5 Easy Steps to Make your Small Business More Sustainable

Small business owners are always looking for ways to make their businesses more sustainable. This means reducing their environmental impact and creating a healthy and productive workplace for remote employees and meaningful ways to engage them.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to small businesses and see how owners and executives can incorporate these goals into their sustainability plans. In addition, we’ll discuss five easy steps that you can take to make your small business more sustainable.

How Can Small Businesses Contribute to the UN Sustainable Goals?

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals that lay out a blueprint for a better world by 2030. The SDGs were adopted by all 193 member states of the UN in 2015, and they provide a shared framework for action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

While the SDGs may seem like a lofty set of goals, they are actually very relevant to small businesses. Many SDGs, such as Goal 8 related to Decent Work and Economic Growth and Goal 12 associated with Responsible Consumption and Production, directly address issues affecting small businesses daily.

In addition, the SDGs provide an essential opportunity for small businesses to differentiate themselves from their larger counterparts by demonstrating their commitment to sustainability. 

By aligning their operations with the SDGs, small businesses can showcase their values to consumers and investors, build trust and credibility, and tap into new markets.

The SDGs are also great for small businesses to get involved and make a difference. One way businesses can contribute is by using remote work. Businesses can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by allowing employees to work remotely. 

Likewise, remote work can help reduce traffic congestion and save on office space and resources. In addition to helping the environment, remote work can positively impact employee productivity and satisfaction. 

When employees can work from home or another location of their choice, they often have more control over their schedules and working conditions. This can lead to increased job satisfaction and motivation. In turn, this can result in higher quality work and increased business productivity. 

Ultimately, by implementing remote work policies, small businesses can play a big role in achieving the SDGs. In this video, you can deepen your understanding of the SDGs. 

How to Make Your Business More Sustainable? 5 Ways

As the world progresses, more and more businesses are recognizing the importance of sustainability. The SDGs provide a blueprint for businesses to operate in a way that is environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and financially inclusive. 

However, many small businesses feel intimidated by the scale of the UN’s goals and are unsure of where to start.

There are some simple ways that small businesses can get started with contributing to the SDGs, including:

Switch to remote work

This can help to reduce your carbon footprint by eliminating commute times and office energy usage. It can also help you save money on workplace costs such as rent and utility bills. 

To do this, you can contact a staffing agency, outsource the recruiting and hiring, and get diverse talent through platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Upwork. 

Ditch the paper

Start using digital invoicing and billing to save paper and time. You can also encourage your employees to use digital alternatives to paper, like e-signatures and online document storage.

Source your materials and services from sustainable suppliers

This includes choosing suppliers who use renewable energy, recycle materials and operate in an ethical manner. For instance, choose sustainable materials if you need to send onboarding materials to your employees’ homes.

Reduce your energy consumption

LED light bulbs use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, so switch out your light fixtures and save some money on your electric bill. You can also add solar panels to your office or shopping space to further reduce your reliance on the grid.

Donate

Finally, you can also support the UN’s goals by donating to or investing in organizations working towards sustainable development.

Sustainability is important for small businesses, and it can be easy to make your business more sustainable with a few simple changes. We’ve outlined five ways that you can make your business more environmentally friendly and help contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

If every small business made these changes, we could have a real impact on global sustainability. Have you tried any of these tips in your own business? Let us know how they worked out.