THE IMPACT OF SMALL BUSINESSES ON THE ENVIRONMENT
We are doing this blog to highlightâ¯the impactâ¯businessesâ¯haveâ¯on the environment and how we can help protect it.â¯Since we are a cog in the industry, we have focused on such because change begins from home. SMEs undermine their role in the environment, assuming their impact is significantly less compared to large companies.â¯Â
Moreover, we are favorably biased towards SMEsâ¯when it comes toâ¯the environment.⯠â¯It'sâ¯because of our collective tendency to assume something large would have a significant impact and somethingâ¯small,â¯not so.Â
That assumptionâ¯couldn'tâ¯be further from reality.Â
SMEs employ more than half of theâ¯world'sâ¯workforce.Â
These small yet powerful entities contribute 40% to the GDP.Â
Theyâ¯are creditedâ¯with innovation and growth.Â
And now comes the jolt-
At least 50% of the GHGs (Greenhouse gases)â¯are producedâ¯by SMEs in the business sector.â¯Â
Likewise,â¯the efforts they makeâ¯towards the environmentâ¯canâ¯have a significantâ¯impact both in the short and long term.Â
Sustainable Development Goals for SMEsÂ
According toâ¯Wiki,â¯any business with 1 to 49 employees is a small enterprise.â¯Those hiring between 50 toâ¯249 people come under medium-sized enterprises.â¯Â
Perhaps you wonder howâ¯suchâ¯small numbers can contribute to nearly half of the emissions.Â
Almost 90% of the businesses fall under this category. For example, the Australian economy comprises 98% SMEs. Naturally, they employ the most people. What does it mean in terms of the environment?â¯Â
In a word, SMEs can affect people and bring the changeâ¯that isâ¯needed to save our world. The following are a few sustainable development goals that SMEs can help achieve collectively:Â
The zero-hunger goal does not imply SMEs should begin distributing free meals. So,â¯whatâ¯can they do?Â
It'sâ¯quiteâ¯common for team members to order lunch and throw away leftovers.â¯SMEs can encourage employees to avoid such practices with gentle reminders such as a single sandwich,â¯dependingâ¯on the ingredients,â¯produces 399â843 g CO2â¯eq.â¯perâ¯sandwich.Â
At other times, SMEs can remind people of the harsher truths.Â
Theâ¯UN reported that 828 million people were affected by hunger in 2021.Â
â¯It is 2024.Â
The World Counts reports that 9 million people die of hunger each year.â¯Â
Not many are aware of these facts. SMEs can raise awarenessâ¯ifâ¯nothing else.Â
Measures to Reduce the Impact of Your BusinessÂ
Whether you run a 5-person team or have 50 people, your team can make a difference. Moreover, such endeavors also help in boosting employee engagement and foster a feeling of unity and togetherness.Â
Encourage employees to carpool, ride bikes, or rely on public transportation for commuting.Â
Many superiors in SMEs leave the lights and AC on in their offices even when not in use but expect their junior staff to conserve energy resources. I recall a CEO leading by example instead of words. He would always turn off the energy resources when leaving his office.Â
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Many SMEs purchase goods and services from sustainable vendors. Again, these efforts lend a business goodwill and improve its image in the eyes of the customers. Whetherâ¯it'sâ¯bottled water for theâ¯staff,â¯or office stationery, small and medium businesses are doing whatever they canâ¯andâ¯so can you.Â
Munzaiâ¯Solutions' ContributionÂ
We are committed to doing our bit for the environment. Though it may not seem much, we know each little step goes a long way in saving our planet.Â
Weâ¯can'tâ¯exactly take credit for thisâ¯â¯because we are a digital sales agency. You are right, whyâ¯mention itâ¯then? The following parallels will help in drawing a clear picture.Â
Does that mean a digital business has a positive impact on the environment? Where fossil fuel (video meetings instead of in-person meetings) and paper reduction are concerned, yes.â¯Â
But. And it is a very serious but.Â
Digital agencies run on the internet.Â
Do you see where I am going with this?Â
Let us for a moment think the internet is a country, whatâ¯do you think is its energy consumption? According to Greenpeace, it would be on No. 5, just below Japan.â¯Â
Then why are we so focused on paper reduction? Because of the following grim stats about the paper industry:Â
Based on this context, a shift towards the digital still gives us better odds. And at Munzai Solutions, we have made that shift. This is how:
4% of the GHG emissions come from the cooling units.â¯Â
However, in the sweltering heat, weâ¯can'tâ¯ask our employees to keep the temperature at 24 degrees Celsius, the suggested temperature for efficient energy consumption.â¯Â
So, what do we do? We ensure regular maintenance of our systems. It ensures they work at optimum levels and do not release more pollutants than necessary.Â
Laptops have a better ecological footprint than desktops due to their efficient energy output. We have minimized the use of desktop computers and use them only where necessary. It not only helps us do our bit for the environment- but is also quite convenient for the team.â¯Â
Instead of being bound to their workstations, our employees can move around with the laptop and sit in different areasâ¯suchâ¯as the lobby or the lunch area. This option gives them more freedom and enhances their productivity.Â
We have remote SDRs and marketing specialists.â¯Thisâ¯is a win-win situation for our team and the planet. They can work from the comfort of their homes while going green at the same time. In remote work, their daily fuel consumption is not only minimized- but eliminated.â¯Â
We believe in digital transformation to propel businesses. And equally importantly, to protect the environment. We rely on modern software and platforms to do our tasks and helpâ¯businesses. Â
We are nowhere near close to achieving our sustainability goalsâ¯butâ¯we hope to keep working on them for our sake and our future generations.Â
ConclusionÂ
SMEs can play a pivotal role in protecting the environment and ensuring a better future. Depending on financial resources, businesses can invest in modern technologies toâ¯cut backâ¯their carbon footprint. We should also encourage employees to use best practicesâ¯whetherâ¯they are at the office or their homes.â¯Â
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Interior Designer
3moNever really considered laptops to be better for the environment, but the way you've put it together really gives food for thought!
President, Meticulosity | Founder, ProScale OS â Proven systems to scale your business on autopilot leveraging automation.
3moLove that even small business can have such a big impact! ð It's super cool to see how they're not just talking the talk, but walking the walk with sustainable practices. Makes you wanna support them even more, right?
Amazon Listing Images & A+ Content Designer | Social Media Specialist at Munzai Solutions
3moExcellent attention to detail Zain Arif