Do you hate the current state of the world and wish you could do something to turn the tide in the battle against climate change? It’s a tall order, but there is one thing you could look into that makes a very big difference: start a business that actively helps the environment. Everything you do is geared towards being eco-friendly and reducing carbon emissions – and it turns out there are lots of great business ideas you could consider.
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Recycling-First Commercial Waste Management
Businesses produce mass amounts of waste every week and most of it is collected and sent right into a landfill. A recycling-first commercial waste management business changes this. Your company will collate a long list of commercial clients and collect their regular waste – but with a twist! Because the goal is to help the environment, your business will try to divert waste from landfills by recycling or reusing as much as possible.
It’s the type of eco-friendly business idea with an immensely positive impact because you’re reducing waste from some of the biggest waste producers in your local area. It’s also something you can start relatively small – with a van and some good waste management software – before expanding into a fleet of vehicles that collects and recycles commercial waste far and wide.
Sustainable Construction Company
You enjoy building things and doing DIY – or maybe you’ve got a history in the construction industry. Either way, a sustainable construction company is a business idea that hits the mark and helps the environment. Everything you do will focus on the idea of constructing things through sustainable methods. This will include using sustainable building materials, being conscious of the equipment you use, etc.
A business idea like this opens up grand opportunities. You could offer general renovation services to homeowners, giving them peace of mind knowing that you operate sustainably. Or, set your sights higher and bid on housing projects with your sustainability as a USP. Not only will this help the environment, but it gives you a great way to differentiate from traditional construction companies.
Electronics Repair & Refurbishment
Did you know that around 46% of electronics can be used again when they’re taken to recycling or waste management centers? People get into the habit of throwing away an old TV or phone when they buy a new one – but these items can easily be put back into the world and used again by other people.
That’s where this business idea plays a big role: you’ll start a company that specializes in repairing or refurbishing old electronics. People can sell their items to you, then you fix them up and sell them on for a small profit. It’s all about the idea of a circular economy, where something can go round and around before finally becoming unusable. Reusing things is always better than recycling – and you can play a massive role in getting old electronics back into people’s hands and homes.
Food Waste Composting
Start a business where you go to local restaurants, bars, and cafes, asking for their food scraps. This can involve coffee grounds, uneaten food, expired food, and so on. You could even strike up deals with grocery stores to take excess or expired stock off their hands. Why are you doing this? Because you’ll take this organic matter and turn it into something useful: compost.
Composting isn’t the most glamorous of business ideas, but it can certainly be profitable – while also aiding the environment. Once again it’s this idea of cutting down on waste. Do you think restaurants and grocery stores recycle all of their organic waste? They don’t, because it’s often too complicated for them to handle. You step in and do it for them (they’ll pay a small fee), and then you can sell this organic compost to farmers, gardening enthusiasts, or anyone else who might want it.
Furniture Restoration Services
Are you passionate about taking old items of furniture and giving them a new lease of life? Furniture restoration is a growing hobby, but why don’t you monetize this by starting a business? It’s such a simple idea: people come to you with old furniture, and you transform it! There are actually two ways to go about this:
- Refurbish old furniture to look new again
- Take old and battered items and transform them into something brand new
If you’re looking to start your first business with minimal experience running a company, this is probably the best option on the list. Anyone can do this – as long as they have the necessary skills. It’s just a case of growing an online presence or using word-of-mouth to draw people in. Then, use your skills to make old furniture useful again! Instead of someone throwing away an old sofa or chairs, they can either use them again or you can transform them into new furniture items and sell for a profit.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Services
This is a similar idea to the construction one in that you’re looking to replace an existing service with a more eco-friendly option. In this case you’re going around cleaning people’s homes or businesses. Unlike traditional cleaning services, yours uses as many sustainable and non-chemical cleaning products as it possibly can. You also try to use sustainable cleaning equipment – like reusable microfiber cloths – instead of single-use things.
Clients will swarm because you do a fantastic job and you’re not hurting the environment. It’ll be a particularly prosperous business idea for commercial clients. Go down the B2B route because companies will be eager to meet their sustainability goals, and working with an environmentally-friendly cleaning company will certainly help.
Are these the only six business ideas that actively help the environment? No, but they should inspire other ideas when you consider some of the patterns. Think about things like businesses that reduce waste in one way or another, companies that provide more eco-conscious services, and so on. You can make a difference, and it starts with your very own business.
