How To Promote Sustainability and Reduce Environmental Impact

04/22/2024

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Sustainability is not just an option, but a necessity. By working together, trying new practices, and prioritizing environmental responsibility, we can ensure that not only our region, but the nation as a whole can be a beacon of sustainability for generations to come. You can make a difference as a leader in your community. Here are 5 ways manufacturers can play a significant role in promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact.

  1. Use of Recycled Materials

Using materials like recycled plastics, metals, paper, and other materials wherever possible is a great way to reduce the demand for resources like timber, water, and minerals for new products. Recycling also conserves energy. Recycling just 10 plastic bottles can save enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours. At Stanley Engineered Fastening in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, they have a goal of zero waste to landfill by the end of quarter two in 2024. They are currently at 85% and are close to achieving their goal! If you want to start recycling but you’re not sure where to start, check out this list of acceptable items. You can encourage recycling through training and by having a separate bin throughout your facility to encourage recycling. All three counties in the SWK have recycling programs that you can find more information on below:

  1. Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Reducing your carbon footprint means decreasing the amount of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, that you emit into the atmosphere through your daily activities, lifestyle choices, and consumption patterns. At Stanley Engineered Fastening, they’ve replaced 8 propane powered forklifts with electric to reduce propane usage. They’re goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 15% for 2024 and currently they’ve seen at 15.8% reduction due to the decreased use of natural gas and propane!

  1. Supply Chain Sustainability

You can further encourage sustainability within your company by working with suppliers who prioritize sustainability and ethical practices. This can have a positive impact on the overall sustainability within your company and its processes. Align your business interest with environmental and social responsibility to pave the way for a more sustainable future.

  1. Educate Your Employees

The most sustainable impact you can have is educating employees and including them in your process to be more sustainable. Engage in educational initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability among consumers and encourage environmentally friendly behavior. Empowering employees to do their part can help boost morale and help everyone realize they have a role to play.  This goes back to recycling, encouraging them in their day to day to recycle an item, rather than throwing it away.

  1. Social Sustainability

Social sustainability is the ability of a society to maintain and enhance the well-being of its members over a longer term while preserving the cultural, social, and economic systems that support them. You can encourage employees to volunteer at local charities or for causes they are passionate about. Take it a step further and offer Volunteer Time Off (VTO). Providing one to two days off per year can go a long way in empowering your employees. You could even do a company-wide volunteer drive or day of giving.

Sustainability is vital for the well-being of our planet and future generations to come. As leaders in our communities and businesses, there are many more ways that we can promote sustainability. It starts where you are. Read about South Western Kentucky’s Sustainability Guide and learn more about what we’re doing locally, here.