Did you know Google spent $100-500 million on environmental projects in 2023? Unicorns such as Amazon, Google, and Tesla demonstrate a solid commitment to sustainability through their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs, and they can make a huge impact. But what can middle and much smaller companies do if they genuinely desire to contribute, for example, to the environment? The KITRUM team shares how even small or mid-sized companies can contribute to vital causes like wildlife conservation, renewable energy, animal rights, etc.
Ways to Contribute
Let’s explore practical and creative ways to help your company become more eco-friendly.
Brainstorm with employees about where the nearest you can help
To take the first steps toward a greener business, it is better to look around, find weaknesses and areas for growth in your own environment (or neighborhoods, in simple words), and begin changing things for the better. Start helping various local charities. From month to month, you can donate money to niche charity funds and, sometimes, buy equipment and other resources such as food. The sums differ; you can begin with $300-500 as the average, which will already significantly contribute to local initiatives.
According to a UN report, cities are responsible for over 70% of global carbon emissions. Small companies can significantly impact their communities, improve the region’s state, and demonstrate their commitment to the local community and environment by focusing on regional issues like waste reduction or tree planting.
Search for small initiatives/programs/funds
Such initiatives can be local or foreign. Most of them need more resources. You can help them directly via contributions, materials, transport, or promotion. For instance, an excellent choice for promoting a more sustainable position is to inspire your clients by including a certificate with a one-time donation to environmental initiatives in the welcome boxes. It can also be something for small and more significant organizations, such as a Blue Whale Adoption Certificate from Oceana Organization. Buying such certificates for every client supports their animal rights and protection activities.
Become an animal friend and help shelters and sanctuaries
Humans are responsible for the extinction of some animal species and the uncontrolled reproduction of domestic and stray animals. That is why we need to be deeply committed to animal welfare.
In addition to donating money to your local animal shelters and sanctuaries, you can protect animal rights, promote a cruelty-free environment, and foster a pet-friendly culture inside your team. Purchase goods as they requested and visit the dog or cat shelters with your teammates. Promote your employees to become “foster parents” of certain animals in shelters. Support your employees by sending gifts for their pets on International Pet Day, and celebrate their love for animals by sending a gift if they take a new pet from a shelter.
Ensure that your workplace welcomes all, including furry friends. Pets bring joy and comfort to the work hubs, making people more empathic, ready to collaborate, sincere, and energized. Some offices even have a dedicated floor for freely living, well-fed, and enormously loving rescued cats or dogs.
Manage waste during workflow
Teach employees to sort garbage and show them examples, such as refusing plastic packaging for gifts within the company and distributing reusable bottles at your events and conferences. Change disposable cups to named ceramic cups or glasses for every employee; keep several ready for your guests. Set up recycling containers in your offices and sign a contract with a recycling company to take away waste several times a month — in case your government does not provide recycling, private companies do it. Invite experts and influencers to talk about their recycling experience or give an educational lecture to your team.
Contributing to a positive cause can boost employee morale and engagement. Cone Communications found that 90% of employees want to work for a company with a solid social and environmental conscience. By implementing green initiatives, small businesses can attract and retain top talent.
Do even minor eco-friendly actions
Plant trees or bushes around your location and in the city where it is needed to create shadow and air conditioning — you can do it with your employees or outsource. Then, while walking in the center of your city, you and your employees will see a tree or a park with your company plaques. Besides tree planting, you can set up bee spots because bees are becoming extinct, which leads to a massive crisis in agriculture and ecosystems. If we lose bees, 35 percent of world crops and plant-based food will disappear, and 75% will be lacking. You also may install bird feeders and fill them with food during cold seasons (but not with bread; use grains). Buy eco-friendly anti-ice powders and liquids for your cleaners to clean the office territory in winter. Recycle the outdated equipment with more energy-efficient equipment and change the energy sources to independent and more environmentally friendly ones, even if you can start only with LED lighting installation.
Sustainability efforts can lead to cost savings for businesses. A Harvard Business Review states that companies with strong environmental practices outperform their peers financially. Investing in energy efficiency reduces operational costs.
Do not be afraid to take brave actions sometimes
Ukraine is facing a full-scale war with Russia in 2022. In the first half of the year, many regions and cities in Ukraine began to suffer incredibly from missile attacks and shelling. Some settlements fell under the occupation of the Russian Federation, and some were threatened with being occupied.
In this case, businesses based in Ukraine felt its involvement in the events and the need to save employees and their families, including their pets. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, the Ukrainian IT sector helped evacuate families to safe areas and assisted with adaptation to the new conditions. Businesses are certainly designed to make money, but every business serves the society for which it operates, and this is a vital part of its activities.
Some companies also transferred stray, domestic animals and pets from Kherson who were affected by the explosion in the Kakhovka Dam to other safer regions or even abroad.
In addition, during the blackouts related to the war in Ukraine and Russia’s massive shelling of the country’s energy system, Ukrainian companies provided their offices with eco-friendly backup power systems.
Despite the devastating war and the immense help Ukrainians provide daily for people related to it, Ukrainian businesses found the strength to help nature, considering it the mission of any modern business.
Take a step toward global help when it becomes possible
As income increases, start helping the environment outside your location. Direct the first available funds to one chosen area and try to make the most of it (for example, reforestation, saving wildlife or marine life, fighting waste, and so on). Speaking about even more global contributions, despite helping international organizations, you can choose one of the environment development branches for your business, for example, the renewable energy niche. What is a better way to help nature than to work on green projects for more than 8 hours daily worldwide? If you can’t invest your free money in another business, choose a green one and start developing it to benefit the environment and make a profit.
The study suggests that scaling up renewable energy by 2050 could create 28.5 million jobs worldwide. Small companies can contribute to this by supporting renewable energy initiatives or developing green technology solutions. For example, you can provide African regions with renewable energy sources or clear water sources partially on a charity basis, partially on a commercial basis, and so on.
By the way, many consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products and services. A Nielsen study in 2021 revealed that 68% of global consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable brands. By taking environmental action, small companies can attract this growing market segment and help the environment, which is a win-win strategy. The key here is not lying about your eco-orientation and just doing that daily.
Inspiring Word
While these initiatives by such a small company may seem like individual drops in a vast ocean, the impact of collective action is undeniable. A study by the International Renewable Energy Agency found that only scaling up renewable energy can create millions of new jobs and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Similarly, protecting wildlife corridors and respecting animal welfare practices can promote biodiversity and ecosystem health. Decreased numbers of stray cats and dogs suffering also positively impact the city zone ecosystems and human well-being.
Every step we take, big or small, contributes to a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations. Research your abilities and possible contributions, and just start.