What makes businesses sustainable

Consumers are more willing than ever to invest in non-toxic, eco-friendly products to protect their families and the future of the planet. Today, businesses of all sizes are choosing more environmentally sustainable practices in response, and their customers are noticing. Small business sustainability starts at the source. The first step toward making your business more environmentally friendly is asking the following questions about your source materials:.

In other words, does your supplier integrate strong ethical, social, and environmental performances in the production of the materials? An example of this might be responsible water usage in manufacturing.

Make sure your materials are manufactured by ethical suppliers that pay their employees fair and livable wages. These materials have a minimal impact on the environment, and they do not contain toxic or ozone-depleting substances. Examples include:. Make sure you source your goods and services from local suppliers to support the local economy and cut down on transportation costs. Swap out single-use containers for materials that break down quickly and effectively, like corn starch, mycelium, wood pulp, and seaweed.

If your packaging contains two different types of polymers, for example, that can render it unrecyclable. If you must use plastic, stick to one type.

Your customers will probably find a future use for a reusable drawstring bag with your logo on it, for example. Packaging is an important part of your brand experience. A hidden aspect of small business sustainability is where products are stored before being sold. Here are a few considerations:. Google has done a lot to decarbonize its data centers and claims that its cloud services produce zero net carbon emissions. And the largest cloud computing provider out there, Amazon, has promised to achieve the same by through wind and solar farms.

From software companies and food and beverage brands to apparel labels and shipping carriers, carbon-neutral vendors can be found across every major industry. For many small businesses, their supply chain also will have a big impact on their own footprint. Businesses can use a variety of carbon marketplaces to both calculate and offset their emissions.

Every company has a different level of impact on the planet, but as a whole, we all contribute to climate change, pollution and the waste crisis.

And every business has their part to play, whatever their size. By taking account of our individual carbon footprints and taking the steps to shrink them down, we can help slow and hopefully reverse the effects of climate change.

Prioritizing the planet: 11 ways small businesses can become more eco-friendly By James Chin Moody November 10, This article is sponsored by Sendle. Show comments for this story. View the discussion thread. Share this article Twitter Facebook Linkedin. More by This Author. Is it sustainable to expect same-day delivery?

See all by James Chin Moody. Explore our online course Sustainable Business Strategy. This post was updated on March 19, It was originally published on October 10, What Does "Sustainability" Mean in Business? Alexandra Spiliakos Author Staff. Sustainability in business generally addresses two main categories: The effect business has on the environment The effect business has on society The goal of a sustainable business strategy is to make a positive impact on at least one of those areas.

Examples of Sustainability in Business Many successful organizations participate in sustainable business practices, however, no two strategies are exactly the same. Using sustainable materials in the manufacturing process Optimizing supply chain to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Relying on renewable energy sources to power facilities Sponsoring education funds for youth in the local community Why Is Sustainability Important? Assess the Problem and Define Objectives The first step to driving change is assessing what sustainability means to your team, company, industry, and client.

To guide this process, consider asking questions, such as: How much waste is the organization creating? Is our company culture struggling? Are our hiring practices attracting diverse job candidates? Is our product targeted to help a certain audience? Ackerman grew his four retail outlets into a highly successful, multinational enterprise this way.

It is easy to understand why investing in sustainability is becoming a more mainstream idea for business executives. Today, over 90 per cent of CEOs believe that sustainability is imperative for their business success, and are now focusing on introducing sustainability initiatives and strategies, such as: 6.

Sustainability is not limited to established enterprises: the number of first-time entrepreneurs who are developing their companies around environmental protection and services has grown, which has brought about an increase in the number of promising start-ups that focus on long-lasting, eco-friendly and recycled goods. In , world leaders at the United Nations UN agreed on 17 goals that would create a better world by These goals focus on eradicating poverty, fighting inequality and ending climate change.

To do this, they would need to ensure that their supply chain supports environmental goals, such as climate action, life below water, and life on land. Organisations would also look at their staff and management structures to ensure gender equality and reduced inequalities. They could assess their immediate communities and see how they can initiate or contribute towards the goals of good health and well-being, quality education, clean water and sanitation, and sustainable cities and communities.

All of these goals work together to bring about a positive impact. However, individuals and companies can start small: recycle waste, use tap water instead of plastic bottles, utilise natural light in the office. Most of these things are already happening in the workplace; how much more can be achieved with continuous focused thinking on sustainability?

The power of business to provide a change that positively impacts on the world is vast. With its unmatched powers of ideation, production, and distribution, the business world is well-positioned to bring the change needed at scale.

Interplanetary colonisation, despite the attention generated by the likes of Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking, is as yet not a viable option.

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