Responding to environmental problems has always been a no-win proposition for managers. Help the environment and hurt your business, or irreparably harm your business while protecting the earth. Recently, however, a new common wisdom has emerged that promises the ultimate reconciliation of environmental and economic concerns. In this new world, both business and the environment can win. Being green is no longer a cost of doing business; it is a catalyst for innovation, new market opportunity, and wealth creation. The idea that a renewed interest in environmental management will result in increased profitability for business has widespread appeal. In a new green world, managers might redesign a product so that it uses fewer environmentally harmful or resource-depleting raw materials—an effort that if successful could result in cuts in direct manufacturing costs and inventory savings. This new vision sounds great, yet it is highly unrealistic, say some experts. Environmental costs are skyrocketing at most companies, with little chance of economic payback in sight. Given this reality, they question whether “win-win” solutions should be the foundation of a company’s environmental strategy.

2. What are the benefits of starting a green business?
Great reasons to start a green business include the following:
Green businesses have a built-in target audience. In 2020, 65 percent of people who
responded to a survey said the government wasn’t doing enough to combat climate
change. Your business can target this vast consumer base and fill in the gap.
Green businesses attract top talent. Many of the 65 percent of people who think climate
change needs to be addressed more aren’t just customers — they’re workers too. These
people might inherently be more inclined to work for a green business like yours. Your
green business pedigree can help you attract and retain top talent and boost employee
retention efforts.
Investors may be interested in your green business. Venture capitalists and angel investors
often seek out the most innovative, unprecedented businesses to fund. Given the scope
of the climate crisis, innovative green businesses may attract their attention. This is why
launching a green company goes hand in hand with accessing business funding.

3. What is a green industry business?
A green industry business uses sustainable materials to make its products. Green industry
businesses aim to use as little water, energy and raw materials as possible while cutting
carbon emissions, or they use these materials in renewable and eco-friendly ways. This
business approach minimizes the company’s strain on natural resources and contributions
to climate change. In some cases, if waste is generated, it is reused as energy or raw
material.
What is a green business model?
With a traditional business model, a company outlines raw material budgets, design
processes, and service delivery or product distribution methods. A green business model
ensures ample revenue while prioritizing minimal environmental impact over maximum
profit. It may involve the restricted use of fossil fuels while emphasizing power supplied by
solar panels, as well as other approaches to drastically reduce energy consumption.

4. How do I start a green business?
As consumers have come to care about corporate social responsibility, a greater number of
green businesses have emerged. However, the problems that climate change poses require
many solutions. Thus, to start a green business, identify an eco-friendly service that no one
in your market currently offers. Next, think of similarly eco-minded people who can join
your team.
As you launch your green business, change your lifestyle to reflect its values and services.
Get creative with your green business ideas .
Green business ideas can be great business ideas that merge sustainability and profit. This
list is just a start. Get creative and even merge business ideas to create unique companies
that provide one-of-a-kind green services. For example, you can offer recycling or donation
alongside your professional organizing services. This way, once you’ve organized your
clients’ homes, you ensure that whatever they’re not using anymore doesn’t go into a
landfill. If you have a passion for protecting the environment, anything is possible.

5. Upcycling
Upcycling is the process of transforming unwanted products and giving them a second
life.
From fashion to furniture and everything in between, this is a great way to offer your
customers something unique with the added feel-good factor of cutting down on post-
consumer waste.
The change could be as small as painting an old chest of drawers and swapping out the
handles on it or as major as turning old newspapers into balls of wool.
The Upcycle Company, for example, sells upcycled furniture, offering customers a cost-
effective way to add unique pieces to their homes.
Upcycling represents a variety of processes by which “old” products get to be modified
and get a second life as they’re turned into a “new” product. In this way, thanks to the
mix and aggregation of used materials, components and items, the end result is a “new
product” with more value than the original value of the sum of all its components. In
other others, upcycling is about materials or items that get to be re-adapted and/or re-
purposed in a creative way, and whose lifespan is, therefore, expanded.

6. Refurbishing or recycling tech
Refurbished tech can be anything from a quick clean-up to a full-on repair before reselling a
device. This is essentially second-hand tech, which gives buyers the option of spending less
while helping to reduce the amount of tech waste going out into the environment.
If that’s not quite your calling, you might consider recycling parts from different objects into
an entirely new product.
It we’re talking creativity, just take a look at Electrickery – Recycled Computer Art by David
Wright. David recycled his first circuit board in 1999, when he saw potential in a broken
desktop calculator.
Fast forward to today and he’s saving electronic parts from the scrap heap and
transforming them into unique products.
You can find sculptures, lamps, jewellery, and even keychains available for purchase on his
website and Etsy shop.In 2019, over 50 million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic
equipment were produced worldwide.

7. Green cleaning
It’s no secret today that most of the cleaning products we use are made using chemicals
that are harmful to the environment and contribute to pollution once it’s washed down
the drain.
Washing up liquid, surface cleaners, bleach— most of these products come packaged in
single-use plastic containers, which are thrown out as soon as they run out.
Start your own cleaning business exclusively using brands that minimise or eliminate use
of single-use plastics, and make sure you use your commitment to green cleaning as a key
selling point in all your marketing efforts.
Go Green Cleaning, for example, promises affordable services using only eco-friendly
products for households as well as commercial properties.
Focus on finding ways to minimise waste and cut your water usage when you work and
look into ways to showcase the benefits of your green approach to potential customers.
You might, for example, consider reusing grey water, the relatively clean wastewater from
washing machines and other household appliances.

8. Creating an app
Creating an app is a fantastic way to help create a greener future with minimal impact on the
environment.
Think about it. You need minimal materials to get up and running, so that’s putting less waste
out into the world, and the amount of water and electricity required to run your business are
negligible.
The possibilities are endless here.You could create an app to help people find the nearest
recycling centres, or perhaps offer a catalogue of the environmental practices and carbon
footprint of different brands so people can make more informed purchasing decisions.
You might consider teaming up with local sustainable businesses to create a rewards
programme for sustainable shopping.
Think of it as a virtual loyalty card for making greener choices as a consumer.
Too Good To Go is one app fighting food waste across the UK. By teaming up with shops and
restaurants, the app makes it possible for users to buy and collect cut-price food that’s still
fresh and tasty, but just hasn’t sold in time.

9. Reusable food and drink storage and cutlery
In 2018 alone, an estimated 42 billion plastic straws were used in the UK.
A single plastic straw can take up to 200 years to decompose. And that’s a lot of time for them
to wreak havoc on the environment.
From stainless steel straws to travel cups, reusable cutlery, and bamboo containers, there are
a bunch of different ways you can help cut down on waste here.
Offer your customers a fun, stylish was to minimise their impact on the environment with
functional products that make their day-to-day life easier.
Need a little inspiration?
UK-based brand Sasstainable offers its customers a range of bamboo and biodegradable
products, from cutlery and reusable food pouches to toothbrushes and everything in-
between. Sasstainable’s reusable products don’t just save the environment, they save their
customers money too.

10. Zero-waste grocery delivery
More consumers than ever are looking to cut down on the amount of packaging in
their weekly shop. Why not buy or produce organic groceries in bulk, and package
them in reusable or recyclable containers?
Initially, you’ll probably want to limit your services to your local community to
guarantee availability and freshness of your produce. You might even choose to work
with local farmers to get their products out to the local community while cutting
down on single-use plastics. It’s a win-win situation.
The Zero Waste Delivery Company does a great job of ditching the single-use plastic
and delivering refills to homes all over the UK.
Whether you need to fill your pantry or restock the cleaning cupboard, it’s got you
covered with a high-quality, eco-conscious option.

11. Ink cartridge refill business
Try as we might, sometimes printing on paper is unavoidable. But you can help people
make their printing needs greener by offering an ink-refill service.
Reusing old ink cartridges saves tonnes of non-biodegradable materials from piling up
in landfills, and it’s profitable business when done right.
Start off by looking at the competition in your area, and offer a winning combination
of competitive pricing and stellar customer service to win your share of the market.
West Sussex-based Zero Waste Recycling is a great example of this kind of concept.
The company is committed to responsible cartridge recycling, and any materials that
can’t be reused or recycled are safely broken down into different parts that can be
used to create entirely different products, from car parts to road surfacing materials.

12. Thank you…