An interesting trivia:  In the United States, 99 percent of all types of business organizations are considered small businesses.  Thus, they have a significant influence on our country, be it in terms of the economy, of politics, of society and of the environment.  And because small businesses account for 65 percent of national consumption, you can bet your bottom dollar that indeed any and all green initiatives, or the lack thereof, on their part will considerably impact on the environment.

If you have a small business, you must consider greening your supply chain.  You will find that your relatively small eco-friendly initiatives will pay off big time in many ways.  On one hand, you can reduce costs and, hence, increase your profits.  You can even attract new customers who want their suppliers to serve their green needs.  On the other hand, you can reduce your organizational and individual carbon footprints.  You can even ask for energy rebates, thus, further lessening your expenditures.

Opt for Local Suppliers

When and where practicable, you should opt for local suppliers and producers of the items you are selling on the shelves.  You can save on freight and handling costs that, in turn, save the environment from the effects of gas emissions from long-distance travels of delivery trucks.  You will also be helping the local businesses and, hence, the local economy to thrive even in these recessionary times.  You will discover that in such a mutually beneficial arrangement, you are both better equipped to beat the odds of the difficult national economy.

Look for Eco-Friendly Products

Admittedly, it will take practice before you can distinguish the eco-friendly products from the products using greenwashing techniques.  Your efforts will be amply rewarded, however, when your old and new customers will patronize your products because of their eco-friendly values that will also redound to their benefit.  That being the case, you should look for products that are biodegradable, renewable, reusable, recyclable, durable and non-toxic.  In time, your efforts to make your store more eco-friendly will also spread the homes of the people who patronized your products.  And that’s where change for the better can start through the ripple effect.

Use Energy Star Appliances

Appliances with the internationally recognized Energy Star logo generally use 20 to 30 percent less energy than standard appliances.  This is one of the easiest ways to green your supply chain although implementing energy-saving measures with your older appliances will also be fine.  After all, even if you have Energy Star appliances but you still continue to use them in wasteful ways, the purpose of the whole exercise will be defeated.  Thus, always ensure that you turn off the lights, air conditioning and other appliances when you close the store.  You will find your utility bills significantly lesser in amounts.

Recycle, Reuse and Reduce

Probably the most sensible of all suggestions, recycling, reusing and reducing your assets, be it in terms of the paper clip or the appliances or the heavy machinery, will definitely go a long way towards saving on business costs and saving the costs to the environment of your small business’ existence on Earth.

With these tips in mind, you can now conquer the world of business with greater profits and conquer the blight of environmental damage in your own way.

Photo by: Dušan Zidar -
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