Besides your moral obligations to the future of the planet, as the environmentally friendly movement continues to grow, consumers will increasingly seek to do business with companies that are concerned about their impact on the environment, and even pay more if necessary to do so. And talented people will increasingly prefer to work for organizations that emphasize sustainability. Green initiatives can add a significant amount of value to your business.
Make it a win-win proposition. Come up with a strategy that not only helps green your business, but one that benefits you economically as well. Don’t embrace sustainability while sacrificing your bottom line. Your initiatives must be positive both environmentally and economically.
Here are some keys to successfully creating a sustainable business:
Don’t limit yourself. Don’t limit your sustainability efforts to one particular area; make it a company wide endeavor. Put green initiatives in place all across your business.
Think outside of the box. As in most other aspects of business, innovation is extremely important to your sustainability efforts as well. Be receptive to new suggestions, ideas, and ways to operate. Look for opportunities to do things differently.
Get your entire team on board. For sustainability efforts to be successful, everyone must be behind them. This starts at the top, it is critical for management to lead the way and show your company is dedicated to going green. If management is not on board, the rest of the employees will not buy in to your vision. Create a mission statement and make sure it is followed. Involve workers by creating a team made up of people across departments to make them part of the movement.
Forge green external relationships. Look for other sustainable companies to do business with, of which there is no shortage. Working with like minded organizations also embracing green business practices will help you operate while staying on point.
It’s no secret that operating a sustainable business will positively impact your customers, employees, and community, in addition to the planet.
What is your company’s commitment to sustainability? Send your feedback to sharad@go-green.ae