Last week RTÉ hosted ‘Climate Week’ which saw the station presenting special reports and live programmes to coincide with the recent move towards including more sustainable practices in our daily lives. As individuals we are becoming more aware of the impact we are having on the world and actively seek ways in which we can make improvements.
However, the climate crisis is not a new phenomenon. Its origins appeared over 30 years ago in a report commissioned by the UN entitled, ‘Our Common Future’.
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Bruntland Report, 1987.
Large corporations have greater budgets which allow for them to incorporate sustainable strategies into their businesses easily.
We’ve compiled a few tips below that will help start-ups become more sustainable in their business practices.
- Reduce Promotional Materials
For start-ups one of the initial steps is getting the word out on a new product or service being provided. While the promotion of a business is imperative for ensuring success, using traditional forms of communication can accumulate a lot of waste. Flyers, letters and envelopes can all add to waste that can be avoided. In some cases, these materials are not even recycled and find themselves in general waste streams.
For start-ups utilising advances in technology is a great first step in becoming a sustainable start-up. Social media platforms offer both a way to promote a business but also facilitate real time engagement which can be invaluable for creating word of mouth around the business. Emails can also be of use to start ups and ensure that those you wish to communicate are directly receiving promotional materials. The traditional phone call which may appear dated is appreciated by connections you are trying to create as they feel you have taken the time to have direct conversations with them as opposed to sending generic materials about the business.
- Packaging Solutions
Many packaging materials on the market are currently non-recyclable which in turn contributes to more general waste which must then be incinerated returning chemicals to our atmosphere. Many packaging companies have made climate conscious decisions and are now providing ‘green packaging’ such as biodegradable bags which can be substituted for the plastic packaging currently on the market which is not recyclable.
By obtaining smarter packaging solutions start-ups can reduce additional waste that would be in orders such as plastic, flyers and Styrofoam.
- Sustainable Supply Chain
Start-ups can significantly reduce their carbon footprint by assessing the way in which their supply chain will work. Materials for the product/service can be sourced from other businesses that promote sustainable practices. Emissions can also be reduced by looking into using more Eco friendly vehicles to use for business and delivery purposes. By working with businesses who share a similar stance on practicing sustainability start-ups will have a business that stems from sustainable roots to its end.
- Sustainable Office
Some of the simplest changes in sustainability can be made in the office of a start-up. For instance, to reduce wastepaper and energy, staff can move to working with cloud computing as opposed to excessively printing and using hard drives which can be costly in terms of energy usage. Another change that can be implemented is to move to a search engine such as Ecosia instead of traditional search engines. Ecosia is at the heart of sustainability and for each search a tree is planted, with the server also being run off renewable energy sources. Simple tasks such as ensuing the lights, heat and power sources are turned off at the end of the day also helps.
Significant investment in both time and finance is required in order to become a sustainable business. However, these initial costs will be outweighed by the overall benefits such as a reduction in the cost of waste and the sustainability status the business will have with their clients and customers.
