Business Sustainability= Profits

According to leaders in the space, business sustainability is defined as continuous improvement process or a business mindset change that becomes an engrained part of an organization’s daily activities. This continuous forward motion presents a challenge to businesses and individuals seeking to define and measure their progress.

In our own professional consulting, we are constantly asked by our business partners: “Where are we in the process and how do we know if we are making progress?”

In general, business sustainability is especially hard for many companies to quantify and measure. This challenge is only intensified when seeking to justify time, money, and resources. In some instances, there can be defined indicators or milestones along the way. Our professional consulting experience has taught us that the successful implementation of business sustainability concepts requires a defined link to specific business metrics.

In a recent post, Exploring Sustainability in a New World, we discussed how business sustainability has moved from a feel-good concept to a real topic of discussion in board rooms around the world. It has expanded past traditional thinking: from a costly add-on to an integral part of business profitability.

Leading companies are now aware of the benefits, as well as, the cost savings associated with sustainable changes in their organization. They are able to manage both sides of the profitability equation, which gives them a distinct advantage over their competitors. Some leading company examples of sustainability links to business profitability include:

•    Environmental Impact: Managing and planning a company’s operations to reduce environmental impacts can be linked to resource consumption, emissions and waste streams. These managed processes can be linked to capital and operating cost reductions.

•    Social Responsibility: Managing the adverse affects on local communities can be linked to a company’s reputation and brand strength. This can be measured in specific market sales.

•    Safety and Health: Managing and monitoring an organizations business practices and procedure to ensure optimal work conditions can be linked to employee and contractor satisfaction and business reputation. This positive environment can be linked to increased throughput and sales.

As a sustainability consultant, we are constantly looking for business sustainability value links in our own business and those of our clients.   Our small business resources help clients identify cost and value opportunities specific to an individual business sustainability plan.