This article is sponsored by PECO, an Exelon Company.
Finding ways to make your business more sustainable can benefit both the environment and your bottom line.
But as a business owner, being more environmentally conscious requires the help of your entire staff to make the most impactful change and maximize your company’s goals. Here are a few tips to help encourage your employees to be more green while on the job.
Educate and inform
Be transparent with your staff about your sustainability goals. Explain how recycling, being energy efficient and using reusable materials can help the company’s viability and the common good. Reach out to local environmental groups to see if someone can come and speak to your employees about how their efforts can really make a difference.
Make it a team effort
Be open to feedback from staff about your goals and for contributions to your overall sustainability plan. Enlist members to form a “green team” that can be in charge of recycling efforts, reducing paper use, ordering eco-friendly office supplies, and spearheading other initiatives. Make sure to lead by example so that employees see leadership being active in workplace conservation.
Incentivize goals
Reward members of the green team and those that reach team goals with gift cards or non-monetary awards like extra time off. Offer raffles and prizes to encourage employees to make their commute to work more green. At the least, recognize those that go above and beyond with a plaque, certificate or some other public acknowledgement.
Add a social element
Being eco-friendly doesn’t have to be laborious and can actually be fun. Motivate staff by using a portion of the money saved from reducing energy consumption and water use to treat them to a catered lunch or a restaurant outing. Split staff into groups and have them work with local organizations or charities to help clean up the community, parks, a nearby lake or beach one day a month. Afterwards, celebrate the team effort with a festive group beverage at a nearby happy hour.
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