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If you have made the decision to start a new business, there are a lot of things that you need to take into consideration. Business plans and profit margins are one of the top priorities for businesses when they start out, but now they have the added pressure of being eco-friendly. Being an eco-friendly business does not have to be hard. Here are some of the best ways to make your business greener.

Product packaging

You may have noticed that a lot of the bigger brands are labelling their bottles in a new way. A lot of them state how much of the packaging has recycled plastic that they have been made from, others are reducing the amount of packaging to reduce waste. Choosing eco-friendly packaging from the start will make it easier for your business in the long run.

Go solar

Every business needs an energy source to keep the lights on but that doesn’t mean that you have to get your power from the local power plant. In fact, there are many different ways to power your business that are a lot greener. Adding solar panels to the roof of your building can harness the energy from the sun to generate some of the energy that your business needs. The rest can be bought from eco-electric companies that are using clean sources, such as wind or hydropower.

Go paperless

Paper is one of those things that you seem to go through a lot of in your business but there are alternatives. Going paper-free and using electronic devices to manage your business paperwork can save you a lot of money and space. You don’t even need to invest in a collection of servers to store your electronic paperwork, you can use online storage such as the Cloud. You don’t even need to print paper receipts, you can now email the receipt to the customer so that they have a digital copy.

Sponsor a charity

There are many businesses out there who have pledged to do more than just be green themselves. Some companies are planting trees, sponsoring endangered animals, and donating to schools to help them be greener. You don’t need to hand all of your profits over to a charity but pledging to donate a certain amount, for example, 1% of the monthly profits, can add up to a large amount for a charity that needs the funds.

Reduce your waste

Landfills are filling up fast, and recycling is only doing so much. In order to make an impact, we need to reduce the amount of waste that we create, starting with our own businesses. Reducing packaging and going paperless are two ways to reduce the amount of rubbish we make. However, it is worth your while being more mindful about the items that you put in your bin everyday. If you discover that you are putting a lot of stuff in the bin, stop and ask yourself what these items are and if you can stop bringing them into your business in the first place.

When bringing a team together, you need to set some basic ground rules for everyone to follow. This doesn’t mean you become an overly strict employer that runs an incredibly tight ship, it’s more a sense of putting rules in place that let everyone understand what’s expected of them and the company ethos you’re pushing forward. 

Setting these rules is important, and here are three examples of great ground rules your team should follow:

Always be on time

Punctuality is so crucial in the world of business. It might not seem like it, but a lack of punctuality can be the difference between a business succeeding or failing. You need to encourage your employees to always be on time, ensuring they turn up for work when they need to be in the office. Late arrivals can set you back some valuable minutes every morning, which translates to hours a year. It’s not just the morning arrivals that demand punctuality; they should be on time for meetings, sales calls, events, etc. Make it known that you value people that turn up on time and expect punctuality from everyone in your team. 

Put the customer first

Another clear ground rule is to put the customer first. This concept means that your employees will always make the customer’s needs the main priority in everything that they do. For example, they won’t try to upsell to a customer that’s clearly happy with the product/service they already have. Too many teams get into the habit of making sales the primary concern of daily life. This means you lose sight of the customer and stop catering to their needs. Always get to know the customer, understand what they want, then put them first. Even if this means going out of your way or doing something you’d rather not do; if it’s necessary to keep customers happy, your team needs to do it. 

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Lastly, you should set a company policy to ensure that everyone recycles as much as possible on a daily basis. The idea of promoting workplace recycling means that your employees will generate less waste. This is beneficial for all kinds of reasons, the primary one being that it helps the environment. You create a much greener workplace and can be proud of the fact that you are reducing waste and doing your bit to battle climate change. As a knock-on benefit, your reputation will increase as consumers recognize your recycling efforts. Consumers respect companies that make an effort to be green, and it all starts with you and your employees. Put a policy in place and make sure that your team follows it, increasing the number of recycled goods in your business. 

Clearly, there are lots of other ground rules you might want to set for your employees. Some of these rules can be industry-specific, but it’s all about considering the main behaviors or concepts that are critical for business success. The ones above are very general, meaning they can be used across industries. One final point is that the rules will only hold weight if you lead by example. If you want your employees to follow them, you need to do so as well!

We all have days when we want to do a little DIY project but can’t find the right tools. Whether you’re trying to hang some art on your wall or put together furniture for your new apartment, you’ll need the right tools for the job. There are many different kinds of tools that may come in handy when it comes to DIY projects. Here are five specific types of tools that every household needs for DIY projects.

Multi-bit Screwdriver

These screwdrivers are perfect for tight spaces. They typically have a short length, making them ideal for use in these areas and easy to fit into small grips. This quality also means they won’t slip out of the fastener as easily as longer screwdrivers can when you apply pressure or torque during turning. Multi-bit screwdrivers also store bits vertically in the handle so that you can access them with one hand. This makes it easy to switch between screwdriver and bit without having to put down your tool or fumble with a separate case of extra bits.

Positive Displacement Compressors

Positive displacement compressors are used in the majority of applications. Compressors can be used for many different applications, such as spray painting, pumping air into tyres, and even nail guns. An article such as positive displacement compressors explained will be able to describe all the ins and outs of the different compressors available. So whether your goal is; larger projects, home improvement, or DIY at-home projects, this tool will make life easier!

Circular Saw

A circular saw is an essential tool for any DIY project. It can cut through wood, metal or plastic quickly and easily (even if it’s on the ground). The best part about circular saws is that they are relatively inexpensive. They also have fantastic safety features like a blade lock system that prevents accidental start-ups, along with anti-vibration technology which minimizes fatigue when cutting for extended periods at a time.

Multifunction Oscillating Tool

A multifunction oscillating tool is one of the most valuable tools to own. It can help you complete various projects with its multiple attachments and accessories, saving you time and money in your DIY efforts. For example, if you are looking for an easy way to cut through rigid materials like tiles or concrete, this tool has a special oscillating saw that can be used as a blade. This also works great for sanding wood surfaces down too.

Drill

Owning a drill means you can make holes in walls, screws on cabinets and more! A drill will be your best friend when it comes to these projects. There are many different types of drills. The cordless versions tend to be a bit more expensive, while the corded versions usually sell for about half the price or less, depending on where you buy them.

DIY projects will save you money and allow you the creative freedom to design and create things precisely as you want them. Achieving the best results in DIY projects requires using professional tools, no matter how simple the job may seem. There are many attachments and special equipment designed to help you complete various tasks such as sawing, sanding wood, and painting. Even if something like this sounds too expensive right now, don’t forget about their benefits over time. It is cheaper than purchasing new materials every single time and much faster than doing everything manually.