If you’ve been paying attention to the world of media and business over the past decade, then you might have noticed the rise of a whole range of environment-related terms.
Among the most common of these is ‘sustainability’. Every business, government institution, and consumer, now strives to be more sustainable – or to be perceived as such.
A given practice or product can be said to be ‘sustainable’ if it can be produced indefinitely, without cost to the environment. A sustainable treated timber business, for example, might seek to plant a tree for every one that it chops down (and, for good measure, a few more to offset any transport-related emissions).
What are Sustainable Materials?
Sustainable materials are those which have been extracted and developed in a sustainable way. The materials need to be ethically sourced, easily renewable, and made with minimal energy. As we’re mentioned, timber might quality, here. However, it’s more difficult to achieve sustainability with certain sorts of prestigious, energy-intensive woods. The production of spruce and pine, which grow very quickly, will tend to be more easily sustained than mahogany. As ever, look for the logo of the Forest Stewardship Council.
Why should you avoid non-sustainable materials?
Broadly speaking, the human race will need to fall into alignment with the natural world. If the latter collapses, then the former will run into difficulty, too. If every business in the world persisted with burning fossil fuels at the same rate, then the rise in global temperatures would likely lead to ecological catastrophe – or, that’s the view of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, set up by the United Nations.
What are the benefits?
Even if we leave climate change to one side, there are plenty of ethical arguments in favour of running a sustainable business. Sustainability means less waste, less habitat destruction, and happier customers. If you’re running a business that doesn’t take sustainability seriously, then you risk bad press, which will lead to customers making the switch to rivals. As people become more informed about the environment, and legal and regulatory standards begin to tighten, then unsustainable businesses might find themselves left behind – as such, it’s better to get ahead of the curve early on.
Using sustainable materials as a marketing resource
If you’re able to demonstrate to your customers that your business is sustainable, then you might be able to make it a core pillar of your brand’s offering. It’ll give you a unique selling point, and an advantage over your rivals – particularly in markets where customers are more atuned to environmental concerns.
Cost efficiency
Sustainability isn’t just about sourcing materials in the right way – it’s also about minimising waste. This might mean throwing away fewer scraps, or it might mean economising on power consumption. This has the added side-benefit of saving you money, too.
