The base definition of sustainability that many of our clients start with as they begin to define their own strategy and action plan is: an increase in productivity and/or reduction of consumed resources without compromising product or service quality, competitiveness, or profitability while helping to save the environment.
No matter how a company defines sustainability or how they choose to implement the concepts there are commonalities to sustainability that run through all businesses and industries.
Sustainability creates a competitive business advantage while positively impacting the environment. It is a business strategy that aligns all the critical components of a successful organization.
People + Process + Environment = Profit
It has been proven that sustainable practices in business lead to higher profitability, growth and success.
When the critical components of an organization, like the people in the company, are not aligned, companies have a tendency to focus on solving problems, putting out fires and reacting to challenges as they present themselves - being reactive instead of proactive.
When processes are not aligned and there is no strategic focus, a departmental mentality starts to bubble to the surface. Variation starts to creep in and each department tends to focus on its own self-interest in lieu of process alignment. When organizations focus on environmental issues apart from their strategic direction, they are often focused on compliance and therefore environmental issues often become an unwanted expense instead of a profitable investment.
However, as the components start to align you can see how people/process creates innovation, starts to prevent problems and fosters interdepartmental teams who produce results quickly. As process/environment starts to intersect departmental alignment is created. More efficient relationships with the supply chain are created while creating an environment of systems thinking. As people/environment comes together it creates employee engagement, proactive decision making, and reinforces that sustainability is part of the organization’s culture.
Based on aligning the key parameters our clients have achieved sustainable business results that have included:
- A stronger brand
- Greater pricing power
- Greater operational efficiencies
- More efficient use of resources
- Supply chain optimization
- Enhanced ability to enter new markets
- Enhanced ability to attract, retain, and motivate employees
- Increased customer loyalty
- Reduced environmental impact
- Improved innovation
