The environmental benefits of sustainability are widely accepted. Lower Greenhouse gases, water and energy conservation, recycling and diverting waste from landfills, and especially here in San Antonio, heat mitigation, are all part of the overall goal of protecting resources for future generations. However, the economic impact of sustainability best practices should not be overlooked by the local business community.
Sustainability in the workplace can be directly tied to tangible, measurable benefits toward a successful and profitable business model. It is well documented that consumers care about the environmental stewardship policies of the businesses they choose to frequent. Corporate social responsibility can become a significant component of a strategic business plan for any size of company across any industry sector.
For most businesses, getting started is the tricky part of implementing or improving sustainability best practices. It is true that you don’t know what you don’t know. The City of San Antonio’s sustainability program, ReWorksSA is a consultancy model designed specifically to help local businesses implement or improve sustainability best practices in the workplace. The team can work with any type or size of business to evaluate its current situation and look for opportunities that oftentimes business leaders have overlooked. Engagement with ReWorksSA is at no cost. The program design includes addressing the areas of recycling and composting, water and energy conservation, transportation efficiencies, and environmental policies. As the ReWorksSA team helps a company build out its sustainability program, that business can ultimately be certified as a San Antonio sustainability champion at the levels of bronze, silver, gold, or the highest accolade, the Pinnacle Award.
The positive effects of this competitive advantage are twofold. When consumers have a choice of either supporting one establishment that prioritizes San Antonio’s future or another one offering the same products and services but does not have sustainability at the forefront, increasingly, they select the green choice. Maintaining existing customers’ loyalty and confidence provides a solid reason to be certified by the ReWorksSA program. Employee satisfaction can also be tied in part to the culture of the workplace. Individuals in the competitive talent market, especially younger professionals, are making career choices based on culture and core values. Sustainability best practices can attract and retain the better candidates.
There are clear financial benefits to implementing sustainability best practices. Lowering overhead costs through reducing energy and water consumption, reducing overall consumption of resources, reusing and repurposing existing assets, implementing travel policies and a general focus on the circular economy are all areas where a relationship with ReWorksSA can pay dividends. There are even resources available at no cost such as recycling container assistance and a growing directory of solution providers that provide both products and services in this space.
How would consumers, employees, and even vendors know about a company’s focus on this topic? A significant part of ReWorksSA’s value proposition is recognition. The City publishes a directory of businesses that have been certified by the program for their commitment to sustainability. ReWorksSA is the path to get on the map. Some of the ReWorksSA marketing and advertising campaigns are B2C in messaging to drive consumers to the directory of certified businesses. Marcus Lee, Marketing Manager for the Solid Waste Department states, “For businesses on this map, it becomes another proof point for establishing a favorable reputation. Hotels and restaurants display stars, some businesses want to earn a J.D. Powers or Consumer Choice Award and even the small businesses strive to achieve favorable online reviews and ratings. Along with these other accolades, a ReWorksSA certification is confirmation to the community that a local business has made San Antonio’s sustainable future a priority.”
ReWorksSA is a collaborative effort between the City’s Solid Waste Management and Office of Sustainability Departments. It is a key climate initiative of the City’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). All details of the program including the certification process can be found at www.reworkssa.org.
Local businesses are encouraged to visit www.reworkssa.org. This is where the process can begin and business decision-makers can learn everything about the program, available resources and the path to certification.
Consumer Engagement References
1. Bar Am, J., Doshi, V., Malik, A., Noble, S., & Frey, S. (2023). Consumers care about sustainability—and back it up with their wallets. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/consumers-care-about-sustainability-and-back-it-up-with-their-wallets
2. Reichheld, A., Peto, J., & Ritthaler, C. (2023, September 18). Research: Consumers’ sustainability demands are rising. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/09/research-consumers-sustainability-demands-are-rising
3. Adobe. (n.d.). Why you need sustainability in business practices. Adobe Acrobat Hub. https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/hub/why-sustainability-in-business-important.html
Environmental Policy References
1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The Sustainable Marketplace provides recommendations and education on the standards and labeling for green purchasing.
2. Texas commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ): Provides tools for citizens and businesses to find and purchase products with recycled content.
3. Recycled Products Purchasing Cooperative: Provides high-quality recycled office copy paper at competitive prices through public and private cooperative purchasing.
4. The Green Electronics Council – EPEAT: Resources for identifying environmentally preferable electronics.
Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/
