The relationship between your business & the environment
When thinking about business relationships, you mainly consider the relationship between your company and the customer. Or, you think about relationships between you and your suppliers, and so on. But, have you ever thought about the relationship between your company and the environment?
It’s not something most people consider, but it could be one of the most important relationships you have. Businesses with a positive relationship with the environment tend to be in a more commanding position than those with a negative one. In this piece, we’ll explain why that’s the case, along with a few ideas and concepts to explore to help you improve your relationship with the environment.
Why does a positive environmental relationship matter?

Photo by Alena Koval from Pexels
Firstly, what does this even mean? Well, a positive environmental relationship is where your business gets along with the environment. In essence, you’re a green company – or as green as can be. You’re conscious of your impact on the world, taking steps to ensure your organization doesn’t harm the environment around us.
Aside from the obvious reason that this is beneficial (saving the planet!), it also benefits you on a business level. Consumers are now more inclined to shop with green companies. People are aware of the climate crisis, and one of the best ways they can help is by making more conscious purchasing decisions. So, if they see two companies – but one is eco-friendly and the other isn’t – the chances are the eco-conscious company will get their money.
With that in mind, what can your business do to improve its relationship with the environment?
Improve workplace sustainability
Your office is a fantastic place to start as so many small changes can be made to contribute to a huge impact. Some of the best ways to create a sustainable work space involve minor changes or tweaks to what you’re already doing. For example, recycling waste instead of just throwing it out. You could also use more sustainable materials or equipment around the office, lowering your environmental impact. There are countless ways you can take your workplace and make it more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Work with eco-friendly suppliers
Next, you should look at your supply chain and see where it can be improved. Your workplace may be sustainable, but what about other elements of your company? Perhaps you receive supplies or services from companies that have a terrible relationship with the environment? Ideally, you should try to work with suppliers who are also trying to be sustainable. This lets you know that your business isn’t making a negative contribution to climate change. You keep your carbon footprint as low as possible, and it has a huge impact on the world.
Actively look to reduce your carbon emissions
The main reason that climate change is a problem is that too many carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere every day. So, businesses around the world need to actively try to reduce their carbon output. Effectively, this combines some of the points made earlier on. For instance, choosing sustainable suppliers can help reduce CO2 emissions. But, it also includes things like switching to a renewable energy source at work. Perhaps you get solar panels installed on your roof, reducing the need to borrow energy from other sources. Or, it can include things like driving electric vehicles instead of having a fleet of gas-powered ones.
Reduce waste
Finally, your business should try to reduce waste wherever possible. This includes office waste – which can be recycled – as well as other forms of waste. One that springs to mind is the waste you generate by not selling products. Many companies – particularly those in retail – will end up with excess stock or materials that didn’t sell. More often than not, these things get thrown away as there’s no use for them. Instead, you should look into ways you can reuse ‘waste’ or repurpose it in some way. Just do anything you can to cut down on how much waste your business produces.
In summary, you need to be aware of your relationship with the environment. Having a positive relationship can benefit your company while having a negative one can do the opposite. If you think you can improve your impact on the climate, take steps to make your business greener. The tips laid out above are perfect starting places for you to begin. Apply them to your company, and you will quickly see your relationship with the environment begin to thrive, taking your business to new heights.