Business Owners: How Can My Business Go Green?

The question that many business owners are asking themselves is: how can my business go green? There is a definite desire from the consumers to be purchasing goods from companies that are eco friendly. Even if a business is not in the green industry directly, the consumer still wants to know that the companies from whom they make purchases is a company that has the environment in mind.

So, how do businesses go green? And, possibly more importantly, how do businesses relate that to their customer base?

Printed materials
Businesses have a lot of printed materials that they use. Companies have business cards, letterhead, envelopes, brochures, and the list continues. What if these printed resources came from an eco friendly printer? Choosing an eco friendly printer can be difficult at times. A business owner or decision maker must make sure that the printer truly is eco friendly. Many printers say that they are eco friendly, but make sure you do your research. Most eco friendly printers will tell you why they're eco friendly if you just ask.

Power source
This green tip can even save businesses money! Everybody loves saving money. Businesses consume a lot of energy, compared to the average home. This is not necessarily a bad thing, either. Lights need to be on, computers need to run, etc. Solar panels can help reduce the cost of the power. If a business can put together just a few panels, they can run certain parts of their business on solar energy. For example, the hot water heater can be run off a solar panel. If this change is made, that's great. Then, make a second change and put the air conditioning units on the solar energy. The solar panels can be installed so that when they run out of energy, the source will automatically change back to the original source.

Relate changes to the customers
Once a business has started to make changes to their environmental impact, the customers need to know! An effective method to make sure customers know about the changes is with a promotional tote bag. Businesses can utilize imprinted green bags to show their customers the new green steps they are taking. A logo and slogan could be printed on the promotional canvas bags that says something like, "We're going green." Customers will feel good that they are purchasing products from a company that is helping the environment, and they will also love the new reusable shopping bag that you give them!

Remember, don't try to do too many things at once. Going green is a great thing for the environment, but only if you're actually doing it. Make small changes first, then, worry about the big ones later. You have to make sure that you're still in business, and having fun doing it!

Eco Friendly Printers - Print For Less Review

As the new years approaches, I would like to encourage you to find more eco friendly ways to do the same things you already doing. A lot of times, these more environmentally friendly ways will also save you money! Finding an eco friendly printer is one of these ways that will help you save money and the environment. This online printer is a great source for eco friendly printing.
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There are a few major areas that you should consider when looking for an eco friendly printer.

Paper

Paper choice is very important when considering the environment. There is enough information that could be discussed on just paper alone. It really comes down to the bleach, however. Trees are a resource that can be reused over and over again. Dioxin, the chemical usually used to bleach paper, is not a renewable resource. Once used, it cannot be used again, ever. So, paper that is bleached with dioxin is not an eco friendly paper choice. You should try to find printers that use paper that is milled elemental chlorine free.

Ink

The inks that a printer uses can also be very harmful to the environment if the incorrect inks are used. For many decades, printers used any inks that were available. Some printers still use these old inks. Those kinds of inks are harmful to the environment because they are made with harsh chemicals that effect the environment. The waste water used to print contains many harmful chemicals that effect the streams, rivers, lakes, fields, etc. An eco friendly printer will use inks that are vegetable based, primarily soy, which is gentle on the environment, and the inks still produce great, high quality images. Technology has come a long way, and you don't have to sacrifice quality for an environmentally friendly ink.

Packaging

Traditional packaging of printed products includes a cardboard box and peanuts. Packaging materials are not necessarily harmful to the environment, but it is how those materials are treated that can harm the planet. Foam peanuts are typically made from a petroleum base. An eco friendly printer will use packaging materials that are made of biodegradable materials to pad the printed materials inside of boxes. The boxes, if made of cardboard, can be recycled and made into new cardboard. There is no reason why cardboard boxes should not be recycled. Another good way to make cardboard boxes eco friendly is to reuse them in your own company. Use an old box to ship your next item to a customer.

Eco friendly printers will also try their hardest to reduce waste in paper trimmings. They will make the best cuts out of the paper, and they will take any waste and reuse it in other paper like newsprint. Power supply is also another way to spot an eco friendly company. Find an eco friendly printer that is powered by solar or wind energy.