Primer on Sustainability in Small Businesses

There are a number of things that small businesses can do to be more environmentally sustainable.  This both lowers costs and enhances the reputation of your enterprise. A growing number of companies are reducing the environmental impact of their businesses, so engaging sustainability is also about remaining competitive. Increasing consumer interest in sustainability makes it ever more important for small businesses to be able to meet burgeoning demand now and in the future.

Why Small Businesses are Engaging Sustainability

The size of the market opportunities is driving small businesses to engage environmental sustainability, as are concerns about survival and long term success. In addition to improving profits, reducing costs and mitigating against risk, engaging sustainability affords opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

While big corporate sustainability initiatives steal headlines, the small business community is also going green. For example, operational efficiency practices are increasingly commonplace even in small companies.

The rationale for engaging sustainability is largely about meeting and anticipating consumer demand. This translates to more customers, increased sales, higher revenues and even price premiums. Sustainability contributes to the crafting of a unique selling proposition, it helps to differentiate a company from the competition, and it offers a competitive advantage. Sustainability provides a host of reputational benefits. The latter contributes to word of mouth marketing, greater trust, improved loyalty, and enhanced employee recruitment and retention.

Why Small Businesses are Well Suited to Sustainability

Small businesses and sustainability are a perfect match. Yet their are a number of reasons why they are not adopting sustainability at the same rate as their corporate counterparts. Just like their larger corporate cousins, small businesses should adopt sustainability policies. There are good reasons why it is easier to engage sustainability in a small business as compared to a large corporation.

While they may not have the deep pockets of big corporations, a small business is more nimble and able to change directions more quickly than large enterprises.

Why Small Businesses are Not Engaging Sustainability

Many small businesses fail to realize the value of sustainability and as a consequence they are not adopting sustainability as quickly as large corporations. Despite the convincing business case for sustainability, small businesses have yet to engage in large numbers. Small business owners commonly perceive sustainability to be overly complex and too costly. The result is that small businesses are often absent from discussions about sustainability.

The inaction of the small business community does not appear to be due to disinterest in environmental responsibility. According to a Lloyds’ survey, 61 percent of small and medium business leaders practice sustainability at home, while only 43 percent incorporate eco-friendly practices at the office.

Olympic Sized Greenwashing at the 2014 Sochi Olympics

The XXII Olympic Winter Games offically open today in Sochi, Russia, however rather than being the greenest games ever, they will likely be remembered as being rife with greenwash.

In 2007, the Olympic Committee selected the Russian Federation to host the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, a resort on the Black Sea.

These games will host 88 countries and have an estimated carbon footprint of around 400,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. By comparison the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games’ generated 311,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Climate Change in Africa by Jim Heck

Climate change in Africa is Jim Heck's #5 story for 2013. Jim began his career with the United Nations, working in several capacities for UNESCO, the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In 1976 he and his wife formed Morgan Tours, Inc., which in 1979 became Explorers World Travel (EWT). For the last 15 years, Jim has specialized in East Africa and probably knows more about the Serengeti and other wilderness touring in the area than any man alive. But his career in Africa spans a much wider area:

The Winner of the Solar Decathlon 2013

In October, eighteen collegiate teams from around the world went to Irvine, CA to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013. Collegiate teams composed of architecture, engineering, business and communications students designed, built and operated solar-powered houses that are cost effective, energy efficient and attractive.

In addition to home design, almost half of the competition teams showcased an electric vehicle next to their house.

Introduced in 2011, the competition requires that all houses be constructed for $250,000 or less to earn maximum points.

Video - Winner Crosses Finish Line at the 2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Watch the final moments of the grueling Bridgestone World Solar Challenge as the winning team for 2013 crosses the finish line in northern Adelaide, Australia. This 3000 kms event highlights some of the best solar powered car technology in the world.

Related Post
2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia

2013 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia

The biennial Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is a platform to showcase the world’s most efficient electric cars. In addition to presenting leading solar technology the event also inspires young people to address the imperatives of sustainable transport.

Solar car teams from 23 countries are competing in one of the world's most prestigious and grueling sun powered car races. By the end of the race cars will have traveled a total 3000 kms through the Australian Outback. However, the event is about far more than a long distance car race. The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge showcases innovation, adventure and achievement and brings cutting edge renewable energy technology to the forefront in an effort to find a sustainable future for the planet.

Climate Change Exacerbates Social Tensions and Causes Conflict

A wide array of research reveals that climate change plays a salient role in social change, violence and war. This research summary is one of the most comprehensive surveys of the social impacts of climate change ever assembled.

Climate change and conflict

The relationship between climate change, social tensions and conflict is well laid out by Kate Johnson. She provides a good overview of many of the ways in which climate impacts human behavior. She explains how climate change has the potential to increase conflict in environmentally and politically vulnerable states.

Climate Change and Conflict: Excerpts from a 2013 US Intelligence Report

A March 2013, Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community, prepared for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, indicates that a changing climate and competition for natural resources can fuel tensions and conflicts. Here are select quotes from the report that highlight this relationship.

"Competition and scarcity involving natural resources—food, water, minerals, and energy—are growing security threats."

"Extreme weather events (floods, droughts, heat waves) will increasingly disrupt food and energy markets, exacerbating state weakness, forcing human migrations, and triggering riots, civil disobedience, and vandalism."

"Natural food-supply disruptions, due to floods, droughts, heat waves, and diseases, as well as policy choices, probably will stress the global food system in the immediate term"

Best Practices in Sustainability: Employee Engagement and Reporting

It is widely understood that adopting best practices in sustainability can offer a significant competitive advantage. There is ample incentive to get on board. In 2012, sales of sustainable goods and services reached $1 trillion globally and in 2013, it may double to reach $2 trillion. As early as 2017, the sustainable economy could be worth $10 trillion in annual global revenue.

Almost three out of four Americans now believe that climate change is real and they want companies to do something about it. The implementation of best practice campaigns can help companies to respond to consumer demand and capitalize on the rapidly growing sustainability market.

Enter the 2013 Annual Ethical Corporation Awards

The entry deadline for the Fourth Annual Ethical Corporation Awards is on March 21st. These awards are global and open to all types of organisations. They recognize CSR best practice and celebrate responsible business excellence in the world of corporate sustainability.

British PM Says Investment in the Green Economy is a Competitive Necessity

On February 4, 2013, British Prime Minister David Cameron made a speech in which he spoke to the competitive necessity of his government's investments in the green economy. Speaking at the official launch of the Department of Energy and Climate Change's (DECC) new Energy Efficiency Mission, Cameron boldly addressed his critics by saying

"So to those who say we just can't afford to prioritize green energy right now, my view is we can't afford not to. Far from being a drag on growth, making our energy sources more sustainable, our energy consumption more efficient and our economy more resilient to energy price shocks – those things are a vital part of the growth and wealth that we need."

The Future of Integrated Sustainability Reporting

Corporate transparency is moving towards an integrated report in which financial and non-financial performance are tied together and articulated in a single document. Although as yet there is no formal standard as to what constitutes an integrated report, it is becoming clear that the sustainability reporting benefits a company. Research shows that financial markets reward those companies that engage in sustainable behavior and comprehensive disclosure.

Corporate Sustainability Reporting: To Disclose or Not to Disclose

Although there is more public pressure to disclose information, that does not mean everyone wants to comply. While many companies have committed to greater transparency, others believe greater transparency provides too much information to detractors and competitors.

As explained in a triple Pundit article by Robert Ludke, the Managing Director of Public Strategies, sustainability reporting is the better option.

While there are undeniably risks associated with disclosure, by presenting reports, a company or organization is able to set the terms of the discussion about how these materials are provided to the public.

2013 ENERGY STAR Awards Applications Are Now Being Accepted

Each year, the ENERGY STAR program honors organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. All organizations participating in the ENERGY STAR program are encouraged to apply for a 2013 ENERGY STAR Award. To be considered, an organization must meet the specific eligibility requirements in the award application and submit a complete online application package by 8 pm EST, November 28, 2012.

Submitting Your Application:

Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics 2012

Each year Greenpeace publishes its guide to greener electronics just before the Thanksgiving holidays and the shopping event of the year known as Black Friday. This year is the 18th edition of Greenpeace’s Guide to Greener Electronics, it profiles a number of new developments.

The Guide evaluates leading consumer electronics companies based on their commitment and progress in three environmental criteria: Energy and Climate, Greener Products, and Sustainable Operations. Click here to download the Ranking Criteria Explained (pdf).

The Electric Tesla S is Motor Trend's Car of the Year

Motor Trend has announced that the made in California, Tesla Model S luxury cruiser is their pick for the 2013 car of the year. This is the first time an electric vehicle has won the distinction. This selection is momentous not just for Tesla but for the future of electric cars. For the first time ever, two electric cars were in the running, in addition to the Tesla S, the Chinese built, California assembled CODA was also amongst the finalists.

In describing the finalists for the 2013 Car of the Year, Motor Trend stated that this is the most competitive field of vehicles they have ever assessed. One of the criteria used to assess the winner is efficiency which, according to Motor Trend is up across the board for 2013.

The State of Government Sustainability Efforts

We have seen some progress on government sustainability and government's environmental collaboration. One survey of senior policymakers and managers, indicated that more than half said their jurisdictions have appointed someone to lead sustainability efforts.

Despite progress, most government leaders have been woefully inadequate in their efforts to manage climate change. This is particularly true of conservatives. World leaders will only respond when there is sufficient popular support and right now they are lacking in political will and leadership.