Socially Responsible Business Practices

A competitive advantage can be gained by running a socially responsible business. Customers give preference to businesses that place an emphasis on environmental responsibility. In addition, potential employees look for companies that share their commitment to environmentally friendly practices.

Many companies are unsure of how or where they should get started.

What factors contribute to the long-term success of a company?

What are some things you can do to lessen the impact that you have on the environment?

We are eager to be of assistance to you.

First, what is corporate social responsibility?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR), is a movement that encourages companies to adopt sustainable practices that have a minimal impact on society, the environment, and the economy. Every step counts, regardless of whether it’s creating sustainable manufacturing methods or cutting down on paper usage in the workplace .

Many organizations use the triple bottom line framework to guide their planning. John Elkington created this framework in 1994. It consists of three components: financial, social and environmental. These factors are often described using the phrase “people, planet, and profit”. Your company can use this framework to show your commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Strategies to make your business more sustainable

1. Engage Your Employees with Sustainable Business Planning

Ask your employees to tell you what they want the company to do first. Keep them involved throughout the year by keeping them informed and checking in on their progress towards the goals.

Your employees will be more involved in ensuring that corporate sustainability initiatives are a success if they help to decide.

2. Get everyone on board with your corporate sustainability initiatives

To make sure your employees are comfortable with any changes in their workflow, hold a kick-off meeting before you start requiring sustainable business practices.

Some employees may resist change. It’s important to see everything in context.

3. Energy-Efficient Improvements for the Office

Nearly all utilities offer incentives to make energy-efficient improvements. You can reduce your company’s energy consumption by:

• In conference rooms and hallways, install motion sensors.
• Compact fluorescent lights can be replaced with LEDs.
• After 10 minutes of inactivity, turn computers and monitors off.
• When possible, make the most of natural light.
• Before you leave the office, turn off all computers.
• Ask your contractor to use sustainable building materials if you are remodeling.

4. Perform a Waste Audit in order to identify problem areas

An audit of your waste will help you identify items that can be recycled or donated. A waste audit can be done by some public works departments completely free of charge.

They can connect you to local organizations that can accept items that would otherwise be thrown away. Expert explains that Starbucks in Seattle bags their coffee grounds and composts them instead of sending them to the landfill.

5 Less Paper

You can reduce the amount paper that is used in the office, except for documents you are required to do daily operations.

• Instead of printing, email meeting agendas and list items on a whiteboard.
• Before you print, think about whether you actually need a printed copy.
• Your copier and printer should default to double-sided.
• Avoid printing unnecessary documents or emails.
• Buy recycled paper products
• Start recycling if you don’t already!

Make sure your company has sustainability initiatives that you can stick with

As advice from Affordable Dumpster Rental suggests, set specific and measurable sustainability goals. Do not make vague goals like “waste less paper”; instead, be specific and say “reduce paper by 40%.”

After you have set your goals, it is important to measure how they are being met. You can then adjust your goals as necessary to ensure that they are met.