How To Grow A Sustainable Business

Julie Starr • August 30, 2020



For any business owner, one of your main aims is going to be making sure that your business is sustainable. It is not hard to see why more and more businesses are investing in sustainability. This includes creating sustainability reports, creating positions like chief sustainability officers, and innovation around sustainable services and products. With that in mind, continue reading to discover more about how to grow a sustainable business. 

  • Make sustainability a core principle – The first step is to ensure that sustainability is at the core of your business. Sustainable companies genuinely believe that pollution, unethical resource consumption, and climate change are high on the list of concerns. They also believe that they are able to contribute to the solution, rather than being a part of the problem. If sustainability is to become key to how a company operates, the leadership team must educate themselves on the meaning of sustainability and why it is imperative. This includes joining industry coalitions, attending sustainable-focused conferences, and reading articles on the topic.
  • Use software to monitor your efforts – Another critical part of the process is to use a learning management system so that you can assess your operations and make the most of helpful data. This is something that a lot of businesses are doing today to get a better handle on all areas of their business and, of course, sustainability is one of these. After all, you are never going to be able to truly move your business forward and become more sustainable if you do not have a handle on how you are performing at the moment.
  • Innovate – It is also important to innovate. If you are to apply a sustainable lens to all areas of your company, there needs to be an amendment to your strategies. Innovations happen because of the need to alter the business toward more sustainability. This includes marketing services and products that evoke sustainable choices from customers, strategically developing and planning services or products that create sustainable outcomes, and empowering business leaders and board members to concentrate on drive execution and sustainability. 
  • Repair social trust – Ever since the financial crisis that impacted the world, trust in businesses has reduced. Company leaders must work on getting back the trust of society, which includes their employees and consumers, as well as the communities they are present in. You should focus on repairing your license to operate. You can partner with civil society, workers, customers, and governments to contribute positively to the community, as well as communicating openly through your sustainable interactions with society. Doing this is going to enable you to rebuild societal trust within your company.

So there you have it: some of the different steps that you can take to grow a sustainable business. If you follow the advice that has been provided above, you will give your business a great chance of being sustainable, which means consistent profit over many years. Who wouldn’t want that?

By Julie Starr February 24, 2025
A shifting political landscape can create uncertainty for businesses committed to sustainability, but one thing remains clear: the need for transparency and strategic communication has never been greater. As the federal government moves to roll back environmental and social policies, companies must proactively define their sustainability strategies, ensuring stakeholders—employees, customers, investors, and partners—understand their commitments and the business value they create. The Power of Clear Communication Sustainability is not a trend; it’s an imperative driven by economic, environmental, and social realities. Despite policy shifts, the forces of market demand, global regulation, and risk mitigation continue to push companies forward. To maintain momentum, organizations should : Clarify Their Sustainability Position: Companies must articulate their approach in ways that resonate with stakeholders. Whether reducing emissions, improving supply chain resilience, or advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, leaders should communicate clearly how these strategies align with long-term business success. Leverage Data-Driven Insights: In an era of skepticism, relying on factual, measurable sustainability outcomes strengthens credibility. Stakeholders need more than broad commitments—they need clear, quantifiable impacts. Maintain Focus on Global Markets: While federal policies may change, international regulations and customer expectations continue to favor sustainable business models. Companies operating across borders must ensure their sustainability strategies align with evolving global standards. Staying the Course in a Changing Environment While some companies may feel pressure to scale back sustainability efforts in response to shifting political winds, leading organizations recognize that progress is a long-term game. Now is not the time to retreat but to double down on: Resilient Supply Chains: With new tariffs and policy changes affecting imports, companies should evaluate how sustainability-driven supply chain diversification can reduce risk and enhance efficiency. Operational Decarbonization: The financial and strategic benefits of decarbonization—from renewable energy investments to energy-efficient operations—remain strong, independent of policy shifts. Workforce and Customer Engagement: Employees and consumers increasingly expect businesses to uphold their values. Companies that maintain commitments to social responsibility and environmental impact will strengthen brand loyalty and attract top talent. Sustainability leadership is about more than responding to regulatory shifts—it’s about defining the future. Companies that stay the course, communicate effectively, and align their sustainability strategies with business objectives will be the ones that thrive in the years ahead.
By Julie Starr February 17, 2025
A shifting political landscape can create uncertainty for businesses committed to sustainability, but one thing remains clear: the need for transparency and strategic communication has never been greater. As the federal government moves to roll back environmental and social policies, companies must proactively define their sustainability strategies, ensuring stakeholders—employees, customers, investors, and partners—understand their commitments and the business value they create. The Power of Clear Communication Sustainability is not a trend; it’s an imperative driven by economic, environmental, and social realities. Despite policy shifts, the forces of market demand, global regulation, and risk mitigation continue to push companies forward. To maintain momentum, organizations should : Clarify Their Sustainability Position: Companies must articulate their approach in ways that resonate with stakeholders. Whether reducing emissions, improving supply chain resilience, or advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, leaders should communicate clearly how these strategies align with long-term business success. Leverage Data-Driven Insights: In an era of skepticism, relying on factual, measurable sustainability outcomes strengthens credibility. Stakeholders need more than broad commitments—they need clear, quantifiable impacts. Maintain Focus on Global Markets: While federal policies may change, international regulations and customer expectations continue to favor sustainable business models. Companies operating across borders must ensure their sustainability strategies align with evolving global standards. Staying the Course in a Changing Environment While some companies may feel pressure to scale back sustainability efforts in response to shifting political winds, leading organizations recognize that progress is a long-term game. Now is not the time to retreat but to double down on: Resilient Supply Chains: With new tariffs and policy changes affecting imports, companies should evaluate how sustainability-driven supply chain diversification can reduce risk and enhance efficiency. Operational Decarbonization: The financial and strategic benefits of decarbonization—from renewable energy investments to energy-efficient operations—remain strong, independent of policy shifts. Workforce and Customer Engagement: Employees and consumers increasingly expect businesses to uphold their values. Companies that maintain commitments to social responsibility and environmental impact will strengthen brand loyalty and attract top talent. Sustainability leadership is about more than responding to regulatory shifts—it’s about defining the future. Companies that stay the course, communicate effectively, and align their sustainability strategies with business objectives will be the ones that thrive in the years ahead.
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