10 Green Business Ideas for Eco-Minded Entrepreneurs

Are you considering to start your own business but are concerned about the impact it will have on the environment? Green businesses are ecofriendly, and they go beyond the regulations to show their commitment to sustainable development. You do not need any particularly brilliant new idea. What is more, most of the green businesses are alternatives of the standard businesses, but with a nature-conscious management and production processes. Check out the following green business ideas.

1. Green Business Ideas – Organic farming

While businesses are going green, so are their customers. Everyone nowadays is switching to healthier lifestyle choices, and this particularly concerns the food they consume. The effect of this is that organically grown vegetables and fruits are highly sought, and this trend is sure to continue in the future. The market for these products is very developed, so you will have no trouble finding buyers. What do you need to start this business? A piece of land and love for outdoor work.

2. Organic menu restaurant

If you do not want your hands to get dirty, but still wish to take your piece of the pie in the ongoing healthy-eating trend, why not be on the other side of the transaction? Open a restaurant that would serve only organic meals, made from organic ingredients that you would be buying from organic farmers.

3. Green construction

Become a green contractor. Green construction simply means construction with eco-friendly materials and incorporation of energy saving systems, such as solar heating.

4. Recycling pickup

Recycling is also very popular these days. But no matter how determined people are to recycle, there is always the problem of what to do with bulk trash, like computers and house appliances, once you no longer need them. If you want to start a recycling pickup service, take a page out of the book of Sydney’s rubbish removal services, for e-waste. It is a very lucrative business, yet in deficit.

5. Green developer

Develop applications that will help people help the earth. These can be simple guides to local green stores, or complex energy consumption calculators.

6. Green consulting

If you are familiar with green technologies and standards, you can easily become a consultant to other businesses on ecological issues. Help other people start a green business, or turn their current business into a more environmentally friendly one. This consulting can involve anything from efficient energy consumption to sustainable production. Get certified to gain more credibility among customers.

7. Upcycle

Furniture upcycling has quite a hipster vibe. Take any piece of old, unused furniture and repurpose it in an unusual and preferably unexpected way. All you need is some tools and a few original ideas. Once you clear your attic and basement of all the unused furniture, you will find that flea markets are a great place to find new ‘raw materials’.

8. Green blogs

If you like writing, and like to work from home, start a blog. But not just any kind of blog. Start a green blog that will promote green activities.

9. Bicycle business

Bicycles are the most eco-friendly means of transport there is. They emit no gas into the atmosphere and so do not pollute the air. Buying and reselling bicycles has become a huge part of the green revolution. Consider participating in it. You can also open a small local bicycle café where you will sell drinks, while you are repairing your customers’ bicycles. Take tourists to bicycle sightseeing tours of your town, or your neighbourhood.

10. Eco-cleaning

Start a cleaning services company which will use your own natural house cleaning products. Make more money by selling these products to households and other cleaning service companies.

What green business do you see yourself managing?

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Green Business ideas

A profitable business model can also be friendly to the environment. It’s just the matter of choosing eco-friendly way in the overall strategy of the company and consequently, all areas of the organization will be aligned with this goal. It is not something that can happen overnight, but it is not an impossible mission either. Increasingly, people are more aware about the importance of protecting the environment. Therefore, it is time to renew the business strategy and make it 100 percent organic and, above all, highly productive. Let’s look at some green business ideas.

Direct your staff to green goals

Ideally, before embarking on any long-term strategy, talk to your team about what practices and goals should be achieved. This information is even more relevant when it comes to forming habits within the organization that is friendly to the environment. Talk to your partners and colleagues about what the maximum use of resources could be, for example office paper, plastic, water and even cleaning products.  The simplest thing such as turning off the light when leaving the room can make a difference in order to meet the desired goals. This way, you will create a dynamic working conditions to go hand in hand with the organization’s mission – to be 100% pro-environment.

Watch energy consumption

One of the key things to keep in mind when creating the overall strategy of your company is to make an estimate of the operating expenses. This means having an annual screening in terms of energy, water and material resources that are used. And do not forget to consider the environmental impact that this generates. Replacing inefficient light bulbs gives impressive results in energy savings of 50 to 75 percent. And best of all is that this produces equal performance. Remember that the most important points of energy consumption in a company are lighting, heating, air conditioning, food storage equipment, computers and audio devices.

Calculate CO2 emission

Knowing the percentage of greenhouse gases emission in your business requires a calculation of the direct consumption of the organization. This includes everything from light and water to other elements used to operate as inputs. It is recommended that you seek advice from an expert to assess the emissions you produce and the areas where the impact on the environment can be reduced. So you can make an estimate of the percentage of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by your company and take action accordingly. For example, a home inhabited by two people with two cars, who do not use public transport, do not recycle and consume natural gas can generate about two tons of CO2 per year. One of the most affordable solutions is to plant a tree and care for it to help neutralize the emissions.

Sort your waste

If you recycle only half of garbage you generate (individually), 1080 kg of CO2 is issued per year. Because of this it’s good to separate waste in biodegradable bags in three colors – blue, green and red. Inorganic waste is deposited in the first, such as paper, glass, metals, textiles, etc. Organic waste, such as food, coffee filters or tea and dirty napkins, goes in the second, while in the third all health and medical related stuff, such as syringes, edible oil, cigarette butts, etc. are discarded. Remember that if you crush organic and inorganic waste, you will take advantage over each of the bags’ space and spend less on them, which will also be reflected in your budget. You can store whatever you want in New Zealand shipping container, whether that’s growing plants or waste bags.

Look for green suppliers

Start by assessing whether the products and services you acquire for your business harm the environment. At this point it is important to remember that just like people working in your company perform ecological practices, your suppliers also should. If you believe that you won’t find everything you need in the market, you’re wrong. Today, more and more shops only sell organic products. To identify organic articles, look for a distinctive mark on the packaging that says it’s environmentally friendly.

Get certified as a green company

For environmental certification different points are evaluated. For example, consumption of water and wastewater, soil and subsoil, air emissions, environmental indicators, solid and hazardous waste, noise and environmental risk. Remember that your certificate guarantees consumers that the product is environmentally friendly and does not harm the environment at any stage of manufacture.

Create a media strategy

Once you have everything ready, it’s time for customers, suppliers and the market in general to find out you’re friendly with the planet. In order to do this, make a plan of communication and marketing to highlight this feature.

Although ecology and business seem to be two antagonistic concepts, circumstances have made them go hand in hand, even creating a niche market that is growing every year. These businesses are mainly supported by the progressive awareness of the population on environmental matters, because ultimately, they are the end customers in demand for organic products and services.

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