The new year is finally here, making it the perfect time for a new resolution. For small business owners, a great resolution is to reduce unnecessary waste. Not only is eliminating excess waste beneficial for cutting costs, it also minimizes the impact on the environment. Since the average person creates four pounds of trash daily, imagine the amount of trash that accumulates from an entire staff? Practicing sustainability helps the environment and saves businesses money.

Double-Sided Printing

Believe it or not, there are businesses that still use printed sheets. Between constantly paying for paper and replacing ink cartridges, making copies can become extremely expensive. By printing on both sides, there are fewer sheets and materials that need to be purchased and recycled.

Donate Excess Goods

After realizing there are excess items that can be considered waste, it’s better to donate them rather than throw them away. For instance, if new inventory comes in or a product is discontinued, finding someone who can use those materials is a better way to repurpose them and cut garbage costs.

Frequently Train Employees

Understanding sustainability is only half the battle. It is important to inform employees of any changes that can make eliminating waste easier. It is important to inform employees on both how and why these precautions are being taken. For instance, if there is a new recycling policy, inform them on why it is beneficial for the business. It is also necessary to have regular meetings to share the triumphs and failures so the team can exchange feedback on how to improve on setbacks. Everyone staying on the same page is a key component of success.

Digital Tags

For retail businesses, paper tags can become expensive. Instead, using a digital price tag can save money on both paper tags and employees having to tag the items. Research shows that the initial investment in these digital tag machines pay themselves off within two and a half years, which eventually allows for the profits to be spent elsewhere. Digital price tag machines also can be instantly updated with a click of a button, which can display the original and sale price simultaneously.

The new year creates new opportunities for small businesses to make a profit. The best way to do so is recycling old products, communicating sustainability tips to employees, and cutting labor costs by using digital tags.