As the need to make real efforts to address a changing climate intensifies, many businesses are trying to get ahead of the curve. For some, this means investing in research that will unlock the key to a cleaner future, while for others this means making small strides towards greater sustainability.
Today, future-proofing different operational aspects of the job goes beyond complying with regulations. Rather, it is about building a resilient company that can quickly adapt to the many changes coming our way. Here are some of the many ways your business can take part.
Invest in Green Infrastructure
Building a new office space or upgrading an old one is one of the most significant ways in which business leaders can make direct changes to their environmental footprint and aim for more sustainable alternatives. The infrastructure investment your company makes may depend on the location and may involve a combination of a couple of different options.
Sustainability-designed buildings can save a lot of energy and, if designed well, can have a net neutral environmental impact. All of this equates to a greener workspace and money saved over time. Some options for energy-saving buildings include using more sustainable building materials, including sustainable concrete options or passive water collection systems, which allow for the capture and reuse of water used in the facility.
In many cities around the world heating and cooling in a sustainable manner is a main concern. Due to the high concentrations of concrete and asphalt and the general lack of green space, cities tend to be much warmer than the surrounding non-urbanized areas. Some options to address this issue include things like designing buildings to have green roofs, passively cooling materials and geometries, and investing in quality insulation.
Strategize Energy Savings and Waste Reduction
How a building is designed is one of the biggest ways to incorporate energy savings and improve sustainability, but there are other strategies that companies can use. Some of them, such as adjusting company policies to focus on more sustainable workplaces, are relatively easy to implement.
Some business leaders focus less on their workplaces and more on their products as a means of becoming more sustainable. For example, today many products are wrapped in several layers of packaging. Developing strategies to reduce packaging but also to reduce the amount of plastic in products is a noble way to become more sustainable and reduce the company’s environmental footprint.
Likewise, there are plenty of ways that business leaders can make their supply chains a bit more sustainable. New technologies, such as AI and big data, are constantly coming online that can help both reduce supply chain waste and make the shipping process more efficient. Taking the time to evaluate and modernize the supply chain starting with where products are sourced and how frequently they are shipped can make a huge difference in overall company sustainability goals.
Track Goals, Share Results
Of course, having a lot of plans to become a more sustainable company is the easy part. The real challenge begins with starting the implementation process. One of the most effective ways to help keep the company accountable for sustainability goals is to share them openly. Many customers are willing to support and invest in companies that are working towards greater sustainability, even if it takes some time to get there.
Another important strategy is to track your success and struggles over time. Write down some of the company goals and incorporate technologies that help find and track solutions in real-time. Things such as AI-driven environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting tools can help assess the impact the company is having and can make it easier to spot where improvements can be made.
All of this tracking of goals and sharing them will keep the company accountable for the sustainability changes they intend to make. It can also be a lucrative strategy. As previously mentioned, many government entities, investors, and customers alike are interested in companies making sustainability-minded investments. Some of the programs that are specifically offered by the Australian government, on both a national and city-specific basis include:
- Free informational toolkits about energy policies and incentives;
- Ability to have your business audited for sustainability compliance for free;
- Funding to help companies offset water, product, and other types of waste;
- A database of rebates and other financial incentives that businesses can apply for.
Taking advantage of these types of incentives, as well as being aware of new funds and pieces of legislation that are being passed to boost sustainability, are all ways that you can continue to improve your business.
The world is changing as a result of climate change and many business leaders are looking to find ways to adapt. Becoming a more sustainably-minded company can be transformative and there are literally hundreds of ways to start working towards that goal. What are some of the ways your company is becoming more sustainable?
