Sustainability In Business

Two things are currently happening in the corporate world. First, the link between negative environmental effects and climate change is becoming clearer. Secondly, people's attitudes have improved towards conversations about and around environmental sustainability. These accomplishments are not surprising. A lot has gone into eliciting this change, from government efforts to non-governmental initiatives. Now, thanks to social, environmental, and business trends, sustainability is increasingly becoming a priority for businesses. This can be seen in their modern business operations and marketing efforts.  

What companies are realizing is that eco-friendliness is becoming a strong determinant for consumers, B2B customers, and even investors. This has effectively incentivized a growing number of organizations to integrate sustainability into their marketing strategy and business operations. In 2021, it’s no longer enough for businesses to just make profit, they now also have to do good.

What's sustainability in business?

Sustainability in business essentially refers to conducting day-to-day operations without impacting the environment or community negatively. The concept is also commonly known as Green Office Initiatives or Green Capitalism. Sustainability in business covers two main areas; one is how business impacts the environment and the other is how it impacts the local community. The whole point of integrating green solutions in your business strategy is to positively impact both areas and generally avoid environmental degradation and social injustice.

An eco-friendly business will consider - in addition to the economic factor - a broad range of social and environmental elements when making its decisions. But they won’t stop there. They will also monitor how their chosen strategy impacts the environment. The general argument against integrating sustainable practices in business operations is that it’s too expensive. Many companies agree. What they don’t say is how much of an oversimplification this take is.

Studies show that human beings waste about 3 billion gallons of fuel in traffic daily. In the midst of this, everyone involved loses $710 in productivity yearly.

Why should businesses consider sustainability?

The following are two reasons why it's a good idea for businesses:

Things are changing

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, environmental issues will definitely alter regulatory policy and market landscape soon. Only eco-friendly organizations will be at an advantage when that time comes.

Consumers are changing

The average consumer is becoming more aware of how their choice benefits the environment and their local community. So, they are now tending towards safe, green products. That said, it begs the question; how do businesses approach integrating sustainable practices in their business operations?

Integrating sustainability in your business

Becoming more sustainable in your business may be difficult at first, but here are a few tips to get you started.

Switch to energy-saving light bulbs

While it may not seem like much, it’s a start. Swap your office lighting to LED light bulbs as they consume far less energy. Also, they don’t contain toxic gases like mercury which makes them eco-friendly. Although they are more expensive than other bulbs, they last about five times as long.

Recycle waste and reuse

Recycling is an essential approach to environmental sustainability. If the business operations don’t already include recycling, now is a good time to start. If it’s already included, read up to ensure that you are doing it correctly. Provide enough recycling bins around the office. Also, join and support sustainable efforts of initiatives in your community.

Do away with plastic bottles

While recycling is effectively going on, businesses can also move to eliminate plastic bottles from their offices. This will be a double-pronged approach to reducing the burden on the environment. Replace plastic bottle water with a water filtration system. The water is clean and fresh. In addition, money will be saved on the packaging.

Only deal with eco-friendly outfits

This is a no-brainer. If a business says it’s eco-friendly, it makes sense if they deal only with vendors with similar ideals. Otherwise, it won’t paint your business in a good light. Before you sign the deal to start a business together, ensure that they are not destroying the environment with their marketing strategy or business operations.

Encourage eco-friendly commuting

Studies show that human beings waste about 3 billion gallons of fuel in traffic daily. In the midst of this, everyone involved loses $710 in productivity yearly. In this vein, the daily commute to work is a daily burden on the environment. Businesses can do their bit to improve the situation. Encourage workers to use green commuting alternatives such as walking, biking, carpooling, inexpensive electric bikes, and public transportation. Businesses should also start considering remote work.

Wholesome sustainability can only be accomplished via a concerted effort from all parties; government, NGOs, individuals, and businesses.

Key takeaways

Here’s a summary of how organizations can approach sustainability in their business operations:

• Use only energy-efficient lighting in your offices.
• Recycle your waste generated in the workplace.
• Eliminate plastic packaging.
• Do business with only eco-friendly companies.
• Encourage employees to go green in their commuting.