Now more than ever, society is concerned with environmental issues. As such, sustainability practices in the workplace can no longer be an afterthought. Operating your business in an eco-responsible manner is not only the right thing to do; it’s also good for your brand.
Caring for the planet benefits your bottom line. It drives consumer purchases, brand allegiance, and employee retention.
- A recent study by Hotwire found that 47% of respondents switched a product/service because the company had violated their personal values–the leading cause was the “environment.”
- More than one in five people will actively choose brands that are transparent about sustainability efforts in their packaging and marketing. (Unilever)
Suppose you don’t already have a sustainability plan in place. In that case, Earth Day is the ideal opportunity for your business to take stock. Use this day to reflect on your environmental responsibility and take action via your initiatives or by supporting organizations that are working to protect and restore the planet.
Ideas for making your Earth Day impact last all year long.
Green Business Bureau suggests using Earth Day, or the month of April, to revisit your current environmental impact and revise your corporate plan to ensure you’re on track to meet your goals. Here’s a summary of ideas from the Bureau you can use to extend your corporate eco-responsibility practices all year long.
Plan your work. Work your plan.
If you don’t already have a formal sustainability plan in place, start by creating a task force—gathering insight from your team will help generate more ideas and create buy-in. Designate Earth Day to release your annual sustainability progress report or your eco-focused mission statement if you don’t already have one. This month is also the ideal time to set your year-long company engagement quotas or goals for volunteer hours, conservation projects, money raised, trees planted, etc.
Identify new ways to make an impact.
The GBB advises, “Research new, innovative ways to incorporate sustainability and environmental stewardship into your business practices.” An example, Last year, our team created the Shamrock Cares program. We partner with One Tree Planted to plant trees for every new order placed from our sustainable specialty product line featuring eco-friendly promotional items and apparel.
Harness the power of knowledge.
Educate yourself and your team about environmental issues and initiatives that are relevant to your business or industry. The GBB suggests inviting an expert to present to your employees. Use a virtual conference platform or share a video with your team to relay the information in an engaging, convenient, and cost-effective manner.
Consider extending and sharing that knowledge with your vendor partners and customers.
Make conscious choices.
The easiest way to be kind to the Earth is to simply be more aware—and realize that even small changes can make a substantial environmental impact. Here’s an example that illustrates the point. The average human drinks four plastic bottles of water per day. Switching to a reusable bottle saves 1,460 plastic bottles per year. A few months ago, when Shamrock assembled WFH kits for our team, we chose reusable Kai Glass Bottles as part of the gift. It was a simple choice—but also a deliberate one that reinforces our company’s core values.
Being mindful of our impact on the planet is the responsible thing to do. For our sake and generations to come, we need to give sustainability more than just lip service. How are you making a difference within your organization? We’re always looking for new ideas. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
