Why Sustainability Needs To Be A Core Focus in Your Business

Julie Starr • June 3, 2022



A company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility is good for the company’s bottom line. A few of the numerous benefits of running a business that is more ecologically friendly include the following:

Reduced costs  

Implementing sustainable practices in your organization will initially cost you money, but it will pay for itself over time and save you money. Using more energy-efficient lighting or reusing existing materials can save money. Commercial property owners may expect to save an average of $500 a month by converting to solar energy, which works out to a savings of $587,377 over the system’s lifetime. Typically, solar panels pay for themselves within five to seven years. The government may also offer subsidies and refunds in exchange for implementing environmentally-friendly practices. Make sure that you have a contingency plan ready in case of any issues, as per Kenny Natiss advice.

Improves a company’s public image.

Reputation management in business refers to the process of preserving a favorable public image by consistent use of messaging and actions. Consumers are concerned about the environment, as seen by the aforementioned figures. As a result, firms with green ideas are eager to advertise them to the general public. Giving back to the environment shows the rest of the world that your priorities extend beyond financial gain. This is an excellent opportunity for your firm to gain exposure and establish a strong brand identity.

An advantage in the marketplace

The more sustainable your firm is, the more money you will make and the better your bottom line will be. All of these factors lead to sustainable businesses making more money: lower costs, more inventive strategies, a better image, and more new customers that appreciate conservation.

What may make it more difficult for firms to be long-term victorious?

Despite the many advantages of sustainability for organizations, implementing these changes may be tough. Companies, particularly small enterprises, have a number of important challenges in their efforts to become more environmentally friendly:

Budgetary restraints

Some firms assume they do not have the time or money to adequately implement sustainability plans. If you want to become a green firm, however, you do not have to do it all at once. You may start small and make little adjustments that are cost-effective rather than doing nothing at all, which is ideal. When your expenses are reduced, you can then begin to implement other adjustments and build them up. 

Having a hard time getting people on board.

For sustainability initiatives to succeed, they must be accepted , taken seriously, or cared for by everyone in the firm, regardless of whether it is top management or employees. Make every attempt to solicit input from all stakeholders while formulating policy. Several employees and managers may have their own thoughts and worries. Rewarding employees with office parties and prizes are a great way to include gamification into the experience. Others need to be recognized, considered, and given the opportunity to have their ideas implemented if they are practical, while yet others need external incentives to get them involved.

The task of being more environmentally friendly in an effective manner is well worth the effort. Successful company people, owners, and leaders view problems as opportunities. Here’s your chance to help the environment while also putting your artistic skills to use. You may come up with new and creative ways to get your firm off the ground with some smart business planning.

 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.