5 Easy Ways to Help ‘Green’ Your Business Shipping

Greening your business shipping doesn’t have to be difficult- in fact, getting started can be as simple as a few easy steps:

1)  Eliminate undeliverable shipments by using address verification software. This reduces the use of fossil fuels and vehicle emissions for undeliverables.

2)  Use shipping boxes and containers made from recycled materials, or try reusable containers. Reuse boxes and containers as many times as you can. Most carriers offer shipping boxes for free and some even offer eco-friendly options (check out UPS and USPS for free recycled/reusable shipping supplies).

3)  Reduce your need to print and store paper files and receipts by storing them electronically. Also consider using services like Easy e-VS to generate and store shipping and manifest documents electronically.

4)  If you’re shipping multiple items to a single address, consolidate all the items into a single shipment.

5)  Help make your shipping facility green by making small changes: recycle ink and toner cartridges (check out Staples‘ free Inkdrop program), reduce your paper usage as much as possible (and recycle what you must throw away), use recycled and eco-friendly products whenever you can and conserve energy by turning off computers and equipment overnight. Consider replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs.

Inspired to do more? Check out these ideas from BeMoreEco.