Two of the biggest threats to the world today are global warming and pollution. If these threats are to be averted, action is required from all sectors of civilization. The business world certainly shoulder’s a large portion of this responsibility. Just because you own a business does not mean your impact on the environment has to be cumulatively negative. Below are a few ways companies can help to clean up the environment.

Convert to Paperless

One of the biggest impacts businesses have on the environment is the amount of paper they waste. Offices in the United States use a whopping 12.1 trillion pieces of paper every year. That much paper requires scores of trees to be cleared. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Anything that can be printed out can be replicated as digital files. Certainly consider going paperless at all levels of your company.

Recycle As Much As Possible

Many companies create an inordinate amount of waste during the production processes used to create the products they sell to consumers. This waste goes on to be buried in landfills and presents a long term threat to the environment and even the safety of human beings through contamination to underground water supplies. While it may seem like a cliché, you should try to recycle as much as possible. Obtain skip bins for recycling and research exactly how much of your waste can be shipped off to a recycling center.

Purchase Carbon Offsets

In some cases, it’s unrealistic for companies to have no impact on the environment due to the production processes needed to create their product or service. However, it is still possible for those companies to take action to help offset that negative impact. For the amount of carbon you release into the atmosphere, your company can invest in an equal amount of carbon emissions reduction in another location. This way, your own negative impact is negated.

Organize a Carpool

Another way companies negatively affect the environment is indirectly through all the carbon that must be released into the atmosphere to allow employees to commute to and from work. Consider organizing a carpool program for your employees. It can lower your employees’ impact on air quality significantly.

Businesses are responsible for a good amount of the pollution on earth. They have a huge responsibility to help solve problems like pollution and global warming. Make sure your company is doing its part to solve these serious problems.