Every modern business faces the same dilemma – how to stay competitive while being kinder to the planet.
At one point, this may have seemed like an unlikely trade-off for most companies. But technology has rewritten that story.
Technology has helped businesses minimize waste, reduce carbon emissions, and operate more efficiently.
To implement more sustainable business practices in your company, dig deeper into your established processes and look for new efficiencies to make them greener.
Below are five tech-driven tips to help you run a smarter, greener business:
- Energy-Efficient Coding
Green (energy-efficient) coding is not just a technical change – it is a powerful revolution inside your business.
Traditional coding had boundaries. Limited processing power and bandwidth throttling forced developers to keep their coding short and uncomplicated.
As technology evolved, programmers gained more freedom to build larger and more complex programs, which was a big win for innovation, but, with longer code came a new challenge – rising energy consumption.
That is where green coding comes in. It is sustainable because it minimizes the energy consumption required by doing more with less.
- Green Suppliers
Support sustainability across your supply chain by partnering with suppliers with strong green values and credentials.
There are several ways to move toward this goal and reduce packaging waste, but one of the most-effective ones is partnering with suppliers who actively cut down on single-use plastics in their packaging.
Instead, look for suppliers who use recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable materials because small choices collectively make a bigger difference. That step alone will help to reduce landfill waste and environmental impact.
- Know Your Numbers
The only way to know where you are going is to know where you have been.
Businesses can use green-focused data collection to push sustainability and improve efficiency. This data is also known as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and covers a range of trackable metrics from energy consumption to ethical and fair trade supply chain practices.
The audited data can then be used to pinpoint high energy-consuming processes or high-waste hotspots within your company so improvements can be made. While these factors are not always financial, they play a large role in the long-term success of your business.
- Mobile Business App
One of the most effective ways to meet your business’s sustainability goals is to have the buy-in of everyone in the company.
After all, it takes a village to raise a green baby, right? Or, something along those lines.
Creating a mobile app can help manage your company’s sustainability process. They can track progress, incentivize use, and offer data resources for every employee. When everyone feels involved and accountable for achieving goals, projects tend to be way more successful.
- 3D Printing
While this tip is probably more applicable to manufacturers, it deserves a mention.
3D printing is a more environmentally-friendly technology because there is almost no waste. There are no rolls of blocks of material – everything is printed from scratch, using the minimum resources to make the product.
As an added bonus, plastic products can be made from recycled materials.
In Conclusion
Building a sustainable business doesn’t happen overnight, but it does require making smarter, more intentional choices each day.
Every change your business implements will lead to a better future for your company, and, ultimately, the planet.
