Business Sustainability

People + Process + Environment = Profit

There are many ways to define sustainability. Here is how the Institute for Sustainability defines it, ‘an increase in productivity and/or reduction of consumed resources without compromising product or service quality, competitiveness, or profitability while helping to save the environment’.

In our efforts to help small businesses prosper, I’ve become a member of the Sustainability Institute. It’s been shown that introducing environment considerations does not inhibit either profitability or engagement (employees or clients). It enhances it. It also creates cost efficiencies and competitive advantage. As explained on the Institute’s website:

In a recent study, 60% of the executives interviewed represented small to mid-sized organizations, and 72% of the executives surveyed indicated reducing costs through efficiencies was the number one business benefit of implementing a strategy of sustainability.

Over 90% of the businesses in the United States represent small to mid-sized organizations and many are searching for guidance on how to create their own corporate social responsibility program (CSR) while at the same time building a successful business. Sustainability is the next quality movement and it is here to stay. W. Edwards Deming was famous for saying, “Quality is for everyone.” Sustainability, for even more profound reasons, is also everyone’s responsibility.

There are many other benefits and examples that can explored at the website of The Institute for Sustainability. As one of the Institute’s member consultants, I’d be happy to explore the sustainability of your business as an environmentally friendly and increasingly profitable business.