From the pages of In Business magazine.
How sustainable is your business? That’s not an easy question to answer, but 2020 is a great year to become a more sustainable business. Why? Because there are a number of steps companies can take to become more sustainable. As I’ve learned, even little things make a big difference.
1. Recycle smartly and watch the products you use.
Take recycling a step further by looking for opportunities to reduce or eliminate single-use plastic. It’s also important to recognize that in recent years, opportunities to recycle have diminished, so don’t fall into the trap of wish-cycling — the practice of tossing questionable items in a recycling bin, hoping they will be recycled or that someone else will break them down into recyclable pieces. Just because something is placed in the recycling bin does not mean it gets recycled, and you don’t want to contaminate a recycling batch with nonrecyclable materials. Case in point: Cardboard pizza boxes cannot be recycled due to food contaminants.
2. Invest in your workforce.
Your business has an important asset — diverse workforce talent. When employees have a variety of backgrounds, skill sets, and even outlooks, a company benefits from a varied approach to challenges and opportunities. Ideas abound and execution becomes easier.
Investing in your workforce not only means fair compensation and needed benefits, but also providing workers with intangibles to keep them happy. For example, do your employees have support from the company if they wish to use various modes of transportation to commute to work? This could be as simple as providing easy access to bike storage.
3. Invest in the community.
Our community is where employees, customers, and extended stakeholders live and work. Whether cleaning up litter, mentoring students or other small businesses, or accepting a seat on the board of an important nonprofit, the leader of a sustainable business can give back in a variety of ways. Pick causes that are important to you and support them. For EZ Office Products, helping the environment is near and dear, and I have a personal connection with children and literacy.
4. Improve your processes and systems.
Most of us go about doing our jobs the way we always have. It is easy, comfortable, predictable, and it works. But could it be even better? Could you revise your processes in a way that is better for your company, employees, clients, and the environment? It is an important question to ask — continually.
5. Rethink how you source your products.
All of us incur expenses for supplies and services, but do we think about purchasing the right items from the right supplier? Look to do business with sustainable companies that are local, that help support your community, and are aligned with your values.
With the products and supplies you purchase, think about a more sustainable way to buy or look for creative alternatives. In your company kitchen, encourage the use of reusable dishes, cups, and utensils, or look for environmentally friendly ones. Instead of bottled water, use a refillable water cooler or try boxed water.
6. Assign a sustainability point person.
Every company needs a point person to monitor and oversee its sustainability efforts and keep a handle on the organization’s goals. Ideally, this is done by tracking and reporting a company’s sustainability progress, and if some people are losing interest and steam, the point person can help reignite their enthusiasm.
Even the smallest steps matter. Don’t underestimate the impact of seemingly small tasks that move you in a positive direction. If for no other reason, do it because we have no “Planet B.”
Rose Molz is president of EZ Office Products in Madison.
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