Business and Environmental
Sustainability
Presented By Cin Mun Muan
Sustainability in Business: What Does It Mean?
• Business sustainability is the practice of operating a business without impacting
the environment negatively.
• Green Business
• Green Business functions in the best interests of the local and global
environment, meaning it supports the community and economy dependent on a
healthy planet.
the Triple Bottom Line
• A sustainable business adheres - the triple bottom line, a term coined
in 1994 by John Elkington, the founder of a British consultancy called
Sustainability.
• The three components of the triple bottom line are
• profits,
• people,
• and the planet.
• A sustainable business earns profits by being socially responsible and
protecting our use of the planet’s resources.
Why Is Sustainability Important in Business?
• According to Environmental Sustainability, we’re on pace to produce
27 billion tons of solid waste by 2050 due to a business environment
that prioritizes rapid production and turnover of products for maximum
profits. Unchecked CO2 emissions are projected to contribute to a
temperature increase of two degrees Celsius by 2050, which will cause
sea levels to rise and catastrophic weather events to increase.
• A study found that just
100 companies are responsible for 71% of global emissions. Now is
the time for businesses to become part of the solution, cut down on
emissions and waste, and contribute to cultivating a livable planet.
Who Can Improve Business Sustainability?
• Every individual can take steps to live and work more sustainably,
but when it comes to improving sustainability in business, there are
some people who are in a unique position to effect change.
Who Can Improve Business Sustainability?
Business Owners and Organizational Leaders
• Business owners and leaders who possess organizational skills have
the savoir faire to make strategic sustainability decisions that benefit
the business, its employees, its customers, and the planet.
Who Can Improve Business Sustainability?
• Human Resource Professionals
• It’s important to create a company culture that reflects your
values and makes employees comfortable enough to share
their ideas, including those regarding sustainability. The HR
team can act as a cultural ambassador, helping employees
and new recruits feel recognized and valued as key drivers in
efforts toward sustainability.
The Benefits of Sustainability in Business
• Sustainability in business isn’t just good for the environment or
society at large — it’s also good for the business itself. Here are just a
few of the many benefits of operating a more sustainable business:
The Benefits of Sustainability in Business
• Improves Business’ Reputation
• People view sustainability as a plus, and companies with green values are
eager to showcase them because of that fact. Going green shows the world
you care about more than just making money. You can use this to your
advantage when marketing your business and developing your brand identity.
• Increases Bottom Line
• You can earn more money and boost your bottom line by making your
business more sustainable. Reduced business costs, more innovative
strategies, an improved reputation, and more new customers who value
sustainability all work to increase the amount of money sustainable
businesses earn.
Challenges to Improving Sustainability in Business
• Though sustainability has many positive impacts on
business, it can also be challenging to actually implement
these changes. Here are some of the biggest barriers that
businesses, particularly small ones, face when trying to
become more sustainable:
Challenges to Improving Sustainability in Business
• Unengaged Personnel
• Whether it’s with upper management or your employees, it can be difficult to
actually implement your sustainability initiatives when other people in your
organization don’t support them, take them seriously, or care. Do your best to
ask for everyone’s input when creating initiatives. There’s a good chance
some employees and managers will have their own ideas and issues.
• Inability to Assess Success
• For other businesses, it’s important to collect data on costs and sales and
compare it with your outcomes once you’ve implemented sustainability
initiatives. If your sales haven’t improved, you may have undermarketed
your value as a sustainable business to the consumer.
How to Make Your Business More Sustainable
• Becoming more sustainable in an effective way may not be
easy at first, but the challenge is well worth the reward.
Successful entrepreneurs, owners, and leaders look at
problems as opportunities. Now is your opportunity to
embrace sustainability and implement innovative strategies
in the process.
How to Make Your Business More Sustainable
• Start Recycling at Work
• Recycling is beneficial: it keeps trash out of the landfill and
the incinerator, and it creates 757,000 jobs annually. If your
workplace doesn’t already do so, start recycling. If your
workplace is already recycling, take a moment to read up on
the recycling laws in your area to make sure you’re doing it
correctly
How to Make Your Business More Sustainable
• Go Digital
• Despite the rise of digital technology, many organizations
still use more paper than necessary. Computers,
smartphones, and other devices are integrated into the
workplace; use them to their fullest extent and avoid using
paper whenever possible.
