How Can Your Business Prioritise Sustainability in 2021?

2020 was a year like no other for many around the world, especially for business owners. We had to adapt, react and adjust.

2021 comes with new promise - not necessarily because too much has changed just yet - but because we are more aware of what we can expect. The virus isn't going to go away overnight, but at least we know roughly what we are in for.

2021 is also an exciting year for sustainability. January 1, 2021 marked the official third-way point of the timeframe for the 2030 Agenda, which lays out the United Nations' 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development and their associated 169 targets.

If you have been toying with the idea of sustainability in your business for a while now, 2021 is a great year to start. It's a year in which we will see a huge revolution in the way we do business after we were forced to adopt alternative operational tactics last year. 2021 is also part of the United Nations' Decade of Action to achieve the Global Goals.

There has been no better time to commit to more sustainable business practices, so here is a list of ideas for your 2021 business resolutions to get you started!

1. Create a sustainability commitment or revisit your existing one

A sustainability commitment is the first thing any business needs in the journey towards sustainability. This document allows your business to succinctly communicate to all stakeholders exactly how your business is planning to tackle aspects of economic, social and environmental sustainability. At Strategic Sustainability Consultants, we recommend aligning your sustainability commitment to the Global Goals in order to streamline the communication around your actions.

A lot has changed over the course of the last 12 months, so even if you currently have a sustainability commitment, it's probably best to revisit it and update it.

2. Overhaul your current social media strategy

Many businesses we see have fantastic sustainability programs and practices embedded within their business but don't always communicate these publicly to potential and existing customers. Your social media is a fantastic way to do this. It also allows people who are not already engaged in your product to find you through associated hashtags such as #climateaction or #genderequality. Your social media should reflect your brand, and if your brand is working positively towards economic, social and environmental sustainability, people should be able to see that!

3. Get politically involved

This doesn't mean publicly supporting a political party (unless you want to through your business), but it does mean connecting with your local representatives and see what they're doing to support businesses like yours. This is also a great opportunity to express any concerns you might have as a business owner. Politicians love hearing from businesses in their electorate.

If you feel you need expert advice in this, consider hiring a government relations specialist. Strategic Sustainability Consultants is proud to be registered in Australia as a third-party lobbyist.

4. Work with your team

You will probably find many people within your organisation are on board with one or more of the goals too! Have a chat to your team and find out what they would like to see your organisation do further to support the goals. Chances are there will be some great ideas about grassroots participation in local projects!

5. Join the Global Goals Australia 2021 Action Challenge

As proud partners of the Global Goals Australia Campaign, we encourage all businesses to sign up to the challenge and participate! It's a great way to start thinking more sustainably in the new year. Many of the actions are more applicable to a personal and household level, but as an organisation, you can encourage your staff to join and participate together!

With two weeks of 2021 already under our belt, it's time to get started on this sustainability resolution list. Contact us today to see how we might be able to support you and your team in your 2021 resolutions.

This article was originally published on the Strategic Sustainability Consultants website.