5 eco-responsible tips for companies

More and more, we make choices in our personal lives to reduce our ecological footprint — consuming less, driving less, composting, and so on. At home, in many cases, it's easier (or at least more accessible) to adopt an eco-responsible lifestyle. But when it comes to translating those good intentions to work, we don't always know where to start or what to prioritize. Since I'm constantly digging into new ways to improve the environmental impact of the companies I support, I decided to list 5 concrete tips you can use — as an employee or a manager — to improve your company's environmental footprint.

1. Measure and identify your company's sources of pollution.

As a former colleague at Workleap (previously GSoft) used to say: measure and evaluate before acting! Before asking whether you should start composting or cut air travel, you first need to measure and assess the company's main sources of pollution. Doing this upfront is essential — otherwise we tend to tackle cute, easy-to-solve issues that don't actually move the needle on the environmental footprint.

Use this step to put in place a clear strategy for the actions you'll take. Don't hesitate to attach KPIs to each initiative so you can evaluate the real impact and improve it over time.

2. Choose eco-responsible promotional items

Branded gifts have long been a way to build customer loyalty or promote your brand — but they're also a source of pollution. Pens, USB sticks or t-shirts made in China often end up in a forgotten box under another forgotten box. They go unused, and often don't reflect the company's values.

The solution isn't to stop offering promotional items, but to buy fewer of them and from local companies that prioritize eco-responsible, local materials. Kotmo (a certified B Corp) and Alterna Éco-Solutions are great options for items that align with your values.

3. Reduce your travel

We're lucky to have incredible technology today. FaceTime and friends let anyone connect without burning fuel. Of course, some meetings need to happen face-to-face. But I invite you to list your meetings over the next month and ask whether each one requires travel — you'll likely find that many don't. When you do travel, take the time to consider your options. Where possible, prioritize public transit or, for trips outside urban centers, the train.

For business trips that require flying, offset your carbon emissions with companies like Solutions Will (a certified B Corp) or Planetair. The amounts you contribute fund renewable energy, energy efficiency or reforestation projects.

Finally, encourage regular remote work. Offer the whole team the chance to work from home a few times per week. In addition to drastically cutting carbon emissions, this can improve work-family balance and, for some, boost efficiency.

4. Set up sorting stations to make waste management easier

In my experience, if a banana peel ends up in the trash even though the company composts, it's often because the sorting stations aren't easy enough to reach. People are in a hurry and won't make a special trip. That's why I recommend installing 3-compartment sorting stations (recycling, compost and trash) so they're accessible to everyone. And to avoid confusion, write down which compartment each material goes in. To build that list — or to launch a compost program if you don't have one — see Compost Montréal.

5. Avoid single-use containers (always)

This probably isn't a surprise. Cutting single-use containers in daily life isn't an insurmountable challenge. But try applying this approach to all your events too. Whether it's your holiday party or a client event, choose porcelain or compostable dishware and washable or compostable utensils. Always prefer reusable or compostable supplies to recyclable ones. And opt for local, socially-minded caterers like Les Filles Fattoush. Supporting local businesses grows your local community and cuts transport emissions.

Final tips

Don't forget to include your team. If needed, create an environmental committee whose mission is to set the strategy and orchestrate the initiatives that improve your company's environmental impact.

Also, share the results with employees. If you want them to embrace the initiatives, they need to see the outcomes. For example, if you put in place measures to reduce flying, share how much greenhouse gas wasn't emitted. That visibility keeps people motivated.

Hoping these concrete solutions help you build your eco-responsible action plan. Want more advice? Come chat with us!

Article written by Thomas, B Corp consultant (he/him)