A TAMESIDE woman has shared how she has successfully made her business become more environmentally friendly.
Candice Bannister has transformed her Ashton-based cupcake business, Candy’s Cupcakes, into a green operation by actively making changes.
But she is keen to make further progress, constantly researching new ways to ensure she continues to play her part in taking care of the planet.
Candice, 41, has been conscious of recycling from a young age and made it her goal when starting the business in 2011 to ship her cupcakes across the country using recyclable and sustainable packaging.
“Our cupcake boxes and internal packaging are recyclable card and paper, any stickers or packaging tape is paper-based and our packaging bubbles are made using recyclable plastic only,” said Candice, from Dukinfield.
“We ensure that on a day-to-day basis we make everything to order to reduce any waste, and anything made in excess is sold on Too Good To Go or turned into another product.”
Candice also tries to keep travel to a minimum by using local businesses where possible for supplies, which reduces carbon emissions and simultaneously supports the local economy.
One such example is where Candice purchases cake jars from a local business which is also fully recyclable and ships orders nationwide with couriers who use electric vehicles.
“Green options aren’t always the cheapest option in the business industry, so we have to consider this when pricing our products,” she said.
“By making the move to greener choices now, this will ensure that our business is forward-thinking and will not struggle in the longer term.”
She hasn’t stopped there, having found other ways to be more eco friendly such as reducing the business’s paper waste, buying second-hand machinery via auction sites, and encouraging staff to choose greener ways to commute.
She added, simply: “Every small change made will amount to bigger changes in the future.”
Candice’s efforts are being promoted by Tameside Council as part of its Think Green campaign, to inspire residents and local businesses to join the journey to a cleaner and greener borough.
A spokesperson for Tameside Council said: “The active changes that Candice has made within Candy’s Cupcakes is incredible and we would like to thank her for sharing her inspirational journey to a greener position in the business industry. Keep up the good work!
“By encouraging everyone to Think Green and make even the smallest of changes where possible will collectively contribute to the greater good of our environment.”
People can find out more information about Think Green at www.tameside.gov.uk/thinkgreen
For every effort you make forward someone else makes 10 steps backwards. I appreciate the attempt but in reality it’s but a drop in the ocean.