Focus on People, the Planet, and Profits for a Sustainability Business Plan that Works
Saturday, April 22 is Earth Day which is often associated with activism to stop climate change. I challenge you to spend April refreshing your corporate climate by revising your business plan into a sustainability plan.
What does it mean to have a business sustainability plan?
Concepting a business sustainability plan involves assessing your business and brand for opportunities to impact meaningful environment or societal issues and implementing action steps. Profitability remains in the forefront. This is sometimes referred to as the Triple Ps: people, planet, and profit.
“As owner of a commercial printing business I am keenly aware of paper consumption. We source recycled paper whenever possible as one step of our overall sustainability plan.” - Cathy Lindemann
Putting the Triple Ps into practice for your business
Focus on improving the lives of more people
Your brand already impacts your customers. A sustainability plan asks you to consider how your brand could positively impact people (likely non-customers) who are affected by societal issues such as food equity, homelessness or access to medications. Consider global opportunities as well as local ones.
Focus on saving natural resources
Whether you have an office building, manufacturing plant, or fulfillment center your business consumes environmental resources. Assess ways to reduce your carbon footprint by decreasing waste. You may also consider ways to counterbalance your use of environmental resources by investing to increase future natural resources.
Focus on communicating your commitment
Businesses that have invested in building sustainable practices often realize a positive financial impact. You may find that your sustainability approach is an attractive competitive advantage. Connect with partners that compliment or support your sustainability practices. Leverage public media and social media to inform your customers and increase their interaction and support of your brand.
My challenge to you is to incorporate the Triple Ps into your business plan but my advice is to start with small steps. Adapt paperless processes. Plant trees in a local park. Install water bottle refill stations. Offer employees paid time off to work with charities. Each step is a positive step toward a future where sustainability practices become the norm.
Book a one-hour business coaching session with Cathy here.
Cathy Lindemann is President of Evolution Creative Solutions and on the Steering Committee for WBENC Ohio River Valley, Founding Member & Business Coach in Residence of WISe Wellness Guild. Cathy specializes in helping small businesses become "unstuck" for immediate growth and supporting strategic growth through WISe partnerships. Connect with Cathy on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/cathylindemann.