The move towards a sustainable world is gathering pace. The way that many industries have worked in the past are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Farming, buildings, transport etc – all of these industries face being completely changed due to an emphasis on sustainable principles. So how does this affect the way that business is going to be conducted in the coming years?

While it’s easy to see sustainability as a mere fantasy, there are many companies out there who are helping to make sustainability easy to harness. Think Toyota with their Prius hybrid cars. While hybrid technology feels new, these cars have been on the road for more than 15 years! The future for sustainability is even brighter – companies such as Polysolar have helped to invent windows that double up as solar panels! And auto makers such as Tesla are rapidly inventing ways to make electric car ownership the norm. So how, you may ask, do you harness sustainable philosophies into your business today? Well in this article, we are going to look at a few reasons to embrace sustainability in your business, and also a few ways in which you can do it.

Why Embrace Sustainability?

As we have alluded to previously, many industries cannot survive long-term continuing along their current path. The world’s natural resources are finite therefore new ways need to be identified to either reuse resources, or to make the most of ones that cannot be renewed. For many businesses, there is actually quite a lot they can do to embrace sustainability. While many businesses will feel that it is not important, their potential customers may indeed place a huge emphasis on sustainability, and indeed seek out businesses that are more closely aligned to their principles. With this in mind, you could improve profitability by being the business of choice for those who are ethically minded. There are also the potential cost savings – many of these sustainable practices are actually money saving in the long run (think LED lighting).

There is also the employee element – now more than ever, staff are looking for businesses that fit their personal principles.  This may sound like folly, but as people become more attuned to the idea of sustainability, the businesses that embrace it will become the new go-to employers. Staff often see their work lives as being a huge part of their life, their job then becomes an extension of themselves. This being the case, employees are much more likely to work for employers that match their personal philosophy than those that do not. This means that sustainability is about to become more important than ever before.

How Can I Help To Introduce Sustainable Principles Into My Business?

If you are now sold that sustainability is right for you, how are you going to put the ideas into practice? Well, below there is a list of options that are available right now. Many of these options can save your business money in the long-term, enhance employee satisfaction and help the planet.

Energy

LED Lighting – once upon a time LED lighting was awful, you could barely light a cupboard with it, these days though, LED technology can easily replace existing lighting and save your business a fortune.

Renewable Heating – with ground source heat pumps readily available and solar PV panels at reasonable costs, renewable heating has never been so efficient and can make a lot of sense in many applications.

Recycling

Recycling Old Equipment – do you really need to replace your old equipment? If you do, recycling your old electrical equipment can stop it going to landfill. Your electrical items could potentially end up even being used again.

Using Natural Lights – many new buildings make use of natural light. With intelligent design, you can save a fortune in lighting and help your staff to enjoy a bit of natural daylight while say at their desk.

Staff

Cycle to Work Scheme – cycling is not only good for your body, it’s also good for the environment. Help your staff to improve their health and keep a car off of the road, helping the environment.

Hybrid or Electric Company Vehicles – for your staff who are not quite ready to don the lycra, there is also the option of giving them a fuel efficient company car such as one of the many hybrids on the market. You could even take the next step and install an electric charging point to encourage your staff to go green.

As you can see, there are many options for taking your first step into the world of sustainability. Why don’t you take your first steps into sustainability today and reap the benefits for your business.