4 Ways to Improve Business Sustainability

Business

Global concerns about energy consumption, climate change, and social exclusion are leading corporations to value social responsibility and implement sustainability into their organizational structure. Sustainable business practices consider the organization’s environmental, economic, and social impact. Companies can be proactive in creating a sustainable future by educating their leaders on topics like environmental concerns, workplace diversity and inclusivity, and community involvement.

How To Implement Sustainability Into Organizations

Since each business is different, the steps for sustainability may vary widely between companies. Some ways to increase sustainability may be reducing waste and pollution, improving work-life balance for employees, and implementing inclusion and diversity practices. There are many technological tools available to improve, simplify, and automate an organization’s sustainability actions. This can include going paperless, reducing geological limitations and more.

Organizations can investigate ways to implement sustainable behaviors and reduce negative impacts on the environment, then choose the solutions that best fit their needs. Online courses on business sustainability are an ideal solution for many organizations and entrepreneurs. These courses will help business leaders better understand sustainability and apply that knowledge to their own organizations.

Remote Work Opportunities

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Organizations can improve business sustainability by offering remote work opportunities to employees when possible. Remote work opportunities can reduce the company’s carbon footprint in several ways. Remote work helps the environment by decreasing traffic and emission levels. It requires less office space and fewer furnishings, tools, and supplies, and it decreases a business’ consumption of resources like electricity and natural gas. While employees may still be consuming resources elsewhere, the scale at which they are could be dramatically less than what a business may require. Remote opportunities also reduce geographical limitations on employment, making jobs more accessible to those in different living locations, especially rural areas. This presents the opportunity for more diversity and inclusion within the workplace.

Reduce Paper Usage

Companies in the U.S. use over 12 trillion sheets of paper per year. Organizations can find many ways today to reduce paper usage. For instance:

• Store documents electronically. An organization can reduce the amount of paper and physical storage space it uses by adopting cloud-based storage solutions for company documents.

• Reduce printing. Organizations can substantially reduce printing in the workplace by sharing online file storage drives, committing to paper-free internal communications, and relying on electronic signatures instead of paper documentation.

• Utilize online billing. Digital billing can substantially reduce the paper waste created by printing and mailing invoices and payments.

• Use digital marketing. Companies can reduce paper waste by replacing direct mail campaigns with digital marketing practices like email and social media marketing.

Switch to Sustainable Products and Packaging

Seeking out sustainable products and packaging can reduce waste and have a positive impact on the global ecosystem. While companies may not be able to completely eliminate paper usage, they can supply employees with sustainably sourced recycled paper. Reducing product packaging and using recycled packaging products also benefits the environment by decreasing waste.

Support Other Sustainable Businesses

Choosing other sustainable companies for supplies, vendors, and services is another way to promote sustainability. Seek local vendors and eco-friendly companies when possible. Identify and prioritize sustainable businesses, such as technical businesses that are intentionally reducing their carbon footprint.

Consumer awareness of global economic, environmental, and social issues impacts their buying decisions. In fact, a survey by Sendle indicated that over 71% of respondents intend to purchase more sustainable products. Today’s professionals, both entrepreneurs and business leaders, must continue to expand their knowledge on the role and importance of sustainability in business to be able to identify opportunities for improvement. Sustainability is not just a trend; it is the key to making real and meaningful change. Businesses of all sizes can analyze current challenges and use these tech tools to make economic, environmental, and social improvements.