Written By: Katie Conroy.
Sustainable Business Practices Are the Future — Are You Ready?
Today, major corporations around the world are striving to become more sustainable in their business practices. This is due to market demand; consumers these days are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and social impacts of production, and are voting for sustainability with their dollars. According to a recent Nielsen survey, sales of sustainable products have been performing well above average.
If you’re planning to start your own business, you should be aware of how sustainable business practices can reduce environmental impact while at the same time promoting healthy, thriving communities. Today, Cymru Marketing presents a guide to help you lay the groundwork for your sustainable business.
Sustainability 101
The National Geographic Society defines sustainability as “the practice of using natural resources responsibly, so they can support both present and future generations.” This is not a new concept; for centuries, leaders of the Iroquois Nation considered the impact of their decisions on their great-great-great-great grandchildren (which is the origin of the term “seventh generation”). The challenge for business in the 21st century is figuring out how to be “green” while at the same time remaining profitable. This involves numerous considerations, such as:
- The sourcing of materials
- Delivery of goods and/or services
- Ecological footprint
- Economic impact
- Fair business practices
- The local environment
Finding Sustainable Opportunities
When looking for a niche, take into account the local environment and culture. Keep in mind that a business idea that may be sustainable in one place won’t be in another. While researching your idea, consider consumer demand and how to address it sustainably. It’s also worth looking into the walking score of a given location, in order to cut down on vehicular traffic.
Understanding the Pros and Cons
One of the challenges of going green is cost. Sustainable, eco-friendly fair-trade materials and products are simply more expensive and can reduce your profit margin. You may be able to make up some of this through volume, however, depending on the attitudes and values of your customer base.
Marketing the Benefits
In your marketing, you want to point out how patronizing sustainable businesses benefits a consumer personally. Nobody, especially consumers, wants to hear a sermon about their “responsibilities”; they want to know what’s in it for them. Consider touting the benefits of a clean environment on personal health and the comfort of knowing their children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy those benefits as well.
While keeping that in mind, continue to look for opportunities to authentically show your clientele what you’re doing to make your business sustainable. If you find a niche opportunity that isn’t being met in your area, start a green task force and share the positive changes through your marketing. Or join up with an already established organization doing great work and share how the partnership benefits the environment. You should also try to find an influencer marketing agency to help you get the word out. After all, it’s not just about what you do; it’s also about advertising your philosophy and serving as a demonstration of the results.
Starting or shifting a business to a green model is neither easy nor inexpensive under the current system. It is nonetheless what a growing number of consumers are looking for, so it’s a wise choice in all ways. Make the right choices in your processing and market your venture appropriately. An investment in sustainability may be challenging but can pay off handsomely in the long run.
Cymru Marketing Specializing in SEO, SMO, Exact Match Keyword Domain Names Sales & Acquisitions, Press Releases, Affiliate Marketing, Lead Generation & Web Design. To get started, please email us at hello@cymrumarketing.com.
#FairTrade #Marketing #Sustainability #Ecological #LocalEnvironment
