Make your Online Business More Sustainable Today!
In the sustainability space, there’s a common misconception that businesses that do not produce physical products have limited ways to contribute to lessening their footprint on our planet. This misperception often leads to a lack of emphasis on sustainability practices among online businesses, which predominantly deal with digital services and intangible products.
However, it’s crucial to recognise that sustainability isn’t exclusive to manufacturing or tangible goods and you can make your online business more sustainable, because even businesses operating in the digital landscape can adopt meaningful and impactful sustainable practices. So let’s delve into strategies that disprove the myth that online businesses have fewer opportunities for sustainability.
1.Green Web Hosting
Choose a web hosting provider that prioritises environmental sustainability buy using renewable energy sources or offsets. Green web hosting not only supports eco-friendly initiatives but also aligns your business with responsible practices. It is also a good idea to choose one that has their data centre located in the same area of country as the majority of your viewers. Some suggested platforms are Greengeeks, Ethical Pixie, and Kaulo
2. Optimize Energy Consumption
Implement energy-efficient measures in your day-to-day operations. Encourage remote work to reduce the need for office space, Invest in energy-efficient equipment, and adopt practices that minimise energy consumption. This not only lowers your environmental impact but also contributes to cost savings in the long run.
3. Collaborate with Sustainable Businesses
Collaborating with businesses who also focus on working with purpose driven businesses is a great way to promote sustainable practices in your operations as well as enhancing your brands reputation. It is a great strategic approach that not only benefits the environment but also strengthens your business’s sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness in an increasingly eco-conscious market
4. Offset Your Carbon
While online businesses generally emit less carbon than product-based businesses, there are still effective ways we can further reduce out environmental impact. Start by minimizing your carbon footprint through the use of eco-friendly tools, energy-efficient equipment, and renewable energy sources for storage.
Once you’ve reduced as much as possible, offset the remaining emissions by investing in projects that reduce or capture carbon. Use carbon footprint calculators to determine the amount to offset, then choose an organization that aligns with your values to donate and balance out your carbon footprint.
5. Use Eco Friendly Cloud Storage
6. Detox your inbox!
You may think emails don’t have much of an impact but emails use energy in 2 ways, one, when you send an email and just like your drive storage, emails saved and archived are all stored in a data centre taking up space.
According to The Good Planet, nearly 107 billion spam emails were sent and received a day in 2019. If every person only deleted 10 of those emails, we could save 1,725,00 gigabytes of storage space and around 55.2 million kilowatts of power!
So delete those unimportant emails and take a 2nd, do you really need to send that quick “Thank you email”.
7. Web Search using Ecosia
Want to plant trees while you are doing some research?
Switch your main search engine from Google to Ecosia and that’s what you will do. Ecosia has planted over 180 million trees to date and all from searches!
While sometimes their search results are not quite on par with Google. If you type your search into Ecosia and add #g to the end, it will automatically take you to Google results and still count towards planting trees!
8. Use Carbon Neutral Tools
We often might not think about online business tools having much of a carbon footprint, but we have to think further back than just the tool itself, where is the data stored, how many people are on the team, where do they work from, etc So if we can opt for tools that have found ways to reduce their Co2 emissions and offset the rest, we are helping reduce the digital footprint even more.
Some examples of carbon-neutral business tools include:
Asana – Task management
Slack – Team Communication and file sharing
Canva – Graphic Design
Zoom – Video calls
Eco Send – Email marketing
By implementing these sustainable practices, such as carbon offsetting, energy efficiency, and collaborating with likeminded businesses, you can not only make your online business more sustainable, you can also reduce costs and improve efficiency but also contribute to a healthier planet and society.
Embracing sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity for businesses that want to thrive in the face of environmental challenges. It’s about more than just going green, it’s about adopting a mindset that values the well-being of the planet and future generations. By taking steps to make your online business more sustainable, you can create a positive impact that extends far beyond your bottom line.
Remember, sustainability is a journey, and every step you take, no matter how small, can make a difference. So, start today and join the growing community of businesses that are committed to making the world a better place for all.
So go forth now and turn your online business more sustainable!
