Today, if we hear terms like “sustainability” and “innovation” in every media, not all of us are aware of what sustainable development really means.
I decided to clarify these terms and explain significant reasons for companies to build sustainability into their DNA, so your company can make sustainable changes to have a positive impact !
Why is it time for your company to think about sustainability?
Regarding latest studies across all industries, 62% of executives consider a sustainability strategy necessary to be competitive today, and another 22% think it will be in the future. Why so? Simply put, sustainability is a business approach to creating long-term value by taking into consideration how a given organization operates in the ecological, social and economic environment.
As the expectations on corporate responsibility increase, and as transparency becomes more prevalent, companies are recognizing the need to act on sustainability. I should notice that professional communications and good intentions are no longer enough.
What changes can companies make to be more sustainable?
Making your company more environmentally-friendly is good for business, improves brand reputation, and brings teams closer together as they work toward a greater good. I have listed couple of steps to implement in your company to be more sustainable :
Reduce Paper Use
The most environmentally friendly paper you can buy is no paper at all. Offices itoday use 12.1 trillion sheets per year. Cost aside, that’s a lot of trees. Making the switch to online billing and paperwork is a win-win for everyone. Not only does it drastically cut down on paper waste, but it also vastly increases your physical storage space. Keeping and archiving invoices is no longer necessary. For example, Jenji Vault automatically transmits all receipts to your electronic vault.
Choose Train Journey Instead Of A Flight
As train travel is less carbon intensive than traveling by plane many organizations now implement a ban on all short-haul flights where an equivalent journey by train of less than six hours is available. Unless a business specific reason deems air travel essential, trains often provide a greater opportunity to work compared to the combined airport and flight experience which can equal or exceed the train journey.
Replace Old Appliances With Energy Efficient Ones
In accordance with cost-cutting and a growing concern about the environment, most new electronic items have energy star ratings on them to show their efficiency. The next time your appliances need replacing, do an energy check on your next items to see which ones are most beneficial in terms of low energy usage.
Educate Employees
Not all of your employees will be on board with your new sustainable practices. They may fear big changes. Take time to educate them on why you’re choosing to adopt a green business platform and what things they can do to help. Bring in guest speakers. Go on a field trip to a local park that needs cleaned up. Offer opportunities for workers to see the benefits of sustainable business.
Optimize Car Usage
If you have many employees making similar journeys for business purposes, for example, travel to training venues or to other company locations, then car sharing is an ideal option to promote. The practice of car sharing can be adopted by employees regardless of whether they are traveling in their own or a pool or hire car, but you must ensure the rules of gray fleet use as referred to earlier are adhered to.
Select Green Lodging For Business Travel
Did you know that hotels, on average, account for 45 kilograms of carbon emissions per room night? Metrics like this are vital for companies to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint! That’s why the hospitality industry has been a significant impetus in recent years toward incorporating green practices. Companies started to list only eco-friendly and sustainable hotels for business trips.
How can expense management tools help you with building sustainable business?
A digital expense management solution introduces employees to the company's travel and expense policy and integrates it with the requisitioning process. This enables employees to make fully informed decisions before making the travel they are about to claim. Thanks to policy reminders and warning flags, employees always make the right choice.
By collecting travel and expense data in one place, it is much easier to drill down into individual expense areas and habitual application behaviors. Travel and expense reporting not only provides a high level of visibility but also enables informed decision-making, helping businesses to identify areas for cost-cutting, sustainability savings and policy changes.
In addition, it is important to note that going digital alternatives and going paperless can have a truly positive impact on the environment, as well as helping companies streamline processes and improve employee productivity. Not only will it eliminate the need for organizations to print and store full boxes of paper, but it will also save money and encourage employees to be more considerate and recycle the paper receipts they use.
