We’re all on the lookout for ways to reduce our plastic use. And, of course, the problem has to stop at the source. As humans, we need to reduce our reliance on the stuff and simply stop producing it. And as individuals, on the whole, we’re at least attempting to do a good job; in 2021, Irish households recycled 4% more than in 2020 and beat European targets. But what can a small business do? When you’re in a delicate balancing act of keeping down costs and keeping customers coming back, can plastic-free business practices take priority?

You’ve already cut out plastic bags and other single-use plastic items where you can, encouraging staff to reuse and reduce too. While a drastic overhaul to go 100% plastic-free may be a no-go, there are three simple enough ways to reduce use that you might not have thought of.

Switch from plastic cards to paper

If you offer any kind of cards; be it loyalty, birthday or gift cards, switch to a paper-based supplier which offers fully recyclable, biodegradable and compostable gift cards. Millions of the plastic variety flood landfills, leaking harmful chemicals into the ecosystem in the process. By offering a paper-based gift card, your business is helping to alleviate this problem and simultaneously championing customers who want to make a greener choice when gifting.

Explore refill and reuse options

If you sell products that allow for refilling, put some starter infrastructure in place to make it possible. Beauty brands might be the industry leading the way, but smaller retail shops can do it too. Look at Edinburgh-based grocery chain The Refillery. As the name suggests, they lead the way on refillable grocery options. And where items can be refilled, they have a zero-plastic sourcing policy meaning none of the products they sell are in plastic containers, but sustainable packaging options. It starts with a value-based approach, which might mean more hard work in the short term, but it’s worth it.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Refillery® (@the.refillery.uk)

Partner with sustainable suppliers for the plastic can’t cut out yet

Speaking of values, aligning yours with your suppliers is a big win and can make cutting down on plastic more rewarding. Take stock of the companies from which you currently source packaging, products, and even marketing or financial services. Do they have plastic-free or low-plastic policies in place? Natural skincare brand deDANU prioritised finding the right supplier and, in doing so, made good on their local and sustainable values. Staying true to these is important for businesses and customers alike.

deDANU choose to partner with local Irish sustainable packaging company CoLab

And if you can’t cut out plastic entirely in the supply chain, try to source from suppliers that have action plans in place to ensure they stick to their sustainable commitments. No greenwashing here, people!

So there you have it. Three relatively simple ways your business can reduce plastic from today. And while changing the status quo takes getting used to, the plastic-free choice just has to be the one. 

Featured image Photo by Maria Ilves on Unsplash