3 Things That Every Sustainable Business Website Should Include

Julie Starr • May 19, 2020



Sustainability has become a hot topic in the business sector, but becoming a sustainable business is about more than hollow promises and stated company goals. Being a truly sustainable business is about taking tangible sustainability actions, and communicating these clearly with your consumers.

When it comes to communicating your sustainability message with potential buyers and building a brand identity, your company website is usually a great place to start. Here are three things that you will want to make sure that you include.

A clear message to your stakeholders
Whether you have a separate CSR page on your website or choose to incorporate your sustainability message into your ‘About Us’ page, it is important that somewhere on your website you have a clear message for your key stakeholders detailing your company’s sustainability measures. It’s important to remember that your key stakeholders may have different things that they care about, for example, your suppliers may be most concerned about sustainable supply chain initiatives whereas your customers may want to see how your CSR plan affects them and your employees. Try to create a message that appeals in some way to everyone who may be visiting your website to learn more about your sustainability message, and remember that you can always provide more information to each stakeholder group through more targeted pages on your website.

Links to your social media channels
Social media is an essential part of a sustainability communications strategy and therefore is now a very important consideration when designing a website with sustainability in mind. Social media is the perfect place for your business’s sustainability claims and physical actions to align, demonstrating the tangible things that your company does on a daily basis to work towards their sustainability goals. This information shouldn’t just be restricted to those who follow your social media, and so you may want to include live-feeds from your social media channels on your website to spark a conversation, or at the very least you should link through to your social media accounts to encourage those who are interested to see more to follow you.

Proof that you live by your own sustainability values
Your CSR or sustainability web page may outline your sustainability goals and highlight what you plan to do to achieve them, but what people really want to see is that you and your employees embody your own values. A great way to demonstrate that you truly live and breathe your own sustainability message is to include information about personal sustainability efforts within the biographies of your key staff members. This could be something like the COO cycling to work, your marketing manager volunteering for a local food-waste charity, or the fact that your intern loves to shop zero-waste. At a broader level, you may also want to include information on smaller sustainability measures that you put in place for your staff members on a daily basis, be that the provision of plant-based lunches or reusable bottles.

These are just three of the things that you will want to make sure that you include on your business website. For more information on how to develop a sustainability-focused brand or how to communicate your sustainability strategy, then get in touch.

Embracing Sustainability: How To Shift Your Business Efforts For A Greener Future

By Julie Starr • 26 Apr, 2024
Imagine walking into a world where every business breathes sustainability. Great, right? That’s where we’re all headed, and today, we’re looking into how your business can join this green revolution. It’s not just about planting trees or cutting back on plastic; it’s about a total game-change in how we think about business. Reimagining Your Supply Chain Alright, let’s talk about your supply chain. It’s the backbone of your company, and it might be time to give it a little eco-friendly makeover. Instead of just churning products through a one-way street from creation to landfill, think about making it a circular journey. How? By designing products that can be recycled or reused at the end of their life. This little twist not only reduces waste but could also save you some money and spark some serious innovation. Investing In Sustainable Technologies Now, onto tech. Investing in the latest tech can seem like a luxury, but when it comes to sustainability, it’s more of a necessity. Technologies like AI can make your operations super efficient, slashing energy costs and reducing waste before it even happens. And then there’s blockchain. It’s not just for crypto enthusiasts; it can help you keep your supply chain transparent, letting everyone check if you’re keeping your green promises. Empowering Employees And Building A Culture Of Sustainability But technology and plans are only part of the picture. The real magic happens when your team gets in on the action. Start with some fun workshops or team challenges—anything that gets everyone thinking about sustainability. Maybe set up a green squad within the company who can lead the charge and come up with fresh ideas. Remember, if your team is excited about a project, they’ll put their hearts into making it work. Customizing Your Sustainable Transformation Tailoring your sustainability efforts can be tricky, but it’s a lot smoother with some expert guidance, like ZBrains’ Zoho Consulting services. They’re great at tweaking Zoho’s tools to fit just right with what your business needs. Need to track your energy usage or cut down on waste? They’ve got an app for that. Automation? Yep, they can make those repetitive tasks disappear, too, all while keeping Mother Earth happy. Building Partnerships For Sustainable Innovation Going solo can be tough. Why not buddy up? Collaborating with other companies or non-profits can lead to some groundbreaking eco-friendly innovations. It’s all about sharing what you know, pooling resources, and sometimes, pushing for changes that make it easier for businesses to be green. Plus, working together means you can share the spotlight when your cool new sustainable project hits the headlines! Going Beyond Compliance Lastly, don’t just play by the rules—aim higher. There’s a whole world of eco-certifications out there that can push your business to do better. Whether it’s getting a LEED certification or joining the ranks of B Corps, going the extra mile not only helps the planet but also polishes your brand’s reputation. Think about it: customers love companies that care, so why not be the one they love? Conclusion Switching up your business to be more sustainable might seem like a big leap, but it’s all about taking one step at a time. Whether it’s rethinking your supply chain or empowering your team to lead the charge, every little action counts. Ready to start? Let’s make your business not just better, but greener and more resilient for the future.

How To Identify Companies That Match Your Values

By Julie Starr • 22 Apr, 2024
As you try to develop a sustainable brand , you need to consider what other companies you work with. These could be collaboration opportunities or suppliers and vendors that help you develop the product or service you want to sell. But, many companies may not share your values, so how can you identify the right companies that meet your eco-friendly attitude? Make Use Of Marketing Platforms It's frustrating to reach out to multiple companies to identify collaboration opportunities. For one, there’s no guarantee you even get a response, and cold emailing or other measures are rarely successful. However, you can use marketing platforms and their many features and resources to companies or influencers that align more closely with what you feel is right. Various platforms offer unique options that enable you to whittle down possible companies until you find the perfect match, saving you plenty of time. Research Their Website However, you can’t just leap into any partnership since these platforms may have outdated information, or companies could have selected everything they think will get them a partnership. As with any approach, extra research is essential. Once you’ve identified a company that seems to match your values, it’s with checking out their website. Look at their blog and customer reviews to get an idea of where their ideals lie so you can get a more transparent picture. Meet With Companies Businesses can also meet directly with potential companies when they have established the possibility of a partnership. Whether you’re looking for a better green transport service or need central laboratory services , having face-to-face conversations is a must. You can open discussions via video calls before arranging an in-person meeting which gives you the chance to visit their location, such as an office or warehouse, to ensure that you aren’t stepping into something you may regret. Look For Accreditation and Certification Modern businesses require certification and accreditation to back up claims they are the most sustainable or to prove they have adhered to necessary compliance laws and regulations. Usually, you can find this on their website but there could also be PR pieces on various industry news sites that can prove the company has obtained the necessary certificates. Identifying these certificates will add confidence they are the right company to work with. Offer Value To Them While you hope the potential partnership brings value to your company, you also need to provide value to them. This point is key for strategic collaboration as it otherwise means you take without offering anything in return. Consider what your business can do, such as increase their awareness or help them develop new research projects. In doing so, you will have a mutually beneficial partnership that helps both companies achieve the goals they have outlined for the year. Values and Value Every partnership or collaboration should bring value. This value should apply to your business and any partnerships but also your customers. If you can identify companies that align with your brand values, you’ll have an easier time developing a positive relationship that ensures you stay on track to meet your goals.
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