As entrepreneurs and self-employed people, we have to take responsibility for our little part of the world. There are so many different aspects of running a business that we’ve got to get our heads around. Apart from the pandemic, sustainability is the biggest topic on everybody’s lips. But it’s not enough to start recycling or use LED lights. What does it really take for self-employed entrepreneurs to implement sustainability into their company?

 

Be Aware of Business Initiatives That Incorporate Sustainability

 

Regulation is one of those areas that can make us hot around the collar. We can certainly worry about what is coming around the corner to make life more difficult, but the other side of the coin is understanding that there are methods of support available to help companies incorporate more sustainable methods. For example, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures was established to support markets adapt to the impacts and losses caused by climate change. You can see the TCFD guide and recommendations here. But rather than shying away from rules and regulations, it’s important to comply with them because even if you try to sidestep them, they will come back to you eventually.

 

Set Yourself Goals

 

Targets are so important. We are starting to see more companies setting targets for their carbon emissions, and you can do the same. One of the biggest oversights many self-employed people have is in thinking their impact is too little to count. But we’ve all got to get into the mindset of looking after our own patch. When we start to set ourselves goals, whether it’s in regards to our electricity usage, working smarter to minimize energy consumption, or even in the food that we have at lunchtime, it will all add up in the end. Setting yourself goals in this manner will ensure that you can start to look after your patch appropriately.

 

You’ve Got to Find the Right Customer

 

Something that we can have an internal battle within us is about finding the right customers that align with our beliefs. While we want to make a sale, we’ve got to remember that if we are to become more sustainable in our practices, we’ve got to find the right people who will believe in our causes. In one respect, if you find the right customer, you will have someone who aligns with your mindset anyway. If you can focus on having the majority of your customers or clients more environmentally focused, you can consider this a win.

 

Live a Sustainable Life

 

The difficulty in running a sustainable business is if we do not practice what we preach. If you worked hard to make your home sustainable, this should come easy, but it’s vital for anybody who is not currently doing all they can to take that next step. Part of the problem many entrepreneurs have is the disparity between giving out orders, but actually having a sense of accountability. If we want to be sustainable in our business dealings, we’ve got to live a sustainable life. But rather than it becoming a hassle, it should give us more inspiration to create a more sustainable company.