Collaborations for Sustainability: Introduction
Play It Green’s values are openness, togetherness and being customer led. We also promote collaborations for sustainability in everything we do. With that in mind, this week we are focusing on exactly that.
Sustainability has now evolved from a ‘nice to have’ into a critical concern for businesses and consumers alike and collaborations for sustainability are now key. With devastating climate-related events like the Maui wildfires and floods in Libya, the need for sustainable practices is more evident than ever. In the UK, research shows that over 65% of consumers now consider sustainability when making purchasing decisions. Moreover, a staggering 75% of consumers are willing to change their shopping habits to support brands committed to sustainability.
It’s clear that sustainability isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s also a smart business move. To steer your business and the world towards a more sustainable future, collaborations are key. You can’t do everything on your own – it’s simply impossible. These partnerships will help you go beyond rhetoric, actively transforming your business and its operations to meet the needs of consumers, employees and our planet.
Collaborations for Sustainability: Supply Chain
The supply chain is a pivotal area for making a sustainable impact. A significant portion, approximately 90%, of a company’s greenhouse gas emissions originate from the supply chain. Here in the UK, recent studies have highlighted the need for businesses to address the environmental impact of their supply chains, prompting companies to take action.
There are two main ways to focus on supply chain impact reduction. These are working closely with current supply chain partners to implement sustainable solutions or transition to more eco-friendly suppliers. By addressing your supply chain, you are able to influence your suppliers and your competition will also take note. Collaboration in this area demonstrates a genuine commitment to sustainability across the board.
Companies that carry out a full footprint report and produce a reduction plan will see that their supply chain is a significant contributor to their impact. Not only that, but implementing changes offers quick and beneficial wins.
Collaborations for Sustainability: Energy Measurement and Reduction
When it comes to reducing your company’s carbon footprint, energy conservation goes far beyond swapping out lightbulbs. The UK, being at the forefront of sustainable energy initiatives, offers various innovative energy-saving options. These include solar panels, wind power, smart lighting, and connected thermostats. Embracing remote or hybrid work arrangements also leads to reducing energy consumption. Switching to EVs and making sure buildings are insulated and water efficient are also great actions to take.
Sustainable collaborations come into play here as by collaborating with organisations specialising in footprint reports and energy audits gives you get real science based data.
Once you have a report and a plan, you will understand your impact. Furthermore, armed with this knowledge, you can go about Implementing energy efficiency measures. These measures can lead to both significant cost savings and footprint reduction.
Collaborations for Sustainability: Education
Education is a linchpin in fostering sustainability within your business. Collaborating with educational institutions and sustainability-focused organisations enriches your employees’ understanding and commitment to sustainable practices. This, in turn, enhances job satisfaction, and loyalty and aids in recruitment efforts.
Workshops, training programmes, and resources offered through educational partnerships empower your workforce to seamlessly integrate sustainability into their daily operations. This investment cultivates an eco-conscious culture that permeates beyond the workplace, impacting personal lives and local communities.
Education needs to be light touch, but continuous to provide people with the tools they need to understand sustainability. This increases uptake and understanding. But not only just uptake and understanding; understanding leads to real change in behaviour and a shift in culture within your business.
Collaborations for Sustainability: Good Causes
Sustainable collaborations with good causes such as charities can yield a profound impact on both local communities and the environment. The UK has seen a surge in businesses engaging with charitable organisations, resulting in meaningful contributions. Providing employee days to support these organisations or donating old equipment and clothes can really help.
Companies can also look to rebalance their emissions once they have measured them. Doing so whilst on a committed journey of reduction is far better than not doing so. Companies that plant trees don’t just help absorb carbon, they create employment and repair biodiversity where the trees are planted.
These sorts of sustainable collaborations have been proven to make your employees happier and more engaged. They make your profit one to be proud of and they strengthen your brand and culture.
Play It Green
It is a fact that businesses need to change and it’s incredibly hard to implement this change alone. But through collaboration and community, we can all make the change we need to see in the world.
Together, through our three step solution to climate change, we can pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future.
By reducing footprints through education and signposting, repairing the planet through reforestation and regiving our revenue to good causes, Play It Green stands ready to support you in all five collaboration strategies for sustainability. From footprint reports to charity giving, from signposting to sustainability education we have you covered.
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Of the 14,700 Gen Z and Millennials surveyed 20% would not even consider working for a company with poor or no environmental and social credentials.
Deloitte 2023
66% of consumers would spend more for a product if it came from a sustainable brand, and 81% of global consumers feel strongly that companies should help improve the environment.
Forbes 2022
Having a transparent sustainability strategy can reduce costs substantially and can affect operating profits by as much as 60%.
McKinsey 2022
