One thing that is redefining business-consumer relationships is sustainability. Modern consumers expect businesses, no matter the industry, take part in working on their social responsibility. For regular consumers, this often means embracing green and sustainable business practices.
Pieces of evidence of the environment slowly but surely dying gave us more than enough reasons to choose a more sustainable life. As more consumers become more conscious of the growing environmental problems, businesses answered the demand of consumers. This made businesses be more mindful of everything they do.
Modern brands came up with different ways to embrace sustainable practices. Some were ready for the big changes and made thousands of dollars’ worth of investment just to make their brand more sustainable. Others with a limited budget still managed to be creative when addressing sustainability concerns within their business.
Waste Recycling Taken to the Next Level
More people feel obliged to follow waste segregation practices when they are provided with everything they need which makes segregation a breeze. Before, companies would simply place different waste bins where people can throw their waste on the right containers. They then hire a waste disposal company to do the recycling process for them.
Larger corporations are embracing the latest innovation to make the best use out of their plastic waste. Ayala Land Inc.’s (ALIs) waste management objectives and targets include targeting old Materials and Recovery Facilities (MRFs). They plan on diverting these MRFs into an Eco Hub Facility.
The Eco Hub is a zero-waste eco-industrial park. Companies plan to use solid waste in eco-bricking facilities. In short, they aim to use clean and dry plastics which are leftover from construction projects and turned these into useful and environment-friendly bricks. This goes to show that big corporations are willing to invest money, time, and other resources towards research and development just to take their waste recycling to the best level.
Companies do this to reduce the environmental impact of their waste. Instead of letting all waste ruin resources, they intend to turn waste into brand new products that are functional, safe, and eco-friendly. Such companies aim to drastically change the way they handle their waste.
Adapting Greener Practices in Everyday Operations
Some businesses already took the step to embrace alternative energy sources to power their offices, warehouses, and manufacturing plants. They do this knowing they can save more money by harnessing other abundant energy resources instead of the grid. While they still have access to regular electricity, they managed to slash their costs and boost their energy savings after making the investment.
Others turned to recycled plastics in creating products. Take IKEA for instance, which started selling products collected by fishermen in the Mediterranean Sea in 2020. They managed to turn ocean-bound plastics into brand-new products that consumers have come to love.
Some brands turned to a paperless system after realizing just how much paper waste they create and dispose of each year. Now, staff and employees would utilize digital documents and other alternatives to communicate and collaborate. This goes to show that one can turn everyday practices greener with a bit of investment and adjustment.
Yes to Energy-efficient Upgrades
For most businesses, the first thing they will do is invest in energy-efficient upgrades to reduce their energy costs. Think of new appliances, systems, and machinery that use much less energy compared to older models. Making the upgrade makes everyone’s work easier and faster while boosting their safety and productivity.
Business owners would improve their commercial buildings by investing in an energy audit first. They want to check the areas where they waste the most energy before many any investment. This proves to be a great move since they get to target their energy problem areas with corresponding solutions, thus greatly improving the energy efficiency of their commercial buildings.
Many also stopped using ultra-cheap but energy-draining incandescent lights. They have now changed their lighting into LEDs and CFLs. Others invested in solar-power lighting solutions to get the most out of the sun’s energy.
Other brands turned to solar panel installation for their main offices. They made sure they get to enjoy the solar tax credit offered by the government. Others turned to green financing to fund their energy-efficient investments.
Sustainable Marketing and Advertisement
Consumer’s increasing online use made businesses invest in online marketing and advertisements. They still have their own offline marketing tactics. But they make sure that they are not making as much waste as they did before. They are now more creative in terms of the materials they use, often picking recycled materials for their marketing paraphernalia instead of single-use plastics.
Brands are no utilizing the power of the internet to widen their reach and target their customers. They engage with customers online, entice them to try out their offers, and make them hooked on their brand. They use different platforms to show off their sustainable efforts while warning consumers about companies that use greenwashing as a marketing scheme.
Indeed, the world is changing for the better. More brands are welcoming sustainability and are running their business with sustainability in mind. This continues to change the consumer’s expectations and spending habits while making a better impact on the environment.
