Business
Sustainable business is smart business. Whether you’re a small enterprise or a large organisation, reducing your environmental impact can lower costs, improve your reputation, and future-proof your operations.
Switch your business
Be an environmentally conscious businesses by becoming carbon neutral. For most large businesses scope three is the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Some actions you can take include:
- Generate your own energy
- Buy renewable energy
- Reduce energy usage and wastage
- Be waterwise
- Reduce waste generated and aim for circularity
- Invest in green procurement by buying locally and ethically
- Invest in staff health and well-being
Recycling in the office
There are many specialist recycling programs available for small businesses to recycle used business goods. Find the nearest collection point at Recycling Near You.
If you can’t find a program to take your recycling, why not look for your own solution?
- Donate unexpired food to a local charity like OzHarvest
- Sell unwanted furniture via Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree
- Create a workplace compost
Thinking beyond the bin
“Some personal documents need to be shredded and shredded paper can’t be recycled. We have found that animal shelters need shredded paper, so we contact them after a clean out”
Tools & Tips
GET YOUR BASELINE
If you’re interested in conducting a baseline assessment from which you can build your sustainability-related activities, you can use a Business Sustainability Assessment Tool.
SORT YOUR STRATEGY
If you are yet to develop a sustainability strategy for your business, then a good time to start is now. Energy Action has compiled a useful summary of why a sustainability strategy is important and how to develop one.
PLANTING PROGRAMS
Addressing carbon emissions associated with your business operations can be addressed in a multitude of ways. One very tangible way is to participate in tree planting programs such as are managed by Carbon Positive Australia.
INDUSTRY SPECIFIC SUPPORT
Some business industries are lucky enough to have support and programs to help them along their sustainability journey. Sustainable Salons and Waste Free Systems are two such organisations providing industry specific solutions.
FUNDING FOR HOME-BASED BUSINESSES
If your business is home-based, you may be eligible to apply for household energy upgrades funding.
DONATE YOUR FURNITURE
If you are undertaking an office furniture refit or just have some surplus furniture and equipment, don’t send them to landfill. Not-for-profit organisations including Greenchair and Sam’s Spares – both founded and based in Perth – take pre-loved business assets and distributed them to people and organisations in need.
STAY AHEAD OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards have recently been introduced and will require large companies to report on a range of activities that contribute greenhouse gas emissions. Stay informed and keep an eye out for our free workshops for businesses to help you make sense of it all!
Community Workshops & Business Training
Switch Your Thinking is delivering a series of energy efficiency workshops throughout 2025. The workshops cover a variety of topics for households, including reducing energy use, solar panels, electric vehicles and planning for electrification. The Energy Efficiency Pilot Program will also include a series of energy efficiency workshops for small-to-medium sized businesses.
All available workshops can be found on Switch Your Thinking’s dedicated Eventbrite Page.
Recordings of the Understanding Batteries & Solar Panels Workshop and the Planning Your Electrification Transition Workshop can be found below.
Other Ways to Switch
Learn about more ways you can switch your thinking and live a more sustainable lifestyle.