Sustainability, in the world of business, is about more than your impact on the environment. It’s also about your ability to cope when times are tough. So-called ‘resource resilience’ describes your ability to manage the things that enable your business to run, and to cope with short-term disasters.
But how can we set up a business so that it’s sustainable by default? There are a few approaches worth looking at.
Transition to a “Circular” Product Model
The use of Digital Product Passports makes it possible to track the lifecycle of a product, and to understand when it’s being used, and when it’s been disposed of.
This, along with shifts in regulation, might incentivise businesses to design products so that they can be easily repaired, improved, and reused. A ‘product-as-a-service’ model might see items rented to customers, so that they can be kept for longer. A business set up in this way might make money through maintenance and refurbishment, rather than through the production of the products themselves.
Partner with a Sustainable Courier
It doesn’t matter how sustainable your operations are, if you aren’t going to be working alongside a partner with the same ethos and attitude. This applies especially in the world of logistics and transport, and in particular the ‘last mile’ of the road, where the carbon footprint is greatest.
With consumers increasingly favouring companies they perceive to be low-carbon, and regulars targeting those that fail to be, it’s worth shifting to electric vehicles, using the latest AI-powered route optimisation software, and relying on parcel collection points to lower your environmental impact. A good same-day delivery courier will often be able to offer convenience as well as efficiency.
Implement “Right-Sized” Smart Packaging
When your packaging is oversized, you’re effectively shipping thin air. This reduces the amount of space available in the delivery vehicle, and makes the product more carbon-intensive to ship.
You might not only reduce the size of your packaging, but also use smart QR codes to make delivery mistakes less likely. The packaging itself might also be made from more sustainable materials, like seaweed and mycelium.
Data-First Energy Efficiency
Through the right data, businesses might vastly reduce their energy consumption. When you understand where the inefficiencies and weak spots lie, you can effectively prioritise when you come to make cuts. IoT-based sensors that monitor your office space, for example, might allow you to use lighting and heating only when it’s necessary to do so. An automated dashboard might allow you to not only monitor your energy usage, but to report it to your would-be partners.
Decarbonise Your Supply Chain
If your suppliers are not sufficiently green, then you might find that you’re punished by both consumers and regulators. “Greenwashing” laws are becoming more common, and the best approach is often to get ahead of them. Conduct an audit of your suppliers, and work with those who have B Corp status or ISO 14001 certification.
It’s often cost-effective to work with your suppliers, and to see where the opportunities for improvement lie. This will help to make your supply chain more robust, and eliminate the disruption and uncertainty that comes with frequent switching.
