Make Sustainability a Priority on World Environment Day (and Every Day After!)

Posted by M & M Box Partitions Co. on June 11, 2013 12:00 am

Most people remember Earth Day on April 22^nd each year, but did you know that June 5^th marked World Environment Day? Having these days set aside reminds us to be mindful of the impacts our activities have on the world as a whole. It’s the perfect time to reflect on current business practices, and come up with ways to make them more sustainable.

One easy way to green your business is by looking no further than your suppliers. If your company uses corrugated paperboard for packaging, look for suppliers that offer products made from recycled materials.

Recycled cardboard not only saves trees (60 boxes equals about half of a one-ton pine tree), it also saves energy and landfill space. Using recycled cardboard saves 25% of the energy required to make cardboard from scratch. In addition, it’s estimated that in the average person’s lifetime, they will be able to save 7 trees, 35 gallons of oil, and over 3,000 gallons of water just by recycling all of their moving boxes. Full details can be found here.

You can also incorporate sustainability in your business plan by making small changes within the company. Make an effort to go paperless in the office, trading memos for emails, and encouraging staff to use online banking and direct deposit. Set up recycling bins in high traffic areas for a simple yet effective transition. And of course, make it a habit to turn off all computers, monitors, and other non-essential electronics before heading out at the end of the day.

What other tips do you have to increase sustainability in a business? Let us know in the comments.