Integrating technology into your small business to promote a more environmentally-friendly outlook to your customers could be a key change in targeting a new demographic.
Studies have shown that younger customers are more likely to purchase from businesses that align with their values and ethics. A greener approach to business may be your ticket to targeting that demographic.
Environmentally Friendly Business Ideas – Go Paperless
A critical approach that your business could use to align itself with a more environmentally friendly image is to go paperless. With a drastic reduction in waste, digitalising your communication, billing and invoicing can provide you with easier access to records. Not only is this good for your business and the environment, but it can also save you money.
Though it may be difficult to entirely go paperless if the companies you are still conducting business with are still using paper communication, you can still make these changes where possible, particularly within your business’s internal operations.
Remote Working
Over the last few years, many businesses have needed to conduct business and work from home. Remote working has led to reduced emissions and a greater understanding of flexible work for employees. Business values have shifted noticeably to recognise this.
Significant improvements in technology have facilitated remote working. Online applications allow team members to collaborate and discuss work in real-time, with few issues.
Remote working also removes the need for travel, reducing transport-related pollution and saves businesses money on powering large office buildings. You’ll potentially save on leasing costs by switching your business model to a remote or flexible working arrangement. Some businesses may benefit from hot-desking, where desk allocation is on an ‘as needs’ basis.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy may also be available and utilised by small businesses. In some cases, there may be government incentives or grants available to implement renewable energy into the business’s processes. If your business does have a small office, adding solar panels can be an extremely efficient way to reduce or offset carbon emissions. Although it might seem like an expense at the time, it may end up saving you in the long run.
By aligning your business’s values to achievable goals in terms of the environment with the assistance of technology, you could potentially target demographics that you had not previously achieved, or find staff that prioritise those values to assist your business.
