News about polar ice caps melting faster than originally estimated, a heavy smog cover over Los Angeles and Beijing and a new brand of super-storms, possibly spurred by environmental changes, have sounded alarms around the world.

The environment is starting to show serious signs of wear and tear, and many restaurants and retailers have begun to consider how they can go green to appeal to a new brand of eco-conscious consumers while reducing their own carbon footprint.

Entire companies have been built on producing stylish reusable bags for shoppers to bring to the store. Rewarding patrons who bring their own bags—trendy or not–with a monetary discount, usually 5 or 10 cents per bag, will go a long way towards reducing the amount of plastic waste a store produces. Shoppers will appreciate the discount, while more reusable bags mean lower supply costs for the store.

There are several other easy changes your business can make to reduce the strain on the power grid. Turn off computers when they are not in use, Consider installing sensor lighting in bathrooms that will turn on and off in a designated amount of time. Even asking customers at quick service restaurants to sort their trash into separate bins for recycling is better than sending everything to the landfill.

Emailed receipts are another way a store or restaurant can cut costs and waste. The more digital receipts businesses issue, the less receipt paper it needs to purchase. Each year, 9.6 million trees are cut down to produce receipt paper. In addition, the thermal paper that receipts are printed on cannot be recycled because it is heavily treated with chemicals.

A digital receipt is a huge bonus for shoppers. People are rarely able to keep track of all the receipts they receive, but these proofs of purchase are often required to make a return. Returns are less frustrating for shoppers who are able to locate the receipt in their email, and the ability to make hassle-free returns moves customer service lines faster and increases the chance that people will shop at the store again.

Please contact your account manager at pcAmerica at 1-800-722-6374 to find out how you can start issuing digital receipts.