Part 1: How sustainability helps your business thrive
Did you know that…
- 92% of consumers trust brands that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible?
- 84% of audiences cite poor environmental track record as a reason they stopped using a brand?
- And 54% of consumers would boycott a brand if it were found to be misleading in its sustainability claims.
As a business, being sustainable isn’t just your social and legal responsibility; it’s also in the interest of your stakeholders. A mountain of evidence confirms that sustainable action is in the best interest of business worldwide. For example:
Enhance your brand reputation and loyalty
Savvy sustainable consumers are more likely to support companies with values aligned with their own. If they notice a brand with a mission aligned with their own, they view supporting it as a way to achieve their goals. This “we’re in this together” mindset creates the foundation for brand loyalty, helping create future customers.
It also creates positive buzz around your company. If you’re an early adopter of sustainability in your sector, you can stand out from competitors playing catch-up. This attention can introduce new people to you, establishing a new follower base.
Increased customer demand
In addition to audiences preferring to use sustainable brands, plenty of data highlights how consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly products. When selling to other businesses, if their ESG policy aligns with your own, they may prioritise stocking your sustainable product over unsustainable competitors.
This increased demand will make your business attractive to investors who see your brand’s potential. Sustainable brands are also considered lower risk and safer when considering long-term growth. Sustainable action creates multiple new avenues for increasing company profits.
Talent attraction
It isn’t just buyers who are attracted to sustainable businesses, but workers too. The positive response isn’t just wanting to buy from you, but that people want to work for you, too. Having a business with constant interest from people seeking work gives you the pick of the litter for building a strong team of skilled employees.
Knowing their work will make a difference may encourage existing team members to grow and improve.
Innovation
Adjusting how you work to be more sustainable creates the opportunity to overhaul your products and operations. It’s easy to be unsustainable, but it takes effort to make a difference. You will constantly find new areas in your behaviour where you can innovate and act sustainably. Road bumps create the chance to grow, evolve and improve. Whether changing your supply chain, utilising low-carbon machinery, or using a bespoke waste management plan, there is potential for sustainability everywhere.
It also provides new markets to explore. For example, engaging in a circular economy allows collaboration with other brands. Your waste could be repurposed to develop their products, reducing their need for raw materials.
How Agecko can help
The first step to becoming a sustainable business should be looking at how you manage your waste. Ask yourself:
- What types of waste am I creating?
- Could I create less waste?
- Could I be using alternative, low-carbon materials instead?
- Where is my waste going?
- Can my waste be repurposed?
- How much unnecessary carbon am I producing?
If your answer to any of these questions is “I don’t know”, then contact Agecko. We are experts in developing tailored business waste solutions across various sectors. Whether you work with complex waste streams, high-energy equipment, or lack organisation, a waste audit from Agecko can put you on the path to sustainability. If you want to improve your business in the eyes of the public, investors, employees, and for the sake of the future, get in touch with our team of experts.
