Business sustainability is making its way to the forefront of priorities for companies across the globe, and we can all do our bit to become sustainable businesses. Not only is optimising your sustainability in business vital to your impact on the planet, but it’s imperative when it comes to attracting Generation Z candidates. Gen Z is breaking its way into the job market, and 67% of Gen Z’s place the environment at the top of their priorities to ensure a better future.
The field of engineering is one of advancing technology, and it’s this technology that can help bring us closer to a sustainability for business. So, what is sustainability in business? Discover more about business ethics and sustainability.
Avoid paper waste
One of the simplest sustainable business ideas is reducing paper waste. In the engineering sector, some paper use will be unavoidable, as sketching may be an integral feature of the company; however, paper waste can be reduced in other ways. For instance, the distribution of contracts and the signing of documents can all be done digitally. Not only is this better for the environment, but it also makes filing much easier, as you won’t have to flit through hundreds of physical documents to find the right one. This type of efficiency is also important to an engineering firm.
Get educated online
The internet is a haven of tips, tricks, and training platforms; there’s nothing that you can’t learn so long as you have internet access. How to become more sustainable is no exception. Whether you get educated online about sustainability as a company or you have your employees complete an online training course, there’s much to be learnt about sustainability via the internet. This online education could open your eyes to aspects that you’ve never considered before, making your journey to sustainability all the more effective.
Get the team involved to suggest solutions
As previously mentioned, Gen Z’s are extremely conscious about their environmental impact and, if your team is comprised of these individuals, they’ll likely have a lot of suggestions on hand. Gen Z has grown up in a time when climate change has always been a concern, meaning that they have always had to be aware of their environmental impact. As a result, your team may have just the suggestions that your company needs to bring itself closer to a sustainable future.
Adopt positive habits
Optimising your sustainability is all about creating positive habits and sticking to them. These include reducing the use of paper and single-use plastic, recycling, turning off lights in rooms that aren’t in use, switching appliances off at the wall, and much more. You might even set up schemes that reward your employees for adopting these positive habits. The changes that you make don’t have to be huge, but every little step you make in the right direction has a significant impact.
Use the right tech
As far as engineering is concerned, the right tech is unequivocally vital. Not only does this tech enable engineering firms to progress within their fields, but it also helps them reach their sustainability targets. For instance, the top technology offers software in which engineers can design prototypes in detail, which removes the need for stacks of paper and a pencil. Similarly, the right tech allows for more accessible education and smarter products that don’t use as much energy.
Although technology receives much criticism regarding its impact on our existence, it’s safe to say that the positives outweigh the negatives in various perspectives, including that of sustainability.
Are you looking to learn more about how you can make your engineering firm more sustainable? Contact our supply chain recruitment agency to learn more.
