6 Things Customers Look for in a Sustainable Business

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Starting a sustainable business is a great way to turn your principles into profit. Indeed, if you care about the environment and you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, this might seem like the perfect path forward. Deciding to adopt sustainable business practices sets a high bar, though, and you must be prepared to meet customers’ expectations. Spice Catalyst invites you to consider these six things that customers will likely be looking for in a sustainable business.

1. A Clear Commitment

Consumers are tired of reading vague, meaningless commitments to sustainability. They want clear and specific details about exactly what makes a business sustainable and how it is held accountable for these standards. If your business is in food service, for example, don’t offer a commitment to “reducing waste” — instead, commit to eliminating single-use plastic or sourcing foods exclusively from local sellers. These are specific and actionable business practices.

2. Minimized Paper Waste

Paper waste is yet another concern for the modern consumer. Implementing sustainable business practices will demand that you take steps to reduce paper usage in your company. One of the easiest ways to do this is to invest in an online invoicing system. Rather than send out paper invoices, you can submit them electronically using a customizable template. Add your logo, personalized text, and other unique details to create a professional-looking document.

3. Meaningful Marketing

Marketing is often a tricky endeavor for sustainable businesses. Of course, you want to advertise the good your business is doing by maintaining sustainable business practices. You also want to choose a marketing method that doesn’t invalidate these benefits. 4LegalLeads.com notes that there are many sustainable marketing ideas you can implement, including avoiding paper advertisements.

4. A Sense of Urgency

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, climate change may have an irrevocable impact within the next 20 years. This illustrates the urgency that should drive any sustainability efforts. Perhaps you’ve been too focused on planning your business to actually start it, though — and if so, it’s time to dive in. You can save money on attorney’s fees by starting your LLC with a formation service. An LLC will shield you from personal liability and give you more flexibility in your business. Be sure to compare ratings and reviews of popular formation services prior to proceeding, then base your choice on factors including affordability and level of service that’s offered.

5. Affordable Prices

Customers want to patronize eco-friendly businesses, but at the end of the day, they still have a budget. They will be looking for a balance between sustainability and affordability. This can be tough if you’re already worried about maintaining profitability, and eco-friendly products for your business may also be more costly upfront. Sustainability is an investment, though, and offering affordable services should be a core business practice.

6. Benefit to the Community

Sustainability is all about benefiting the earth and the ecosystem, but it’s also about making an impact in your local community. Little actions like sourcing from local sellers can help you accomplish both goals. To take your sustainable business practices a step further, you can commit to additional action within your community, such as funneling a portion of your business’s profits into local environmental efforts.

Meet Your Customers’ Needs With Sustainability

Sustainability is a powerful tool for affecting change. Without the right business practices, though, it will be hard to maintain consistency in your sustainability efforts. Meet customers’ needs by implementing electronic invoice processing and supporting sustainability in your community.