Business owners wear many hats, from finance and marketing to problem-solving customer needs. So, adding plans to be sustainable can feel overwhelming and unachievable, but it’s simpler than you think, writes Ray Pastoors, founder of True Green.

There are a few ways you can put the environment back into your 2024 plans without adding a science degree to your head.

One of the first and most critical actions you can take as a business owner to become more sustainable is to audit your existing operations and activities.

You can speak to Carbon Neutral or a similar organisation to measure how much of a footprint you contribute. Even a solopreneur working from home has an impact.

Common areas contributing to our footprint include the energy you use, from heating and cooling to lighting choices and appliances. That includes when we forget to unplug the device after we have finished using it, also known as standby power.

You can minimise your energy impact by switching to energy-efficient appliances and using clean energy like solar panels. Or, if that’s not an option, speak to your energy retailer about purchasing GreenPower, so they have to buy enough renewable energy to match how much power you use at home or office.

For those using gas appliances, swap these with electricity.

How to be more sustainable when your business is online

The less noticeable impact of your energy usage is what goes on behind the scenes in the cloud. When you store work documents in the cloud, this requires energy to operate servers and data centres.

It’s a good idea to do a New Year cleanup and delete any files on the cloud you no longer need. This digital cull could even save you money.

Your video conference habits can also lead to more problems. So reconsider whether you need a video call or can pick up and use the ‘old-school’ mobile phone. That will save the back-and-forth emails, reducing your CO2 levels.

What about travel?

If you need to travel, consider:

1. Walking or cycling to your destination
2. Catching public transport
3. Carpooling
4. Riding a low-emission or zero-emission vehicle option

If you happen also to run a website, then be mindful of how much content you upload, and consider switching to a green web hosting provider like True Green Hosting to reduce your impact.

Sustainability and logistics

For those who love to get stuff delivered, choose a carbon-neutral provider and purchase goods locally. The further your items need to travel, the higher your transportation carbon footprint. It could be as simple as choosing fruit in season in Australia over international types, which go by air or sea to get here.

Your packaging can also make a difference, along with the materials you use in your products and services. Look for materials that are backed up by independent environmental claims. Unfortunately, some companies will use terms like “green” or “eco” or imply this without having anything to support it. That’s greenwashing, and regulators like the ACCC are cracking down on these behaviours.

For materials, whether you make goods or buy them, try to avoid anything that goes into a landfill. And if you are producing goods that have multiple materials bound together like the famous Pringles can, then be wary that by doing this, your item like this tin for chips will head to landfill.

You might also like to start composting or see whether your council offers a food and organics bin (FOGO), which helps reduce methane emissions that are more potent than carbon dioxide. Food scraps can reach a second life as fertiliser for plants and crops.

So, while running your business, there are a few simple ways to make a difference and be more sustainable.

Your sustainable journey in 2024 begins by understanding how much you produce C02 or emissions as a business and individual.

A carbon or environmental audit will help you measure, set goals and stay accountable in reducing or offsetting your impacts, along with the steps you take to get there.

The crystal ball for Mother Earth is in your hands.

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