How To Make Your Sustainable Business More Profitable

Julie Starr • March 24, 2022



While the attention on green or eco-friendly initiatives may seem like a passing trend, concerns over global warming, water consumption, population, and other extensive problems show a need for such initiatives. According to a recent Forbes report, 88% of consumers want to make a difference by using sustainable products. With many entrepreneurs venturing into creating a sustainability business , it can be useful to consider these tips to make your business more profitable. 

Be creative

Sustainability tackles a vast scope. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to implementing a plan, and performance indicators aren’t always set in stone. Going green can save you money in various ways, from using eco-friendly office furniture to paperless solutions, which are cheaper. You can also consider minimizing your waste output, as it helps you reduce the cost of waste management while protecting the environment.

Strive for a circular economy in your product or service life cycle. Repurposing or fixing outdated models can help you extend the life of your product while also saving money and resources.

Have a solid framework  

Like any other business objective, it is vital to create specific and measurable profitable and sustainable goals for your business to benefit from this strategy. This is especially important as the issue of sustainability, and you can easily be overwhelmed if you do not focus on one particular aspect of it. Therefore, it is advisable to select an area your business is interested in and create a solid framework of policies and goals to help you accomplish it. For example, if you are interested in water consumption, you can ensure your workplace uses eco-friendly toilets, automatic taps, or encourages employees to be mindful of their water usage.

Utilize long-term solutions for a competitive edge

With everybody shifting their focus to sustainable behaviors and products , you may not be the only business winning over customers with your eco-friendly strategies. However, some businesses may not be paying attention to this initiative entirely. In both cases, you can gain a competitive urge. Be sure to create a unique, sustainable culture from others within the industry. This can be done by researching your competitors, and also using your available data should assist you in determining which areas you can save and make the most impact. Doing this would help you develop long-term solutions, which makes you stand out and adds a competitive edge— which is advantageous.

Take the low-tech route  

Unlike corporations that frequently strive to mitigate environmental damage through expensive retrofits or subsidizing breakthrough technology development, many developing market enterprises start small. They begin by making a series of tiny tweaks to their operations to conserve their most limited resource. Businesses can expand conservation efforts to other operations sections as low-cost movements yield larger benefits. Savings can eventually accumulate to the point where you can use them to cover the purchase of expensive technology the business may have begun with.

Prioritize integration   

It matters little whether you are a large or small business. It would help if you integrated sustainability into your business’s basic strategy to be effective. This may require beginning with executive discussions and ensuring priorities filter down to the ground level. Experts suggest that sustainability should begin with a vision due to the significant industries’ influence on the environment. This can likewise assist you in sourcing more sustainable materials, using less water, and adopting greener technology depending on the nature of your business. Irrespective of your approach, keep an open mind while using extensive and unbiased data. 

Focus on the big picture  

As impressive as the cost savings are, extending your sustainability efforts to their customers’ activities is even more intriguing. Companies are constructing one-of-a-kind business models by increasing customers’ purchasing power and, in doing so, creating interdependencies that are tough for competitors to replicate. Likewise, it can be useful to consider practical measures such as patents to protect your particular business model or ideas to ensure profitability. 

After creating a long-term sustainability plan, you can use your original data as a benchmark to track your progress. It can be useful to make the successes and shortcomings you encounter on your path to sustainability known to the public. The effort to improve your business can position you as a leader in sustainability and your particular area. Regularly distribute press releases, blogs, or white papers to highlight your accomplishments and future goals for improvement. Although this may take time, it can help your brand attract similar businesses, partners, and perhaps like-minded customers. 

Sustainability is great for your business and the environment. By following these tips, you can enjoy the perks of running a sustainable business.

 

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • October 7, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.

3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

By Julie Starr • October 4, 2024
Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.
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