Eco-minded consumers are fast increasing, and if business owners and entrepreneurs fail to include this particular demographic in their business plans, they will miss out on a lot.
Consumers today aren’t just interested in quality products and services. They are also more conscious now about corporate social responsibilities. For this reason, more and more business people and entrepreneurs are making ventures into the green industry business.
What is a green business?
Unlike traditional business models, a green business prioritizes keeping the company’s environmental impact to a minimum instead of making a profit. Although it still earns enough revenue to maintain operations and keep investors happy.
Green businesses use alternative materials — sustainable materials — to provide products and services. They aim to reduce carbon emissions by using minimal energy, water, and raw materials.
9 Green Business Ideas for the Environmentally-Friendly Entrepreneur
For the entrepreneur who is eco-minded or those who want to go green, here are a few business ideas that support and promote an environmentally-friendly consumer behavior:
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Gardening and Landscaping
One of the most obvious choices entrepreneurs can go with is a business that is related to gardening and landscaping. They could create a company that offers landscaping services, or they could start a small nursery where they can sell small plants and seedlings. Perhaps they can even collaborate with a reputable arborist to develop a new concept for tree services.
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Green Housekeeping
If you’re a parent who’s working a full-time job and very hands-on with your children, then the last thing on your mind when you get home is to clean your house. Why don’t you make it easy for families by offering housekeeping services that only use the most organic cleaning products?
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Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Another option for eco-minded entrepreneurs is to manufacture eco-friendly cleaning products that are safe for folks to use, including those with a green housekeeping service business. You can package them in sets and peddle your wares in local events and markets, as well as different eCommerce platforms to help widen your reach.
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Green Consulting
The pressure is on companies to adopt green practices. And it will only continue to build as time goes by. If your knowledge about business sustainability and going green is quite vast, consider offering consultancy services to companies that need help making the transition to go green. Companies can greatly benefit from your expertise on the subject.
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Farmers Market Vendor
If you are gifted with the ability to grow healthy crops and produce, you might want to consider growing them for profit. A lot of home gardeners have their own backyard veggie gardens for their own consumption. You can turn your hobby or health advocacy into something profitable by growing purely organic fruits and veggies and selling them in farmers’ markets.
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Scooter and Bike Sales, Repair, and Refurbishing
Transportation, particularly those that emit carbon monoxide, has greatly contributed to the world’s global warming problems. Scooters and bikes are great and healthier alternatives to get from one place to another without a carbon footprint. Creating a business that sells these items or a repair shop can help promote their healthier lifestyle and environment.
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Green Building
Green building as an industry is growing really fast, especially in recent years. The construction of buildings and structures using green architecture and sustainable materials has provided developers and contractors solutions to certain environmental concerns that were not addressed efficiently. This type of business offers a lot of great opportunities for entrepreneurs to make a difference.
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Handmade Organic Products
Some organic products can be made in the comfort of your home. Things such as cosmetics and soap can be easily created using common organic materials. With a little research and packaging, you can sell these items individually or in sets (for a slightly lower price, of course). You can go to local markets near you or have them consigned in a small shop. Going online is also a great way to get the word out about your products and bring in some sales.
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Thrift Shop
Times are hard now, and folks are doing all they can to cut down on costs. People have grown wiser now and opt to buy pre-owned items that are a fraction of the price of a brand-new one. Opening a thrift shop or second-hand store not only benefits buyers as they save money, but it’s also good for the environment as less waste is produced by taking unwanted or unneeded items from people.
Green businesses help not just boost a community’s economy but also its environment. Starting a green business and getting it off the ground helps you earn, create jobs for people, and take care of nature.
