3 Eco-friendly Business Initiatives to Look Out For

by Rita Jamie

Over the years, many people have become more eco-conscious of the products they consume. A sustainability report from the World Economic Forum found that there was a 71% increase in online searches for sustainable goods globally in the last five years. This is due to consumers now believing that brands should be sustainable. As a result, businesses that practice sustainability attract more customers.

Additionally, people prefer working for companies that align with their personal, eco-friendly values. Maryville University notes that sustainability practices reduce employee turnover by 25% to 30%. A company that is concerned about the well-being of the environment also suggests that it keeps its employees' welfare in mind. Therefore, talented people are more likely to stay.

However, due to the many benefits of corporate sustainability, businesses may fall into the habit of "greenwashing." Greenwashing is when a company pretends to be environmentally conscious for public appearance. For example, Volkswagen once tried to cheat emission tests so they could claim their cars were eco-friendly.

For any business owner, this is one bad practice you'd never want to fall into. But that's why we are here — to inform you of genuine eco-friendly practices you should be looking towards for inspiration.

Encouraging product repair

Clothing businesses tend to use a lot of fabrics to make the apparel that they sell. As such, they produce a lot of waste post-production. However, Patagonia remains eco-friendly despite it being a clothing retailer. One of their initiatives towards achieving sustainability is encouraging their customers (and people in general) to repair their clothing instead of buying new items. They hold workshops to teach people how to fix their clothes. Patagonia even does this for all clothes and not just those specific to their brand. In accordance with this method, they encourage everyone to learn techniques to make their clothes last longer.

Using natural materials

Businesses that are centered on producing cosmetics are bound to mix a lot of ingredients and chemicals to make their products. Burt’s Bees use natural ingredients that are renewable, like botanical oils, herbs, and beeswax to create their goods. This is vital to the cosmetic industry as they make use of a multitude of ingredients that are applied directly to people’s bodies. As a cosmetic brand, they need to keep producing, as they are “consumable,” meaning their customers eventually run out and would need to repurchase them.

On the other hand, mask brand Hoa Tien Brocade uses cotton and silk produced by artisans aligned with traditional production methods, following an eco-friendly process. Meanwhile, the filaments and yarn also used in their masks are naturally dyed with flowers, tea leaves, and bark trees. By using natural materials, both businesses lessen the number of harmful chemicals and products that go into landfills.

Reducing and redirecting waste

The food industry produces a lot of daily waste because of the unsold and uneaten goods that are left. Too Good To Go combats this environmental problem by letting people buy excess food from restaurants and stores at a discounted price at the end of the day. The brand does this for multiple restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets, and hotels, which shows its dedication to helping the environment. They try to accommodate as many establishments as possible, allowing them to redirect what would’ve been a waste to people who would have a use for them instead.

Consumers are conscious of the businesses they support nowadays. Establishing eco-friendly initiatives will not only benefit the environment but also businesses because it helps them attract and keep customers whose values are in line with theirs.