5 ways to reduce your company’s environmental impact

By Ben Walker on 06 September 2022

As the devastating effects of climate change unfold before our eyes, it’s imperative for companies to do their bit to reduce their carbon footprint.

Although increasingly there is accessible advice surrounding actions we can take, we understand that it can be difficult to know where to start. In this article, we’re sharing some of the ways we have adapted as a company to help protect our planet.

Working from home

As a team we began working from home one day every week to reduce our environmental impact before the pandemic. Like many companies, we have continued to embrace hybrid working, developing an infrastructure that allows us to work just as seamlessly from our homes as in the studio.

In addition to offering employees a greater work-life balance, working from home can help to offset your company’s carbon footprint by cutting out commutes. If you do need to commute, walking, cycling, using public transport and car sharing can be more sustainable options.

Appointing a Chief Sustainability Officer

To ensure we continue to reduce our impact on the environment as a company, we appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer. In addition to being a talented designer, Sarah Vance drives new sustainability initiatives, from replacing the need for single use items with reusable alternatives, to swapping dairy milk for oat milk in our studio.

Although many companies have good intentions when it comes to implementing sustainable changes, carving out time to analyse where you could make improvements and putting these into action isn’t easy. If you have the resources to do so, dedicating a role to evaluating your internal structures and processes could have a huge impact on your carbon footprint. 

Organising litter picks

Litter picks can prevent animals from ingesting harmful materials, create a safer environment, prevent waste ending up in waterways and keep our surroundings looking beautiful. What’s more, there’s always a feel-good factor, strengthening connections within your team and creating a sense of community.

As a team, we schedule regular litter picks in the area surrounding our studio in Leith. If you are an Edinburgh based company and fancy joining us on our next expedition, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Planting trees  

Essential to tackling climate change, trees help to store carbon, save water and boost biodiversity, in addition to providing a whole host of other benefits to people, animals and the planet.

For every new client we work with, we make a donation to plant ten trees with One Tree Planted, an environmental charity focused on global reforestation. Whether it’s planting a tree for every product you sell or donating a percentage of your profits, planting trees offers another way for companies to offset their carbon emissions.

Volunteering 

We allocate one day every year to volunteering with an environmental organisation. Last year we spent the day planting trees and learning about the work of Borders Forest Trust, an incredible charity that conserves, restores and manages native woodlands to benefit people and wildlife.

As well as having a positive impact on our planet, incorporating volunteering into your business model can boost productivity, increase morale, provide an opportunity to learn new skills and build relationships.