{"id":6682,"date":"2022-01-07T14:38:35","date_gmt":"2022-01-07T12:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/?p=6682"},"modified":"2022-01-19T17:30:24","modified_gmt":"2022-01-19T15:30:24","slug":"sustainable-small-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/sustainable-small-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Your Small Business More Sustainable"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Making your small business sustainable is like any other business project. There are many ways to go about it, many models and ideas, and there are many people who will tell you how it should be done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, we\u2019ll help you find your way into the topic. We\u2019ll show you different models, help you make your own realistic sustainability plan, and show you a long list of practical tips you can start using today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definition of sustainable business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A sustainable business1<\/a><\/sup>You\u2019ll also see the term CSR, for Corporate Social Responsibility.<\/span> is in it for more than just the money. Besides making profit, these businesses also aim to have a positive impact on the world. Some put a strong emphasis on helping society or the environment. Others see it as a responsibility to limit any negative impact they may have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do small businesses need to be sustainable? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that many independent companies are already more sustainable than their larger competitors. They sell locally, they take care of their neighborhoods, and they get to know their suppliers. They take care of their employees, and they are often mission-driven. Sustainability is their superpower.

But that can also make it hard to feel like you\u2019re making a difference. If a large supermarket chain decides to stop printing receipts that customers don\u2019t want, they save a lot of paper fast. The size of their operation means every change has a big impact. If a multinational company cuts back on international flights by only 10%, they can dramatically cut their carbon emissions.

For a small business, the path to sustainability is different. In this article, we focus on what you can do specifically as a small business owner to make meaningful differences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you even get started on sustainability as a business owner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Recycling is good. Building a habit of switching off the lights is good. But to really make sustainability a part of your business, you\u2019ll probably need a bit more structure to your approach. There are several models to help with that, but for a busy small business owner, the three pillars model is the easiest to work with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The three pillars of sustainability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Three Pillar Model of sustainability is one of the most common, and the easiest for a small business to work with. Created by John Elkington, the model says that a business must harmoniously combine the three pillars of People, Planet and Profit 2<\/a><\/sup>The Profit pillar is sometimes changed to Prosperity, to also include the impact a business has on society.<\/span>. Whenever one of the pillars gets too much priority, the system gets out of balance. And such an imbalance can not be sustained in the long term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your sustainable business goals and actions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You probably have some ideas of how you want to make your business more sustainable. You might be using a few methods already to reduce waste or to supply your products ethically. To build on that, it\u2019s good to focus on a specific sustainability goal and measure your progress towards that goal. As they say, you can\u2019t manage what you can\u2019t measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have a goal in mind yet, you can explore local NGO\u2019s in your area or align your business to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals<\/a>. The best goals don\u2019t just fit the sustainable business model, but also means something to you personally.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting up your own sustainability metrics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you have decided on your actions, you probably want to know if they work. To measure that, you\u2019ll need your own set of sustainability metrics. These will be different for each business and each goal. For example, if your goal is a zero waste office, you can measure your success in the amount of garbage your office produces.

Once you\u2019re started, you can share your progress on your website, and add any badges or certifications that you earn. Similar to how a non-profit website<\/a> should show their numbers transparently.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainability plan for your business <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, now you have a goal and some actions planned. You even know how you will measure your progress. Let\u2019s bring it all together in one clear plan that you can return to regularly. Once you have chosen a time frame, set reminders in your calendar to review your progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My goal for is to .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will do this by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. every <\/li>
  2. every <\/li>
  3. every <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    I will measure my progress by reviewing every .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When I reach my goals, I will .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If I don\u2019t reach my goals, I will .\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to make your small business more sustainable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Now you may know your sustainability goal, but need a few more tangible actions to start making progress. In this list, we have gathered ways to make your business more sustainable in different areas of your everyday work.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Workplace<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    People<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n