5 Ways to Become a Sustainable Business

Current projections indicate that the Unites States alone could reach up to 4,807 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2050 and although individuals are being encouraged to pursue more sustainable living methods, without the joint efforts of businesses worldwide there can be no real improvement on these projections.

Sustainability isn’t limited to just eco-friendly packaging and recycling bins, there is a multitude of ways that businesses big and small can make the effort to reduce their carbon footprint and reap the benefits of becoming a sustainable business.

1. The Usual Solutions

There are some typical associations when it comes to sustainability, deploying eco-friendly LED lightbulbs throughout offices, offering clear recycling bins, and opting for recyclable materials throughout all business operations are great ways at targeting a small part of your businesses carbon footprint. Engaging in the baseline of sustainability is a great way to encourage employees to think about their impact on the environment, which leads perfectly to our second point…

2. Talk to Your Employees

Did you know that in 2008, the popular supermarket chain Wal-Mart was able to save over $1 million in energy costs from an employee suggestion? The store associate noticed that there was an unnecessary light in each of the staff room vending machines, and by proposing they remove this light was able to create a ripple throughout the company that resulted in massive savings, and a massive win for the environment. Opening a discussion with your employees surrounding sustainability and sustainable business practices pays off – how much could you save?

3. Let Employees Work from Home

Remote working has risen in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, and businesses globally have seen a huge reduction in costs from having their employees work from home. Office spaces are no longer mandatory, which means neither is paying for their upkeep. Employees who would usually have a long commute either by personal or public transport are now traveling less, decreasing carbon emissions globally. Allowing your employees to work from home means great savings for you and an even better impact on the environment – and with video conferencing tools like Cisco’s WebEx, maintaining contact and productivity throughout the workday has never been easier!

4. Become a B-Corp

‘’B-Corps’’ are a collective of certified businesses worldwide, each with the unified goal of social, environmental, and economical sustainability. Joining the ranks of the B-Corp businesses, which currently sit at 4,075 companies including Ben & Jerrys, Ocado, and Innocent Drinks, can offer your business a valuable network of peers collectively striving for a better future. Becoming a certified B-Corp not only makes a difference environmentally but can have a significant impact on your business’s reputation. Carla Heim of the Business Development Bank of Canada states that “Entrepreneurs who invest in their employees and their community are the ones who turn heads. Employees want to work with them, consumers are looking for them—and they buy!”

5. Rethink Recycling

Recycling doesn’t have to just be green bins and paper straws, did you know that there is a multitude of recycling and remanufacturing programmes that aim to cut down on the unnecessary production of new items, instead opting to refresh and update existing pieces to new standards. At Chulo we are a proud retailer of the Cisco Refresh remanufacturing programme, offering sustainable solutions to the growing demand for technology. From phones to switches, we have an environmentally conscious product for any office situation. Remanufactured technology is not only good for the environment but also great for your budget, pushing your IT budget to it's fullest with up to 70% savings.

As a certified Cisco retailer, we offer authorised refurbished and remanufactured Cisco products that have been thoroughly tested by a team of Cisco experts, ensuring device and network safety and operating under the Cisco Refresh warranty.

Check out our online store or get in touch with one of our specialists and learn how Chulo can upgrade your network, at a fraction of the cost.