Eco-Conscious Business Ideas for your 2021 Start-Up

Starting a business and switching over to a life of entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice since the Covid-19 pandemic changed our work lives for good. This lifestyle change is well worth the effort, but keep in mind that it’s not going to be an easy journey.

Being a successful business owner in 2021 entails that you’re going to need to find a high-demand niche and one of the biggest trends right now is going green. The world is finally cottoning on to the fact that climate change is a real problem, and more and more people are starting to make changes in their lives in order to do their part. Meeting these kinds of demands as a business will not only afford you great success but leave you feeling great for contributing to a worthwhile cause. Here are some eco-conscious business ideas to get involved in.

Clean Energy

Getting involved in clean energy is a great idea since renewables are here to stay. In this case, you don’t necessarily need to be inventing or creating something new – the existing technology is in place, but getting involved in manufacturing, installations, repairs or marketing of clean energy sources is a great business opportunity.

Be sure to thoroughly research the industry. For example, if you want to get involved in solar energy, consider the one digital marketing strategy solar companies can’t go without. Different business models should be used for different products and services.

Sustainable Clothing

A green-minded fashionista might want to put their talents towards the design and production of sustainable clothing. Fast fashion is an immense problem and a major contributor to overflowing landfills, and sustainable clothing (as well as second-hand clothing) are fast becoming popular alternatives. Starting up a second-hand clothing store, or designing clothing made with sustainable and recycled materials is a great option for a business in 2021.

Reusable Products

One of the easiest stepping stones to a greener lifestyle is replacing single-use plastics and materials with reusable alternatives. Think straws, shopping bags, makeup wipes and more. Reducing these throw-away items by investing in longer-lasting ones is an easy and effective way to reduce waste and plastic build-up.

Producing and selling products such as these will encourage people to make the investment, and you’ll be making it easier for people to make this positive change. As a business, this is a great idea since many consumers are already becoming aware of their waste and seeking better alternatives.

Second-Hand Bookstore

Clothes aren’t the only products that might be given new life with a new home. Books are a type of product that people often use once and then forget about – yet the production of them is extreme on the environment. Opening a used bookstore could lessen the demand for production and offer a great and valuable product to consumers at a fraction of the price. As a bonus, this is a type of business that could be run entirely online.

Composting and Recycling

Many people are curious about composting but don’t have the space or knowledge to begin the process. Opening a composting business will allow the work to be done for them. Look into providing a service where you collect other people’s compostable items or alternatively, provide a drop-off point.

Similarly, starting a recycling company is great for the environment and could be profitable too. Make sure that you do thorough research since the recycling process is quite specific and detailed. Once you’ve got your head around it, you could provide an invaluable service to your community.

Green Clean

Creating eco-friendly cleaning products is another great option. Many standard cleaning products contain harmful chemicals and are packaged in single-use plastic bottles and containers. You could kill two birds with one stone by producing natural, safe products and packaging them in reusable glass containers. A bonus would be to give your customers the option to bring their containers back for refills at a reduced cost.

Clean Beauty

A similar strategy as above could be used with regards to beauty products such as makeup, skin, hair and body products like lotions and soaps. Creating more natural, organic and healthy versions of these essential items will be better for the planet and better for your customer’s health, and providing your items in reusable containers will help reduce their waste as well: a bonus for everyone!

The Bottom Line

There are plenty more ideas that you could consider for an eco-friendly small business in 2021 – and any effort to make a difference will be noticed and needed by many consumers.