Guest Blog Post By Joyce Wilson

As we all become more conscious of the environment, businesses of all sizes must come

together to implement practices that help make today friendlier for tomorrow. We do this through

what’s known as “sustainable” business practices. This simply means that everything we, as

business owners, do puts the environment first. Thankfully, it’s not as hard as you might think,

and you may even save money along your road to launching a green business.

Today’s tips are brought to you by Plan It Green Printing.

Why Sustainability Matters

Sustainable business practices have many benefits for our businesses. First, they can lead to

higher profits. Cool California explains that using LED lights, traveling less, and being more

water efficient can cut your utility bills down. Plus, improving your environmental stance can

help open up a broader demographic of customers since your current environmentally-friendly

customers will likely tell their friends about your earth-loving habits. But, how do you find out

who these customers are?

Using A Customer Data Platform

Finding environmentally-aware customers isn’t always easy. Of course, you can always add

your sustainability efforts to your marketing plan (more on that in a moment) but you can also

use available information on your current customers to see who may have the same values as

you. You do that by implementing a customer data platform. This is the type of program that

helps you dive deep into the minds and buying habits of your customers. You’ll be better able to

see what they want, what they don’t, and where they’re looking for it. Your CDP gives you

instant information, and there are many on the market. This is a good one to consider,

especially if you’re just getting started.

Marketing To Your Target

Whether you’re marketing to existing customers or are a startup looking to gain the affection of

new customers, it all begins with your message. If you’re not sure what that is, Wordstream

offers a list of the top environmentally-friendly businesses that you can follow to get an idea of

their marketing practices. A great place to start is by posting on your social media that you’ve

launched with environmentally-friendliness in mind. Next, confirm that your suppliers share the

same values.

How To Create A Sustainability Plan

Creating a sustainability plan will look different for you than it will for other businesses. But there

are five common steps that all small, medium, and large businesses can take. This includes

assessing your current sustainability practices, developing new ones, implementing them,

evaluating each new plan for effectiveness, and putting in a system of continual reassessments

and, if needed, modifications.

You’ve Got This

Whether you’re just getting started or have a solid foundation laid, going green is easier than

you might think. Being a socially-responsible employer means that you’ll draw in the highest

quality workers and customers that are willing to pay a premium to do their part in saving the

environment. Remember, your business moves now may inspire future generations to act

responsibly. In other words, don’t be afraid to get started. You’ve got this!

There were more than 5 million small business applications submitted in the United States in

2022. Many of these won’t make it past the first year, but those that do will likely all position

themselves for success by prioritizing not profits but the planet. After all, we only have one

Earth, and consumers are increasingly concerned about it. It’s time to turn your business green.

From reading the info in your customer data platform to creating a sustainability plan, today’s

suggestions can put you on the right track, and it’s up to you to follow your path toward eco-

friendly success.

Writer Joyce Wilson may have retired from teaching but that doesn’t mean she has lost her passion for education. On her site, Teacher Spark, she is working to build a resource of engaging lesson plans, activities, and other fun learning opportunities for her fellow educators and for parents.