To run a “green business” means to earn a living while striving to have a positive impact on the environment and the local community. It is about developing business strategies and processes that go further than regulation and show commitment to a sustainable and eco-friendly future.

For someone who wants to start a small business, green businesses have two benefits over other types:

• The global environmental industry is growing at a rapid pace. Just in 2016, it generated revenues of $1.16 trillion. This means that there’s a growing market for it, particularly in nations with developing markets, such as China, India, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
• Running a green business can be especially satisfying as you get to contribute to making the planet a more hospitable place.

Here are some of the most innovative green business ideas for eco-minded entrepreneurs:

1. Green Consulter

If you gravitate towards teaching and managerial jobs, eco-consulting may be your best bet. As a green consulter, you can aid other businesses in many ways.

Namely, you can train employees on how to avoid polluting and contaminating the environment through their practices and activities.

As well as helping in the development and upgrading of equipment, changing them into more eco-friendly solutions.

Your business can focus on outreach, and on raising awareness about environmental problems. As well as serve in the role of a guide to companies that want to go green most effectively and efficiently as possible.

Yet another role for you may be to specialize in a particular field that is heavy on pollution and assist enterprises and other entities involved in it to become more environmentally conscious.

2. Green Innovation in Production Processes

Almost every manufacturing and production process consumes water and energy in amounts that are detrimental to the environment. Even energy production uses water.

For instance, in power plant cooling. There is a growing need for “green innovators” – individuals who invent new more eco-friendly production processes or modify existing ones.

They do this by making processes faster or more efficient, which in turn reduces their environmental impact and water/energy usage.

Take a look at the gas and oil sector. Even though traditionally not an environmentally friendly and sustainable industry, its most recent technologies are designed to increase the efficiency of exploration and drilling or to streamline and automate these processes, which in turn reduces their environmental impact.

For example, the newly developed drill collar allows directional drilling and sidetracking, enabling a single well to tap into oil reserves from a bigger area. Also, GPS surveying and 3-D and 4-D mapping technologies reduce the number of exploratory wells.

3. Ink Refilling Business

The ink refilling field is yet another highly lucrative and thriving green business. Especially for someone who wants to start a small-scale operation.

Most enterprises print documents every day, inevitably running out of ink and creating a sizeable amount of empty cartridges – thus the need for an ink refilling sector.

The ink refill business helps our planet by reducing unwanted cartridges which, if not re-used, become hazardous to the environment.

This can turn into a profitable venture, particularly if you know how to sell, make contacts, network, and market. Although, if you want to maximize your profits in this field, some added training is required.

4. Grower of Garden Growers

The growing concern about the origin, modifications, and health aspects of the food on our tables gave rise to an increased number of individuals who wish to grow their food, whatever their location may be.

This is where you can come in – either as a grower yourself or as a business that helps people grow their food. Other ideas in this field include:

• Being a worm farmer and organic compost retailer.
• Being a garden designer that specializes in rooftop garden installations. Keep in mind that for this you also need a bit of training and education.
• Making “garden-packs”, small collections of seeded plant trays that can fit on the smallest balcony and enable individuals to grow their food.

5. Green Beauty Parlor

Both men and women are willing to give a pretty penny to improve their appearance. On the other hand, more and more people are aware of how toxic ingredients within the beauty industry can be, as well as common animal cruelty is.

Where did the rule that someone needs to wear a mask to do our nails come from? The same is true for animal testing regarding the product’s ability to cause a negative health reaction.

A beauty parlor that offers vegan, natural, and cruelty-free products within their services is likely the best way to make people feel more beautiful, and better, and know that they’re using products that are safe and beneficial for their bodies.

There are a plethora of environmentally friendly business ideas. Some of them have already proven themselves to be successful as more and more individuals are inclined to lead a more natural and sustainable lifestyle.

Both businesses and consumers alike must face the fact that if we don’t change our current way of living, our habitat and planet will continue to deteriorate.