Starting a business from your kitchen table and becoming your own boss is a dream for many.
Having the ability to align your agenda with the planet’s, creating an eco-conscious and sustainable enterprise, is becoming increasingly possible in a world that’s hungry for eco-friendly consumerism.
It’s a game fraught with difficulty and plenty of hard work, but with the right drive and a solid plan, you can exceed your visions, creating a sustainable and profitable reality.
Let’s take a look at how you can launch your auspicious eco-startup from the most humble of launch pads and become a sustainable superpower with the Earth’s best interests at the forefront of your mission.
Small Setup, Big Impact: Get Paid and Give Back
Let’s face it, cash flow is King (or Queen) when launching any venture; you’re stuck without it, and you’ll need some of it to live. Fortunately for us, if you’ve prepared yourself accordingly, being green does not mean there will be a shortage of cash flow..
One thing that can uproot a small business is struggling to accept payments on the go. Whether you’re taking payments over the phone, online, or in person, giving your customers the ability to pay painlessly and swiftly can be the difference between gaining returning business and disappointing an important potential regular.
Whether you’re selling handmade upcycled products at markets, eco-friendly products online, or sustainably produced food on a street corner, having a reliable way to accept payments smoothly is crucial, and this is where a portable card machine comes into play.
Sleek, modern machines allow you to take payments on the go, wherever you are, linking to your phone without the hassle of a bulky POS machine or any other machinery that will increase your consumption and take up crucial space.
When every sale helps to fund your eco-mission, efficiency matters; these card machines are perfect for those looking to scale their business, keep their carbon footprint small and maintain a happy customer base.
Tree by Tree: Build a Business That Breathes Life
Unfortunately, things like ‘greenwashing’, eco-buzzwords and environmental smoke screens are becoming a larger part of our lives; this essentially means companies are using eco-friendly words to capture our attention and divert our gaze as they continue to operate in an unsustainable and ‘eco-unfriendly’ way.
Suppose you’re serious about implementing your sustainable business ideas and launching your own eco-friendly business. In that case, there are plenty of things you can do to show your customers that you are legitimately eco-conscious and not just throwing buzzwords around.
One thing that makes a physical difference is partnering with companies that contribute to global reforestation efforts, allowing you and your clients to be a part of the solution.
You’ll be appealing to an increasingly climate-conscious public and fitting into the sustainability movement that is sweeping through consumerism, all whilst bolstering Mother Nature’s chances against global warming.
Create tangible connections between green businesses and the battle to halt climate change, and prove to your customers that being eco-friendly is a part of your DNA, not just smoke and mirrors.
Don’t be afraid to shout about your eco-credentials.
Sustainable Doesn’t Mean Solo: Leverage Digital Communities
No matter what your eco-startup produces, getting started is hard, capturing people’s attention is difficult and it can sometimes feel like you’re doing everything all alone; but you’re definitely not alone.
Sustainable startups are popping up everywhere, and the communities that surround them are supportive, creative and collaborative.
Online communities are goldmines for advice, mentorship and engagement, so get yourself out there and start leaving digital footprints in as many places as possible.
Platforms like LinkedIn help you connect with people all over the world who are willing to offer advice and guidance in specific areas, whilst communities like Reddit’s r/ZeroWaste are thriving hotbeds of conversation and creation.
Chat through strategies with experienced eco-warriors, partner with other sustainable startups and build your brand’s credibility by learning as much as you possibly can in these resource-rich digital spaces.
Don’t underestimate the power of virtual word-of-mouth; by actively participating in these spaces, you’ll start to naturally grow your network, build a foundation of resources and knowledge, and position your brand as an authentic voice in sustainability.
Homegrown, But Ready to Scale: Keep Sustainability at The Core
Hopefully, you’ll start to see an uptick in interactions, an increase in sales, and maybe a customer base beginning to form; which is obviously all great news. However, one thing that can seriously undermine an eco-conscious ethos is having to compromise on your sustainability promises in order to cope with increased demand.
Start as you mean to go on by opting to work with suppliers who share your sustainability goals; prioritise recycled, biodegradable or reusable materials for packaging, or product creation and be sure that as demand (hopefully) increases, your suppliers will be able to keep up.
If you can work with local businesses to cut down on emissions, then do so, with the knowledge that your business relationship can grow alongside demand.
The Footprint of a Digital Operation
One thing that is frequently overlooked is the fact that even a 100% online business will have a surprising carbon footprint that will increase as the business grows.
It’s estimated that an average of 0.8 grams of carbon is generated per page view, which can add up pretty quickly when you imagine all the webpages out there.
The internet consumes a lot of electricity to simply exist, and your webpage will utilize servers that allow people to view your digital space, all of which creates a carbon footprint.
Consider using green web hosting services to bring your usage down, and consider donating small percentages of your profits to carbon offsetting charities to balance out your footprint.
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Tech Tools for Green Efficiency
As you will swiftly discover, running your own green business requires the wearing of several hats; founder, marketer, customer service coordinator, logistics, sales and much more.
Luckily for you, in this digital age, there are some incredible tools out there that can help you to avoid becoming overwhelmed, streamline your operations and allow you to focus on being as eco-friendly as possible, whilst delivering a superb service to your clients.
Efficiency is not just good for business, it’s essential for sustainability. Use tools that allow you to invoice, offer receipts and draw up contracts digitally, so you save unnecessary paper usage as you go.
There are project management tools that allow you to digitally oversee all the aspects of your business, and payment systems that can track incredible amounts of client data and allow your customers to pay you with ease.
Don’t get bogged down with admin and paperwork, allow your creative juices to flow and manage your business online.
Green Gifting: Spread The Green Love
Green gifting has become a bit of a golden ticket for sustainable startups. It essentially means offering your customers a way to use your platform to gift a sustainable product with real environmental value to others, and it can resonate deeply with eco-minded consumers.
This does not simply apply to those with an online store, although it is a great way for those operations to boost sales and engagement.
Green gifting allows your business to create actual touchpoints where clients can be a part of environmental change, and can range from sustainable trinkets to reforestation. You can attach it to any kind of online business, and interested people will interact with it.
This will reinforce your eco-credentials, offer visibility to brands seeking to achieve the same goals as you and allow everyone to feel good as we make a difference together.
Offer your eco-warriors the chance to effect change and partake in measurable actions that contribute to the fight, and benefit from your brand’s ever-increasing eco-story.
Ready to Go Green? Start Today, Grow Tomorrow
If you’ve been wondering how to start a green business, then you’ll probably already be familiar with the challenges; it’s no small feat and requires determination and dedication.
However, with these tips and tricks, starting your own eco-startup should be a little easier, a little more organised and a whole lot more sustainable.
By staying true to the environmental DNA that built the foundation of your venture, offering your audience the ability to effect physical change and leveraging the power of the digital world, you can create a business that’s green from the get-go and remains a powerful tool for good throughout.
Whether you’re planting your first tree, reducing your carbon footprint, or helping make the market more sustainable, every small step will matter.
Remember, the planet does not need more perfect businesses, it needs more businesses trying to be better.
