Environmentalism is a fashionable cause in modern business. And there’s no denying that plenty of brands appear to be jumping on the bandwagon with the aim of being on trend, rather than going truly green.
But the reality is that as business owners and simply as humans, we’ve all got a responsibility to do out bit for the environment.
Whether you’re running a multinational conglomerate or a one-person garage operation, there’s a good chance that your practices could be made greener.
But exactly why might this be worthwhile? And what will it entail?
Let’s take a look.
The ethics
There are extremely good data to suggest that we should be cutting greenhouse gas emissions and abandoning practices that contribute to the destruction of the natural world. This means not only cleaning up your activities on your own premises, but vetting your supply chains to ensure that you’re working only with businesses who do likewise.
It’s about more than just doing your recycling. Meeting your ethical responsibility to focus your business on its environmental impact means looking at every supplier you work with as well as your own practices. Wherever possible, buy from businesses whose practices are also environmentally focussed.
Better public image
A cynical person might be forgiven for suspecting the motives of the green movement in business. After all, the free market rewards profit-making, not conservation.
While some green business owners might be motivated by a desire to help the natural world, the movement is also aided by a desire to protect reputations and drive brand.
Customers are increasingly looking to reduce their environmental impact, and will favour businesses that share these values – or, at least, appear to. If you start shipping your goods in biodegradable containers and you’re vocal about it, then the extra costs might well be offset by the increased loyalty you’re able to generate.
Just look at the shift of the fast-food industry to cater to vegan and vegetarian customers. The idea of this happening a decade or so ago might have seemed unthinkable: now, it’s mundane. According to a recent Ethical Consumer report, around a third of people intend to eat less meat and dairy after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ultimately, some people will only buy from businesses that take steps to minimise their negative impact on the environment. And this is a trend that looks likely to continue.
New avenues for business
Making your operations greener can open up new opportunities for growth. The new, greener economy will require people with a whole range of new skills and preparing now might provide your business with a head start.
For example, if you run some sort of electrical business, you might expand and train your staff in the installation of photovoltaic solar panels. This technology is still really in its relative infancy in terms of domestic and commercial installation numbers. So you could clean up if and when the technology becomes truly mainstream and more accessible.
The green technology sector is moving incredibly quickly. Staying abreast of what’s coming and training your staff to be able to work with new and relevant green technologies could ultimately keep you a step ahead.
Competitive Edge
We’ve already mentioned how adopting green practices can help to provide you with an edge over your competition. This applies especially if your core audience is particularly attuned to environmental concerns.
If you’re selling predominantly to younger people, for example, your green credentials might allow you to win them over where they’re undecided.
Marketing
By shouting about your environmental ethos, then you could really capitalise on the commercial benefits we’ve discussed. Environmental activities are great for news stories, social media posts, and blogs. These will not only help you to push a positive image to would-be customers; it’ll also help you to bring in new recruits who share your values.
And we’re not saying that your reputation or your marketing material should be your primary motivator here. The human benefit is the real one. But wherever your business takes steps to do something great, surely it’s worth shouting about.