A sustainable business is a successful business

Sustainability and climate change are two of today's hottest topics.

- Dana Eitzen

From Adidas selling 11 million pairs of shoes made from ocean plastic, to vegan meat sales increasing by 451% in the last four years, there is little doubt that a change in mindset is taking hold across the globe. But while the key drivers for sustainable products and lifestyles are often ethical or moral, there are also practical business reasons for adopting sustainable ways of working.

Thinking big, starting small

Any change to how a business runs will invariably come at a cost. Sustainable practice is an investment like any other. But the cost doesn’t have to be insurmountable. For example, reducing waste is likely the simplest and most obvious method to begin engaging in sustainable practices – and it’s practically free. Since the 1990s, offices have been making inroads in this area. From collecting empty cans for recycling and changing out incandescent lights for LED bulbs to reducing the amount of waste paper created, businesses have been reworking or developing new processes that use fewer raw materials and waste less in the production of goods.

Some brands have taken this approach to impressive levels, like Deloitte’s Amsterdam building, The Edge. It is one of the most sustainably built office spaces in the world and it’s connected lighting system is so low energy that the LED lights can have their power needs met through ethernet cables. Sensors measure room occupancy at all times, turning off lights automatically when a room is empty. The building also has smaller windows on south facing walls which keeps the interior temperature cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, reducing the need for heating and air conditioning.