At the heart of their communities, small businesses provide two of three net private-sector jobs in the United States, in addition to supporting the local community and encouraging entrepreneurial spirit. In the same spirit that several larger corporations, such as Amazon, Nestle, and Apple, have pledged to become more sustainable in the next few years, small local businesses can work toward more sustainability as well.

In fact, many small businesses already might have some sustainable practices in place that help protect the environment and will leave a positive impact on the community long term. Continue reading to learn the importance of taking a localized approach to sustainability as a small business, along with some actionable tips.

Benefits of a sustainable small business

The word "sustainability" is everywhere currently, but the meaning behind the practice is not new. We all want to make a positive impact while having long-term access to resources both natural and created. Sustainability for small businesses usually includes a three-prong approach involving environmental, economic, and social practices. 

Business owners who take responsibility to protect the environment and support the communities they serve can be beneficial for everyone. Sustainable business practices can help lower waste, energy costs, and consumption, while mitigating risks, such as supply chain shortages. Other benefits of sustainable small businesses include encouraging healthy competition among other sustainable suppliers.

Sustainable practices can even increase brand awareness, customer trust, and employee retention. More than 63% of Americans hope that businesses will start driving social and economic change. 

A 2019 survey conducted by Fast Company indicated that nearly 70% of millennial workers said a company with a sustainability plan would affect their decision to stay there long term.

So how do you make a small local business more sustainable? Here are seven ideas to consider. 

1. Reconsider product source materials

Beginning with product sourcing is a great starting point. It’s important to make sure suppliers share the same sustainability values as you. Establish contracts with suppliers that are able to use eco-friendly practices and also pay their employees livable wages. 

Whether you’re buying office supplies, food, or materials to run the business, sustainable options are available for you to consider. For example, you may be able to partner with a supplier that makes materials, while reducing carbon emissions. 

Or if you’re selling products that involve food or produce, a local farm that doesn’t use damaging chemicals could improve quality and also save money on transportation costs due to closer proximity. 

When shopping for supplies, such as printer paper, toilet paper rolls, cleaning supplies, or even pens, check the label to see whether the item has been manufactured from post- or pre-consumer waste or sustainable materials. 

2. Use recyclable and innovative packaging

Product packaging can become more sustainable as well. Consider switching to recyclable materials and reducing the use of secondary packaging where you can. 

For store owners, convenient and reusable shopping bags or totes could help fight back against plastic pollution. 

3. Employ green shipping methods

If you’re shipping quite a few products as well, employing some basic green shipping practices can help decrease your business’s carbon footprint even further. Refrain from using oversized boxes for smaller items or including several boxes within a box during packaging.

Instead, use compact packaging and consolidate orders when possible. Also, try using biodegradable mailing packages and recycled cardboard. 

4. Establish roots in the community

Small businesses have one of the best opportunities to become involved in the local community. This could involve sponsoring local events and charities, encouraging employees to volunteer at organizations that support causes they care about, or even partnering with other local small businesses to do good in the community. 

Whether it’s sponsoring an after-school activity or even participating in a community event, giving back helps sustain positive relationships and build the economy in that area.

5. Hire and train local

Hiring employees in the local area helps provide jobs and support the economy in your town and surrounding areas. When you pay employees who live nearby, as consumers they will put money back into the community, causing a ripple effect. 

Outsourcing can seem convenient, but it won’t have the same sustainable impact on your local economy. In addition to hiring local qualified candidates, invest in hands-on training materials and courses to help your new employees thrive in their roles. 

Depending on the business, you can even offer job skills training programs or internships for high school and college students. 

6. Offer public transit stipends

For small businesses located in a city with reliable quality public transit options, explore the idea of offering team members a stipend for transportation. This could be in the form of a monthly train or bus pass. Or you could encourage carpooling. This helps employees cut down on fuel costs and reduces environmental waste. 

7. Go paperless

Going paperless and adopting more automated processes is an excellent way for a business of any size to embrace sustainability. Paper invoices, receipts, and forms create clutter and also waste natural resources.

Instead, send customers email receipts, pay invoices virtually, and store contracts and important forms digitally. Keeping a hard copy backup of your most important documents is also fine and for this, you can use sustainably sourced, recyclable paper as well. 

Sustainability is the future

Sustainability is here to stay, and it’s one of the best chances businesses have to move forward, as well as gain staying power. Circumstances like global supply chain backup and inflation have prompted consumers to reconsider their habits and rethink their reliance on global businesses. 

Determine what’s important for your small business in terms of sustainability and put a plan together. Use these tips and insights to help you prioritize the environment along with the social and community impact your small business makes. 

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