For many small to medium sized businesses throughout Australia, sustainability is something that people recognise as being important, however they are unable to prioritise it due to other commitments in their business. The small to medium sized business owner will usually be concerned about their business’s cashflow and the day-to-day operations.

However, with the advancement of technology, specialist organisations that are dedicated to sustainability and the ability to learn more about sustainable habits and practices, businesses can improve the eco-friendliness of their business without disrupting their business’s priorities and operations. Here are 4 ways Australian businesses can improve the sustainability today.

Minimise light energy consumption by upgrading to LEDs.

Lighting can easily account for 15% or more of an organisation’s energy consumption. The more energy that is used, the more costs that go into the overheads of the business. Many businesses have high lighting costs because they still rely on inefficient lighting solutions such as incandescent bulbs. By making the switch to LED lighting, businesses can save up to 60% on their existing energy bills as a result of lower energy consumption from these bulbs. This is both good for the environment and good for the business owner. Apart from working with the LED light supplier, there’s little involvement with the business owner and minimal disruption to the business.

Partner with sustainable organisations.

Small to medium sized businesses tend to have tight resources. Allocating more resources such as dedicated staff to manage the businesses sustainability practices often puts a strain on the business’s budget and manpower. In this case, it’s better for them to work with specialist agencies that can help the business achieve its sustainability objectives.

For example;

  • Working with an ink cartridge supplier that can also help your organisation dispose and recycle used ink cartridges.
  • Finding a local recycler of batteries.
  • Participating in programs such as the NSW container deposit scheme, where recycled containers and bottles can be traded for 10 cents.
  • Giving away used items such as furniture and electrical goods to charity shops such as St. Vincent De Paul.
  • If you would rather have your electrical goods picked up and recycled, you can partner with TechCollect who will pick up and recycled electrical items such as computers, TVs and DVDs.

Invest in green technologies.

There are several eco-friendly technologies on the market that you can introduce to your business. Eco-friendly machines that use less power or even turn off after a certain amount of time to reduce energy consumption. Another major improvement is internet and cloud technology, which has minimised printing waste significantly.

Improve sustainable habits within the organisation.

Eco-friendly improvements should start within the organisation itself. Improving habits such as recycling and energy consumption can make a big difference to the organisations contribution to waste and carbon emissions. Implement recycling bins and turn off electrical items when they aren’t being used.

These are a few simple ways to improve sustainable practices within your business. To learn more, get in touch with a LEDified consultant who can help to optimise your business’s sustainability practices.