The start of the new year is a prime opportunity for businesses to create positive change. We hope that 2022 will be the year of more sustainable manufacturing as organizations strive to reduce their plastic use and carbon footprint. These five resolutions can help your business create a greener future for our planet.
1. Reduce Your Paper Usage
Going paperless is a simple way to reduce your impact on the environment. Even if eliminating paper entirely isn’t possible for your business, there’s always room for improvement. The average office worker in the US goes through nearly 10,000 sheets of paper annually!
Start by assessing your internal use of paper: where do digital communications and records make sense? Is cloud computing an option for sharing documents? Can meeting agendas be emailed instead of printed?
2. Commit to Recycling
Recycle what you can’t reduce or reuse. Make recycling second-nature for your employees by having clearly-labeled bins throughout your facility and asking what obstacles exist that create barriers. If uncertainty about what can and cannot be recycled is an obstacle, create graphics to clearly post above your bins outlining best practices. Get to know your sustainability manager and help them communicate the message, or set aside a few minutes during your next meeting to talk about how everyone can play a role in reaching your new eco-conscious resolutions.
3. Choose Energy-Efficient Equipment
Less energy usage means a reduced carbon footprint and lower utility bills, especially for manufacturing facilities. Your equipment can consume huge amounts of energy, but replacing key systems can reduce it. Consider investing in updated, energy-efficient models and processes when it’s time to replace your existing equipment.
4. Use Green Cleaning Products and Practices
Implementing more eco-conscious cleaning products and practices can have a significant impact on not only the environment, but your facility’s indoor air quality and overall health. Choose Green Seal Certified products when possible and familiarize yourself with the US Green Building Council’s guidelines and initiatives. The result can be a cleaner, healthier space that promotes environmental responsibility while improving quality of life.
5. Choose Eco-Friendly Polymers and Materials
One of the most effective ways you can reduce your carbon footprint is by evaluating your current supply partners: Do they share your commitment to sustainability?
If you manage an office, for example, consider the supplies you use on a daily basis. Seemingly small changes, like switching from disposable pens to refillable options or from standard copy paper to recycled paper, can add up to make a major difference.
If you’re a manufacturer, consider every step of your supply chain to look for greener alternatives. It may not be as hard to reduce your carbon footprint as you think: Switching to our more eco-friendly polymers can reduce plastic by 25% to 100%, and they can replace your current conventional plastics without significant capital or operating expense. Learn more about our hemp plastics and how they can reduce your carbon footprint while boosting your business at www.hempplastic.com or by emailing us at [email protected] today.
