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If you are interested in ways to save the environment, this article is just for you. Eco-friendly simply means earth-friendly or not harmful to the environment. This term most commonly refers to products that contribute to green living or practices that help conserve resources like water and energy. Eco-friendly products also prevent contributions to air, water, and land pollution. The term eco-friendly is often interchanged with being ‘Green’ of going ‘Green’.
To enter the green business world, one has to understand everything there is to know about the industry.
What is a green industry business?
A green industry business is one that 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. Alternatively, it finds ways to utilize these materials in renewable and eco-friendly ways. This business approach minimizes any 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, while ensuring ample revenue, prioritizes minimizing the company’s environmental impact instead of maximizing its profit. It may involve restricted use of fossil fuels while emphasizing power supplied by solar panels and other approaches to drastically reduce energy consumption.
How do I start a green business?
As consumers have come to care about CSR, a greater number of green businesses have emerged. however, the problems that climate change poses require many solutions. Thus, to start a green business, first identify an eco-friendly service that nobody in your market currently offers. Then think of similarly eco-minded people you know whom you could ask to join your team.
If you’re looking to start your own eco-friendly, green industry business, here are some ideas below.
Organic catering
A great way for eco-friendly foodies to share their passion for food and the environment is to start an organic catering company. By catering local events and business luncheons with foods containing organic and locally grown ingredients, you’ll appeal to nature lovers and health and wellness enthusiasts alike.
To further minimize the impact on the environment, avoid plastic and paper goods as much as possible and composting food waste.
Sustainable event planning
Whether big or small, meetings and events can generate large amounts of waste and consume valuable resources. Green event planners use their expertise and event-planning skills to find eco-friendly venues, materials, and accommodations.
Related: 10 Tips About Starting a Mobile Car Wash Business in Kenya
Sustainable event management benefits more than just the planet. According to the Sustainable Events Guide, there are financial advantages, plus it generates a positive image for event organizers, vendors and stakeholders while raising awareness, and inspiring change in the community.
Handmade all-natural/organic products
Soaps, cosmetics, and cleaning products are just a few of the household products that can be made using common organic materials.
Sure, anyone can find a recipe for a sugar scrub or vinegar-based cleaning solution and do it themselves, but if you package and sell them in sets, your customers conveniently have those all-natural products at their fingertips. Local markets and events are a good place to sell, or you could also start an online store.
Eco-consulting
Are you an expert on green living? Start an eco-consulting service. Consultants evaluate homes and offices and offer solutions to make them more environmentally friendly.
You could advise clients on switching their home appliances to more energy-efficient machines or implement a recycling program. To further boost your credibility, you could also become a certified eco-consultant.
Farmers market vendor
Thanks to the organic movement, those with a green thumb have a golden opportunity to earn money by selling non-GMO, pesticide-free produce at their local farmers market.
Selling naturally grown fruits and vegetables gives you a distinct advantage over competing growers who use conventional farming methods, including pesticides. You may have to be approved and/or get certified by your local board of health first before you can begin selling.
Green housekeeping services
For working parents, cleaning the house can be at the bottom of the to-do list. Market yourself as the green solution to their housekeeping woes by offering services that range from light dusting to heavy-duty chores like cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, using only approved all-natural and eco-friendly cleaning products.
Charge an hourly rate or create your own service packages for a flat fee. Remember, your clients are giving you access to their homes. Build a trustworthy reputation with people you know first before advertising to strangers.
Eco-friendly cleaning
Common cleaning products contain chemicals that contribute to pollution and harm people and pets that come in contact with them. Starting an eco-friendly cleaning business counter this problem. Your eco-friendly cleaning business can exclusively use nontoxic products or use brands that minimize their use of single-use plastics. Furthermore, you can decrease your company’s environmental impact by reusing greywater whenever possible.
Secondhand store
New things are typically expensive, and eventually soon, those costs add up. For example, a new book could cost $15 to $30, while a used book usually costs only a couple of dollars.
Opening a second-hand store not only saves your customers money, it’s better for the environment. Instead of tossing a perfectly good item into the trash, encourage consumers to donate their used items to you so another person can get value out of that item. You can sell used clothes, coats, books, kitchen appliances and furniture.
