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Sustainability and Business: Why You Need To Step Up

In today’s world, if you want to be competitive in business, then you need to have a sustainability strategy. It is vital across all companies and all sectors. How you operate in the ecological, social and economic environment can help you to improve the longevity of your company. Consumers are demanding action and businesses need to step up. 

Industry leaders have already been making waves when it comes to sustainability, and there are a variety of exciting and bold initiatives. Both Nike and Adidas have reduced waste or created a greener supply chain. They have worked hard to eliminate plastic bags and consider their production techniques. Pepsi and Cola both developed a culture of sustainability and have moved their focus to improving water replenishment. We’ve seen car manufacturers focus on energy efficiency and reducing pollution and seen new manufacturers like Tesla emerge, making a challenge to the carbon footprint of the motoring industry. 

Now is the time for you to start getting serious about sustainability. While there is an emerging demand on companies to improve, this demand will grow, and in the future, if you don’t develop your own culture of sustainability, you may find you are out of touch with your consumers. 

There are some obvious areas you can start with. Such as your packaging. While it may not be possible for you to go completely green, you could switch your supplier to a company that aligns with your sustainability directive. Plaspack.com is an excellent example of a brand with strong sustainability initiatives.

You need to go much deeper than this, though if you want to gain the respect of the consumer and make a real impact on the environment. Research your suppliers and see what their initiatives are. You may find that one of the suppliers you use hasn’t got a robust sustainability plan, and that could create your company issues by association. Speak to your stakeholders too and find out what ideas they may have. Sometimes people looking in from the outside of your business can see innovative ways of making improvements. 

The consumer is your most powerful asset. A brand that reaches out to its consumers and asks them what matters demonstrates core values that attract loyalty. Make some changes within the business yourself so you can show the consumer your investment in the environment, then ask them what they would like to see companies do. This will keep you in touch with your target market and help guide you towards a stronger direction. 

Now is the time to build sustainability into the core of your business. To reduce your waste, change the way you source your products, cut back on your use of fossil fuels and play your part in protecting our world and the future of our planet. Bring your staff together, create simple but effective solutions and start making the steps you need to be a greener business in the modern world.