These days, consumers are asking that companies take sustainable, ethical approaches to their businesses. Consumers are more likely to spend their money with companies that use sustainable practices, even if that means spending more money on those goods and services. This can seem daunting to new businesses, but by following three essential steps to starting a sustainable business, you can put yourself in a position to succeed.
Sustainability in the Mission Statement
By writing sustainability into the mission statement, it becomes a significant tenet of the company. That emphasis on sustainability becomes deeply ingrained into every aspect of the business. The mission statement should be broad enough to become a flexible pivot point for your company while still assuring potential customers that your company is eco-friendly.
Even after creating your mission statement, make it a point to go beyond it. Live for those environmental goals and share progress with your customers to show them that you’re genuinely passionate.
Product Development Considerations
Every stage of product development should involve sustainable considerations. Plastic may be cheap, durable, and lightweight, but it’s also not very environmentally friendly. A single plastic bottle may take up to 450 years to decompose, and other plastics may last even longer as they drift around in the oceans or fill up landfills.
Design products with sustainability in mind, including the packaging. By packaging your goods in sustainable materials, you show your target market that you care more about the planet than your bottom line. Consider how people can recycle your product, and make changes to the product’s design if necessary.
Encourage Sustainability, Inside and Outside of the Office
The last of the essential steps to starting a sustainable business is to encourage sustainability inside and outside of the office. Sure, implementing sustainable practices at the workplace looks good, but when you have a team that truly aligns with your vision, you’ll see that they prioritize sustainability in their personal lives, too. Some companies offer employee incentives for sustainable life decisions, such as purchasing electric or hybrid cars, moving closer to their office, or using solar panels.
By implementing and encouraging sustainability inside and out of your business model, you can make ethical decisions that can help your business to thrive in the market of social responsibility. As a result, the planet, the people, and your business’s profits will all benefit.
