Engaging your customers does not have to hurt the environment. More businesses are jumping on the green bandwagon, and you can increase the eco-friendliness of your office and promote that lifestyle to customers too.
Recycled Paper
From flyers and business cards, to posters and notebooks, making recycled paper a part of what you do can save money for your business and help the environment. Most online printing websites offer all of their designs on eco-friendly recycled paper products, usually with a decrease in cost. If you don’t see these options, call customer service and request them, the company may not realize there is a market for it yet.
Organic T-Shirts With Your Logo
Sites like ooShirts.com offer organic t-shirts that are great for promoting your business. Order some for your team to wear in office, or at social functions. Reward specific employees for their achievements: (like having the best sales record for the past 5 years) on the back of the shirt. You can also use tropes like labeling your customers as “Authorized Members” to make your shirts more attention grabbing.
Recycled Pens
Bamboo can grow up to four feet a day in optimal conditions, without the usage of pesticides or artificial fertilizers. For this reason, the substance has come into use for a variety of reasons, pens being just one of them. Order these pens in bulk to save money, and distribute them at events or keep them in your office as part of your office-wide green initiative.
Request Soy Ink For Your Printed Documents
There is some conflicting evidence about the benefits of soy ink for customers seeking an eco-friendly printing alternative. Lab tests show that soy contains less volatile organic compounds, but some inks also contain small levels of petroleum. While it is less favorable than no ink at all, soy-ink is considered better for the environment than petroleum based inks because it is renewable and consumes less petroleum than other inks.
Choose Aqueous Coating
Aqueous coating is water based, and therefore easier to recycle than a UV based coating. Both options are viable if you want to be considered “green,” but the paper treated with AQ coating will be more biodegradable. You can get your desired level of gloss, from soft-touch to high gloss, and your materials will be more flexible and easier to store.
Green Ways to Ship Packages
Consider time and money saving options like ordering postage online. The United States Postal Service will actually deliver your supplies to you when they deliver your mail, and pickup those packages for free as they pass through your neighborhood. This reduces time spent at the post office, pollutants in the air from your car, and the stress of standing in line. Other eco-friendly shipping options include recycled cardboard, and the option to ship many small items together (an especially good idea for e-tailers).
Encourage Customers to Go Green
Some retailers are offering small discounts to encourage customers to bring reusable bags with them to shop. Whole Foods is embracing this trend on a digital level, offering an iOS app that tracks eco-friendly behavior and translates that into savings. Every time you use a recycled bottle, or a reusable bag, you earn points toward discounts at Whole Foods market. Apply this philosophy to your own business with in-store rewards, or host a photo contest where customers submit their “green lifestyle” photos to earn rewards with your business.
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