4 Things To Consider Before Making Your Business More Sustainable

A recent survey by McKinsey and Co. found that 66% of respondents and 75% of millennials consider sustainability when it comes to purchases. What this means for businesses is that if you're not on board with making your business as sustainable as possible or committing publicly to change, then you will be alienating a large portion of your consumer base. While it's not the final decision in whether or not anyone makes an eventual purchase, the evidence is that this is what people shouldn't ignore entirely, and making more sustainable changes to your business can be impactful and beneficial in many areas.

Embarking on a journey towards sustainability requires a systematic approach. It's important to recognize that change cannot happen overnight. Any changes you make will take time to be fully operational and sustainable within your business model. Before you start making changes, it's crucial to consider these points.

What Changes Can You Make

When considering sustainability, it's essential to look at all aspects of your business. There are likely more opportunities for improvement than you might initially think. From your suppliers to your packaging, energy consumption, delivery methods, production processes, and even staffing, there are numerous areas where you can make your business more environmentally sustainable.

What Options Are Available

Once you know what changes are viable to make your business thin, you can start looking at your options for changing over. It could be something as simple as finding a new energy supplier that is powered by green energy, using an electric fleet or company cars over gas or diesel-fueled autos, finding sustainable procurement options to help you ensure that your supply chain is fully sustainable, and using green practices not just ethically conscious or looking at redistributing your workforce to allow for remote working out reduce carbon emissions from commuting.

How To Adapt and How Long It Will Take

Much like anything, you need to weigh how it will impact the business and the cost and projected adjustment period. The reality is you cannot implement everything all at once, and not all changes will run smoothly, especially as you reconfigure how you work. You need to be clear about the adjustments you will make and the compromises it entails as you change over to become more sustainable. Put a timeline in place of what changes you plan to make and when and how long you can expect it to take to be completely and seamlessly integrated.

The Cost

Some changes can be done free of charge or for very little outlay; others, such as investing in electric vehicles or adding solar panels to your premises, can require a hefty outlay. It's all good and well making the changes, but if it's going to eat into your takings too much or not be cost-effective, is it really worth the investment? Look at options such as how much it will take you to implement the change, i.e., supplying staff with equipment or paying internet connections for remote workings, or having to increase the cost of products or shipping to account for greener alternatives, and if you can justify and afford to make these changes, you can roll them out slowly and steadily to help you get from where you are not to where you want to be.

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