As a practicing sustainability consultant, I’d like to share my thoughts on what small businesses need to do before they can start meaningfully talking about sustainability.
I am well aware that this term sustainability is on every ones lips; from customers to staff and investors. And while I will always encourage organisations of any size to start acting in a more socially and environmentally responsible way, the truth is that for mirco businesses and SMEs, it can be hard to know where to start once the you’ve ticked the easy things off the list.
First things first – let’s make sure we have a business that is worth sustaining!
As small businesses owners, our first priority should be to get our operations healthy, optimised, and responsible. This means making sure that we’re operating efficiently, within the bounds of the law, and in a way that meets the needs of our stakeholders. Once we’ve achieved this, we can start looking at longer-term sustainability targets and the impact we have on the environment and society.
Sustainability is a complex and multi-faceted issue that can encompass many different areas, including energy usage, waste management, and supply chain management. Before we start making changes to our operations, we need to ensure that our business is in a strong position to withstand these changes and that we have the resources and capability to implement them effectively.
It’s also important to approach sustainability in a strategic and holistic way. This means considering the long-term impact of our decisions and taking into account the needs of all our stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and the environment. By doing so, we can ensure that our sustainability initiatives are aligned with our overall business strategy and are delivering the greatest possible benefits to all concerned.
In conclusion, as business owners, we need to make sure that our operations are healthy, optimised, and responsible before we start thinking about sustainability. By doing so, we can ensure that our sustainability initiatives are effective and aligned with our overall business strategy, delivering the greatest possible benefits to all stakeholders, which include future generations and the natural world.
Are you a small business looking for sustainability support? Vujà Dé Creative Solutions can help get your business healthy, optimised and resilient.
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