Last updated: May 2026. This guide has been substantially expanded with a new section reflecting the 2026 landscape.
Everyone has a role to play when it comes to making more eco-conscious decisions that help our planet for the long term. Businesses especially should be looking at how they make an impact, as both small and large corporations lead to pollution, landfill waste and simply have a larger carbon footprint. When businesses choose to make more sustainable decisions, it can help the environment in a big way. The environment has seen improvements in recent years when businesses take proactive steps toward sustainability. One such step is the installation of EV car chargers at parking lots, which encourages the use of electric vehicles and reduces carbon emissions. By offering charging stations, businesses make it easier for customers and employees to opt for greener transportation, contributing to the reduction of their overall environmental impact. This simple yet effective change can play a big role in advancing eco-conscious practices and supporting a greener future.
We gathered up the best responses from business owners, founders and other professionals on how they are making changes within their own business with the environment in mind.
- Ditching Paper
There is no reason to be using paper and files anymore according to Will Frankling of Franchise Local. “Going paperless is a really easy transition that most businesses can adopt as a way to be more sustainable. With even more businesses turning remote or going hybrid, there really isn’t a need to still rely on paper documents as you can have everything you need filed online.
Not only is this great for the environment, but it also makes access to documents and client files much easier. It also reduces the amount of other office supplies needed like ink cartridges, a multitude of pens and paper which helps to keep a lot of it out of the landfill.”
- Going Remote
“For us, being a remote company makes a positive impact on the environment because it means less commuting, and not having to operate a separate office. Michael Collins of Sphere IT suggests that, “We can rely less on our vehicles which lessens the pollution we put into the air. We also aren’t needing to run an office which means having to worry about how our business physically is affecting the environment.
We aren’t adding as much to the plastic waste as when we work from home, we are using more online resources and are operating on an individual level which has less of a negative impact. I know from personal experience that we are also more eco-conscious when at home as most of us recycle and have some sort of composting infrastructure which means we are making better decisions for the environment this way.”
- Buying Second Hand Office Supplies
Lee Hemming of ABC Finance says, “I try my best to always buy second-hand items for our business as I hate to see good quality furniture and tech go to the landfill. Many office supplies retailers have damaged furniture and other office accessories that are discounted which I like to take advantage of. These damages are often not that noticeable, and it saves them from being thrown away.
Also looking at thrift stores can be beneficial as you can find some gently used desks, lamps, and chairs that simply need a good clean. I find Facebook Marketplace is also a great place to find office furniture as you sometimes come across businesses who are expanding and therefore getting rid of their old items. It simply takes a bit of time and effort, but I think this is much better than always buying new, as you are keeping furniture and other supplies out of the garbage and giving them a new life.”
- Implementing a Compost and Recycling Program
Something that Paulina Burbano de Lara of Metropolitan Touring is really passionate about is recycling and composting for businesses. “If you have the means to, implementing a recycling and composting program for your office no matter how small, can help you to be a more sustainable business. Getting everyone on board and making it easy to do, helps it to be a successful venture. This means having appropriately marked bins for waste, as well as doing your best to have more reusable items in the office for people to use.
I think making it easy for your team to participate makes it a smooth process, and it lessens the amount of plastic going into the garbage. Clearly labeling what goes in which bin is also a good tip as this gives a visual reminder and it increases the chances of the right items going in the right bins.”
- Add a Water Refill Station to Your Office
Alberto Palumbi of Premium Toners knows how damaging plastic, single-use water bottles can be and believes that a water refill station can help get rid of them in the workplace.
“Once you add a water refill station, employees can purchase re-usable waters and use them consistently, rather than purchasing single-use plastic bottles and bringing them into work. This can be a big step forward in creating a sustainable workplace that positively contributes to your carbon footprint day after day.”
- Swap Out Your Lighting for LEDs
Brandon Aversano of Alloy has been using LED lighting in his home for quite a few years and plans to introduce them into his workplace because of the eco-friendly contributions they provide.
“It’s well-known that the greenhouse gas emissions associated with LED lighting is quite a bit lower than conventional lighting. Reports state that one LED bulb emits 80% less greenhouse gas than a regular light bulb, so if we can all introduce them to our workplaces, we are each playing our part in contributing to a sustainable world. I am proud to use LED lights in my home, and I’ll feel good knowing we’re using them in our offices as well!”
- Take Part in Workplace Initiatives
As the Founder of Arbtech, Robert Oates knows all about sustainable practices and what we can do to lessen our carbon footprint on the planet. Arbtech takes ownership of arboricultural and ecological site issues in order to make sure your planning consent goes as fast and hassle free as possible.
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While the work they do directly promotes sustainable practices and eco-friendly ideas, Oates also discusses other things they can do to be a positive influence to the environment.
“Within your workforce, you can begin running some unique initiatives that can give back to the environment. For one, you can start up a clothing donation bin in your office that will give back in a few ways. It will prevent clothing from ending up in a landfill and these items could actually be donated to people in need, which further improves your impact on the community.
You can also get together and plant trees as a team. You’ll have to properly launch this campaign, but it can do wonders for you and your community.
If you have the space, it also might be beneficial to create a garden outside your workplace. By planting vegetables and other things, you will be doing good. Your garden can limit the use of plastics, give bees a place to pollinate, and it can also improve the quality of the air, even in a small sense.”
- Encourage Employees to Take the Bus By Offering Passes
Dominic James Murray of Cameron James knows how harmful it can be if each individual employee takes their own vehicle to work and he’d like to do what he can to have team members use the bus.
“Bus passes aren’t overly expensive and by providing them to employees, the company is taking the initiative in having their employees transition to take them to and from work, even if it’s just a few times a week.
If a company can purchase these passes and give them to employees, or make it known that they will purchase passes to whoever is interested in one, you’ll be doing what you can to encourage your staff to take the bus to work. It can make a difference and is completely doable for businesses and team members!”
What's changed by 2026: Updated context
The fundamentals in this guide hold up well, but the operational landscape has shifted enough since publication that some updated context is worth flagging.
AI has compressed operational work
By 2026 most operational tasks that occupied meaningful time when this guide was written can be handled by AI: drafting emails, summarising documents, basic research, repurposing content across formats. What's left for humans: judgement, strategy, voice, and the specific calls that pattern-matching can't make.
Trust signals matter more
In an AI-saturated content landscape, specific trust signals — named examples, specific numbers, real client work, distinctive voice — have become competitive advantages rather than nice-to-haves. The bar for what reads as "actually human and credible" has risen.
Refresh cadence as a signal
Content that's regularly refreshed with updated examples and current context outperforms content that was written brilliantly once and never touched. Google's freshness algorithm in 2026 actively favours actively maintained guides.
Specificity as competitive advantage
Generic advice has been commoditised by AI. Specific, named, situation-aware guidance — with real examples, real stakes, and real failure modes — is what stands out. The 2026 reader has read the generic version of this guide many times; what works is the version with specific texture.
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- how to start an online business
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