Five Ways a Business Can Become More Sustainable

Green business is the future and it’s fast becoming a priority for consumers and organisations around the globe. Research shows that 75% of millennials consider sustainability when making a purchase so adopting environmentally conscious business practices is an important thing to do.

Setting your goals

The first step towards sustainability is identifying exactly what it is you want to achieve, and the strategies needed to get you there. Setting SMART goals allows your business to have clarity in a goal that is attainable, measurable and meaningful. Time and resources can be utilised more effectively to increase your likelihood of becoming sustainable and reducing carbon emissions.

Become a B Corp

B Corp status is a certification that shows that your business has high standards in social and environmental performance and accountability. To become a B Corp organisation, your company’s entire operations are rigorously evaluated, from supply chain and material use to employee benefits and charity contributions.

A prospective business must score at least 80 out of 200 points on an online survey and pass a telephone interview. B Corp accreditation is a great way to set your brand above many competitors and it can increase demand for your services.

Energy-efficient technology

Your mind might immediately go to the price tag but, make no mistake, energy-efficient technology not only improves sustainability but can save your business money in the long run. Taking advantage of advances in the Internet of Things (IoT) like smart monitoring can help you cut out unnecessary energy expenses, and you can also invest in solar power generation to go more actively green.

Of course, there are upfront costs involved in making such adaptations, which makes it more important to protect your investments. Some businesses find that having relevant renewable energy insurance can assist in enabling environmentally motivated projects and changes.

Think about sustainable partnerships

Taking the environmental impact challenge seriously by partnering with sustainable entities goes a long way to making long-lasting changes in your business. Not all businesses can achieve change by themselves, so brokering relationships with local suppliers, non-governmental organisations and local authorities makes it easier to combine resources to tackle big goals.

Environmentally conscious organisations typically use eco-friendly production processes that reduce not only their carbon footprints but also consumer stress. Start by selecting your partnerships with care and establishing clear motives for collaboration.

Measure your carbon footprint

The green revolution is slowly gathering steam, with 46% of UK businesses aiming to become carbon-neutral by 2050 and putting in place strategies to do so. Large companies like Sky and M&S have already achieved this status, proving that it can be done if the will for change is there.

The first step is getting an accurate picture of your environmental impact, which is easily achieved by using a carbon calculator. Businesses can then identify the best strategic approach to reducing emissions and set carbon-neutral targets.