The coronavirus pandemic shifted business priorities for many people. However, now society is focusing on the light at the end of the tunnel. Sustainability is back for BAU (Business As Usual) and reigns important. No longer a “nice-to-have” consideration for organizations, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is now an essential part of business operations. For those companies that need to make more progress on it, there are plenty of small changes to make to promote their sustainable credentials. Follow these top tips for your business to “go green” and to do sustainable business.
Choose Environmentally Conscious Products
Many types of sustainable business products are now available at no more costs than would be expected for more traditional items. In addition, they are often designed in ways that makes them more visually appealing, too. Even the smallest of switches to more sustainable products have knock-on impacts on the ethics and environmental influencing of an organization’s operations. This includes everything from pens hitting landfills to shredded and burnt notebooks. Electrical waste (WEEE – Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) is particularly damaging to the environment when disposed of. As a result, recycled or refurbished items make appropriate substitutes for new products to avoid unnecessary impact and to do sustainable business.
Sweat Assets
There is a growing culture of both individuals and businesses replacing their electronic equipment whenever newer models are available or warranties end. However, this is cavalier in terms of the waste generated and budgetary spending. There is now a whole host of providers of Third Party Maintenance. This is the ongoing support of IT and other electronic equipment. This support is past the point where the warranty ends or where an upgrade begins. It allows businesses to derive more value from their IT assets and to avoid unnecessary disposal of hardware just to dispose of more of the same.
Audit Suppliers
Recent legislative changes into unethical labor practices uncovered the all-too-common practice of companies working with suppliers that do not hold the same values they claim to. This resulted in misaligning their business approaches to brands and in allowing them to blame poor practice elsewhere. All businesses should audit their supply chains regularly to ensure that they operate ethically, safely, legally, and with the same sustainability considerations they work toward. It is no longer enough to disregard responsibility because a supplier works in a way the overarching brand may not.
Empower Employees
Good ideas come from anywhere, and a cleaner is just as likely to brainstorm a helpful new sustainability initiative as an executive. Involving and empowering employees in a business’s operational decisions means they participate and adopt such practices properly. Allow staff to raise their own ideas for sustainability practices. In addition, help them understand the impacts of their own roles on the environment. This nurtures them to do better and achieve more, where it is possible. In an office space, employees turn off lights at the end of the working day. Others opt to avoid printing or print double-sided where essential. Some place recycling bins near main desks. These all seem like minor actions. However, the impact of each action adds up.
Sustainable Business – Final Comments
Sustainability was, for a long time, the practice of only single CSR teams in big corporations. However, those days are over. With all of us playing our small parts, together, we all do better when we go green and do sustainable business.
