The importance of businesses becoming more sustainable has been emphasized for a long time, and yet every year, we hear about the negative impacts our actions are having on the environment and the ecosystem. A recent report by the Central Pollution Control Board highlighted that India generates 3.3 million metric tons of plastic per year. Figures like these are alarming, and it is up to us to work towards sustainability.
As a business, there are multiple avenues open for leaders to explore in order to become greener and more sustainable. It includes improving stakeholder well-being, including the well-being of its customers, its employees, society as a whole, and the company’s impact on the environment, the company said.
Here are the top 5 things that brands can do to ensure their contribution in restoring the ecosystem –
Recycle and Reduce
While this may look like the simplest of things, recycling and reducing is one of the best practices that businesses can and should adopt to reduce their carbon footprint. For this, we need to take steps at every step of your business. This simple step can help garner significant results, for example, as part of its contribution to the circular economy, OPPO recycled 13 times more product by weight in 2020 compared with 2019. At the same time, the company also achieved a 42.7% reduction in general waste and a 20% reduction in indirect greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.
Greener Product Lifecycle
In order to become more sustainable, business leaders need to start from the basics – like product development. We need to explore ways to ensure that the entire product lifecycle is becoming increasingly sustainable. This includes exploring ways to make your packaging greener like OPPO reduced the weight of the Reno 4 packaging by 24% when compared to Reno 2. Recycle more products and hence reduce e-waste like OPPO recycled 13 times more products by weight in 2020 as compared to a year before.
Sustainable by Design
While we aim for sustainable product development, we also need to ensure that the product designs are sustainable. Businesses should try to incorporate the use of more renewable or biodegradable materials in their products. Like the use of renewable fibers in smartphones.
Partner to Preserve
This battle of saving the environment cannot be won alone. We should encourage and explore partnerships that enhance sustainability and help restore the ecosystem. Like OPPO partnered with Reef Restoration Foundation to build an AR app that helps raise awareness of world heritage-listed Coral reefs. OPPO pledged a 1$ donation to RRF for each app download. Not only this, but one should also work with the supply chain and distribution partners to explore more sustainable methods and make the entire process greener.
Encouraging Employees
A business can become truly sustainable only when each of its employees adopts eco-friendly practices. At a professional and personal level, businesses should encourage employees to save resources like electricity, water and also reduce the waste we produce at a larger level.
Making a significant and lasting impact on sustainability requires long-term thinking and commitment. Brands must continue to further their sustainability initiatives while collaborating with industry partners to create a better future for everyone.
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