As we mark another Earth Day today, let us take a moment to discuss the crucial topic of environmental sustainability.
Humans are contributing vast amounts of waste and pollution to an already burdened planet. Much of this waste is in the form of single-use packaging or products that were not designed with the environment in mind. Pollution from the production and transportation of goods has affected the quality of our air, water, and soil.
Businesses have an important role to play in ending this cycle. Through strategic planning, innovative design and production, and increased awareness of the issues at hand, we have the power to protect our only home while still growing our companies. It falls on each of us to make decisions that are fair to both our success as a business and as a planet.
Here are 4 ways that sustainable practices can benefit both the environment and your business:
Spurring Innovation
“Necessity is the mother of invention” according to Plato, and right now we have a real need to find green solutions. There has been significant effort in the field of sustainability over the past few decades which has led to innovative approaches and technologies. From renewable energy to oil-spill clean-ups, progress continues to be made in addressing these issues.
Let us use our urgent environmental situation to boost our innovation. Once we identify problems and issues we have the impetus for coming up with alternatives. Developing creative solutions to today’s environmental crises is sure to benefit both the planet and your new product line.
Improving Reputation
It is a fact that many consumers care about a business’ social and ethical principles. By reducing your environmental impact and committing to sustainable practices you are showing consumers that this issue is important to your business, and they will recognize this.
Your decisions also affect how your employees feel about the company they work for. If their employer is engaging in destructive and irresponsible practices, employees will likely be less committed to and trusting of the business. Companies which engage in sustainable initiatives can promote this among their teams to build employee loyalty and satisfaction, all while contributing to the environmental cause.
Reducing Costs
It may be a common belief that going green is expensive and time-consuming, but this is often not the case. There are many examples of practices which will actually reduce costs over time. Renewable energy options may be more costly up front but typically end up being cheaper in the long term – solar panels are an example of this. Reducing waste means less pollution ending up in our oceans and also less money wasted on discarded material. Energy efficient appliances and lighting reduce operating costs and paperless documents reduce tree logging, necessary office storage space, stamps for mailing paper documents, and disposal costs to get rid of unneeded documents.
Future-Proofing
Future-proofing is the concept and practice of ensuring that your plans will stand the test of time. Climate change is a reality and will continue to progress without drastic changes. Whether or not those changes occur, we have to be prepared for the possibility of continued warming, extinction, pollution, resource loss, and all of the other destruction that this planet is suffering.
Having practices already in place which ensure energy efficiency and renewability, reduced waste and emissions, effective resource management, innovative adaptability, and other similar measures helps protect our businesses as we continue to experience a changing landscape, while also mitigating the environmental destruction for which we are preparing.
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