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How to make sustainability a priority for your small business

  • by JW

Practical tips on how to get ahead of the competition with unique selling points that other businesses lack.

“To be truly successful in business, you need to know how to develop a sustainable business practice.”

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Joyce Wilson is the creative force behind the education website teacherspark in the United States.

She also has a business background – and is keen to promote creative ideas on how entrepreneurs can be environmentally responsible, at the same time as looking to the bottom line.

Earlier in the year, she put together a guest piece for the VGS:

How to help the environment through your new business – Vision Group for Sidmouth

This in turn inspired further pieces:

How established businesses are reducing their impact on the planet – Vision Group for Sidmouth

How to make your business more eco-friendly – Vision Group for Sidmouth

Joyce has followed this with a further guest piece on greening business:

Part four: “Sustainable Business Practices: What You Need to Know”

What do sustainable business practices mean? It refers to any business that aims to reduce negative social and environmental impact, while also striving to increase profits. Not only can sustainable business practices help your brand or company look good in the eyes of the public, but they can also help you get ahead of the competition by providing you with unique selling points that other businesses lack.

If you think you can’t make a difference, you’re wrong. With the right approach, you can absolutely make sustainability a priority for your small business.

To help, Vision Group for Sidmouth shares some tips on sustainable business practices that you need to know.

What Are Sustainable Business Practices?

Don’t fall prey to the idea that you can’t contribute. Sustainable business practices can be defined as any business practice that minimizes environmental impact while increasing profitability. It’s not always easy for businesses to make changes on both fronts — but, in general, sustainable business practices are good for your bottom line and good for society. These days, most business owners are focused on going green because it makes sense financially.

Why Should I Care About Sustainability?

Sustainability is crucial if you plan on being in business for more than a few years. Governments are cracking down on wasteful businesses, so it’s crucial to know how to incorporate sustainable practices into your company.

Impact on Profitability

Sustainable business practices have a big impact on profitability, both because they often reduce overall cost and because they create goodwill with customers drawn to socially responsible brands. Sustainable products also have lower environmental impacts, which can lead to lower costs in waste disposal or other overhead expenses.

Sustainable Opportunities For Your Business

Sustainability opportunities are present in every company — the trick is knowing where to look. Begin by assessing your business’s current practices. How are these efforts currently being implemented? Where are their strengths and weaknesses? What does it take for your business to continue along its current sustainability path? Can you operate digitally? Think about these as you formulate a plan of action for your future business endeavors.

Reducing the Negative Eco-Impact of Your Business

If you’re looking to reduce your impact on the environment, you must find a way for your business to reduce negative environmental impact. Are there ways to be more eco-friendly? Can you make a product using fewer materials, thus reducing waste? Do you know if your current products can be recycled or disposed of sustainably? Once you know what could be improved upon, look into making those changes.

Going paperless as much as possible is a great sustainability goal for any business. You can do it from the start by forming your company online using a formation service. And you can continue that practice in your day-to-day operations by using things like a paperless system for your company’s invoices that allows for immediate payments and automation. Both the planet and your customers will appreciate the green behavior and convenience.

Marketing Your Green Message

Communicating your findings in an organized way — through marketing materials such as pamphlets, brochures, and infographics — will help you get your message across that you are eco-conscious.. These will make it easier to maintain records, too!

Positive Impact and Financial Success

To be truly successful in business, you need to know how to develop a sustainable business practice. This is a major goal of current and future companies because it creates a positive environmental impact while creating financial success for your company.

The mission of Vision Group for Sidmouth is to promote environmental sustainability through education, community programs and collaboration with local governmental entities. For more information, please visit our website or contact us today!

Photo: A Man and a Woman Collaborating at Work · Free Stock Photo