Though eco-entrepreneurship and sustainable business practices are not quite mainstream, they have been on the rise recently and will almost certainly continue to pick up speed. The most recent example of this trend is the increasing number of startups focusing on sustainability in their products or services.

It is clear that consumers are looking for ways in which they can be more responsible with their consumption, production, and product uses. Trust us, as a green entrepreneurs ourselves, we know this first hand.

If you’re a fellow entrepreneur, here are some good examples of sustainable business practices you can can consider to join our mission of growing a greener future. 

Sustainable Farming

Whether you’re interested in producing your own organically grown food or want to purchase organic and sustainably grown food for your restaurant, catering, or other food-related business, there are factors you should look into when deciding on whom to purchase your food products from. 

At Small Axe Peppers, we make our hot sauces with peppers purchased from community gardens across the country, for instance. Each bottle of our hot sauce directly supports the gardens and gardeners that grow peppers for the hot sauce. In order to work with these community gardens which are revamping abandoned urban areas and bringing locally sourced food to underserved communities, we employ various sustainable business practices. 

If you planning on learning how to grow your own products in ways that don’t harm the earth, here are a few factors to keep in mind.

• Using Greenhouse technology. Indoor farms have been riding a wave of technological innovation in order to satisfy consumer demand for locally grown produce 
• Look into forest farming, which is the intentional cultivation of specialty crops beneath native or planted woodlands.
• Consider rainwater harvesting. It can be a less expensive way to guarantee safe, clean water for drinking, as well as gardening, watering livestock, or agriculture. 

Earth-Friendly Packaging

The increasing demand for eco-friendly packaging has made it an almost mandatory requirement in the market. One of the most commonsense sustainable business practices out there, eco-friendly packaging reduces the amount of waste generated, which helps in reducing environmental pollution and saves money on cleaning and disposal. 

The number of companies that have shifted to using eco-friendly packaging is steadily increasing and will continue to as it becomes more popular. Conscious consumerism is on the rise, with millennials leading the way.

Popular methods for making the switch to earth-friendly packaging are:

• Recycled Cardboard or Paper. You can make your own safe and inexpensive packing materials at home by tearing or shredding up old newspapers or recycled paper. 
• Corrugated Bubble Wrap is a wrap made of up-cycled corrugated cardboard. Rather than disposing or recycling post-consumer cardboard waste, the material is given an additional life as a cushioning agent.
• Biodegradable Packing Peanuts. These work in the same way as their Styrofoam brethren, but they do not linger for eternity, polluting the environment. They are also less expensive.

Let Your Customers Know You’re Committed to Sustainable Business Practices

The fact that your customers know they can shop with you and feel good about their purchase should be something you brag about in all your marketing. The easiest way to do that is to have a brand that lets them know you’re earth-friendly and follow sustainable practices. 

A well-designed logo for your business makes a strong first impression, builds brand awareness, and separates your business from the competition. You can use an online logo maker to design a logo that immediately lets people know you’re on Team Green. Simply choose a style and icon and add in any text you’ll need, and you’ll be able to view an assortment of logos and adjust their fonts and colors. 

Other Sustainable Business Practices To Consider:

• Install solar panels to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and coal.
• Use energy-efficient bulbs in all your lighting and, when possible, utilize window light.
• Encourage employees to bring their own reusable coffee cups and drink containers and make a space for them to keep them clean to reduce the amount of paper and plastic they generate. 
• According to Constellation Energy, the best temperature for offices is 73-78 degrees. Keeping temps too cool or too warm not only wastes resources but negatively impacts productivity. 

Eco-friendly small businesses know how to put the planet in first place, and at the same time, leave a positive long-lasting impression on their consumers. It’s a win/win for everyone.

Want to support sustainable business practices?

Then support a company that uses them. At Small Axe Peppers, all of our hot sauces are considered sustainable snacks because made from local urban farms and community gardens.

This post was written by guest contributor Michael Stephenson.