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Writer's pictureRachael Scarborough

Running a sustainable business...



Everyone's talking about sustainability and with many of the Paris Summit targets set for 2030, we only have this decade to stop this nightmare deterioration of our planet. Corporates, from food production, to IT conglomerates and energy companies are working flat out to meet their targets and need to convince their customers that their efforts are authentic and justify some of the extra costs which are often incurred. This is an extremely hard task in this time of economic uncertainty.


Most companies now communicate their sustainability policies on their websites, but what can sole traders and small companies do to make their valuable contribution to this massive wave in change of behaviours? Here are some ideas:


  1. Don't print - The environmental effects of paper production include deforestation, the use of enormous amounts of energy and water as well as air pollution and waste problems. Paper accounts for around 26% of total waste at landfills. Do not print out copies of emails, and when you do print, go double sided.

  2. Rethink data downloading and streaming - All websites use processing power to download. Images and videos take additional processing which are very heavy on energy use. The servers delivering us this content use large amounts of electricity to power and ventilate. Unless all that energy comes from renewables, it carries a heavy price for our climate. Start to think about unnecessary downloading and making your services more carbon friendly.

  3. Recycle gadgets and hardware - Producing electricals creates carbon emissions. Recycling our old electricals would cut as much CO2 as taking 1.3 million cars off the road. Visit this website to discover your nearest drop off recycling centre.

  4. Recycle old batteries - Household batteries contain some hazardous chemicals so they should not be put in your general waste bin. Rechargeable batteries are a great choice, but they do contain harmful metals, so they should never be put in with your general waste either. Any retailer or supermarket that sells batteries should take them back for recycling. Or take them to your local recycling centre.

  5. Use hardware carefully - Make a contribution by buying energy efficient equipment, conserve energy by switching off equipment when not in use, or using sleep mode, keep printer turned off when not in use.

  6. Sell your old phone - Visit this site to see if you can get some money for your old phone www.sellmymobile.com/ . Up to 80% of a phone is recyclable, so don't send it to landfill. Mobile phones contain a range of materials including metals, plastics and several valuable components - such as silver - which can be extracted and re-used.

  7. Use an electric car - Electric cars are better, cleaner and kinder to the environment than their petrol or diesel-powered counterparts. This is because they are typically powered with a lithium-ion battery charged by electricity, rather than a combustion engine that runs on fossil fuels.Use public transport or share a lift with someone else to half the pollution to the enviroronment.



On a more personal basis:

  1. Buy less clothes - The clothes industry creates massive amounts of pollution, waste, and greenhouse gases every year. Buying fewer clothes and higher quality is one of the best ways to help the environment. It not only saves resources used in the production of new clothing pieces but also prevents more textile waste from ending up in landfills.

  2. Recycle at home - When we recycle, materials are converted into new products, reducing the need to consume natural resources which will help to protect natural habitats for the future.

  3. Fly less - Air transport emits more greenhouse gases than any other form of transport measured per passenger-kilometre. This factor multiplied by the enormous distances air travel can allow produces a huge environmental impact.

  4. Stop fires and bonfires - Burning garden waste produces smoke – especially if that waste is green or damp.This will emit harmful pollutants including particles and dioxins.

  5. Grow more plants / trees - Plants are key supporters for life on earth: they release oxygen into the atmosphere, absorb carbon dioxide, provide habitat and food for wildlife and humans, and regulate the water cycle.

  6. Visit your local sustainability store - Sustainable shopping recognises that everything we buy has health, environmental and social impact. Sustainable shopping is your chance to support what is important to you and avoid products and services that do not align with the crucial steps forward required to save the planet.

  7. Use less water - Conserving water saves energy. Energy is needed to filter, heat and pump water to your home, so reducing your water use also reduces your carbon footprint. Using less water keeps more in our ecosystems and helps to keep wetland habitats topped up for animals and fish.

  8. Use less detergent - A lot of traditional detergents contain phosphates which build up in waterways and lead to eutrophication – big algae blooms that can deplete the water of oxygen and kill off fish.

  9. Don't use plastics / plastic bags - It takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. Unfortunately, the bags don't break down completely but instead photo-degrade, becoming microplastics that absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment.

  10. Check products you buy for sustainability - Sustainable labelling informs consumers and other groups about the environmental impacts of producing or using a product. A brand's commitment to adopting eco-conscious practices is essential to both the environment and a company's image and reputation.



For more information check out this useful article from SSE.

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