During my last year of college, I took a trip that completely changed my life.
I volunteered abroad in Thailand and in doing so, my mindset shifted on a topic that I had never thought about much-the use of plastic and how much garbage is being produced each year.
In many of the rural villages that I visited on my trip, it was hard to ignore the plastic bags, aluminum cans and other garbage items that were visible on the ground or in the permaculture plot that we worked on.
A pile of garbage pulled from the permaculture plot in Thailand.
I also started to really see the visible effects that the garbage was having on our planet.
For starters, here are some of the statistics that I found truly shocking:
Everyday around eight million pieces of plastic pollution makes its way into our oceans.
The United States contributes 38 million tons of plastic every year.
The world produces 381 million tons in plastic waste each year- this is set to double by 2034.
More than one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die from plastic production every year.
1 in 3 fish caught for human consumption contain plastic.
700 species of marine animals are in danger of extinction due to plastic.
After returning home, I made some switches to become a more sustainable household.
I changed my plastic toothbrushes to bamboo, and began limiting other products that we received that came wrapped in single use plastic.
However, once I started my small business I realized how difficult it is to avoid the use of plastic, bubble wrap and other cheap/convenient packaging methods.
Plastics are durable, lightweight and cheap (which is why the majority of companies use them).
Here’s three tips that I have found to be the most helpful while running my small self-care business, Simply Sunshine Gifts.
Tip 1: Avoid plastic as much as possible
First, I need to start by saying that there is no such thing as perfection when it comes to being environmentally conscious.
In the world that we live in there is no way to completely avoid plastic.
So instead aim to be aware of how much plastic products you are using and try to make better choices when possible.
In my business, this means that I try to avoid creating secondary plastic waste for my consumers.
For example, I sell body scrubs, notebooks and other products that promote self-care. I chose to use glass jars instead of plastic. I also do not use plastic on my labels.
Non-plastic jar labels
Look at your own business and the products/services that you sell. Where could you reduce the use of plastic?
Maybe instead of packaging your products with bubble wrap you could purchase biodegradable packing peanuts. Instead of plastic packaging tape, purchase an eco-friendly brand.
As a photographer, you could do your research and purchase a high quality camera that will last for years, thus eliminating the need to purchase another one.
This may seem like an irrelevant example. However, it takes a lot of material, pollutants and energy to make a camera. By purchasing a high quality one and keeping it in good shape, you will ultimately be cutting down on your plastic use.
When you are unable to avoid buying products for your business that come wrapped in plastic (or simply can not afford to do so at that time), do your best to recycle any materials that you can.
Remember progress not perfection!
Tip 2: Reuse items
I often have items in my own home that I can reuse as packaging materials. Not only is this better for the environment, but it can also be a way to save money as a small business.
My mother in law will save newspapers that I can wrap my jars in for packaging. I also save tissue paper from gifts that I receive.
However, I have found that reusing materials can be tricky as a small business.
There is a lot of pressure for small businesses to be completely unique and customized, especially when it comes to packaging. Therefore, using newspapers as packaging will not resonate with some people.
As with any business it's important to remember that your products or services are not for everyone!
Someone that has similar values will appreciate the innovative use of newspapers, while others will not. That’s ok!
Some other examples of how to reuse products for other small businesses could include:
1. If you own a photography business, you could try to buy extra lenses from someone off of craigslist rather than buying a brand new one.
2. If you sell clothing, you could try to repurpose something that is out of style into something more fashionable and trendy. I recently saw someone online that took an old windbreaker and made it into a crop top.
3. Purchase reusable office items for your business when possible. For example, buy pens in which you can replace the ink inside rather than needing to throw away the entire thing.
It can take some creativity, but look around at the things that you or someone that you know already has.
How can you reuse a glass spaghetti jar, amazon boxes or even packaging materials from other orders in your own business?
I reused crinkle paper that I have received in gifts as packaging for this self-care box
Tip 3: Choose suppliers that are environmentally conscious
All small businesses require some materials that need to be purchased such as general office supplies, computers, printers, ink, jars, paper, cameras, etc.
One way to make your business more eco-friendly is by knowing where those materials are coming from.
Learn more about the companies that you are purchasing from. What do they stand for? Is being eco-friendly important to them too?
As a general rule try to avoid companies that have excessive packaging. Also, look into the quality of the products that you are purchasing. Try to use products that do not contain toxic substances that are bad for people and the environment.
The things that we choose to spend our money on matter. When you buy a product, you are supporting the way that company operates.
If you do not agree with their values, packaging or ingredients then continue shopping around until you find the right company for you!
As a small business, it can be extremely difficult and frustrating to attempt to be more eco-friendly. However, the little changes add up. I hope you found this blog article helpful. I would love to hear what practices you use to help ensure that your business is more eco-friendly!
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