The common perception is that online businesses are more eco-friendly. To an extend yes but they are not completely fool proof when it comes to environmental damage indirectly. To run an online business also requires electricity, logistical supplies, a backhand support office. Although at a lesser scale, businesses into eCommerce go through the same ordeal as other offices; just their way of operation is at a virtual level.
We all know the huge advantages of eCommerce and online stores. Data is the latest buzzword in the arena. Be it about buildings, vehicles, transit systems, credit institutions or something as simple as marketing strategies, data is the big connecting bridge between customers and businesses.
Over the years the growth of apps has been significant in adding a new dimension to the way technology flowers sustainability in conducting business - online and offline.
Green marketing is all the rage. It refers to selling products and services keeping in view how eco-friendly they are. The obvious preconception about green marketing is that since these products cost slightly more than the non-green products, it will shun consumer interest and affect sales. Strictly speaking, in my opinion, the customer-class is starting to love the idea of "greenness" and willingly making efforts to adopt eco-friendly shopping methods.
Today we bring for you some smartphone apps to help keep up your businesses' "Green Quotient" up.
1. GoodGuide
An app created by Professor Dara O'Rourke, GoodGuide is avaialble on Apple's iTunes App Store and Android's Marketplace. It is designed with a rating scale from 0 to 10 that allows users to evaluate products based on its health, environmental and social impacts. The data metrics are based on concrete scientific testing.
2. iRecycle
2. iRecycle
Available only for Apple products, this free app champions the idea of recycling products comprehensively. Displaying locations where users can recycle their products or drop them to enable recycling to happen besides valuable tips and news.
Just create a customized Earth911 profile using your ZIP code or city address to access details for waste collection point sin the city or useful websites, phone numbers, hours of dropping etc.
3. PaperKarma
Just create a customized Earth911 profile using your ZIP code or city address to access details for waste collection point sin the city or useful websites, phone numbers, hours of dropping etc.
3. PaperKarma
As savvy as it sounds, its work is really awesome too. This free app was founded by two Seattle-based entrepreneurs - Sean Mortazavi and Brenda Ribera. It helps users sort out unrequired paper mails. This is a good idea for businesses looking to save on printing and delivery costs. All one has to do is take a snap of the unwanted mail and press "Send" to get unsubscribed. Within 24 hours, the snap gets sent to junk mail distributor with a notification to stop sending such junk mail again. This works well for catalogues, magazine subscriptions, credit card offers etc. The bottomline is customers receive only what they want to.
4. JouleBug
4. JouleBug
Founded by Grant Williard, JouleBug is a cool app available on the App Store that makes the eco-friendly cause a fun game. The users compete with each other on Facebook and Twitter to gain points by cutting down their energy bills and product waste. It seems like a child's play to compete but the cause gets championed so seamlessly. Kudos!
5. PEV4me
5. PEV4me
This app is an electric car calculator that allows users to draw an estimate by calculating the diffrentials between the domestic electricity bill, the electric vehicle charger and the actual requirement.It also helps find the most cost effective rate plans based on the user's driving needs, calculates the annual cost of savings of replacing an ICE vehicle, gas powered car with a plug-in electric mechanism. The app is the proud winner of the "App for Energy" contest.
Just start using these fabulous apps daily to make each day count as a sustainable day in Earth's history. Remember going green isn't difficult. All you need to do is to download these apps and get started.We wish all our readers a very Happy Environment Day!
Do let us know your ideas on making your business sustainable by leaving us a comment in the section below.
For more green ideas and tips, stay tuned with E-junkie regularly.
That certainly is a great idea Max. Creating Online invoices would rid the world of a lot of paper invoices helping the world go green. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with our readers.