Should Small Businesses Care About Sustainability?
January 5, 2011 | Posted in: green business, sustainability | 0 Comments
A valid question in today’s time-strapped-cash-strapped business climate. It’s all too easy to write off new initiatives—such as sustainability—during an economic recession; and when most employees are already asked to do more than humanly possible in a 40 hour week. But sustainability should not be overlooked, even by small businesses. The pressures on disclosing environmental performance by customers, governments and even employees will continue to escalate. Large businesses are already feeling the heat, which has been trickling down the supply chain. Just look at Wal-Mart and its demands on vendors (many of them small businesses).
Beyond the reasons small businesses will have to address sustainability, there are many reasons why they should do so voluntarily. And ahead of the curve (if it’s not too late already). Sustainability commitments can yield more, and new, business. Sustainability can save on your bottom-line. And add to your top-line through innovation – an area where small businesses often excel. And sustainability, believe it or not, attracts and retains talented employees. Something all businesses are looking for these days.
So the short answer – absolutely. Read on: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/small-business/sustainability/index.html