Sowing the Seeds of Sustainable Brand Development

Sustainable brand development is an ongoing but core part of modern business. Owing to customer expectations and changing world regulations, your company can’t afford to ignore eco-consciousness. From finding the right audience to transparency, here are some ideas.

Partner with the Right Promo Service

Every brand needs some kind of promotion. How else would people know about your business? There are numerous ways you can do this these days beyond traditional print media like magazines, TV, and radio. The internet is a great example. However, people love merchandise and official products. Promotional products like sustainable business cards and reusable water bottles will help reduce waste. For paper, in the US alone, this is 85 million tonnes per year.

Target Eco-Conscious Consumers

Finding the right audience is perhaps the most significant part of any branding strategy. The tactics you use to do this can vary. Online ads, SEO, and digital marketing are among the top ones for a modern business. Using web tools such as social media, you can laser-focus your branding efforts on the people most likely to engage. This saves time and money. However, it also means you won’t necessarily waste resources such as paper on unnecessary branding.

Commit to Sustainable Brand Development

Any company can state they will become greener. But as we have seen in the past, false promises are made. Known as “greenwashing,” some businesses actively lie about their commitment to sustainable practices and are proven to contradict what they say:

Claiming things like bottles are made from recycled materials.
Lying about the exact amount of carbon your business emits.
Using sustainable materials but still contributing to deforestation.

Not committing to what you say is a waste since over 80% of people want their favorite brands to become more sustainable. Therefore, in practice, sustainability would have a major impact on future customer retention. It also elevates your brand above competitors who aren’t green.

Be Open and Authentic About It

It’s all well and good stating that your business will strive to be more sustainable. But words are empty until actions are taken. You can establish a better rapport with the audience by detailing the actions you are taking and informing them when you do. An open and authentic blog post can be all it takes to bridge the gap. When people see you are making an active contribution to your green statements, they will respond with whole hearted support for your brand moving on.

Encourage Customer Contribution

There is no business without customers. It always helps to include them in the brand in some way. This can be taking polls, sending out newsletters and surveys. The feedback you get from customers will tell you how they really feel and this makes it easier to implement changes. However, 42% of businesses actually don’t bother using feedback tactics. Yet this can work in your favor when you consider that the competition might not be using this valuable data.

Summary

Partnering with green services for things like promotional materials will help as part of your sustainable brand development program. However, you must actively commit to your initiative and show customers you are making changes. You can make decisions based on feedback.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

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.