At Force of Nature, being an eco-friendly business has always been part of our DNA. Our reusable cleaning and disinfecting system reduces wasteful plastics and our powerful disinfectant is so gentle on the environment you can literally pour it down the drain, or use it to keep cut flowers fresher, longer. Not every company was born with the hopes of providing their goods and services in a way that is friendly to our planet, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to start. From reducing waste or chemical usage, fighting climate change, protecting the health and safety of your employees and customers, and improving your brand image, there are so many reasons to try to incorporate eco-friendly practices into your business plan! Here are our top tips for making your business more environmentally friendly.
5 Tips For A More Environmentally-Friendly Business
1. Use Recycled and Recyclable Paper Products and Packaging
Don’t use paper when you don’t have to! Harness the power of the cloud (and your scanner) and reduce your need for printed documents wherever possible.
If you do need to use paper, don’t go by the symbol on the packaging – the recycling symbol is unregulated. Look for packaging marked Post Consumer Waste (PCW) for options that are made entirely of recycled paper, which uses less energy and reduces the need for harvesting material for new paper.
2. Filter Your Own Tap Water Instead Of Stocking Water Bottles
Nearly 50% of bottled water is actually filtered tap water and the regulated standards for bottled and tap water are actually very similar. The EPA regulates tap water to ensure it’s safe to drink so, some experts argue, tap water is actually more regulated than bottled water. Stop paying a premium for bottled water or office cooler water subscriptions (and contributing to the amount of plastic in landfills) by providing a filtered tap water option for your on-site employees. Encourage the use of non-toxic, refillable water bottles whenever possible – stainless steel and glass are great options for an eco-friendly, non-toxic reusable water bottle.
3. Switch To Safer Cleaning Products
Cleaning chemicals are extremely poorly regulated and manufacturers don’t need to prove their cleaning products are safe before they sell them to consumers. Exposure to toxic chemicals in cleaning products is not only bad for human health (as bad as a pack of cigarettes a day and contributing to more than 6% of janitors who suffer from workplace injury as a result of cleaning product exposure), but also for the environment. These chemicals contribute to water pollution, where they often do not biodegrade and can enter the food chain, as well as air pollution and waste in our landfills. Disinfectants and other cleaning chemicals contain strong and potentially harmful ingredients, so you should always follow instructions carefully, as some disinfectants need to be used with protective gear, like gloves and masks, or rinsed after use, as they leave behind residue that can be harmful to your staff or clients.
Force of Nature is an EPA-registered disinfectant that is included on List N, the disinfectants approved for use for SARS-CoV-2, but our active ingredient is gentle on humans and the environment. Our solution harnesses the power of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the same solution our own immune system makes to fight infection! Force of Nature is also certified 100% skin-safe and best for sensitive skin by SkinSAFE, Mayo Clinic’s allergy rating system.
Cleaning products, especially nontoxic ones, are also extremely expensive, but Force of Nature is only 0.7 cents per ounce for an extremely affordable option that is still highly effective.
4. Use LED Lighting
The basic upside of LED lighting that most consumers already know is that they last longer and use less energy while they’re on, which can save your company money over time. A three-part Energy Department-funded study shows that LEDs have less of a negative impact on the environment than CFL and incandescent lighting options across manufacturing, transport, and disposal of the bulbs. They last longer and use less energy when they’re on.
5. Embrace Remote Work
Many companies have moved to remote or partially remote workplaces as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and, for most, it doesn’t need to be a temporary solution. Allowing workers to log-in from home reduces air-polluting emissions (by reducing the number of cars commuting on the road) and, over time, reduces your company’s utility costs. It also reduces your onsite supply costs of paper goods and, studies show, employees will act more environmentally friendly at home than they will at work due to the financial incentive to conserve energy.
It’s Easier Than You Think Being Green
Contrary to what Kermit sings, being green is just a matter of making small, simple changes whenever possible. As a small business, we know how many decisions go into the successful running of a business, and we’re here to support you with a gentle, yet extremely effective disinfectant that is included on the EPA’s List N as approved for use against SARS-CoV-2. Learn more about our EPA-registered disinfectant, Force of Nature, and the many ways you can use it for disinfecting your business, too. Want to buy in bulk, or need to make enough of our formula for several bottles a day? We’ve got you covered on that too with Force of Nature Pro, our large capacity appliance that makes 32 or 64 oz of all-in-one cleaner, deodorizer and disinfectant.
