business produces is also a smart move that could have both environmental and financial benefits.
Look at Vehicle Use
If your business uses vehicles in any way, looking at their fuel consumption could be essential to making your company greener. It's something that has a direct impact on the environment that you can gain control of in several ways. Finding ways to reduce usage and fuel consumption for your fleet may be something you start to do now. This could include things such as introducing a lift-sharing policy for colleagues or developing more efficient delivery routes. However, you could also have long-term goals like replacing your current vehicles with electric vehicles.
Follow Regulations
It should go without saying, but every business needs to ensure they're following the correct environmental regulations. What you're required to do can depend on your industry and business activities. But it's also worth looking beyond the minimum requirements and exploring whether there is more you can do. As well as governmental recommendations, take a look at the advice of recognised environmental bodies and charities that could help you set goals to aim for.
You can't control everything when it comes to sustainability, but you can find ways to address your business's direct impact on the environment.