Why Early-Movers Are at an Advantage

The traditional view of business sustainability has been that companies must absorb additional cost for primarily social benefits. Companies have historically not been receptive to the idea that there is financial value in integrating sustainability concepts into core business practices.

According to a recent report by the Harvard Business Review, ‘Why Sustainability Is Now a Key Driver of Innovation’ , many companies have traditionally separated sustainability from business objectives. In the report, top executives cited the following reasoning for the lack of integration of business sustainability strategies with core functions:

•    Becoming eco-friendly will erode business competitiveness, as developing countries do not face the same expectations.
•    Business sustainability adds costs, as organizations have to implement new manufacturing processes and technologies.
•    The financial benefits are not always available, as consumers are not always willing to pay a premium for ‘green’ products.

While there has been some historical truth to these beliefs, the changing landscape of business is making sustainability a critical component to future business success. As stated in the report, “The key to progress, particularly in times of economic crisis, is innovation. By treating sustainability as a goal today, early movers will develop competencies that rivals will be hard-pressed to match.”

Our sustainability consulting experience with leading organizations has shown there to be an exponentially increasing number of benefits to sustainability, and we are currently working with clients who have built their companies around this value.

At Taiga Company, our small business resources work directly with clients to take proactive steps and create a business case for sustainability for their organization. Our professional consulting guides companies to define and realize the financial benefits of business sustainability.