7 Ways Sustainability Can Boost Your Bottom Line

Jul 23

7 min read

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Environmental Sustainability for Your Sustainable Business

A small plant sprouts from a rolled-up money, symbolizing growth and prosperity for your sustainable business.

There’s a widespread belief that environmental sustainability isn’t…well…sustainable. When you’re living in a world of project margins and revenue, it’s hard to imagine something like water safety as a talking point during a budget meeting.

However, environmental practices and sustainable business practices go hand-in-hand. If you are an emerging business owner looking to build a long-lasting company, environmental thinking becomes a necessity.

Sounds a little too good to be true? That’s what I thought, at first.

But I found that if you’re looking to boost your bottom line, there are many ways that going green can improve profit margins. Here are seven to start with.

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1. Environmental Investing

A vintage typewriter holds a sheet of paper boldly displaying the word "INVESTMENTS," symbolizing the importance of environmental investing.

Investors only care about how much money they’re making in return, right? You’d be surprised.

85% of investors consider Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in their investments. When 91% of banks invest, they do so after monitoring the ESG performance of their client.

It’s not just the pressure to conform to social standards that inspires this consideration. Businesses that focus on environmental sustainability are more likely to have long-term success.

If there’s one thing that speaks to investors, it’s a successful business with the opportunity to do a good thing at the same time.

Finding a savvy investor for your business might be your next big move.

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2. Why Sustainability is Good for Your Business

A forest-themed wallet brimming with and surrounded by US dollar bills.

It’s not just investors who care about what goes into products.

It’s also consumers.

Millennials and Gen Z have consistently displayed a protective love of the environment and are willing to back this up with cash. Over 73% say they are willing to spend more money on sustainably made products. Roughly 60% of United Kingdom consumers are willing to buy less single-use plastic in an effort to support the environment.

Sustainability is a priority not only for investors, but also for consumers, and both are willing to put their money where their mouth is.

Looking to stay relevant and increase profits?

Considering the environmental footprint of each product is a necessity for your business. Not only is it the right thing to do—it can also lower costs, streamline operations, improve your bottom line and attract new customers.

Keeping tabs on your sustainability wins will pay off in the long run.

3. Sustainability is Cost Effective

A vibrant green plant emerges from a mound of gleaming gold coins, symbolizing how sustainability can be cost effective.

If you want to cut costs to increase your bottom line (instead of raising profits), sustainability is the right path for you. For example: installing efficient appliances and reusing water where possible is a quick way to lower spending.

The best part? It’s not just water.

If your company is already going green on water, it can focus on energy and recycling as well. To find out more, check out 10 Easy Steps to Make Your Office Eco-Friendly. Here’s a sneak peek: install automatic lighting sensors to minimize how often energy is being burned, switch to renewable energy, and keep one eye on that thermostat.

All those little steps you take to lower bills around your house? Run your office in a similar way and you’ll find the company’s bottom line rising as your blood pressure is going down.

Lastly, make it a team effort. Instead of just setting up new office regulations and leaving it at that, add motivation. Set goals and keep the staff informed about how much progress is being made with their help.

Reward those who comply with standards and especially those who go above and beyond. Those rewards will look different depending on the person, the company, and the reason.

Ask for suggestions and be flexible; what works for your company won’t work for another's. Don’t be afraid to reevaluate and pivot as needed.

Sustainability may feel like a lot of work, but it can be an enjoyable experience especially if everyone is on the same page.

The most important part is making it fun for everyone involved. Want more fun? Subscribe to my email list for exciting news and innovative ideas for your sustainable business.

4. Sustainable Models and Products

A vibrant green plant stretches upwards against a softly shaded ombre green background.

Focusing on sustainability can offer new and improved business models. It can also open new doors to fresh products.

Whether you draw inspiration from marketplace business models or circular ones, there are many different sustainable models that are already being implemented successfully. These models not only benefit society, but also your company’s bottom line because they minimize waste (and even turn a profit on what was once a problem).

If your business needs examples to pull from, there are more than enough to go around. WasteX, Terracycle, and Sierra Nevada are good examples to start with. For instance: Terracycle collects items that are “unrecyclable” and uses them to create new products.

When creating a product, what is the number one skill you look for?

Is it flexibility?

Design?

No, it’s innovation.

It’s a mindset that creates something new like no one has ever seen before.

And what better fuel for innovation than limitations?

Problem-solving requires problems to solve. Companies have found that the additional time that goes into making environmentally sustainable products improves the overall quality.

The higher the quality, the happier the customer.

But it doesn’t stop with your customers. Let’s explore how going green at work can keep employees happy and make your company more attractive to future hires.

5. Attracting and Retaining Talent With an Eco-Friendly Edge

A hand gently supports a jar filled with gold coins, from which a vibrant green plant emerges.

Sustainability is not only a bonus for consumers; it’s also a bonus for new talent. When hiring, any company is searching for the best and the brightest.

However, hiring is a two-way street, and job hunters also have standards in mind when searching for a company that fits their needs. Roughly 70% of potential and hired employees stated, companies that prioritized sustainability were more appealing both in hiring and longevity.

Sustainability counts to the newcomers, and to the steady workers who have been there for years. It’s a key factor contributing to employee retention and hiring new people.

Sustainability has its benefits in the present and in the future…

6. Sustainability Regulations

A slender plant stretches upward from a frosted glass jar, with rocks nestled at the base, creating a simple yet elegant display.

Did you know, environmental regulations have been enforced by the government since 1970 in the United States?

AND they’ve only grown stricter.

Staying ahead of the curve is especially important in the modern era. There’s a push towards net-zero emissions by 2050.

Sustainability is a key tool in making that happen. Implementing eco-friendly practices earlier (rather than later) not only avoids costly fines, but also gives your company time to adjust at its own pace. By choosing sustainability, your company’s proceedings will continue uninterrupted. The change can be gradual — and fun – if done right.

Staying on the sustainable course is a great way to remain relevant and an exciting avenue for opportunities down the road.

7. Opportunities for Collaborations and Partnerships

A glass jar overflows with 100-dollar bills, spilling wealth and abundance onto a pristine white surface.

Environmental sustainability can open doors to collaboration with like-minded companies. 96% of the world’s top 250 companies are now working towards sustainability. When you lead with a strong commitment to sustainability, you open the door to partnerships with all kinds of companies—big and small. Working together makes it easier to reach sustainability goals that are tough to tackle on your own.

This field may seem very narrow, but it is not just other businesses that you can reach out to. Environmental lawyers, professors teaching environmental studies, and sustainability activists can all become collaborative partners when paired with a company that shines in the green department.

This kind of collaboration also creates a strong customer who is loyal to your business. When customers know their values align with the companies they purchase from, they’re willing to return to spend more money. They stay loyal customers because they see their own values reflected in the mission.

Sustainability provides advantages across all fields for everyone involved, both on the development side and the consumer side. The good news just keeps coming.

The Benefits of Sustainability for Your Bottom Line

A jar filled with vintage coins, artistically wrapped with green and black wire, sits on a rustic wooden surface.

Sustainability is a cycle of benefits. It’s good for the planet and it’s good for your company's bottom line.

We’ve covered tons of benefits in this article:

Bringing in new investors
Increasing customer outreach
Adding collaborative partners
Increasing profit margins
Lowering waste
Attracting potential employees

There are no downsides to being a sustainable business.

It keeps your company relevant.

It takes you one step ahead of governmental regulations.

And it makes your products more valuable to consumers who are willing to spend more money.

If you're looking to raise your bottom line, adopting a sustainable business model is a choice you won't regret.

Staying on top of the latest sustainability trends, research, and best practices can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. The bridge to success is built by many hands; you don’t have to figure it out all by yourself.

That’s where I come in.

Curious about making sustainability work for your business? Subscribe to my email list for expert insights, useful content, industry trends, valuable resources and plenty of support along the way!