What does it mean to go green? To go green in a business sense is to adopt principles, policies and practices that respect the environment, and although this may seem to be the latest of many trends that we’ve seen over the years, and in a sense it is, it is however a trend that offers a wide array of benefits for businesses.

What are the advantages of going green and which businesses can do so?

Depending on which part of the world your business operates in, and the nature of your business, there are a number of benefits to take advantage of. It’s worth pointing out that you don’t have to be involved in an industry to go green; even businesses in the service sector can go green by making a few changes to their operations. 

Many countries, and states within countries, offer incentives and tax credits to make going green more appealing for businesses, of which the Renewable Energy and Energy-Efficient Technologies Grants Program in Florida is a good example, as this scheme provides grants for companies in Florida that use renewable energy sources. 

Whilst the greatest value of going green concerns the overall health of the environment, in addition to legal and tax advantages (like the scheme above) and being seen in a more positive light by environmentally conscious consumers, there are some excellent ways in which companies directly benefit from adopting green principles, policies and practices. 

Carbon offsetting projects 

A carbon offset is best described as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions made to compensate for (or) to offset an emission made elsewhere. Carbon offsets therefore represent an effective tool to utilise alongside internal changes in an organisation that helps it to meet its carbon reduction commitments.

There are some excellent carbon offset programs that companies can support, which not only enable them to meet their carbon reduction targets, but also provide positive associations for their brand. Cost-effective carbon offset programs are also available, and whilst they don’t offer as many benefits as regular programs, they do offer maximum impact and value with regard to meeting carbon reduction targets. 

Reduced waste and enhanced efficiency

By reducing waste, companies can improve their overall efficiency which translates into monetary benefits, for example reducing the amount of electricity that a company uses reduces their utility bills, whilst cutting down on printing and the use of printed materials reduces the amount of money spent on office supplies. 

An excellent example of reduced waste that translates into money saved is refilling ink cartridges instead of throwing them away. Ink cartridges are non-biodegradable and are a major problem in landfills around the world, so by refilling ink cartridges instead of throwing them away, companies can make a significant impact both environmentally and fiscally. Using GPS fleet tracking systems is another way to reduce waste and promote efficiency, for not only do companies cut down on petrol consumption and manpower hours, but they also find they’re able to provide higher standards of service. 

The CarbonNeutral Company has serviced clients in a span of ten years in terms of comprehensive carbon offsets and carbon emission reduction.