Becoming an environmentally friendly business

Jul. 01, 2024

Becoming an environmentally friendly business

The community and your customers are becoming more environmentally aware and educated.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website.

An environmentally friendly business:

operates in a sustainable manner, causing minimal damage to the environment and using renewable resources where possible
considers where its supplies come from and how they are made&#;it will work with environmentally responsible suppliers and source materials locally to reduce its carbon footprint
seeks to remove or minimise any negative effect it has on the environment
considers the effect its products and services have on the environment
limits unnecessary packaging and manages stock production to reduce waste.

Your business reputation, ability to sell products and services and attract staff may all be affected by the environmental policies and procedures that you have in place.

The benefits of an environmentally friendly business

Being environmentally friendly will have benefits not only for the environment but also for your business.

These benefits include:

more effectively meeting the product and service needs and expectations of customers who value environmentally friendly practices&#;they will feel positive after purchasing products from a business that is proving to do no harm or minimises harm to the environment
developing a positive reputation
being more attractive to staff and business partners who value environmentally sustainable practices
attracting new customers who are seeking environmentally friendly products and services
creating innovative practices that positively affect the environment and can lead to increased sales
having a competitive advantage over non-environmentally friendly competitors.

Being environmentally friendly also has cost benefits, including:

the reduction of transport and packaging costs by using environmentally friendly and locally sourced resources and supplies
the reduction of vehicle and operating costs by using renewable energy
savings from becoming more energy efficient (e.g. less water and electricity usage)
the money saved on waste removal through recycling and reducing waste
the ability to attract more grants through, for example
- planning for changes to the climate
- reducing reliance on older, more expensive types of energy
- sourcing more local products and services
the increased possibility of success in sustainable procurement tenders&#;your eligibility will improve if your business can demonstrate how it has or can reduce negative environmental effects of purchased products and services.

Make your business environmentally friendly

Small businesses can work to be part of a circular economy where decisions and choices are made to eliminate waste and ensure resources are reused and recycled.

To make sure that your business is part of this economy, consider setting up an environmental management system within your business or discussing appropriate systems with your industry association.

Other ways you can make your business more environmentally friendly include:

using products that reduce your reliance on natural resources (e.g. rainwater tanks, solar hot water systems). Learn about saving water in your business
using products that are made from recycled material (e.g. office supplies made from recycled plastic, furniture made from recycled rubber)
conducting an environmental impact audit (discussed below) to assess if any of your activities can be done differently (e.g. reducing air travel by holding conference calls instead of interstate meetings)
increasing the amount of business waste you recycle
reviewing your business values&#;you should ensure that sustainability and environmentally friendly practices are reflected in them
asking your employees, suppliers and networks for ideas or advice.

You should also understand the environmental obligations and duties that you have to meet.

Small business sustainability advisory services

You might also consider using a small business sustainability advisory service.

These services can help you complete an environmental road map and provide mentoring to help your business become environmentally friendly.

The ecoBiz program (from the Business Chamber Queensland) is a free program which provides Queensland small to medium businesses with a free on-site one-on-one coaching session with a sustainability expert, to help cut business costs associated with energy, water, and waste usage while reducing environmental impacts.

Conducting an environmental impact audit

An environmental impact audit can be used to assess how environmentally friendly your business is. The findings of the audit can be used to help your business implement changes to ensure that you minimise any environmental damage it may be causing.

An environmental impact audit involves analysing how your business:

procures resources
creates products
deals with waste.

An environmental impact audit involves 3 phases.

Phase 1: Before operations (procurement and preparation)

When starting operations to make your products, you should identify where components and supplies, including packaging, come from and what environmental impact they have before they are used in your business.

Phase 2: During operations (manufacturing, assembly, creating)

You should analyse the impact on the environment that occurs during your business operations to make your products. Consider:

how much energy is used
what processes are involved with maintaining equipment
how you service customers
where you operate.

Phase 3: Finishing operations (clean up and waste management)

Assess the environmental impact that occurs after your business operations to make your products are complete. Consider the following.

Where does your waste go?
What is the quality of water and air as it leaves your premises?
How are products and packaging recycled?

Environmental impact audit example

Read the following example of an environmental impact audit of a business that manufactures custom wood furniture.

These questions were considered before starting operations to make the furniture:

What supplies or services does the business receive?
How far do the supplies or services travel?
What happens to them before the business receives them?
Are there any other environmental issues?

Current state

The business imports wood planks by ship from Indonesia.
The planks are fumigated before being loaded for shipping.
There is a possible sustainable sourcing issue with no transparency of forestry practices.
There is limited information on carbon emissions and waste management.

Changes to implement

Source wood that is reconstituted forest waste product (recycling).
Research sustainable products and materials.
Find Australian-made products that requires less energy for transport.
Use heat to bond natural wood resin.
Make changes to ensure all products are formaldehyde-free.
Aim for a net-zero carbon footprint or better.

These questions were considered when manufacturing the furniture:

What energy does the business use?
What equipment and packaging are used?
What transport is used?
What is the business location and the type of premises?
How does the business use the premises (inside and out)?

Current state

The business uses electricity from the grid.
The office has an old, large refrigerator that may be leaking from its seal.
Products extensively used during operations include disposable plastic wrap and petrol for the work car.
There is an old warehouse 30 minutes from the main road that is used to service the Queensland coast.
There is a large yard that is currently not in use.

Changes to implement

Install solar panels.
Service the fridge.
Source Australian alternative to disposable plastic wrap (e.g. made from potato water waste).
Replace the car with an electric or hybrid vehicle.
Lease a green building close to the transport route.
Create greening initiatives (e.g. planting trees).

These questions were considered when the furniture was completed:

What is the business waste?
Where does the waste go?
Does the business recycle onsite?
What is the quality of water and air leaving the property?
What happens to chemical waste?
How do customers use and dispose of our products?

Current state

The business creates cardboard waste.
There are no recycling options onsite, so all waste (cardboard, chemical and food) goes into general rubbish.
The quality of water and air is not affected and chemicals are disposed of according to relevant regulations.
Our products are thrown away by customers when they break or require replacement.

Changes to implement

Recycle food waste onsite or give it away to gardeners.
Clean and recycle water on site.
Use alternative chemicals or dispose of them in a more environmentally sustainable way.
Install a compost bin.
Cultivate a relationship with a repair shop to increase the lifespan of the products.

Record your own environmental impact audit

Complete an environmental impact audit at your business and record the details below. (Consider other questions if any of the following don't apply.)

Phase and considerations

Business current state

Changes to implement

Phase 1: Before operations

What supplies or services does the business receive?
How far do the supplies or services travel?
What happens to those supplies or services before I receive them?
Are there any other environmental issues?

Business current state

Changes to implement

Phase 2: During operations

What energy does the business use?
What equipment and packaging does the business use?
What transport is used?
What is the business location and the type of premises?
How does the business use the premises (inside and out)?

Business current state

Changes to implement

Phase 3: Finishing operations

What is the business waste?
Where does the waste go?
Does the business recycle onsite?
What is the quality of water and air leaving the property?
What happens to our chemical waste?
How do customers use and dispose of our products?

Business current state

Changes to implement

Last reviewed: 8 Nov
Last updated: 22 Mar

Pros and Cons of Polyester - The Most Common Synthetic Fiber

What Are The Pros and Cons of Polyester?

The pros of polyester are mostly material, such as its strength, flexibility, moisture resistance, ease of care, and low cost. The cons of polyester are mostly environmental, such as high energy and water consumption, pollution, and inability to biodegrade.

But there are material cons as well, such as a higher likelihood of pilling, running, and pulling.

And since polyester isn't a breathable fabric, but is moisture resistant, this can leave wet spots on people, which can easily irritate people with sensitive skin.

From a material standpoint, the pros outweigh the cons in the mind of most manufacturers, brands, and consumers - because polyester is the most widely used fabric in apparel globally.

But from an environmental view, polyester is one of the worst textiles created, exacerbated by one of the worst categories for the planet already.

That's right, the clothing industry has a massive negative impact on the earth. For instance, 10% of the planet's carbon emissions are caused by the fashion industry.

How Do You Navigate The Pros and Cons of Polyester?

There are some choices you can make to amplify the upsides and minimize the downsides when sourcing polyester fabric or garments that require the material advantages of polyester.

But first, let&#;s cover why polyester rose to be the top choice for clothing manufacturers in the first place, and that starts with how it's made.

The Origin and Process of Creating Polyester

The original creation of polyester dates back to the s when British chemists discovered they could create a durable plastic polymer through a chemical reaction of petroleum, water, and air.

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Specifically, polyester fiber is made from polyethylene terephthalate or PET - if that looks familiar, it's most likely because you've seen it on single-use plastic water bottles, as it's the most common material for them.

In just a few steps, these molecules can become PET. Here's a grossly simplified overview:

The plastic pellets (see the image at the top of this article for what it looks like) are first created through a chemical process requiring high heat and pressure.
The plastic is then extruded through fine machinery to create long plastic fibers.
These threads are spun together to create polyester yarn/thread, that is either blended or remains intact.
The polyester is then most often knitted (it can be woven) into fabric form.
The fabric is then cut and sewn to create a polyester-based garment.

Polyester is a thermoplastic that can be heated and cooled into various shapes meaning it can be used in a wide variety of settings. While clothing may be the most common use for polyester, the material is also found nearly everywhere; in items like safety belts, home furnishings, and of course, plastic water bottles.

Price, Quality, and Speed Spurred Polyester's Adoption

The benefits that polyester offers clothing manufacturers are numerous, but most notably it's a very cheap fabric to produce.

In addition, it's much easier and faster to knit or weave polyester threads into fabric than natural fibers like cotton. This is because polyester is a man-made fiber as opposed to a plant-based one.

The quality of polyester has also increased over the years. The original polyester fabrics were quite stiff, but advances in technology have led to the development of softer, more flexible versions.

Polyester can now be made to feel and look like many natural fibers, which has only helped to increase its popularity.

All of these reasons - price, quality, and speed - have made polyester the number one choice for clothing manufacturers to use, especially in activewear and the athletic apparel space, since its quality and material advantages are far superior to what the natural options were at its inception.

Is Polyester Still Good For Clothing Today?

In terms of value, that is quality for cost, polyester is a great material for garments, as it's durable, water resistant, and holds its shape and color. This is likely a major reason polyester makes up over 50% of the total fiber market and over 80% of the synthetic fiber market.

There's a lot to like about polyester clothing as it relates to performance attributes:

Polyester fabric is durable: It tends to stretch without tearing, is resistant to abrasion and normal wear and tear, and doesn&#;t easily pill like other natural fibers.
Polyester fabric is water resistant: Don&#;t forget, polyester is a plastic and is therefore hydrophobic. When exposed to water, polyester generally repels the liquid causing droplets to form on the surface rather than absorbing moisture into the clothing.
Polyester fabric holds its shape and color: This is good for both clothing manufacturers and consumers. For the seller, textural elements like pleats can be added to clothing easily and polyester also takes on dyes very well. For the buyer, this means vibrant and wrinkle-resistant clothing.

While we&#;re still talking about the positives, it should also be noted that polyester blends very well with other natural or synthetic fiber choices.

It&#;s very common to find T-shirts made out of a cotton and polyester blend or yoga pants created from a combination of spandex and polyester. Polyester can add benefits to other fibers that wouldn&#;t otherwise be as strong or flexible as an example.

But there is one commonly cited reason why polyester clothing is uncomfortable. Polyester clothing is not breathable. Because polyester is a plastic material that keeps moisture out, clothing made out of 100% polyester can feel clammy and damp.

For similar reasons, polyester clothing also tends to hold odor and moisture inside rather than wicking away sweat or letting air flow through.

Comfort aside, the real dirt on polyester has to do with sustainability - or the lack thereof.

Is Polyester Clothing Eco-Friendly?

Polyester is not eco-friendly, as it's a petroleum-based product, which means it's not sustainable and takes hundreds of years to break down. In addition, the microfibers in polyester clothing often end up in our waterways where they're ingested by fish, other marine life, and humans as well.

Unfortunately, polyester is not a sustainable fabric choice, and therefore polyester clothing is not eco-friendly. Meaning the most widely used textile is not environmentally friendly.

You can see how this can easily get out of hand, and that's exactly what's happening. The real environmental impact of polyester should be considered from all angles. From the beginning of the process to the end.

Because polyester is harmful from sourcing to manufacturing, disposal, and waste - basically every decision at every step of the apparel supply chain. Damage to the earth tragically happens at all points along the way.

Con #1: Petroleum Problems

The first issue polyester can&#;t get around is that the material is made from petroleum and fossil fuels. Demand for polyester contributes to hundreds of millions of barrels of oil being extracted and refined from the earth.

Additionally, clothing brands find it difficult to transparently understand the source of their polyester - the practices or locations of where the oil came from are difficult to know or share with the consumer.

Con #2: Manufacturing Pollution

The process to create polyester also comes with its own set of problems.

While polyester is a relatively cheap material to manufacture, creating it still requires a lot of energy to be used. Additionally, toxic chemicals and heavy metals used in the manufacturing process can find their way into wastewater and ultimately the surrounding environment.

Con #3: Post-Manufacturing Pollution

Finally, once the polyester makes it onto shelves in the form of fabric or clothing, the environmental impact can still be felt. The problems here are twofold:

a) Microplastic Shedding

First, polyester clothing sheds microplastic as it is worn or washed. These microplastics ultimately make it into our water and soil sources and even inside our bodies. The scientific community is still learning about the full extent that microplastics can harm the earth and our bodies.

b) Landfill Fodder

Second, polyester clothing cannot be easily recycled and often ends up in landfills where it will sit for hundreds of years. Because polyester is a man-made plastic of sorts, it will not biodegrade and is not a sustainable resource.

Polyester is a Tragic Textile for the Planet

The use of cheap and accessible polyester fabric has contributed to environmental waste and bad habits throughout the entire garment industry - from fast-fashion everyday wear to athleisure and activewear.

Despite the impact, polyester is easy and profitable for clothing manufacturers to use, encouraging wasteful production and consumption patterns.

There is, however, one saving grace for polyester. Technology that preserves the functional benefits of polyester while lessening the environmental impact. That is recycled polyester or rPET.

How is Recycled Polyester Different From Virgin Polyester?

Recycled polyester is different from virgin polyester in terms of raw materials. Whereas virgin polyester requires new petroleum and chemicals to turn oil into plastic that can be weaved into clothing, recycled polyester is created from post-consumer PET water bottles that are transformed into polyester fabric.

To create recycled polyester, manufacturers will collect millions of pounds of used PET plastic from sources including single-use water bottles, fishing nets, and other industrial items.

The plastic will be washed, melted, and reformed into pellets or chips that can be processed further. At this point, the recycled polyester process will look very similar to the virgin polyester process - the rPET will be spun into long threads to create fabric.

Is There a Performance Difference in Recycled Polyester?

Recycled polyester behaves the same as virgin polyester fabric - strength, flexibility, moisture resistance, lightweight, ability to blend, ease of care - all of the performance attributes that brands and consumers love about virgin polyester are identical in recycled polyester.

This is all regardless of the form the PET takes post-consumer - be it a water bottle or packaging, your recycled polyester fabric will still have the same amazing performance qualities as virgin polyester.

The real benefit, however, is that by choosing recycled polyester clothing you will not be adding to new fossil fuel demand and will be helping save the environment.

Massive fashion brands have already replaced their dependency on virgin polyester with recycled polyester. Titans of fashion like Nike, Patagonia, The North Face, Levi's, etc., are all looking to manufacturers to source recycled polyester garments for them.

One standout manufacturer is Repreve, in unison with its parent company, which has recycled 34 billion PET water bottles to date - and this number shoots up by 4,300 bottles every minute.

Ditch Virgin Polyester, Adopt Recycled Polyester

Repreve, and more specifically recycled polyester, are in high demand. This is why the fabric has made the Sport Casuals' "5 Trending Eco-Friendly Fabrics in Activewear" list. But there's a long way to go.

Even if everyone used recycled polyester in place of polyester tomorrow, it's still not the most sustainable fiber on the market, not by a long shot. But it is a starting point for change.

Polyester will continue to be a fabric of choice for clothing makers because the material is inexpensive, easy to customize with colors and patterns, and creates durable and comfortable clothing.

While polyester clothing is common, consumers are waking up to the environmental impact it has, and this is affecting their purchase decisions. Setting aside the ethical charm of brands using recycled polyester, this adoption of recycled polyester by brands is most likely driven by consumer intent.

And since recycled polyester clothing has the same performance benefits as virgin polyester clothing with less harm to the environment, it's an easy decision even if there are cost implications, as they would be more likely tolerable due to positive environmental reasons.

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