Luke Smith outlines some approaches business leaders can take to support sustainability in their organisations

In today’s rapidly changing world, the need for sustainability across all aspects of our lives has never been greater. Hundreds of scientific studies, such as the one produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released this spring, have indicated that without significant strides toward a more sustainable world in the next decade, the global climate is projected to continue to change in ways that could lead our planet to become far less hospitable.

Fortunately, many of the first steps toward a positive change are attainable, especially in the business world. Increasing demand from customers, governments, and investors to see environmental stewardship and socially responsible strategies is heating up. As the tech and strategies for sustainable business become more mainstream, leaders that are willing to place sustainable initiatives at the forefront of their business model are not only seeing a positive impact on their environments but could also see a boost to their bottom line over time.

Sustainability-minded customers pay attention to how companies are interacting with the greater world around them

Business leaders may also take time to look at policies that outline the nuts and bolts of how certain tasks are completed. For example, they may look at certain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and rewrite them to reflect a more sustainable approach to the work. Evaluating SOPs can also help leaders pinpoint the tasks and operations that are the most environmentally intensive or that create a lot of waste. 

Here are some of the best ways to get started if you’re considering a sustainable step forward for your company.

1. Establish a comprehensive sustainability policy

Company policies form the foundation of every company. They speak to what the business stands for, its overarching goals, and the steps the company will take to reach them. Spending time updating company policies to incorporate sustainability may not seem like a high-priority project, but it can be very worthwhile in setting the tone for the new direction the business plans to take regarding environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Business leaders may also take time to look at policies that outline the nuts and bolts of how certain tasks are completed. For example, they may look at certain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and rewrite them to reflect a more sustainable approach to the work. Evaluating SOPs can also help leaders pinpoint the tasks and operations that are the most environmentally intensive or that create a lot of waste. 

2. Integrate sustainable supply chain practices

Supply chains are often the most resource-intensive and expensive aspect of running a business. Unfortunately, they are also often the source of the most environmental waste and questionable social practices, which makes them a prime target for corporate sustainability goals.

To evaluate the true impact of a company’s supply chain, you must first understand where every piece of a product comes from, the raw materials that go into its creation, and how it all comes together to arrive at a customer’s home. Leaders can then make changes that involve more environmentally friendly material sources, improved treatment of workers within the supply chain, and shipping or packaging strategies that use less energy and produce less waste.

3. Promote energy efficiency and resource conservation

Back at the main office, there are plenty of changes that could also boost overall company sustainability. Simple policies like a company recycling programme or a focus on digital rather than printed documents can be implemented. Maybe the goal is to reduce the environmental impact of big company parties by focussing on eliminating single-use plastics and choosing eco-friendly venues. 

Larger company policies can be implemented to make the entire office more sustainable. Ideas such as updating equipment with more energy-efficient pieces, retrofitting the office to improve energy usage, or upgrading the fleet with more fuel-efficient vehicles are great ways to make positive changes. 

4. Invest in renewable energy sources

It may seem a little abstract at first, but companies can also boost their sustainability profiles by investing in environmental and social equity initiatives. There are a lot of different directions companies can choose to go with this. For instance, a business leader could choose to directly invest in or become partners with other companies that are developing renewable energy technologies. Alternatively, leaders may choose to donate funds to local or global non-profits that seek to address specific sustainability issues.

5. Embrace circular economy principles

The idea of a circular economy was developed in the 1970s. It’s a principle that views the economy as circular rather than linear. This means that resources, products, and supplies are all reused in some way – the goal is to maximis the use of all resources involved in production and minimise the waste created at each step in the process.

Adopting a circular economy mentality can be a great strategy for businesses striving to reduce their overall environmental impact. It means utilising more natural materials in production, making sure that production is sustainable and not too extractive, extending the life and usability of products, reducing single-use materials and packaging, and ensuring the product is not harmful after it has reached the end of its life. 

6. Encourage employee engagement and education

Building buy-in from current employees is important for any of these policies to be successful. Fortunately, many are already invested as they recognize the benefits of sustainability policies for the business. Sustainability-minded customers pay attention to how companies are interacting with the greater world around them. Likewise, many potential employees put a lot of stock into how seriously the company takes sustainability initiatives. 

7. Measure and communicate the impact

In today’s marketplace, customers are more invested in and more willing to spend money at businesses that are putting sustainability first. This means there is real value in showcasing all of the environmental and social policies the company has implemented and the changes that are happening because of them. Going green can be complicated for companies, but in many cases, the business benefits are starting to outweigh the costs.

Luke Smith is a freelance writer