Green Business
Green Business Green business is a term that some may class as “green wash” or “green bling” or is understood to mean that your office has recycling bins and LED lights. It can be so broad brush that it’s not surprising that it leaves many people confused as to how tackle the associated challenges and opportunities. However, green, or sustainable
business, is key to organisational reputation, customer engagement, longevity and profitability. Quite simply put, green business
is the future of good business - to be truly “green” is to accept that your impact on the environment is just as important as profit.
Shifting Focus Over the past couple of years there have been global, unilateral agreements such as those made at Paris in 2015, and the agreement of Governments to sign up to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to tackle the global challenges we are faced with. This has forced business to
accept environmental and sustainability focussed business plans which focus on not just being environmentally friendly, but having a wider societal impact.
Climate based targets and the
SDGs have, and are, forcing business to review how they operate, be more transparent, and disclose an increasing amount of information around green, sustainable and ethical business practices. As a result, the investment community are taking notice, and those businesses that implement green strategies, are demonstrating increased investment and profit.
So What? Customers are more tuned into green and ethical processes and products, demanding transparency from business. Price is no longer the only consideration in purchasing decisions, often the green/ethical credentials are considered. Take the popularity of TOMS, a $400m business, and their “One for One” campaign, providing shoes, sight, water, safe birth and bullying prevention services to those in need for every purchase made. Businesses must understand the
green business issues that need to be tackled, and accept that there are societal impacts as well as environmental impacts of not doing so, which will hit bottom lines - acting in a sustainable manner embeds trust, and generates proven returns for business Whilst there is significant risk in
not tackling these issues, there is great opportunity in taking action. Over the past year this has been demonstrated by the likes of Tesla, Unilever and M&S, who have made profit out of greening their business processes and products. Take Cadbury, a long-standing
Birmingham based business, through their parent company, have improved access to healthier lifestyle opportunities to children in south Birmingham, through the promotion of healthier lifestyles (Health for Life). However, it accepts that it has a global impact, ensuring that its cacao growers receive the right kind of investment in order to tackle poverty and education, as well as environmental challenges in the areas where this
is grown (Mondelez International). The challenges faced by
business are changing, the biggest risks to business over the past few years have been related to climate change and resource scarcity, and therefore the solutions to tackle these problems will need to be innovative and forward thinking, and ultimately different to what has been done before. All good businesses would do
well to understand how they impact upon the environment and society, and take action to green their operations. Going beyond business as usual
is good business, and good business, is green business.
February 2018 CHAMBERLINK 55
Feature
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The Company have been established for 11 years and offer a range of professional training courses, general and fire risk assessments and has fully identified itself for health and safety requirements to other organisations.
We will offer its clients both achievable and practical Health and Safety information, solutions to managers and employees and provide the necessary training and consultation to ensure that you are complying with the current Regulations.
MJH Health and Safety Consultants Limited 51 Winsford Crescent • Hillcroft Park • Stafford • ST17 0PJ
Tel: 01785 663082 • Mobile: 07779 753236 Email:
m.j.haywood@btinternet.com Website:
www.mjh-safety.co.uk
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