Getting your business to go green is always a challenge. But one of the best places to start is by literally asking yourself the right questions.
For example, could your business premises join the solar revolution? It’s probably not something that you’re actively thinking about all the time, but it can make an enormous difference to how you perform. If you can get people to understand that you’re really taking action, it can make a big difference.
Here are some other questions that you might want to ask if you’re on the road to a sustainable model.
What Is My Current Environmental Impact?
The first question, of course, is to figure out where you are with your sustainability goals right now. You could be close, or you could be a million miles away.
You’ll want to break down your performance in various areas, like your water consumption or energy use. Then, you’ll want to think about more abstract ideas, like your carbon footprint. If you can understand these, then you’re well on your way to making some serious progress.
What Are Your Green Goals?
You also want to ask yourself what your green goals actually are. This is critical because you need to figure out how much action you need to take to achieve them. A lot of businesses will have low-ball green goals and only need to make a few changes, while others will need to go much further and fundamentally rethink how they do business. Which you are depend on your business model and your customer expectations
How Sustainable Is The Supply Chain?
You also want to think about how sustainable the supply chain is. Sometimes, your part of the business can be fine but the supply chain as a whole is a complete disaster.
This matters because your customers will judge you by how your business actually operates, and by how the companies that feed into you also behave. Just look at Apple and Chinese supplier, Foxconn.
How Can We Communicate Green Initiatives?
Of course, implementing green initiatives is only a small part of the story. You also want to communicate them with your audience. If not, what’s the point of having them?
This part is more challenging these days because of greenwashing accusations. Customers don’t like it if they think that companies are being insincere.
Consequently, you’ll want to ensure that you’re proving that you’re being green. If you don’t, it could ultimately backfire on you and leave you out of pocket.
How Can Technology Help You Go Green?
You should also look into whether implementing technology can help you go green. Sometimes it can, and sometimes it can’t. It all depends on which industry you’re in, your premises, and what you think will work for you.
What Are The Costs And Benefits Of Going Green?
Finally, you’ll need to consider the costs and benefits of going green. Sometimes, it just won’t be worth it, but that’s a business determination you need to make (and you alone).
