“Building a green business is an excellent way to pursue your passion for entrepreneurship while supporting the environment.”
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In these trying times we certainly need some inspiration – and businesses really need some such inspiration.
Last month, blogger Tina Martin of Ideaspired put together a guest piece on transitioning to a better future and the practical steps to get there:
A brief guide to finding a fresh start – Sidmouth Solarpunk
We are very grateful to have received a further guest post from Tina – where she focusses on businesses transitioning to that better future:
Building a Sustainable Business: Tips for New Entrepreneurs
As we fight increasingly devastating environmental issues, it’s becoming clear that businesses need to put the planet before profits. Building a green business is an excellent way to pursue your passion for entrepreneurship while supporting the environment. By incorporating sustainable practices into your business plan, you can minimize your impact on the planet—and maybe even contribute a solution to pressing climate concerns.
In this article from Vision Group for Sidmouth, you’ll learn the fundamentals of launching a green business that you can be proud of!
Why Go Green?
Building a green business offers a number of benefits for entrepreneurs. Beyond doing your part for the planet, embracing sustainability can help attract customers to your brand and justify higher prices for your products. You’ll be able to stay ahead of competitors, carve out a unique niche for yourself, and enjoy a few tax breaks in the process! At the same time, going green can help you attract and retain the best employees and improve productivity at your company. Over time, green initiatives can also help your business save money by reducing the amount you spend on energy, transportation, and single-use office supplies like paper.
Reduce Paper Waste
If you’re thinking about making your business sustainable, reducing waste is an easy place to start. Look for ways to reduce the amount of paper you use at your business. Instead of printing out documents to store in physical file cabinets, keep everything digital. You can digitize existing paper documents easily to ensure all of your business information exists in the same place. Learn how to scan pages into a single PDF so you can keep related documents organized in one file. Once you digitize your paper records into PDF versions, designate a secure storage solution on your hard drive or in the cloud.
Create a Green Marketing Plan
Once you’ve implemented practices to make your business sustainable, create a marketing plan that highlights your environmental and social responsibility. The objective of green marketing is to make your business more attractive to consumers who care about the environment. But you have to be careful here. Earth.org explains that today’s consumers are quick to call out companies for greenwashing, a deceitful advertising practice that makes a company seem more sustainable than it is.
Green marketing must be executed properly to avoid issues with greenwashing. It might be a good idea to hire remote marketing professionals with experience marketing sustainable brands. To find talented marketing professionals, post jobs on freelance marketing platforms or hire a recruiter to connect you with candidates.
Evaluate Opportunities Against Your Green Goals
Building a sustainable business is an ongoing process. After you launch your company, continue looking at business opportunities through an eco-friendly lens. Keep your sustainability goals front and center! Green Buoy Consulting recommends creating goals that are easy to track and measure, so you can hold your company accountable.
Be Prepared for Additional Startup Costs
If you want to build a green business, keep in mind that eco-friendly options can cost more up-front, so you’ll need to budget accordingly. For example, you may have to account for the cost of setting up renewable energy systems like solar panels, working with sustainable manufacturers who pay their workers a living wage, and buying better quality tools and equipment that will last longer. Just remember, these costs will pay off in the long run. Try to see them as investments!
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur who cares about our planet, consider launching a business with sustainability in mind. Use renewable resources, digitize paper records to reduce office waste, and create a green marketing plan that accurately highlights the good your company is doing for people and the planet. Sustainability is the future of business!