If you’ve ever felt guilty about the way your business impacts animals, it’s time to take action. You don’t have to choose between making money and helping animals. There are many ways you can make your company more animal-friendly, which we’ll explore in this article.
Make your products and services animal-friendly
Being animal-friendly means more than just being against animal testing. If you’re going to call yourself an animal-lover, you should make sure that your products and services aren’t contributing to animal suffering in any way.
For example, if you run a cosmetics company, check with suppliers and vendors to see if they test on animals. If they do, switch to cruelty-free companies.
Your products don’t have to be vegan or vegetarian, but you should avoid animal ingredients if possible. You can also donate a portion of your profits to animal welfare organizations, which is known as “giving back.”
Reduce the environmental impact of your business
Not only can you help animals by reducing your environmental impact, but it also makes good business sense. If you want to attract eco-conscious consumers who care about protecting the planet, make sure your business is doing its part.
For example, whenever possible, buy recycled materials for packaging and printing. You can also use renewable energy sources like solar panels or wind turbines if your company is large enough to require an energy source.
A final way you can protect the environment is by donating a portion of your profits to organizations that work to reduce pollution and promote sustainability. Some examples are The Conservation Fund, IFAW’s Species Survival Program, and the Marine Stewardship Council.
Give back by donating to an animal welfare organization
If you want to show potential customers that your company cares about protecting animals, it’s time to start donating. Many organizations are working to protect animals in different ways, so find the ones you think are most effective and donate.
When choosing which organizations to support, pick ones that have a reputable track record of helping animals in need. For example, if you’re a pet owner, the ASPCA and The Humane Society of the United States might be good options. If you’re into animal research or conservation, check out organizations like IFAW and WWF.
Don’t forget some smaller organizations as well. These groups might not have as large an impact as larger ones, but every little counts.
Help promote animal welfare in your community
It’s not always easy to make big changes, especially when you’re starting. Instead of focusing on bigger goals like lobbying for animal rights, the best thing you can do is start small.
If your community has no pet adoption agencies or other places where people can adopt pets, call up the local shelter and offer to help them. Not only can you help homeless animals find homes, but you could also raise awareness about the shelter.
You might have to start small, but there are lots of opportunities to get involved with your community and put an emphasis on helping animals. You can even look into a pet grooming franchise opportunity and start a new business in your area.
Find ways to reduce energy usage in the workplace
Did you know that at least one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings? By reducing the amount of energy your business uses, not only can you reduce your impact on the environment but also save money on utilities.
First, look into ways to make your building more energy-efficient. For example, if you’re renting space for your business, talk to the landlord about upgrading lighting and heating/cooling systems.
If you’re looking to make changes outside of work hours, try powering down your computers at night or setting your thermostat a few degrees higher during the day. By taking simple steps like these, you can reduce energy usage without sacrificing productivity.
Encourage employees to adopt pets or volunteer at shelters
Not only can you help animals by donating a portion of your business profits, but employees can do animal-friendly activities outside of work as well.
For example, have an employee take their dog to the local shelter on weekends and volunteer there for a few hours. Not only will they be doing something good for the community, but they’ll also be helping raise awareness about the shelter.
You could also encourage employees to adopt animals of their own. If they’re not ready for a pet, they can try fostering animals instead. Not only is this good for the environment but it’s also rewarding for everyone involved.
There are many ways you can make your company more animal-friendly, and it all starts with committing to doing good.
