How to Implement Sustainable Practices in Your Small Business

As sustainability awareness and eco-friendly options grow in popularity, more consumers are seeking environmentally friendly businesses, with many willing to pay more for it. This provides an opportunity for small business owners to not only make a difference on the environment but also connect with their community to understand and better meet their customers’ needs.

There are numerous practices, both large and small, that can make a significant impact on the environment without straining your budget. Remember, adopting sustainable practices can be done gradually, allowing you to assess what works best and identify areas for improvement.

Already, 68.4% of businesses or organizations in Canada have incorporated at least one environmental or green practice during the third quarter of 2023, as reported by the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions. Meanwhile, eight in ten Canadians value a sustainable lifestyle, 65% report feeling a moral obligation to use eco-friendly products, and approximately 50% of consumers in the country say a brand should place greater focus on environmental care or consideration, according to recent data.

We also see sustainable items making a big difference in the evolving business landscape. According to the 2023 Sustainable Market Share Index™, products marketed with this label make up almost a third of the growth in consumer packaged goods from 2013 to 2023, and this growth is despite inflation.

With “green” practices being a growing trend in 2025, now can be an excellent time to incorporate eco-friendly practices into your small business, especially since 65% of consumers say they look for environmental claims when purchasing. Keep reading for some options that you can try to get started.

Review Your Current Practices

Before you can begin adding sustainable solutions to your small business, start by assessing if there are areas that can be improved. Try giving yourself a sustainability report card—what would your grade be? If it is on the lower end, take this opportunity to move forward and build a plan that will benefit the environment and your small business.

Start by analyzing your current business practices and see if they positively or negatively contribute to the environment. For example, for energy consumption, you can review your energy bills and compare them to previous bills to see if you can recognize any practices that contributed to increases or decreases. What grade would you give yourself on recycling, and how can you improve? Doing this can help you create a checklist of what needs to change or be enhanced.

Have you already applied some sustainable practices to your small business? Even if it’s something you consider a “small” change, see if you can build on it to apply to other areas of your business.

Lower Energy Consumption

High energy consumption negatively impacts the environment; the greater our consumption of electricity produced from coal or fossil fuels, the more fuel electricity plants must burn to meet demands, which releases more gasses and other harmful byproducts.

To lower your energy consumption, first check your current energy usage. On average, how much gas, electricity, and water does your business consume? Once you have a ballpark idea, you can start implementing sustainable options.

Lighting, appliances, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems can use up a lot of energy if they are not replaced with eco-friendly options or used efficiently. If your equipment lacks a high energy star rating, you may want to make it a long-term goal to upgrade, as doing so in one fell swoop may not be in the budget right now. A practical first step could be to start with the lighting in your business.

Switching to certified LED lights can help reduce your energy use, as they are up to 90% more efficient compared to incandescent bulbs and last at least 15 years longer. Plus, almost all LED lights can be recycled along with electronics and do not contain toxic materials, making them an incredible option as you incorporate sustainable practices. Turning off lights where they’re not needed can also help reduce energy usage over time.

Another way to help reduce your businesses’ energy use is by unplugging electronics and appliances when not in use. Even if you turn them off, they can still use energy if plugged in—something called phantom power.

Reduce Waste

Reduce, reuse, recycle: many of us have heard this motto many times before. It turns out it’s still effective today! Reducing waste is something almost half of businesses/organizations reported doing, making it the most common environmental or green practice.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says the most effective way to reduce waste is by not creating it to begin with. While the waste your small business creates can differ from another business, here are some tips you can try out:

• Limit paper use to help reduce trees being cut down and processed by opting for recycled paper wherever possible
• Compost any extra food as much as possible and have this option available for employees in your staff room, for example
• Reduce single-use plastics by incorporating reusable bags, bottles, etc.
• Donate reusable items that are still in good condition but are no longer needed to an organization in need
• Invest in durable items that can last to help prevent constant replacing
• Create a recycling program that works for your business, such as various types of bins and stations to encourage recycling rather than throwing it away

A simple way to get started is by recycling any unnecessary paper you have around your business. However, be sure to shred any important, sensitive, or confidential documents first before doing so, which you can do at The UPS Store. All our shredded materials are securely recycled, making for a convenient, sustainable practice. Learn more here.

Use Eco-Friendly Packaging Material & Fillers

If your small business ships items to customers, the amount of packaging material can accumulate quickly. Before repurchasing, consider how much you use and when you use it to help optimize your inventory. From there, consider eco-friendly options that still provide the necessary protection for shipping products. For example, corrugated boxes are an excellent option to ship items in, as cardboard is made from natural materials, making it biodegradable. You can also purchase these boxes in varying sizes, allowing you to select options that will effectively fit the item(s) you’re shipping, helping minimize excess room while remaining durable. Learn more about the various cardboard boxes you should use when shipping.

Build a Plan with Your Employees

The more the merrier! If you can get your entire team’s buy in on sustainable practices, you can create more efficient and effective solutions. Start with brainstorming sessions to discuss the importance of sustainability and see what you can all start immediately. For example, if some employees do not need to commute to your store every day, try remote working opportunities for them or switch to a hybrid approach. According to a study by Cornell University and Microsoft, hybrid workers working two to four days a week at home can reduce their carbon footprint between 11-29%, mostly thanks to reduced transportation.

By working together, you can set goals for your small business that you can track over time, such as reducing a certain percentage of energy every month. You all want to be on the same page so that you can evaluate what’s working and what needs to be improved.

Work with Local Suppliers & Sustainable Vendors

Reducing the transportation necessary to ship inventory can be a significant way to become a more sustainable small business, as it reduces long-distance shipping, helping lower harmful emissions. By sourcing locally, you can become even more engrossed in your community and can offer customers locally-derived products, which around 66% of Canadians say they would pay extra for.

You can also assess the vendors you currently purchase from to see if they uphold sustainable practices. For instance, research their environmental policies, waste management protocols, and ethical labour practices. If a vendor does not mention their eco-friendly approaches, consider contacting alternative suppliers who do. Taking this step can have a snowball effect, impacting multiple areas of your small business.

Small Business Solutions with The UPS Store

If you are ready to take your small business to the next level, see how The UPS Store can help. We have locations across Canada with knowledge teams to help meet a variety of needs. Find a location near you today to get started.