10 sustainable practices for companies

Nowadays, environmental awareness has transcended the personal sphere to become fully established in the business world. Companies, aware of the impact of their activities on the planet, actively seek to minimize their carbon footprint and operate more sustainably. This transformation not only responds to ethical responsibility, but it has also become a competitive advantage, as consumers increasingly value and prefer companies committed to the environment.

But how can companies effectively address this challenge? The key lies in implementing strategies that, without involving radical changes, generate a real and measurable positive impact.

Next, we'll explore 10 strategies that can help your company move toward a more sustainable business model, improving its reputation and contributing to the preservation of the planet.

1. Integral digitalization: The first step towards sustainability

Digital transformation is the ideal starting point for a company that seeks to be more sustainable. By adopting digitalization in all its processes, the company dramatically reduces its consumption of paper, a valuable natural resource.

Additional benefits of digitization:

• Facilitates teleworking: It reduces travel and associated emissions.
• Improve internal communication: It speeds up the flow of information and reduces the need to print documents.

2. Energy efficiency: Small actions, big impact

Reducing energy consumption does not always involve large investments. Implementing simple measures can result in significant savings:

• Turn off equipment at the end of the workday: A basic but fundamental practice.
• Take advantage of natural light: Designing workspaces that maximize natural light intake reduces the need for artificial lighting.
• Encourage teleworking: It reduces office occupancy and, therefore, associated energy consumption.

3. The 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The 3Rs, basic principles of waste management, become fundamental pillars for business sustainability:

• Reduce the consumption of disposable materials: Prioritize the use of reusable products or products with a lower environmental impact.
• Reuse materials whenever possible: Give materials a second life before discarding them.
• Recycle waste properly: Separate and manage waste properly to facilitate recycling.

It is important to implement training and awareness programs for employees, with the objective of integrating 3Rs into business culture.

4. Sustainable mobility: Towards cleaner transportation

Mobility is a crucial aspect when it comes to reducing the carbon footprint. Some measures to promote more sustainable transport are:

• Renew the vehicle fleet: Opt for electric or hybrid vehicles to reduce emissions.
• Encourage public or shared transportation between employees: Reduce the number of individual vehicles in circulation.
• Offer green transport alternatives: Facilitate the use of bicycles or electric scooters.

5. Ecodesign: Products and services designed for sustainability

Sustainability must be present from the very conception of the products or services:

• Use recycled and/or biodegradable materials: Minimize the environmental impact of the raw material.
• Design durable and repairable products: Extend the useful life of products and reduce waste generation.
• Facilitate recycling at the end of its useful life: Design products that can be easily disassembled and recycled.

Incorporating ecodesign implies a change of mentality, where sustainability is prioritized at all stages of the product life cycle.

6. Circular Economy: Closing the product life cycle

The circular economy proposes a model of production and consumption where waste is converted into resources:

• Reintroducing materials into the production cycle: Reuse or recycle product components at the end of their useful life.
• Offer repair and reuse services: Extend the lifespan of products and reduce resource consumption.
• Collaborate with other companies to create closed cycles:  Establish synergies with other companies to take advantage of waste as raw material.

The implementation of the circular economy requires an exhaustive analysis of production processes and the supply chain.

7. Constant Carbon Footprint monitoring: The key to continuous improvement

Measuring and monitoring the carbon footprint on a regular basis is essential to identify improvement points and evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented strategies:

• Implement measurement and data analysis systems: Use specialized digital tools to obtain accurate information on emissions.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs): Define metrics that allow us to evaluate progress towards sustainability objectives.
• Perform regular audits: Count on the collaboration of external experts to verify the accuracy of the measurements and obtain recommendations.

SaaS platforms such as Manglai, specialized in the GHG protocol and ISO 14064, can be of great help in measuring and managing the carbon footprint.

8. Collaboration with sustainable companies: Joining forces for a better future

Collaboration between companies is key to driving sustainability on a large scale:

• Select suppliers committed to the environment: Prioritize collaboration with companies that share the same values of sustainability.
• Participate in joint initiatives and projects: Joining forces with other companies to develop innovative and sustainable solutions.
• Sharing good practices and experiences:  Encourage the exchange of knowledge and learning between companies.

Business collaboration not only generates a positive environmental impact, but it can also open up new business opportunities.

9. Minimizing digital pollution: An invisible but real challenge

Digital pollution, although invisible, has a significant environmental impact. Some measures to minimize it:

• Optimize the sending of emails: Eliminate unnecessary emails and reduce the size of attachments.
• Host the web on green servers: Opt for web hosting providers that use renewable energy.
• Promote responsible data consumption:  Make employees aware of the impact of downloading and storing mass data.

Although digital pollution often goes unnoticed, it's important for companies to become aware of its impact and take steps to reduce it.

10. Sustainability Certification: Guarantee of commitment and transparency

Obtaining sustainability certifications, such as ISO 14001, provides numerous benefits:

• Demonstrates the company's real commitment to the environment:  It brings credibility and trust to the company's image.
• Facilitates access to new markets and customers: More and more consumers and companies are prioritizing collaboration with certified companies.
• It represents a competitive advantage: It differentiates the company from the competition and improves its reputation.

Sustainability certifications are a valuable tool for companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability in a transparent and verifiable way.

In short, the transition to a sustainable business model is not an easy path, but it is a necessary path. By implementing these strategies gradually and adapting them to their particular reality, companies can reduce their environmental impact, improve their image and contribute to building a more sustainable future for all.