by Joe Rees

Perhaps you’re trying to find a way to shift your career into environmental activism. You might even be interested in starting a green business! If so, these tips will help you get ready for the next big step in your career by outlining everything it takes, from creating a budget and a comprehensive business plan to streamlining your marketing strategy. 

Get Motivated by Business Leaders

Are you worried that running a successful eco-friendly business will be impossible? Just look to examples of high-profile “ecopreneurs” running similar companies for reassurance! For example, David Bronner is currently the CEO of the popular, sustainable company Dr. Bronner’s, which was started 150 years ago – and it’s still going strong to this day! They make all of their personal care products from organic, fair-trade materials.

Choose an Eco-Friendly Business Idea

Once you’ve read about existing green businesses, you need to pick an idea for your own company. Money Crashers recommends creating non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products, pet toys, children’s toys, reusable alternatives to disposable items like plastic shopping bags or utensils, or craft items from upcycled materials. You might want to set up a website and sell your products from your home or get in touch with local shops about selling your products through their storefronts.

Eco-Friendly Operations

You’re excited about your business idea – but how do you actually go about running your business so that it’s “green?” There are a few steps you’ll want to take to shrink your company’s carbon footprint. EcoEnclose recommends choosing recyclable or compostable packaging for your products, looking for suppliers that also embrace sustainability in their business models, allowing customers to ground-ship items rather than air-ship, and avoiding the creation of waste with your processes.

Creating a Business Budget

Every business needs a budget! As you envision how you’ll operate your company and start writing up a green business plan, you’ll also need to include some financial figures. If you’re building an eco-friendly business, you will likely need to budget extra in order to keep your supplies and processes “green.” Unfortunately, it can often be more expensive to make eco-friendly choices in the world of business. Therefore, give yourself a little wiggle room for each line item in your budget – that way, you won’t be caught off guard by elevated costs.

Marketing Your Products

You’ll have to promote your business to your target customers once your products are available. Today, using social media to promote your business is practically non-negotiable. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do this on a tight budget. For instance, you can use this program to design custom flyers quickly and free of charge, then share them via social media to help get the word out.

Running a green business is a great way to “give back” to the planet. But you don’t want to dive in without a roadmap. By following these suggestions, you’ll be able to develop a clear business plan and act on it!