Going green is trendy, but many question its benefits and wonder if the initial investment associated with going green is worth it. However, more and more organizations, large and small, are taking this path less travelled and finding the journey not only enjoyable, but profitable as well. The businesses featured below took various paths in their journey to common destination of green and saw significant improvement in their carbon footprint and profits. Read on and let us know if you think your business can achieve the same results by going green.
Marks and Spencer
Mike Barry, the head of Sustainable Business at Marks and Spencer, has gone to great lengths to explain how going green saved their business. In 2007 the company recognised the necessity of becoming sustainable and decided to budget over £200 million for a project to assist the company increase sustainability which they dubbed Plan A. M&S observed that within three years the measures they implemented produced a profit, and five years after inception the sustainable resources they used brought in a net of £105 million. Mr. Barry asserts that the environmentally responsible measures will only continue to provide increased profit. The key concept that Mr. Barry uses is energy responsibility. Energy conservation saves money, and M&S have saved energy and money specifically by reducing packaging and using less raw materials. By investing in environmentally friendly business practices, M&S has also created new streams of revenue which boost profits and help assure business sustainability long term.
Élan Hair Design
This family owned salon, located in Aberdeenshire won the 2013 Green Economy Award for Overall Environmental Performance as a result of their £250,000 investment in adopting environmentally friendly measures. Their complete overhaul included several projects including the composting of hair, recycling of aluminum foil and hair coloring tubes and the purchase of carbon-neutral furniture for the salon. In order to keep the project sustainable, Élan only purchases products that are made from recyclable materials, and is very proactive in recycling everything the salon uses. One of the most radical changes was the flooring installed in Élan: made from 40% recycled materials, the floor is self cleaning and resistant to bacteria. These measures have paid back hugely with profitability up by 14% in 2012, and increased recognition which has lead to an increase in the clientele.
Nestlé UK & Ireland
Nestlé UK & Ireland has determined that sustainability is indeed an important factor in business, and has adopted several environmentally friendly measures at their “Lighthouse Factory” in Fawdon, near Newcastle. The overarching commitment that Nestlé UK & Ireland has made is to reduce negative environmental impact and preserve natural resources through responsible business practices. This project has committed to reducing water use by 50%, gas emissions by 20% and incorporating 10% of renewable energy by 2015. While the specific profits associated with this venture are still unknown, the Nestlé UK & Ireland company has seen a lot of positive response by the business world and by consumers in response to their adoption of sustainable business, and the company is certain that these measures will soon be spreading to their other factories.
While an initial investment is required to go green, there are several successful business models that have shown the profitability of sustainable business. There are many ways to go green in your business (it could be that you decide to bring in a waste management and treatment specialist like Lagan Water, install a solar array on your roofing, or even start taking carbon trading seriously), and a little research can help you determine which models can be implemented into your business to increase profits and minimise environmental impact. If you are looking for someone who can write your case studies, visit this site to get business case study help from expert writers.
