Ten things a business in Byron Shire can do for sustainability
The Byron Sustainable Ventures Network is a network of local business-owners which was started about a year ago by Mitra Ardron of Natural Innovation. The people that make up the network believe that business has a duty to care for the environment and the communities we are part of. The network has been gathering monthly to support each other in balancing the challenges of keeping our businesses environmentally, socially and economically healthy.
Here are some suggestions and examples of ways to make your business more sustainable.
1. Consider your raw materials. Could you use recycled or reclaimed materials? Slingfings uses reclaimed and recycled fabrics. ReGenesis collects and transmutes green waste into live soil or ‘humus’ for replenishment of the land.
2. Are your supplies made, or grown, in any way that minimises impact? Natures Child is making its new lines out of organic cotton. Your Gourmet uses only organic meats, and locally grown organic vegetables wherever possible. Bio-degradable plates, cups, food storage containers and straws are available through ReGenesis.
3. How are your products produced? Do you use local labour where possible? Are producers paid a fair wage? Do they work in safe and healthy conditions? Santos buys locally produced organic food wherever possible and is committed to fair trade buying.
4. What about your energy use? Do you take steps to minimise power usage and travel? Have you switched from coal to clean energy? Slingfings, Natures Child, Sustainable Futures Australia purchase clean energy, such as wind and solar energy, through the grid from Climate Friendly. Slingfings also have solar cells installed. Regenesis uses Green Power.
5. Are you reducing your waste? Do you recycle? Could someone else use your waste products? Used cooking oil is a valuable asset to Re Genesis as it is used to power their green waste garbage truck. Santos uses natural and low-impact packaging.
6. If your business doesn't produce anything physical, then what about your clients? Are you indirectly hurting or helping sustainability? Natural Innovation helps raise money and develop businesses for clients that are involved with sustainability – for example making products out of natural fibers. AUM is a local PR, Marketing & Creative company who only work with clients, products or ventures that are serious about the quadruple bottom line. Sustainable Futures Australia provides tools and processes to help local government integrate sustainability into all their decision-making and operations.
7. Do you give back to the community? This could be staff time, or money, or your products. Sustainable Futures Australia provides annual sustainability prizes to local high school and university students and has established a non-profit arm of their business focused on educational projects.
8. Do you take the opportunity to educate your customers, suppliers and community about the need to be more sustainable? Permaforest Trust teamed up with KR-PR to put on a public information event about Peak Oil. Natural Innovation co-organised the recent Downshifting Downunder conference in Sydney.
9. And finally, how do you personally, as a business owner spend and invest your money? Do you buy local, invest ethically, and give some of your income to local needs?
10. Do your homework. Try to understand the full range of environmental, economic, political and social issues that affect your consumer and your products and services now and over the long term. It’s not so hard really. The information, services and products are there if you look for them. If you can think beyond the traditional business model, where profit is the only motivator, and stay true to your vision, then everything else finds a way. Continuously strive for 'zero environmental impact’ or ‘zero footprint’. Businesses have a responsibility to take care.
Greening your business requires a commitment, but the rewards - for your business, your customers and yourself - are absolutely worth it.
If sustainability matters to you, and to your business, then maybe you'd like to participate in our network. None of us are perfect, but we all strive to minimise our impacts. You can contact one of the businesses mentioned above, or in the ads around this page, to be more involved.
Posted by mitra at August 11, 2005 11:05 AM
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