The Lumiere Co

Recycling is becoming an increasingly big part of business. The obvious advantages are the environmental good coming from the practice and how companies can reuse materials. However, it also makes good business sense to try recycling whenever you can. Many people like to patronize establishments that they know are going for sound recycling methods. Here are a few of the more creative ways certain industries are trying to up their recycling game.
Postage
If your business ships any sorts of goods and packages, you will need a lot of postage each day. It is difficult to change the fundamentals of how postage works, but it isn't quite as hard to make a switch to kinds that you can reuse or recycle. You can find environmentally friendly envelopes and other items that you can reuse later. Being able to repurpose these items for another time cuts down on your overhead costs and moves you toward a more sustainable business model. In addition, keeping any mailing lists current will help you avoid sending out wasteful materials that won't reach current customers.
Plastics
Many businesses have to use plastic in some form. Depending on the industry in which you work, these materials might be a central part of your sales. Instead of throwing old things out when you make changes or improvements to your business model, you can donate them for use in other forms. Companies like bionicyarn.com even make this a central part of their mission. They'll take recycled plastics and transform them into other materials that can be just as durable and useful as the original components.
Furniture
It doesn't matter what kind of business you run or what you are selling when it comes to furniture. You and your employees need places to sit, gather, take breaks, and do your work efficiently. Many pounds of office furniture can wind up in landfills each month. You can help solve this issue. The various plastics and pieces of wood that comprise a lot of office furniture can be recycled into new components with relative ease. Many necessary changes to your business can result in old furniture moving out, but try to put those parts where they can do more good for professionals just like you.
Electronics
Technology changes all the time, and you have to keep up with the upgrades. If you need to get rid of things like old computers, there are a few ways you can go about it. Checking to see if the manufacturer has some kind of recycling program of their own should be your first step. Local supply stores might help you recycle what the industry calls e-waste. In addition, you might have some machines that still work well and could serve as donations.
Your company might have specific industry guidelines it needs to meet for sustainability. It isn't always simple to reach these goals, but a little creative thinking could help you meet and even surpass these benchmarks before you know it. It is also worth it to consider how you can move away from products you need to recycle at all. If you work in an office environment, you might be throwing out a lot of empty pens. Consider switching to reusable versions to improve sustainability.

Saving the planet is usually something we can all get on board with. Unfortunately, many of us just simply don't know where to start. We're going to share with you five easy habits you can start doing today to do your part to help save the planet.
Use Reusable Shopping Bags
One trip to the store, and suddenly you have a bunch of plastic bags that typically get tossed in the garbage. You can completely eliminate your use of plastic bags by investing in some sturdy reusable shopping bags. These are perfect for throwing in the car. Many even come with a thermal lining to ensure that your items stay warm or cool during transportation.
Recycle
This habit is an obvious one that many people simply skip over. Recycling helps to ensure that we utilize fewer new resources to produce the products that we need. Take the time to put the recycling bin in a convenient place. One of the biggest reasons that people fail to recycle daily is simply because the garbage is conveniently close. You can change that in an instant.
Invest in Tupperware
Tupperware should be an investment that is well worth your money. Many people tend to rely on plastic bags to pack their lunches. Each day, they throw away the plastic bag and pull out a new one. This is extremely unnecessary when there is Tupperware that can do the same job even better. You can find all different sized Tupperware containers that can ensure you are living sustainably. From sandwich containers to bowls, Tupperware has every size you need to pack the food that you love in a safe and reusable manner.
Program Your Thermostat Correctly
Many homeowners have a programmable thermostat that they can easily set to adjust the temperature in their home. Take a moment and program your thermostat to reduce its efforts while no one is home. In the wintertime, you can set your thermostat to a lower temperature throughout the day and have it kick up the heat to a more comfortable temperature shortly before you arrive home.
Carpool
Using a car to get to work everyday uses a lot of fuel. That fuel lets off harmful emissions that contribute to environmental problems. One way to help reduce your impact on the planet is to carpool. You may find carpool groups in your local area that drive to other areas in a nearby town. Or, you may simply decide to carpool with a friend from work.
Saving the planet can be done with a combination of many little steps. The above are just five of the many smart steps you can take to do your part. Talk with a local organization, like Sustainability for Life, to learn about what else you can do. The more habits you stack on top of one another, the more you can make a real difference in the world.