Clients and consumers alike shop more consciously now than they ever have before. In some sense, this is because of the choices that e-commerce has made possible, but raising awareness of the environment, and the damage big business can bring to that, is also a driving factor. Hence why, in the last year or two, countless companies have begun to consider more eco-friendly operations. Many have even significantly changed their work practices as a result.
If you’re on the fence about making extreme changes here, though, you wouldn’t be alone. After all, you’ve worked hard to build your business. The last thing you want to do is strip everything back to basics on the back of a consumer focus that, as far as you’re aware, might not even last.
That’s not to say you don’t care about the environment, of course, it’s just to say that you’re pragmatic about what will and what won’t serve your company. Still, there’s no denying that a complete lack of action on your part could harm consumer relations, especially as climate battles heat up.
With that in mind, you may find it worthwhile to think about how you can promote an eco-focus without altogether compromising processes as they stand. And, we’ve got some pointers to help you do it.
Align clients with eco-focuses
Many companies embark on charity or unpaid eco-conscious work, but this might not even be possible on your current profit margins. Luckily, you can also promote your business as an eco-frontrunner by merely considering the paid clients you accept. Working with an openly harmful brand such as a fuel supplier right now would certainly be a lapse in judgement. Instead, consider accepting high-profile jobs from top eco clients, and making sure that you include them in your portfolio for everyone to see.
Switch rather than replace
Switching everything from your light sources to your storage can also seem inevitable, but there are ways around complete replacements of systems that you get along with right now. Instead of switching from paper to computer storage, for instance, considering recycled paper or other such replacements. Equally, turning to an LED tube light instead of doing away with strip lighting altogether can see you performing at your best, and still doing your bit. Without compromising on productivity, these small alterations could mean staying ahead where clients are concerned.
Sweat the small stuff
While eco focuses have definitely shifted to the larger picture in recent months, there’s still a lot to be said for sweating the small stuff in your company. You don’t have to entirely rehaul packaging right now if you aren’t ready, for instance, but you could still focus on small changes, such as unbleached, plastic-free tea bags in the break room, or broader office recycling policies. These show that you’re doing your bit, even if you aren’t quite ready to jump whole-heartedly on the eco bandwagon at the cost of current company efforts. And, this, alone, should be enough to ensure you’re an eco-frontrunner regardless.
