Small businesses have always had the power to make a significant impact in their communities. As the clean energy industry and sustainability movement grow, these businesses can also become key players in addressing climate change.
When local businesses go green, their communities become better places to live and work. Some effects of small businesses committing to sustainability are:
1. Increased job availability. Small businesses that want to prioritize sustainability are going to need help implementing and maintaining their action items. A business might bring recycling and composting bins into its office, and it’ll need a waste collection business to regularly empty them. Or, if a business wants to install solar panels, it’ll need a team of professionals to help them do so. Some businesses might even hire an internal team member to head their sustainability efforts. Whichever actions they take, small businesses create job opportunities as a result.
2. Added opportunities for contractors and local businesses. Small businesses will need help with sustainability goals such as transitioning to clean energy. This puts contractors and other small businesses that specialize in clean technology at the center of these efforts, giving these businesses more work to meet growing clean energy needs.
3. Expanded support for nonprofit organizations. Many ways that small businesses can go green can involve local nonprofit organizations. For example, if a business no longer needs certain office supplies that are in good condition, it may donate them to a local charity. Or, if a business is looking to drive employee engagement in its ecofriendly goals, it might coordinate a volunteer event with a sustainability-focused nonprofit. As a result, nonprofit organizations can benefit from donations and extra helping hands.
4. Reduced carbon emissions. As a small business minimizes its carbon footprint, its community’s emissions will decrease too. This means that the business can help its community make an impact in addressing climate change and do its part to protect the environment.
5. Improved public health. Reducing carbon emissions purifies the air by lessening the pollutants in it such as carbon dioxide. This makes the air safer to breathe and can help prevent illnesses that come about from breathing in toxins.
6. Enhanced impact on public policy. As the voices of their communities, small business owners can advocate with local lawmakers for their communities’ needs. Local businesses going green shows policymakers that sustainability is a community priority. This can encourage lawmakers to advocate more strongly for climate action.
By transitioning to clean energy and committing to sustainability, small businesses can become climate action leaders and grow their impact locally and globally.