Sustainability is a hot-button topic these days. Though it has only recently reached the widespread status we see today, the concept has actually been around for more than two thousand years. In fact, early forms of the idea date back to 400 BC in ancient Greece where they pertained to individual households being able to thrive largely on their own without relying too heavily on outside resources.
Bringing the concept into modern day
As people across the globe increasingly strive to reduce their carbon footprints and take on social concerns, the matter only becomes more involved. Today’s businesses have more reasons than ever for adopting sustainable practices, many of which just
1) Reducing costs
Sustainability comes from so many different angles, discussing them all in a single session would be impossible. Still, some highlights certainly apply here. Part of the process involves improving sourcing and manufacturing processes to reduce consumption and waste. Doing so tends to lower material expenses in both the short and long-term sense. Social and ecological costs are driven down as well.
From another perspective, becoming sustainable also entails conserving energy. Reducing power consumption in the office, installing more efficient warehouse machinery and developing more resourceful logistics strategies are only a few options in this category. All these efforts can help further lower costs of operation.
Along those same lines, taking steps to create a safer, healthier and more comfortable workplace goes a long way toward improving employee health and morale. In turn, staff members become more productive and miss less time from work. Turnover rates drop significantly as well. These aspects alone have a way of reducing expenses and increasing profits.
2) Boosting brand image
According to a recent study, 86 percent of consumers now base their purchasing decisions on companies’ levels of environmental and social responsibility. Their expectations of businesses span a wide range of concerns, including:
· Providing safe, happy and healthy working environments for employees
· Making efforts to reduce consumption and reverse or limit global warming
· Addressing social issues
· Actively working toward making improvements in the community
It’s also fair to mention a considerable portion of the public now turns its back on businesses choosing to act irresponsibly or ignore certain social, economic and environmental matters. Marketing analysts predict the number of people considering these factors when choosing which companies to do business with will increase during the years to come. Consumers’ expectations will continue to grow and diversify as well.
3) Preserving resources for future generations
Both previously mentioned goals play directly into this one on several different levels. Reducing waste and consumption helps ensure a wider range of supplies and materials is available for generations to come. Taking measures to protect the environment guarantees the planet will be capable of sustaining its inhabitants well into the future. Addressing infrastructure issues and striving to improve society helps maintain Earth’s most precious resource: humanity.
This reason for becoming a sustainable business lies at the heart of the matter; after all, companies taking this route must truly believe in the causes they’re working toward. Without passion and drive, those other objectives tend to fall apart.
All things considered
Numerous motives for becoming a sustainable business could come into play. Business growth, building relationships with consumers, lowering overhead and improving profit margins all enter the mix. Above all else, though, the drive to foster sustainability must come from an ingrained desire to benefit the planet and all who dwell on it.
