People are becoming more aware of sustainability. As a response, they are practicing different ways to be more environmentally friendly. They expect to see businesses join the drive for sustainability. If you are a store owner, how can you heed such a call? Here are some brilliant ideas.
Find Ways to Conserve Energy
As a retail store, one of the best ways to support sustainability is to conserve energy. Thus, it is essential to choose appliances and fixtures that are energy-efficient. Glass-door refrigerators help customers to see the items immediately. They can choose what to get before opening it. Thus, it saves energy. Remember not to overstock because the equipment will need to work harder. Also, do not let supplies be scarce so as not to waste energy.
Lighting and your HVAC system can also contribute to conserving energy. Install sensor lights in toilet rooms and stock rooms. If possible, have a store layout that encourages natural light to come in. This way, you would not have to use artificial lights for the greater part of the day. Set your thermostat at an average temperature. Make sure that your customers will be comfortable enough. But you do not need your store to be too cold. Some customers even find it hard to stay when the area is too cold for comfort.
Involve the Customers
The environment suffers from waste coming from the packaging. Plastic, Styrofoam, and other materials are a great part of many landfills. Be a part of the solution by having reusable packages. One way to do this is to enlist the help of your customers. You can have a policy of using reusable bags. If you are selling beverages, you can encourage them to bring their tumblers. In exchange, whenever they buy with a reusable bag or a tumbler of their own, they receive a discount.
This kind of strategy will appeal to many people. They want to feel that they are part of something bigger. It might bring in more patrons, too.
Encourage Employee Accountability
If you want to have sustainability as a mission, you have to be on the same page with everyone in your staff. Proper training is important to set the expectations for each one. Each staff should exert effort to contribute to keeping your store sustainable. Things as simple as checking if all the equipment is turned off at the end of the day is a good practice.
You can even encourage them to walk or use a bicycle going to work, if possible. This saves the environment and improves their health, too.
Go Green
There are many ways your retail store can go green. You can choose more natural cleaning materials. Select those that have substances that are less toxic for the environment. Also, you can incorporate plants into your store design. Aside from their aesthetic value, they give a fresher circulation of air. If your space allows it, a living green wall is also a brilliant idea.
A store should not focus on gaining profits only. Saving the environment is easier if everybody will move toward the same goal. No store is too small. Every mindful act for the environment means a lot.
