10 easy ways to make your small business more sustainable

By Jess Blackwell

Want to improve the sustainability of your small business but not sure where to start? 

​Here are 10 easy tips that can be used to make your business more sustainable, regardless of what industry you’re in: 

1. Use what you already have before buying something new. 
2. Properly recycle old pens, markers, and other office supplies. 
3. Use more sustainable highlighters, pencils, and pens.
4. Switch your office or store to a more sustainable brand of bathroom tissue. 
5. Try using low-waste hand soaps and dish soaps in your office or store.
6. Find ways to reduce paper waste.
7. Cut back on takeout coffee trips, walk to the cafe, and use reusable mugs. 
8. Stop purchasing bottled water.
9. Cut back on food waste at your office or store. 
10. Keep yourself and your team educated and up-to-date.

Over the next 10 weeks, we'll cover each of these tips in more detail, sharing valuable information that can help you run your business more sustainably.

But remember: everyone has to start somewhere, and all those baby steps in the right direction add up. 
So don’t feel pressured to make a bunch of changes all at once—you can always start by picking one thing at a time off this list. 
And, no matter what, don’t let any setbacks or hiccups freak you out! Changing habits and deeply-entrenched ways of thinking both take time, so there’s no need to feel ashamed if you find yourself struggling to make these changes or if you find old behaviors popping up again. 
Just forgive yourself and keep at it!

*This post is based on content originally posted at: www.lumida.ca/blog