Environmental sustainability is about making responsible decisions that will reduce your business's negative impact on the environment. Going green and becoming environmentally aware is one of the best ways to take your business to a new level and make your company more unique. Currently, environmental sustainability is a topical issue that receives plenty of attention from the media and from different governmental departments. Businesses are expected to lead in the area of environmental sustainability as they are considered to be the biggest contributors and are also in a position where they can make a significant difference.  For many people, especially in the business world, sustainability is an increasingly important issue. Making businesses more sustainable starts with being aware of the issue at hand and understanding just how important it is to make changes both for the business and the planet. An environmentally aware business considers more than just profits, it considers its impact on society and the environment. A sustainable business adheres to the triple bottom line. 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.

Improves Reputation

Reputation management in business is about establishing a good image by aligning messages with actions. An example of this is Lego who come in at No. 3 among the most reputable companies for social responsibility because of its decision to make Legos from plant-based sources. After it made the announcement, Lego immediately followed through and as a result the company's reputation skyrocketed. Companies with green values are eager to showcase them because people view sustainability as a plus. You can use this to your advantage when marketing your business and developing your brand identity.

Provided Competitive Advantage

When it comes to attracting customers and investors environmentally sustainable businesses may also have a competitive edge. Modern consumers are aware of social and environmental issues and keep themselves informed about which businesses are acting responsibly in the community. Investors are equally aware of these issues and there is a trend developing towards investing in environmentally sustainable companies. Research has shown S&P 500 companies with sustainability in their strategy perform better than those that don’t. You can earn more money and boost your profit by making your business more sustainable. Reduce business costs, more innovative strategies, an improved reputation and more new customers who value sustainability all work to increase profit.

How To Make Your Business More Sustainable

It is crucial when making a move towards environmental sustainability, that you don't damage or remove any part of your service or product that your customers value. Ideally, environmental sustainability should be an additional differentiating factor to your existing services, product line and business model.  To mitigate risks, a marketing strategy that clearly explains your commitment to a move towards environmental sustainability can be used. As a business becomes more environmentally responsible, many customers accept that there may be minor changes to services. Additional information on the website or brochures will help you to communicate your vision to your customers and may also help you to attract new customers away from the competition.  Environmental sustainability differentiation should have two clear goals. Firstly, it should provide you with a competitive advantage or at least put you on equal ground with other businesses in the market. Secondly, it should help you to a positive impact on the health of the environment and become more socially responsible. Although becoming more sustainable in an effective way may not be easy at first, 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. Some creative business planning can help you determine specific and unique strategies that will work for your business. Every company and every industry will be transformed by the transition to a net-zero world. The question is, will you lead, or will you be led?