Written by Rosa Stocks, One Step Retail Blogger

On April 22nd, we will all come together to celebrate our planet on Earth Day, helping to raise awareness and bring action towards the environmental issues impacting our world. In honor of this special day, we thought we'd share with you four simple ways to make your business more eco-friendly. Not only will the earth thank you, but also the environmentally conscious consumers that have pledged their loyalty to greener retail.

 

4 WAYS TO GO GREEN AS A RETAILER

 

1. Reduce Paper. Go Digital.

Reduce clutter and waste by going digital for bill payments, vendor orders, invoices, and customer receipts. Offer the option to receive one's receipt through email or not to print a receipt at all. Not only will you reduce paper consumption, but it is also a great opportunity to engage and market to customers online.

 

2. Save Energy. Be Efficient. 

There are several steps you can take to be more energy-efficient. For example, purchase energy-efficient devices and equipment for your business. Compare their Energy Star ratings to know which are most effective. Rechargeable batteries are a great way to reduce battery waste and costs. Forget to turn off the lights from time to time? Consider investing in automatic lighting controls to conserve energy when your lights are not actually in use.

 

3. Think About Going Mobile.

Many countertop point-of-sale devices use up a lot more electricity than laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Consider going mobile with your POS systems to reduce energy consumption. It will help you save money, declutter your store space, and deliver a more one-on-one engagement with your customers on the sales floor. Don't forget to donate or recycle your equipment if you do decide to make the switch.

 

4.Reuse and Recycle.

Incorporating more eco-friendly products and practices to your business routine is a great way to reach your sustainability goals. For example, when it comes to cleaning your business, try switching to more eco-friendly cleaning products. You can even save more by using a simple combination of water and distilled vinegar for cleaning. Other practices to think about:  promote reusable shopping bags, minimize in-store packaging, decorate your store with sustainable materials such as plants and salvaged fixtures, use ceiling fans over air conditioners, reuse the back side of paper, and re-purpose packaging and office materials as much as possible. If your product or packaging is recyclable, encourage your customers to recycle them with special incentives such as discounts or small gifts.

 

These are just a few of the many ways you can become a sustainable business. Get started by employing these four simple steps. While some green initiatives may not seem as cost-effective upfront, in the long run, they will help your business save money, attract today's more mindful shoppers, and most importantly, preserve the beauty of our planet for many generations to come.