Globally, 55% of consumers are willing to pay more upfront for environmentally friendly products. This is in the face of a cost-of-living crisis! Even with inflation, people aren’t putting their eco-friendly values on the back burner. As a growing plumbing business, what does this mean for you?
To remain ahead of competitors and win over a thriving market, you need to offer sustainable services. From water conservation to recycled materials, aligning your values with what your customers want is a surefire way to stay ahead.
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- Why focus on eco-friendly plumbing?
- What are eco-friendly plumbing solutions?
- Sustainable plumbing solutions for your business
1. Why focus on eco-friendly plumbing?
Water conservation is becoming increasingly important, with droughts and demand all leading to a rise in scarcity.
The good news, though, is that there are a lot of solutions designed to help manage this. As a plumber, it’ll be your role to offer access to eco-friendly plumbing solutions, helping your clients improve the efficiency of their water systems while helping the planet.
Part of your business also involves meeting the demands of your audience. Consumers find sustainability an important purchasing factor, with over half of consumers willing to pay more for green options. By getting to grips with sustainable plumbing solutions, you’ll put your business ahead of the game and set yourself up for long-term success. Your audience wants eco-friendly plumbing, and they’ll be looking for businesses that can deliver these solutions.
Part of your green strategy must be a commitment to transparency, too, if you want to see these benefits. Communicating your changes to your audience with evidence (be that through case studies or certifications) is crucial to showing you’re committed to the cause.
You can also solidify your status as a green plumbing business by focusing on encouraging positive reviews. Regular positive reviews will boost your business and highlight your sustainable credentials.
2. What are eco-friendly plumbing solutions?
Eco-friendly plumbing solutions are those that minimise the impact you and your clients have on the planet. This can include the solutions you offer for plumbing works as well as decisions you make as a business to reduce the environmental impact of your jobs.
The main categories of sustainable plumbing solutions that we’ll be looking at are:
- Water conservation
- Energy-saving solutions
- Sustainable materials
- Business practices
3. Sustainable plumbing solutions for your business
Green plumbing saves clients money, gives your brand a unique selling point (USP), and is better for the planet, making it a no-brainer. If you’re wondering how to build a sustainable plumbing business, we’ve got some tips to get you started.
Water conservation
It’s estimated that the average UK household uses 146 litres of water per person, per day. Unfortunately, some of this is down to bad plumbing, leading to water waste and excess usage.
Help your clients cut back on their water bills and save the planet by offering:
- Greywater recycling
- Rainwater capture
- Low-flow appliances (e.g. taps and toilets)
- Tap aerators
- Water-efficient appliances (including dishwashers)
- More efficient water heating (to avoid wasted water waiting for it to heat up)
To boost your brand image, why not create content that helps your clients cut back on their water use? From tips to reduce wasted water to video tutorials for simple leak fixes, it’s a great way to show that your sustainability is about more than making a profit.
Energy-saving solutions
As a plumber, you can bring plenty of energy-saving solutions into your work. One of the most important is proper insulation and sealing, which is a must for energy conservation.
In fact, by simply insulating hot water pipes, you can reduce heat loss by 90%, helping your clients save money and reducing energy demand for the world as a whole.
You can also offer:
- Solar thermal water heaters
- Energy-efficient heating systems
- Heat pumps
Sustainable materials
No matter what the project, bring sustainability to every plumbing solution by opting for sustainable materials.
Recycled materials are a great choice, with recycled PVC pipes and fittings a much better option for the planet than raw plastic. You can also find plant-based, biodegradable alternatives to plastic, helping to prevent plastic pollution and create a more eco-friendly product lifecycle.
Wherever possible, opt for recycled metals, too. Copper is easily recycled and, due to environmental concerns with copper mining, it’s far better to use what we already have than dig into the earth for more.
Remember, too, that your materials include any extras, such as cloths (choose organic cotton over polyester) and liquids (opt for eco-friendly, marine-safe liquids in glass bottles).
Business practices
Becoming a sustainable plumbing business is about more than offering your clients eco-friendly solutions. As a brand, you need to embrace sustainable values in every aspect of your work.
You might, for example, switch to local suppliers with similar eco-friendly values, lowering the carbon footprint of delivery. It’s also important you look into responsible waste management options and recycle where possible.
If you drive frequently, why not invest in electric vans when you next need to upgrade your vehicle? For local, quick-fix jobs, you might even be able to cycle to the site for an emission-free method of transport.
There are plenty of little ways that your business can make a big difference. We recommend undertaking a sustainable audit of your plumbing company - either with professional help or as a DIY project - to pinpoint the areas where you could see the most difference by going green.
Remember, too, to communicate these changes with your customers through your website and social media, and ask for reviews from your eco-conscious clients. Don’t be afraid to shout about your sustainability!
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This article was a guest post from Kelly Edwards — an advocate for sustainable business practices. Kelly has gained an in-depth understanding of the sector by immersing herself in the industry for over 15 years. Alongside numerous projects, Kelly enjoys writing in her free time to shine a light on the importance of eco-friendly best practices for independent contractors and large-scale businesses. Connect on LinkedIn: @KellyEdwardsInterior
