Sustainability is really about transformation - a transformation process by discovering hidden treasures in daily habits that unite conscious habits and routines with eco awareness and eco actions to take. Most of us are inspired by eco actions and the idea of "doing the right thing." However, we also recognize that change can be unsettling. It can be scary, and too often it is just easier to slip back into a traditional and comfortable way of doing things. Part of staying on the green path is reconnecting with our personal drivers for seeking a sustainable lifestyle. There are many benefits to living a sustainable lifestyle; however, implementing effective sustainable change does not have to be a laboring process.
Create a plan - Personal sustainability programs are about making and sustaining a change in your life that you can be inspired and passionate about. Although a sustainability plan originates as a comprehensive one, your actions are the expression of that plan in daily life. Eco actions can be anything from riding a bike to work or using eco-friendly office supplies to eating organic healthy meals or recycling. It can also be about achieving a personal goal, sustaining it, and building from that platform. Ultimately, it's about making choices that feel good to you and generate an expectation of more and better to come in your life and the environment.
The basic premise of a personal sustainability program is reducing your carbon footprint; lighten the load on the planet as well as be good to yourself, others, and your community.
Do the green thing via subcategory or importance. Categorizing gives awareness to the habit change as it relates to the sustainability concept. For instance, energy consumption and turning off a light as you leave a room, or replacing bulbs, or using an energy strip. Another perspective is to prioritize the habit as it relates to environmental impact. If your carbon footprint is large due to travel, then exploring ways to reduce your travel. Suggestions made in our eco friendly consulting include: telework, virtual conferences, and green travel options.
Schedule time. If the habit requires a new way of doing things, then schedule time to learn the new habit, integrate it into your routine, and make adjustments as you learn. Bike commuting would be an excellent example of embracing a new habit, reducing your carbon footprint, yet, requiring time to learn and develop a new routine.
Reward and Review. The process of linking sustainable living with new opportunities for development creates a personal incentive that further promotes the process. Sustainable actions are reinforced daily by positive feedback from realizing your personal goals.
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” – Unknown If you never start, you will never get anywhere. In fact, did you know that approximately 80 percent of pollination by insects is carried out by bees? Maybe that's why the call them busy bees. Perhaps, but curiously, what would our world look like today if those living a sustainable lifestyle were as busy as bees in sprinkling or "pollinating" our daily lives with eco action? Unlock your green potential for our greater good.
Business sustainability supporters and critics continue to debate the ability to link environmental and social responsibility to business profitability. Without a definitive financial
The requirements to build and maintain a sustainable business today are quite different than they were just ten years ago. The
In a January
The next time you have a moment, try a simple exercise: write down the five biggest risks facing your company, the five biggest opportunities on the immediate horizon, and the five most important pieces of information you are lacking that could have a huge impact to future success. You may be surprised to see business sustainability concepts are all over the page. The ability to connect the dots on the paper requires the right business intelligence resources to capture and leverage the information.
Global trends and resulting business sustainability action
When it comes to daily
“RILA's
Where does eco inspiration come from? Everywhere! In a recent Agrion webinar,
What is a leader? What are the
In order to meet the growing demands of business sustainability and maintain a competitive advantage over the competition, businesses are encouraged to take a hard look at their internal resources and talent management processes. Thus, our professional consulting often asks executives: Is ‘sustainable’ talent management a top priority? How are you incentivizing this more engaged and diverse culture?
A recent Wall Street Journal article,
How does the old adage go? Two aspirin a day keeps the doctor away? Well, we subscribe to the idea that blogging 2 posts a day, inspires eco action each day. Truth be told, as sustainability consultants, we like to lead by example.
There is a sustainable business mindset that is gaining tremendous momentum, yet many companies are still just coming to grips with it: Today’s consumers are becoming more socio/eco aware and companies with a traditional business approach are sure to witness a diminishing return in simple product marketing.
Evidence now indicates the gap between global awareness and business action may in fact be the single largest opportunity for global sustainability progress. Specific to business sustainability monitoring and reporting, the debate continues on whether a company should focus on transparency and continuous individual improvement or corporate performance measures relative to a broader all-encompassing target. Rather than separating traditional performance from sustainability, would a business be better served in aligning business sustainability with global standards or individual financial reporting?
In a recent Supply Management post,
“The wave of creative destruction looming over companies like Eastman Kodak Co., Blockbuster Inc., Barnes & Noble Inc. and the record labels has been focusing the minds of American executives on two questions: Are large companies able to innovate quickly enough in an age of rapid disruption? And if they can, how do they do it?”
“Whether it is a temporary phenomenon or a permanent structural shift, the market’s increased volatility and uncertainty makes planning and budgeting hard for finance staff. How can Finance plan effectively without an idea of what the future looks like?”

