Sustainability: business, life, environment

Have you noticed that many of the most sustainability-focused companies in the world do not necessarily offer ‘green’  products or services?  Yet these organizations are still realizing tremendous value in applied sustainability concepts or overarching business sustainability programs.  ‘Green’ is not the sustainable mindset of these businesses.

In our daily interactions with businesses, it is very common for corporate leaders to comment regarding how ‘green’ they believe a company to be or inquire about how they compare to others.  The typical response we provide in this on-going conversation rarely focuses on end-products.   Taiga Company  makes a clear distinction between a ‘green’ product or service offering and a sustainable company.

For many, the definition of ‘greenness’ is largely dependent on an outward projection of the business rather than its internal workings.  While offering ‘green’ products and services is one path, we tend to include the entirety of business in the conversation by asking:

•    Who are your business sustainability stakeholders and are you engaging in your business sustainability direction?

•    What sustainable action are you taking to ensure your long-term future: process changes, measurements, innovative thinking?

•    How are you partnering in business to create shared value to drive deeper, faster, more impactful solutions?

Offering a green product or service provides a variety of advantages that doesn't necessarily create a sustainable or green company.  Today’s sustainability leaders are taking business sustainability to the next level.  These progressive thinking organizations are moving beyond the ‘green’ to define the business changes that will ensure their future.

While the goal is to create a step change in sustainable performance, our small business resources work directly with clients to create a business case for sustainability.  Our sustainability consulting works with clients who view sustainable action to be the defining characteristic of a ‘green’ company.