Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – How Retailers Can Be Green

In the spirit of Earth Day, retailers who have not caught onto the trend of being “green” should consider what they can do to get in the game. But rather than look at their actions as a trend that will come and go, they should instead make these changes with the goal of permanently implementing them.

[tweetmeme]Some easy changes that will not only help the environment but save you money in the long run include:

1. Encourage reusable shopping bags. This saves you money by not having to buy plastic / paper bags as often. In addition, if you sell reusable bags at your store you can make money. Some additional ideas, including suggested reusable bags to sell, can be found here – http://retailminded.com/blog/2010/03/reusable-shopping-bags/.

2. Get rid of all your paper and plastic utensils, plates and napkins. Instead use regular glasses, plates and silverware. Although you may need water to clean these, it is better than plastic sitting in landfills FOREVER.

3. Use eco-friendly cleaning products.There are great green products that clean everything from counter surfaces to floors to bathrooms. One suggested line of eco-friendly products is Mrs. Meyer’s, www.MrsMeyers.com.

4. Print papers only when necessary and if possible, double sided. This includes receipts for your customers. Before you hit print on any receipt, ask your customer if they need it or possibly they would prefer you to email it to them. When you do need to print something, use both sides of the paper when possible.

5. Go digital when it comes to placing orders, tracking inventory and doing other business chores. From banking to faxing to filing invoices, you can do this all through your computer. You’ll save money in ink and paper - plus you will help save the environment.

6. Use re-chargable batteries. Office supply stores often have collection centers for old batteries, which can be recycled. Switch to re-chargable ones to help eliminate additional waste.

7. Use lighting as necessary and switch to energy conscious light choices. Compact fluorescent bulbs and low energy lighting are a great solution to save energy and save dollars. Use timers to turn lights off when they aren’t needed so that your busy day doesn’t have t be interrupted.

8. Try and eliminate waste of any sort. This may seem like a hefty challenge, but if you think about what you are tossing out and how it may be used again, this helps. Packagaing materials are great examples of what can be re-used. Even plastic silverware can have an extended life span if you keep them clean.

9. Use second hand products for display and store merchandising. Stores that are closing are always looking to sell off their fixtures. Merchandising accessories can be found nearly anywhere, so consider shopping garage sales or even your own basement. Be creative and remember to re-use, re-use, re-use.

10. Donate or recycle old computers and other technology based equipment. To find out more on how you can do this specific to your location, visit http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm.

If you have to think selfishly to get in the act, remember that you will save money in the long term by making these changes now. Ideally, though, you will think about the impact that these choices can make on our environment – and how by conserving, you will likely keep costs down so that consumers can still afford to shop!

Is Your Brand Really “Green”?

All the buzz seems to be about “eco” this and “organic” that. But with so much hype being green, it’s easy for wholesalers to mislead their customers – and themselves. Make sure that if you intend to be a green minded brand, you are in fact respecting what being green really stands for.

To begin, simply using the words “green”, “organic”, “natural” and “eco” in your brand name doesn’t mean you are in fact green. Instead think about your product, your business and your purpose and then determine a brand name that best represents what it  is you stand for. The branding of your business can include all the eco-fabulous words you want, but they simply aren’t necessary in your actual brand name. Marketing is where all the fun begins when it comes to sharing your green product news. More importantly, how you present your product in it’s packaging and pitch should be visibly green without you even having to say so.

In addition to your brand name, you want to be careful you don’t make statements about your company that aren’t entirely true. If you plan to make claims that you are 100% green, then think about how that really affects your entire business. Do you print emails or anything else on paper? Do you drive out of your way for supplies when you could shop locally? Are you using recycled materials for all of your packaging? All consumers may not be savvy enough to think through these details, but as a business making claims – you should be. Respect what it really means to be green and why it’s so important to have a green minded business – the environment, the future of our children, the health of the world. If these details truly matter, then making the right choices in keeping your business green will easily follow.

There is a lot of value in green businesses, therefore wholesalers everywhere want to make the claim that they are a part of it, as well. If you are dedicated to the real purpose of being green, then positioning your brand will be a much easier fit. But for those of you just riding the wave of the green market, take a back seat out of respect so that the real green products can step forward.

Going “Green” In Your Store Space & Initiatives

Going “green” has left some people with the impression that you need to spend money rather than save money. Whether it’s in your home or for your business, the truth is that going green can be an efficient way to keep your pockets leaner while also providing support to our environment. Specific to retail, there are a few things to consider to help you get started in making your business green.

Cut Costs & Boost Efficiency

Doing your share to save the planet while also saving you money doesn’t have to be hard. Here are few simple first steps:

Reuse & Recycle – As a retailer, there are always opportunities to reuse things as well as recycle things. For example, retailers receive many boxes with packing materials that are often just tossed into dumpsters at the end of the day. There are times, however, when you need to send things out to customers or pack up purchased items to prevent possible damage. Rather than invest in your own packing materials, reuse what you receive from your own shipments. Often I hear from retailers that this looks messy, however I encourage you to simply explain to your customers with a note included in the packing that your store is dedicated to helping save our environment, therefore you reuse and recycle when possible. Another idea would be to use the boxes you receive for seasonal merchandising items, such as holiday displays or product fixtures rather than buy plastic storage containers.

Take a look at your specific store waste and see how you can better use it or when necessary, recycle it. If you have paper that does not include store sensitive material on it, then save it for kids to draw on while their parents shop or you could also use it for your own notepad. If you find people want to constantly toss their beverage containers away in or near your store, offer a recycling container for this. You should definitely recycle what you can’t reuse within your own store, as well, including paper, cans, and anything else possible.

Lighting – Investing in efficient lighting for your store should be addressed from both a presentation perspective and an environmental perspective. Consider how and why you use lighting, then determine which lighting methods will both support your presentation needs while also considering effective green lighting procedures. Energy saving light bulbs often cost more upfront than regular light bulbs, however you save money in the long run because they last longer and your energy bill should be less. Using energy efficient lighting is not only earth friendly, but pocket friendly, too, in the long term.

One of my favorite sites for lighting purchases is www.ecolightinguniverse.com. In addition, Energy Star offers a retail program designed for retailers that supports both lighting and other energy issues. You can check this out by visiting http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=retail.bus_retail.

Eco Products - Whether it’s the paint on your walls, the floor you stand on, or the insulation keeping you warm, there are eco options that you can consider when planning for your retail space.

PAINT

Did you know that indoor air is three times more polluted than outdoor air? Here I was thinking we were safer inside than outside with all the junk in our air from car exhaust, factories, and more! Consider painting your store with eco minded and non-toxic paint that will not only be better for the environment, but better for you. Many local hardware stores sell earth friendly options, so consider supporting your local neighborhood in these purchases.

FLOORING

There are some fabulous flooring options that also respect our environment. In addition, many of these options support high traffic areas, such as that of a retailer. A favorite business of mine that supports this is Eco Timber. Founded to both provide beauty to homes and businesses while also protecting the earth’s forests, Eco Timber respects the highest environmental standards in place for flooring. Their product is sold at various retailers across the country and their website can link you to these retailers by simply providing them your zip code. Visit www.ecotimbers.com to learn more.

INSULATION

Traditionally, fiberglass is used to insulate buildings. Over the past few years, however, eco friendly options have become widely available, allowing building planners to consider the environment (and their health since fiberglass is known to cause health problems) when considering their construction. A few options? Recycled denim, wool, icynene, and nanogel.A great article for detailed information on these options is on Inhabitat.com. You can view the article by linking to http://www.inhabitat.com/2006/08/10/lets-talk-about-insulation-baby/. Here, you will learn about each of these options and what may be best for your specific needs.

Finally, there are many, many more options to consider to help your business become green. Retail Minded will review more of these practices and share other suggestions with you in the future. But to help get your green foot wet, please consider evaluating how you can reuse, recycle, control energy, and eco support your floor space. If you have other green ideas that you use in your retail store or wholesale business, we’d love to hear from you! Please share your ideas and thoughts in the comment section provided below. Thank you!