Today, more than ever, customers care about the values of the businesses they patronize and whether they are taking action to support those values. When it comes to sustainability, nearly 80% of U.S. consumers consider sustainability (of a product, the retailer, or the brand) when making at least some purchases. In an industry that relies heavily on finite resources for production, travel, and more, how can building product manufacturers make an effort to go green for their business and their customers?
1. Go paperless
Of course, many aspects of this business are handled on paper. Signing contracts, delivering invoices, distributing catalogs — these are all essential pieces of the business that can’t be ignored. But they can be done without paper.
To make a sustainable impact, BPMs can make the shift to being paperless by doing business electronically.
- Have clients sign contracts on a tablet
- Utilize a digital product library and do away with paper catalogs and printouts
- Ask clients to opt-in to paperless communication, moving all invoices and payments online
There will be some upfront costs, such as investing in tablets and digital displays, but the amount that will be saved — for your company and the planet — will make up for that cost in no time.
2. Provide reusable water bottles to your team
This may seem small, but the impact it can make is significant. Roughly 50% of our global plastic production is destined for single-use plastic, and if we businesses can help cut that demand, it makes a difference.
Your team likely goes through a lot of water every day. By providing them with reusable water bottles and a place to easily fill them up, you can substantially cut down on single-use plastic. Plus, if you have the water bottles branded, you’re advertising for your business everywhere they go.
3. Make your packaging recyclable
Recyclable packaging is no longer a luxury — it’s an accessible, necessary option to help with a major problem. Approximately 36% of all plastic produced is used to create packaging, 85% of which ends up in landfills.
Due to the increase in demand for recyclable packaging around the world, it’s much more affordable to switch to a greener packaging option than it has been before. Be sure the packaging is printed with clear indications that it is recyclable so that your efforts don’t go to waste.
4. Support green suppliers
It’s not only about how you can go green; it’s also about the suppliers and third-party partners you work with. Evaluate your supply chain partners and see if they stand up to your sustainability standards:
- Do they have a sustainability policy?
- Do they conduct sustainable business practices?
- Are they compliant with any relevant environmental legislation?
If you notice your suppliers’ sustainability efforts don’t align with your own, it might be time to examine the value of those partnerships and make the switch to a more sustainable supplier.
5. Allow remote work
Naturally, there are a number of roles within your business that cannot be done remotely. However, there are likely many jobs that can be done fully or partly remote, such as:
- Marketing
- Web development
- Graphic design
- Customer support
- Accounting
- Data entry
Having the same in-person work policy across both kinds of roles can use excessive amounts of electricity, gas, and single-use products. Without a commute, stopping for coffee, and large electronic devices in the office, remote employees can leave a much smaller carbon footprint. Plus, fewer in-person employees means that BPMs can downsize the office space needed, saving on rent and cutting down on energy use.
6. Promote sustainable products to your clients
Whether clients are specifically in search of sustainable products or not, they need to know that there is a more sustainable option. By showcasing products that are more sustainable than others, clients can have the information they need to make a more environmentally friendly building decision.
The Sustainability Tab within Concora Spec:
- Enables search features to make finding sustainable products easy
- Provides clients with the documents and specs they need to prove their project’s sustainability
- Highlights how your business meets increasingly complex sustainable buyer requirements
To get more tips about improving the building product manufacturing industry, or to learn more about using Concora to help your business go green, book a demo with the team at Concora today.