New Delhi, 21 May, 2015 (ISSME): The outcome of cutting down on waste and the cost of business operations means saving of resources and increase in profits. Moreover, they have positive impacts on the environment and society where a business operates in. Despite several limitations unlike large businesses that have resources, facilities and processes to go green, SMEs too can adopt green business practice by following some easy steps. Some of the steps that SMEs could emulate to go green are as follows:
- Switch off equipment while not in use.
- Encourage electronic communication and digital marketing.
- Print only when required, print double-sided documents whenever possible and use recycled paper as much as a business can.
- Not letting the taps dripping. (One drop of water wasted per second wastes 10,000 litres per year.)
- Reduce use of water per flush by placing one or two plastic container filled with water or stones in the toilet reservoirs.
- Reuse the packaging stuff.
- Sourcing “greener” products and services from the suppliers and service providers in the local community.
- Refurbishing is less expensive and environmentally better than buying new furniture.
- Virtual and flexible working can reduce a company’s travel costs, as well as cutting employees’ carbon footprints.
- Use more energy efficient technologies like lighting, energy monitors, zonal air-conditioning, etc.
- Remove individual waste bins as people are more likely to recycle more if they have to use centralised bins.