Part of learning to be part of the global conversation on environmental issues is learning how you can be greener as a business. In the long run, you will find making small changes to help the environment will not only aid in saving our world for future generations, but it will also help to make your business more profitable as technology changes.

The good news is that it doesn’t take a lot to be a bit more responsible for our planet. Most of the changes you can make are minor and it often doesn’t end up costing your business money. In fact, many sustainable businesses have products that can be reused or are the same price as alternative materials. 

Here are some ways you can help both the environment and your business succeed in the future.

1. Choose energy-efficient products

The battle for which energy source will end up serving the majority of Americans rages on, but that shouldn’t stop you from finding the most technologically-advanced and eco-friendly products available. Energy-efficient products might cost you more upfront as a provider, but because of their increasing popularity and the fact that they save your customers money over a period of time, it doesn’t hurt to have a few on hand available. Not only can you see a return on investment, but you also know that you are making a difference by offering green products to clients.

2. Go digital

If you’ve been in business a long time, you probably have reams of paper with old documents sitting around your office. While it can be nice to have a paper copy, more and more companies are choosing to move their records online in order to save money on paper costs and printers while also making it easy for clients to access anywhere. There are a number of different programs (even Google Docs can work for some businesses) that you can use in order to make records available while cutting down on how much paper is used.

Once the old records are uploaded, make sure to recycle the physical copies!

3. Give employees incentive to care

While even just one person can make a big difference in creating a better world by caring about the environment, a whole business can do quite a bit more. Some companies have chosen to give employees public transportation stipends to cut down on the amount of fuel used to commute, while others have created events at work that encourage volunteerism. You might have a day devoted to recycling or an organized trash day where employees can help clean up the highway. Many would love to volunteer to help the environment, but they don’t know how. By giving them some ways, you’re more likely to encourage green behavior in the office.

4. Work with companies that have your environmental goals

One of the most difficult parts of running a business is working with other companies that share your values and want to contribute to your success. How they feel about having a sustainable business is part of choosing a partnership that you know will last into the future. Before you agree to do business with another company, make sure to mention how you are trying to make the leap to a more sustainable business model. If they are not for the idea, then you might want to rethink about whether or not it is a partnership that you can see lasting into the future.

It’s always a bit scary to try something new. Fortunately, you’re not alone in choosing to think about how your business affects our earth. With a few slight changes, you’re already making a larger difference than you might realize.