{"id":4367,"date":"2021-03-08T17:47:18","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T17:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chariotstg2020.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=4367"},"modified":"2026-03-31T22:16:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T22:16:55","slug":"small-business-sustainability-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/blog\/small-business-sustainability-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Big Ideas for Small Business Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Business operations aren\u2019t what they used to be 10 years ago \u2014 or even five! Until recently, most people haven\u2019t even heard the term \u201csingle use plastics\u201d or thought of replacing a plastic straw with a paper one. Today, sustainability is one of the biggest factors people consider when buying a product or service \u2014 and it\u2019s only getting more important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a small business owner, you might not think your business practices can make a real impact, but they are more important than ever. Not only do more and more people want to do business with eco-friendly companies, but it\u2019s simply the right thing to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every business is unique, so no two sustainability journeys are going to be the same. However, there is a common thread to all sustainability initiatives: people, planet, and profit. It\u2019s what sustainability gurus call the triple bottom line<\/em>. And it\u2019s not just more corporate jargon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Triple Bottom Line Explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The traditional bottom line in business is profit. However, that model is increasingly becoming dated and out-of-touch with today\u2019s reality. Many businesses, including big box stores like Target, Kroger and Walmart, are shifting away from the pure-profit model of business and incorporating purpose-led KPIs (key performance indicators). You have no doubt seen or heard companies phasing out plastic grocery sacks and installing solar panels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This shift toward more sustainable business practices is not just a push from investors. It represents a shift in consumer attitudes towards the impact that businesses inevitably have on people and the planet. Average consumers can now hold companies more accountable for the full <\/em>cost of their business \u2014 not just on how much money they make. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, the triple bottom line, also referred to as the three P\u2019s of corporate and social responsibility, is the new gold standard for doing business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

11 Creative Ways You Can Go Green in the Workplace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The great thing about small businesses is that you don\u2019t have to deal with the dreaded \u201cred tape\u201d that can often plague corporate giants just to add a recycling bin. In fact, you can get started today! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 11 green business ideas to get you started on your journey into better business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Conduct a Sustainability Audit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before you begin implementing anything, it\u2019s important to know where you stand. A sustainability audit helps you identify the areas where you already excel, where you could improve, and ideas you\u2019ve never considered. Green America provides a quick-and-easy sustainability audit<\/a> that will help you begin framing your sustainability plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Create a Dedicated Green Team<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve got the status of your business down, consider creating a dedicated \u201cgreen team\u201d in your workplace. Similar to a \u201cculture\u201d team that corporations create to boost morale and employee engagement, businesses are also doing the same in regard to environmental and social sustainability! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These folks will lead your initiatives and make sure your business follows the green <\/em>brick road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

10. Only Use Paper Tape for Cardboard Shipments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not only is paper tape simply better at sealing boxes, but it\u2019s also better for the environment. Paper tape essentially bonds with cardboard, making the seal permanent, while plastic tape merely sticks to the container, leaving room for breakage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the environmental benefits, you cannot recycle cardboard with plastic tape still attached. Customers will have to go through the extra step of removing the tape (which many will not do) and then throw the plastic tape in the garbage \u2014 a double whammy of waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With paper tape, you don\u2019t have to do anything. Simply break the box down and throw it in the recycling bin. It\u2019s easier, more effective and more sustainable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

11. Resist the Urge to Buy New<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our last tip: in the event that you need new office furnishings, opt for gently used or upcycled furniture pieces. There are clear benefits both financially and sustainably:<\/p>\n\n\n\n