Cutting costs and contributing to more sustainable solutions are concepts that are becoming more and more prominent in the corporate environment. Often, however, large companies don’t know where to begin. Adopting simple strategies, especially when it comes to print procurement, can make a huge difference towards going green.
The 3 R’s ( Reuse, Recycle, Recyclable) are the most important factors to focus on when it comes to managing a corporate’s carbon footprint, reducing waste and paper usage. These are the biggest trends to look at when it comes to sustainability.
The Sustainability Table using the 3 R’s, provides tips for large corporates. The 3 R’s on the Sustainability Table as follows:
·Reuse – Companies should think about the unit after its shelf life is over. They should design units to be collected after promotions and events so they can be reused at a less prominent store.
·Recycle – By using recycled material to produce units, you save costs as well as ensure that you are doing your bit for the environment.
·Recyclable – The ultimate goal is for all materials that are being used to be recycled after shelf life. Manufacturers are encouraged to continuously increase the % recyclable material they utilise.
All efforts towards going green are currently reflected in the various industries. Parties are working together to create products and product stands that are sustainable. Retailers are being more responsible and instead of throwing the units out to waste, they are giving them back to the manufacturers to be recycled.
The costs of going green can be a deterrent but companies should be encouraged to think of the long term gain and go beyond the basics of changing conventional light bulbs to energy savers and LEDs or using aerators for taps. The use of solar panels and heat pumps are slowly being introduced but energy saving can be a very expensive outlay. However, return on investment in going green continues to improve, and there is already a greater return on investments after five years or so.
There can be a fine balance between going green when it is more expensive in the short term, and reaping medium and long term benefits. Government and the major players in the economy should get involved by creating an incentive scheme for companies that support green initiatives.
