by Haris Quintana
Photo: Unsplash
It is essential that companies conduct their business in a sustainable manner for several reasons. First and foremost, because of their size, companies start out with a large carbon footprint, which gives them the opportunity to make a significant contribution to improving the environment. Sustainability is also considered one of the most important investments business owners can make to ensure their future success. As consumers become more aware of where their purchases come from and what these mean for the environment, homeowners can expect sustainable businesses to be favored. Acting with an environmental conscience and focusing on strengthening sustainability will also help build a spirit of resilience. And resilience will be more important than ever over the next few years. Even entrepreneur Stephen Troese Jr knows its value.
Running a business has never been so difficult. No line of business has been spared by the current COVID-19 pandemic, but sustainable practices can greatly serve businesses in times of turbulence. Companies that have been able to adapt to working from home or implement increased safety measures to allow work to continue on site and those that have found creative new ways to continue to serve their communities are all doing proof of durability. It is an ability to accept a changing situation and to evolve your business for the better, always with the future in mind. It is not just about adapting your business and using solar panels (although these are highly recommended), it is about learning to change to the situation.
There is no set path or blueprint for becoming a sustainable business. These are simply the choices you make when setting goals, implementing a corporate culture, establishing partners and supply chains, and making decisions about how your business operates. Implementing sustainable business practices requires advance thought and planning so that they match your overall business goals and are truly realistic. You can set big, long-term goals, but you need to know the steps involved in reaching them. Many companies now publish annual sustainability reports, which are a great way for them to communicate their efforts and achievements, while keeping them accountable in the eyes of the public. You will find that going green also helps you save money. Money on energy bills, money on paper and supplies, and more.
Transparency in business
Transparency has proven to be one of the most important elements for companies wishing to succeed as sustainable businesses. When companies have clear policies and initiatives, buy-in and oversight at all levels of the organization, and accountability measures in place, they perform better on all fronts - environmental impacts, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving employee morale, and maintaining ethical and diverse supply chains. It also allows your customer base to see what you are involved in and how you are working to create a better world. When you reel in more customers, then naturally you are creating more profit and therefore more success. It is a key element to create success and being sustainable is something that is not going to be slowing down any time soon.