Providing an environmentally friendly service that prioritises sustainable sourcing and ethical production is beneficial to the planet and a brand's reputation. From reducing waste and pollution, minimising travel, planting trees and avoiding exploiting workers for cheap labour, there are so many positive ways to make a difference in modern business.
Unfortunately, so many uneducated brands still choose to reduce their costs by shunning their environmental responsibilities, detrimentally impacting the planet. Although this does benefit businesses in the short term, the lasting damage done to the environment is a growing source of resentment to an increasingly high percentage of consumers.
Today, as the roads become greener, new legislation will soon come into play, removing all diesel cars off the road, plastic straws are already a thing of the past, and palm oil is regarded with the disdain of an illegal substance. Our society is pushing forward towards a cleaner realm of sustainable living. Become part of the ecological revolution; there are so many diverse ways you can demonstrate sustainable business practises. Read up on how you can transform your brand to become as kind to the planet as you are to your customers.
Many companies use sustainable practice as a part of their day to day functioning, but they also pledge to give a percentage of profits to an environmental organisation. Consumers feel reassured that the profit from their purchases is invested right back into protecting the planet. Not only does this convey a charitable image but also demonstrates a forward-thinking mentality. Brands can raise the profile of charities and conservation projects by pledging this percentage donation of profits while keeping the planet's sustainability front and centre of customers' minds when we make a purchase.
Partner with non-profits.
Partnering with conservation nonprofits such as Justdiggit is a great strategy for raising your sustainable profile. Justdiggit is an organisation that jump-starts landscape restoration programs to regreen the planet, reversing climate change. Within the Justdiggit projects, degraded landscapes are restored using rainwater harvesting, soil improvements and regreening techniques. Alternatively, supporting wildlife nonprofits is equally as positive. The Animal Welfare Fund, for example, aims to effectively improve the well-being of animals, providing grants which focus on improving neglected geographic regions or groups of animals, facilitating research into animal advocacy or animal well-being.
The pandemic has had a positive impact on the way we expend energy and waste. Remote working has resulted in us all dramatically cutting down on travel, and as a result, we have witnessed a dramatic reduction in the emissions polluting our planet. As we have adjusted to the challenge of relocating from the office to the spare room, it feels more ethical to allow employees to save on emissions and operate from home.
There are multiple easy to set up sustainable initiatives such as collecting rain and recycling used water, generating electricity through solar panels and water pumps, practising eco-friendly travel (using trains instead of planes) and recycling whenever possible that will help your brand do your bit for the planet.
Younger generations actively seek to support sustainable products and brands. Preferring to invest in brands that protect the planet, spending more in favour of endeavouring to help our planet suffer less, Gen Z and millennial workers are innovative and dedicated to promoting sustainability. We are never too old to learn, and no one is ever too young to teach. Allow your business to be guided by generations who have grown up with environmental conservation drummed into their subconscious. They will inherit the earth and are entirely invested in minimising the previous damage generations have inflicted on our planet's ecosystems.