Over the past few years, our buying habits have changed drastically, but this time for the better. This comes as no surprise as more people realised the gravity of the impact our consumer society has on the planet. As a result, an increasing number of shoppers started leaning towards companies who produce eco friendly merchandise.
If you feel your business is lagging behind this trend, do not despair. It’s never too late to catch up with the times; just ensure your company is guided by eco-friendly principles from now on. Even small changes have a meaningful impact, so go ahead and get familiar with the latest buzzwords in the field.
The 3Rs
Let’s start with the fundamentals. The 3Rs stand for: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Incorporating this principle into your business model shows an image of an environmentally conscious company. Obviously, you want your business to make a profit, otherwise, you’d run a charity. However, it is crucial to consider both people and the planet and value them as much as you value the earnings. By recycling and reducing the amount of waste your business produces, you are taking a step towards a cleaner and safer environment.
Ethical Trade
A 2019 research conducted in the UK shows that socially conscious shopping is on the rise as more and more buyers show a willingness to engage with eco-friendly products such as sustainable branded bags, eco friendly notebooks, and printed eco mugs. Shoppers are even willing to pay a higher price for socially responsible products. This is why it’s important to abide by the concepts of ethical trade. In simple terms, ethical trade means that a company does business in such a manner that respects international labour rights, even in poor countries.
Fairtrade Certification
Fairtrade is a system of certification which guarantees that a product meets certain levels of quality. Enforcing these standards means protecting both workers and shoppers. Workers get fair pay and their rights are respected, whereas buyers get the assurance they are buying ethically produced items. This way, both consumers and producers show the intention of leaving the environment slightly better off.
Organic Products
When people say organic, they usually think of organic food. However, items such as personalised clothing or even branded bathroom accessories can also fall under this category. These items are certifiably free from any harmful substances, such as chemical fertilisers or pesticides. It doesn’t take a scientist to understand how such substances can be detrimental to the environment. Producing organic items leaves nature intact, consequently contributing to the overall quality of peoples’ lives.
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Biodegradable vs. Compostable
Another important quality of eco-friendly products is that they don’t harm the environment once discarded. Some products, such as non-degradable plastic bags, take up to 1000 years to decompose. Even when they do fall apart, the particles they leave behind are highly toxic and can pollute the soil. This can further harm the health of plants, animals, and humans.
Biodegradable and compostable products do no such thing, making them more desirable than non-degradable items. Both biodegradable and compostable items decompose over time, leaving the environment unharmed. Biodegradable objects are decomposed with the help of bacteria and other living organisms. On the other hand, compostable products include organic elements such as fruits and vegetables, cardboard, paper, etc.
It is important to note that all compostable products are biodegradable, but not vice versa. This means all compostable products are of natural origin, whereas synthetic materials such as plastic can also be biodegradable. It’s just that biodegradable plastic decomposes faster than the regular one.
Carbon Neutral
If you calculated your carbon footprint as an individual, you’d be in for a big surprise! An unpleasant one. Carbon footprint represents your fair share in polluting the earth by performing your everyday activities. Can you imagine how much a business or an organisation can harm the environment if a single person can cause irreversible harm just by existing? Not an image you want for your company, right?
You want your business to show genuine care for all the stakeholders and leave a positive impact on people and the planet. One way to go about this is to be carbon neutral. This is done by maintaining the balance between the carbon you release, and the one you eliminate from the environment. You can do this by either taking actions such as planting trees or by donating to organisations that deal with this issue professionally.
To Sum Up
Living in a world that changes at a fast pace means you have to adapt and transform in order to stay on top. More importantly, if you want to make a difference, you have a responsibility to make a meaningful change.
Sustainable companies operate under the agenda of having a positive environmental impact. This impact is a consequence of incorporating eco-friendly practices, such as environmentally conscious production, fair trade, and negating the carbon footprint. If you hurry up, there is still time to catch up and become a part of an eco-friendly and sustainable community.
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As always, we are here to answer any questions you may have. Contact us to talk through your ideas. Together, we’ll make sure your chosen eco friendly items fit any event or giveaway you have in mind! You may give a member of our experienced team a call on 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today.
