Top Tips for Businesses
1. Reduce, Reuse or Recycle
Consider these three golden rules; reduce the amount of the Earth's resources that we use. Reuse, don't just bin it, could someone else make use of it? And Recycle Can the materials be made into something new? You might find that you will save money too!
2. Be energy wise!
Measure your energy consumption and know how much you are using, it’s the starting point to reducing the amount you waste and therefore to save money! And lower your carbon emissions! Also investigate green energy tariffs that are available, or consider generating your own renewable energy on site. Check out Hospitable Climatesfor help and advice on this.
3. Get visitors involved and help them be responsible
Visitors want to enjoy their holiday/visit with the help of your business, but why not help them enjoy it in a sustainable fashion. Offer visitors/guests choices, or advice on how to improve their environmental footprint, such as advertising an environmental policy on towels or bedding.
4. Use low-impact chemical free cleaners such as micro fibre cloths, vinegar etc
Many options are available that have a low environmental impact as opposed to expensive main stream cleaning products that are often non-renewable and take a long time to biodegrade. Check-out some ideas at the Low Impact Living Initiative.
5. Buy and promote local food
With food travelling further than ever before, often hundreds of miles from where it was produced to where it is consumed, the benefits to local food, grown, harvested and traded all in one area, are potentially significant. All this brings health, economic, environmental and social benefits to the local area.
6. Support your local community
Purchasing from local suppliers as well as promoting local businesses will help not only the financial sustainability of your business but also help improve the social impacts the business has. Promoting local products, services and cultural features helps support the unique identity of the destination in which you do business. Alternatively, why not consider helping to improve the destination that your business is located within by participating in a local community environmental project or charity. For example, allow staff to participate in littler picking projects or pathway development.
7. Use Fair Trade products
For products that have come from abroad, like coffee and tea, consider using Fairtrade products. Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Check out the Fairtradewebsite for more information.
8. Use local transport
Inform visitors how to get to your business in a more sustainable manner, e.g. supply local bus and train timetables on your website.
9. Promote car free activities
Exploring England without a car can be fun, so in addition to promoting local public transport options why not suggest walking/cycling routes and cycle hire companies in your destination.
10. Be a great place to work
Happy staff with good working conditions help to create a positive environment for guests to enjoy themselves and might reduce costs for the business too.