Get All Access for $5/mo

Going Green Is Growing Important to Small Businesses Recycling and reducing waste and water use are just a few ways that businesses are creating more eco-friendly workplaces.

By Sushil Cheema

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Good news in time for Earth Day: An eco-friendly workplace is becoming a priority for many businesses.

That's according to a report based on the new Office Depot Small Business Index. It finds 61 percent of small businesses are actively trying to go greener and 70 percent anticipate becoming more environmentally conscious in the next two years.

The index is based on a monthly online survey of about 1,000 small- and midsize businesses in February.

The survey also found that recycling and reducing waste were the most popular ways to create a green workplace. Other practices include seeking out energy-efficient products and recycled products. At the top of the list: ink and toner cartridges, followed by paper products, cleaning chemicals, lighting and electronics.

But creating a green space does not come without challenges. One big concern for business owners is the cost and quality of products.

More about the survey in the infographic below:

Click to Enlarge+
Going Green Is Growing Important to Small Businesses

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

How Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Transformed a Graphics Card Company Into an AI Giant: 'One of the Most Remarkable Business Pivots in History'

Here's how Nvidia pivoted its business to explore an emerging technology a decade in advance.

Starting a Business

How to Find the Right Programmers: A Brief Guideline for Startup Founders

For startup founders under a plethora of challenges like timing, investors and changing market demand, it is extremely hard to hire programmers who can deliver.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Want to Start a Business? Skip the MBA, Says Bestselling Author

Entrepreneur Josh Kaufman says that the average person with an idea can go from working a job to earning $10,000 a month running their own business — no MBA required.