{"id":10068,"date":"2021-11-03T12:00:46","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T12:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=10068"},"modified":"2026-01-29T09:33:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T09:33:44","slug":"ways-more-sustainable-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/ways-more-sustainable-business\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to be a more sustainable business"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStrategy, Legal & Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t5 ways to be a more sustainable business\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Kate\t\t\t\tKate Dobinson<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Can you be a green business if you didn\u2019t quite set out to be?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe your unique selling point (USP) isn\u2019t recycling surplus coffee grounds into fuel. Perhaps you don\u2019t have a zero-emission tech product on the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you didn\u2019t purposely set up a small business to help save the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, no matter what you sell, you can always be more sustainable \u2013 and it will not only improve your social conscience but your cash flow too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The market is there for the taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what we cover in this article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reaching consumers who care about sustainability<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Plan sustainable sourcing<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Work towards environmental certifications \u2013 and become a \u2018Pending B Corp\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Make use of energy-saving technology<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Be smart with eco-friendly packaging<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Work towards zero waste<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bonus: 3 more tips to be a sustainable business<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs on business sustainability tips<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Download your free guide, 7 ways to take control of your business, and take steps now to master your business admin <\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Reaching consumers who care about sustainability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to consulting firm Deloitte,<\/a> 45% of consumers bought more locally produced goods in 2021, and nearly one in three claimed to have stopped buying certain brands because they had ethical or sustainability related concerns about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adding to the evidence that small, authentically sustainable startups could take a chunk of business from bigger, more opaquely run brands, IBM reports<\/a> that 57% of consumers are willing to change their purchasing habits to help reduce negative environmental impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agile, creative, local \u2013 small business owners are perfect for attracting this increasing market of green consumers who want transparency from their online shop or service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conscious consumers want to spend more and buy less from sellers who are showing how they are trying their best to be greener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It doesn\u2019t have to be perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By optimising what you have and making more responsible decisions (even at a micro level), you will not only help the planet, but your bottom line by appealing to a bigger customer base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a list of suggestions that are manageable for time poor, cash-conscious businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Plan sustainable sourcing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Customers want you to pay attention to your suppliers\u2019 values as well as your own. They want to know where their products come from, as well as how they\u2019re made and by whom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might be cheaper to buy and import plastic bottles for your perfume side hustle from a developing country where labour is cheap, for example, but could you upcycle glass bottles from a local brewery instead?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some types of small businesses will have a bigger supply chain than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A simple exercise is to look at your suppliers, whether in the single or double digits, and judge if each of their standards for sustainability match yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trace their practices and methods \u2013 how do they add to the planet, rather than take away from it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rank how socially, ethically, and environmentally conscious each cog in your supply chain is and think about what you are and aren\u2019t prepared to compromise on when it comes to their environmental impact and treatment of workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to be realistic and weigh up your ambition against affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some suppliers will quote more for \u2018clean\u2019 production in smaller quantities. You will decide which individuals or companies supply your business by weighing up the \u201910 C\u2019s\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about the changes you can afford to make in the short term, and what you will have to do to achieve your long-term sustainability goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 10 C\u2019s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Competency: <\/strong>Their track record of success.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Capacity: <\/strong>The size of orders they can handle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Commitment: <\/strong>Their commitment to you and to standards of quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Control: <\/strong>Their control over their own processes and supply chain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Cash: <\/strong>Their financial strength, including liquidity and positive cash flow.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Cost: <\/strong>Their prices compared to similar suppliers’ prices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Consistency: <\/strong>Their ability to produce the same products and quality repeatedly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Culture: <\/strong>Their core values.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Clean: <\/strong>Their care of people and the environment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Communication: <\/strong>Their quality and methods of communication.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    How sustainable sourcing helps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n