Seven Key Principles to a Sustainable Home Business

You hear all the talk about it. You may even know what it means to recycle, reduce and reuse. But how much do you really know about what it means to ‘be green’? What does it really mean to live and operate an eco-friendly and sustainable home business? For starters, let’s talk about sustainability and what it means, then will take a close look a the seven key principles to operating a sustainable home business.

What is a Sustainable Home Business?

While nailing down one single accepted definition to the concept of sustainability may prove to be a challenge, perhaps the best definition when speaking in regards to business would be: development that utilizes tools, supplies and strategies that protect and enhance the earth’s natural resources and diverse eco-systems so as to meet the social and economic needs of the present, without compromising the ability to meet the needs of the future.

Simply stated, a sustainable business remains focused on the people, the planet, and the profits. A sustainable business takes into account its actions and looks for ways minimize its’ impact of the future. By remaining in tune with the environment, and looking to benefit the community, customers, and employees around the business, a sustainable business will in turn see more profits.

Seven Key Principles to Consider for Your Sustainable Business

Principle 1

Leadership: Our business complies with and strives to exceed compliance with all applicable regulations. We share our practices with others and support and challenge stakeholders, suppliers and customer who are committed to sustainability.

Principle 2

Education: Our business educates those in our ‘supply chain’, our stakeholders and youth about our sustainability practices and involves them in minimizing the life-cycle, social and environmental impacts of our products and services. We also challenge our employees to make decisions both at work and at home to promote sustainable practices.

Principle 3

Save Energy: Our business conserves energy, obtains some of its electricity from a renewable resource and/or uses energy efficiently in lighting, heating, cooling, travel, and equipment use.

Principle 4

Save Water: Our business avoids wasting water by using if efficiently, utilizing low-flow devices, and preserves water quality by reducing discharges to water sources.

Principle 5

Avoid Waste and Pollution: Our business develops and implements comprehensive practices that prevent pollution and waste of materials and natural resources.

Principle 6

Community Involvement: Our business is either locally owned or is substantially involved in our community, providing financial support and utilizing local materials and services.

Principle 7

Working Conditions: Our business exceeds requirements for livable wages and benefits, safe and healthy workplace, and other benefits such as health care — for our employees and throughout our ‘supply chain’.

Hopefully, this will serve to give you a better understanding of what it means to be sustainable. It seems apparent that anyone or any business can find themselves at varying degrees of sustainability. Perhaps you will use these 7 Principles to help your home business find ways to reach a higher level of sustainability.