10 Sustainable Business Practices to Embrace in 2025

As 2025 approaches, sustainability is predicted to be one of the key trends shaping the business landscape, driven by regulatory pressures and increased consumer demand. Due to the growing eco-consciousness and the enforcement of stricter climate targets by governments, companies that adopt green strategies stand out in the market and meet client expectations.  

As one of Europe’s Long-Term Growth Champions, we know that consistent business success goes hand in hand with sustainable practices. Our dedication to integrating eco-friendly initiatives has earned us multiple ESG awards, proving that growth can be both responsible and impactful. Here’s our take on ten sustainable business practices that are easy to adopt but make a significant difference: 

Create engagement 

Fostering a culture of environmental consciousness and social responsibility within your organization is paramount as sustainability thrives on collective action. This approach ensures that it becomes ingrained in the company's ethos, promoting a shared commitment to ethical business practices. Furthermore, team members can serve as ambassadors, disseminating knowledge, and encouraging colleagues to embrace sustainable practices in their day-to-day operations. In doing so, your company not only leads by example but also empowers its team to contribute to a greener future.

With that in mind, we established Accedia Green Community as an internal initiative to drive environmental conservation and lower our carbon footprint, expanding its efforts even further this year. Our goal is to create a sense of responsibility and commitment by setting an example, providing information and transparency in an engaging and relatable way. As part of these efforts, the Green Community organizes ongoing initiatives to promote sustainability, such as Green Week, which included a campaign to collect expired medicine blisters and bottle caps. We also welcomed experts who shared practical recycling tips and taught us how to properly dispose of tricky items. The week featured a special edition of Green Marmalad, our internal radio show, where colleagues shared their green practices while enjoying some music, and concluded with a local park clean-up.

In addition, we host activities like green-themed movie nights, to raise awareness about consumerism, our daily habits and their impact on the climate crisis. Even small gestures, like our eco-friendly birthday presents, reflect our commitment to sustainability in every aspect of our company culture.

Extend your mission beyond the company 

Sustainability goes beyond office hours, which is why we planted the Accedia Forest in 2023 - and in 2024, we’re continuing our efforts to expand it, with around 380 trees planted so far. This project is helping us combat deforestation while bringing our community together. Our team, their families, and friends worked tirelessly to prepare the soil, dig pits, and plant saplings. The forest serves as a living symbol of our commitment to offsetting carbon emissions and preserving the environment for future generations. It’s proof that impactful sustainability begins with small, meaningful actions.

Nourish your roots 

Local initiatives are the foundation of sustainable change, and Accedia is deeply committed to giving back to our community. From participating in bTV Media Group’s “Let’s Clean Bulgaria” campaign to contributing to the Caps for the Future program, we aim to make a difference locally. Additionally, we’ve organized donation initiatives for wild animal shelters and vulnerable communities, providing clothing, blankets, and supplies. These efforts reflect our belief that nurturing our local environment and community is key to achieving broader sustainability goals. 

Encourage ideas 

Innovation is at the heart of sustainability. Through our Innovation Development Center (IDC) , employees have the opportunity to develop solutions addressing climate change and environmental challenges. 

This year’s theme, “Smart City & Digital Farming,” includes projects like energy optimization for homes and automated garden watering systems. Notable solutions that emerged from previous seasons include GORA, an AI and Computer Vision-powered tool designed to track illegal logging through real-time satellite images. Additionally, Kyub, an application facilitating responsible trash disposal and waste reduction, offers easy access to recycling stations, environmental campaigns, and more.  

Communicate & educate 

People need to understand the impact of their choices on the environment to take meaningful actions that drive change and preserve resources for future generations. In our office, we empower employees to make eco-friendly choices through initiatives like Green Fact Wednesday. A weekly initiative, dedicated to sharing intriguing sustainability facts. Every Wednesday, we present a thought-provoking question related to sustainability, encouraging employees to participate in guessing the answer. By the end of the day, the correct answer is revealed, accompanied by additional insights and relevant resources. This initiative serves as a simple yet effective way to keep sustainability at the forefront of employees' minds, fostering a continuous learning environment, and inspiring conversations.

On the other hand, our Accedia Green Story series dives deeper, featuring interactive sessions on topics like recycling and the environmental impact of plastics. These initiatives are designed to create a culture of responsibility, ensuring sustainability remains top of mind for everyone.

Shift to a paperless office 

It almost sounds scary that the global demand for pulp and paper is expected to double by 2060 and around 93% of paper comes from trees. Cutting down on paper is an effective way for businesses to reduce their environmental footprint, considering that the average American office worker uses approximately 10,000 sheets of paper annually. At Accedia, we’ve embraced the shift to a paperless office. By digitizing document management, now we sign contracts, declarations, and other essential documents electronically using qualified electronic signatures (QES). These are securely stored in e-labor files, eliminating the need for printing and significantly reducing waste. 

Beyond improving operational efficiency, this initiative enhances security and accessibility. Everyone can quickly access their files digitally while contributing to a greener planet. As global demand for paper continues to grow, such actions are more important than ever. 

Implement sustainable logistics 

Logistics play a significant role in a company’s carbon footprint. The European Environment Agency predicts that logistics could contribute for up to 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 unless effective measures are taken. We’ve already implemented proactive steps to minimize ours. By consolidating office supply orders into a single weekly delivery and partnering with suppliers who use electric vehicles, we’ve reduced emissions without compromising efficiency. 

Sustainable logistics lower environmental impact while also optimizing operational costs. This simple yet effective strategy demonstrates how thoughtful planning can drive meaningful change.

Reduce digital pollution 

Digital pollution - the environmental impact of our digital activities - is a growing concern. In 2022, data centers consumed approximately 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, accounting for about 2% of global electricity usage. This demand is expected to more than double by 2026, potentially exceeding 1,000 TWh. That equals to 243 million metric tons of CO₂ or the equivalent of the annual emissions of approximately 52 million passenger cars. 

Our team is already committed to reducing digital pollution as part of our sustainability efforts. Our Green Community regularly shares content and practical advice on reducing digital footprints, including tips like minimizing unnecessary data usage, organizing files, cleaning inboxes, and reducing screen brightness to save energy. These initiatives also emphasize responsible device usage, like unplugging chargers when not in use and switching off laptops during non-working hours. To take this further, we’re about to release a guide on sustainable coding, providing developers with practical advice for creating energy-efficient and optimized software. We’re working to minimize the environmental impact of digital activities through smarter coding practices and everyday sustainable habits.

In addition to promoting better digital habits, we run an ongoing campaign for recycling technical equipment and batteries. Team members can bring personal scrap items, such as phones, laptops, batteries, and other hardware, to designated collection points in the office. All items are responsibly processed through a certified recycling company, ensuring they don’t contribute to e-waste. There is also the option to donate laptops in good condition, giving them a second life. Combining daily habits, innovative coding practices, and responsible recycling, reflects Accedia’s commitment to tackling digital pollution and supporting a greener future. Our efforts have already led to tangible results, such as saving 3 trees, 39,985 liters of water, and reducing our carbon footprint by 6,634 kilograms of CO2 - equivalent to planting 302 trees. 

Invest in human sustainability 

Sustainability isn’t just about the environment; it’s about people. In our company, we prioritize the people of Accedia by offering flexible work hours, hybrid work options, wellness programs, and volunteering opportunities. To improve employee well-being while reducing environmental impact, we replaced plastic soda bottles in the office with a soda machine. This change not only supports eco-friendly practices but also promotes healthier and more sustainable beverage options. 

Focusing on the long-term health and happiness of our team ensures they are equipped to thrive both personally and professionally. This approach aligns with Deloitte’s concept of “human sustainability,” where organizations create value not just for shareholders but for people and society as a whole. 

Stay compliant, stay ahead 

Implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS), a structured framework for managing environmental responsibilities, ensures that businesses meet relevant environmental requirements. This approach helps avoid legal issues and penalties for non-compliance while demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainability. 

We adhere to the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System, guiding us in areas like pollution prevention, resource efficiency, and waste reduction. As part of our alignment, we take structured steps to enhance our ecological performance. This includes assessing the impact we have, setting measurable objectives, and developing detailed implementation plans. We engage employees through training and clear communication, ensuring everyone plays a role in achieving sustainability goals. With monitoring systems in place to track progress and the use of the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle for continuous improvement, we ensure our EMS remains effective and aligned with both environmental and business priorities.

Conclusion

By embracing sustainable business practices, we prove that sustainability is not just a goal but a journey, and one that businesses everywhere can take to create a lasting positive impact. Through these ten initiatives, we hope to inspire others to join us in building a greener, more sustainable future.