As a small business, we make decisions that only impact us internally. However, we also make decisions that have wider external implications. Therefore, it is vital that we operate sustainably in terms of our environmental impact on the planet, and our economic (financial) and social (community) impact.
Environmental sustainability might include policies to reduce carbon footprint or wasteful practices.
“We ensure that soil excavated from digging foundations or oversites (if unable to be reused elsewhere on site) is kept separate and free from other materials, so that it can be disposed of by the appropriate facility, graded and then repurposed.”
Social sustainability might include practices that benefit employees, consumers and the wider community.
“We support the Museum of British Surfing in Braunton and help with maintaining their building and grounds. We replaced four rotten planters with lovely new tongue and grooved ones, and repaired the roof by replacing tiles blown off during strong winds.”
Economic sustainability might include maintaining honest and transparent accounting practices and regulatory compliance.
“We follow directives set out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which include managing health and safety through good policy and procedures and having Public Liability Insurance; and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015).”
Though businesses must be profitable to be sustainable, profit alone (or at any cost) does not equal economic sustainability. Sustainability provides our businesses with a larger purpose and helps renew our commitments to basic goals like efficiency, sustainable growth and stakeholder value.
Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with our business initiatives.
