In an increasingly environmentally-conscious world, the importance of including sustainable practices and products within your business should not be underestimated. Forward thinking individuals and companies have recognised the current sustainable shift we are living throughout and realise the significance of it in future proofing businesses – to allow business to thrive years from now, sustainable practices must be integrated into business models.
We all know by now that it is important to be sustainable and reduce our individual footprints on the planet, but do you know how to effectively communicate sustainability to your stakeholders? Here, we discuss how best to do this, to show your authenticity and genuineness.
1. Be Transparent
Being transparent is the number one rule in business communication. It’s important to show to your customers, employees and other stakeholders that you are genuine about any claims you make and that you are trying to make changes.
In the current wave of environmentalism, transparency is even more significant, with more consumers communicating with brands who are transparent and authentic. Greenwashing – claiming to be more eco-friendly than you really are – has been an issue in the media in recent years. This again reinforces how being transparent, even if you are not as green as you would like to be yet, can help in communicating sustainability. Making smaller changes and communicating these transparently and effectively can boost trust and engagement with a brand, especilly from a generation who are focused on environmental change.
2. Be Positive
Whilst it is important to communicate the stark truths of climate change and sustainability, inspiring change is more easily done through positivity. Research involving 2000 participants revealed that 60% admitted to being eco-shamed for their choices, ultimately making them reluctant to change. Businesses attempting to drive sustainable changes can use this opportunity to encourage and motivate employees and other individuals rather than dictate and shame.
Much like the modern management style debate, each person and organisation reacts differently to stimuli and leadership. Whilst some may find the difficult truth more of a motivating factor, many will find positive encouragement to make small changes more easily receptible.
Positive motivation throughout organisations includes individuals as well as the company itself, encouraging greener practices both inside and outside of work, perhaps through work from home, using public transport and renewable energies.
3. Form Strategic Alliances and Partnerships
It comes as no surprise that business partnerships and relations are incredibly important in the success of a business. Think of it in the same way – partnering with environmentally friendly and sustainable organisations is arguably imperative in the success of sustainable business campaigns and strategies.
Forming strategic alliances helps to reinforce your own brand agenda by funnelling through the practices of your partnered company. As well as this, partnerships can help facilitate reciprocated learning, which can be communicated to show sustainable efforts. Learning is always good, eh?! Innovation, and more importantly sustainability can be helped through alliances too, with access to better knowledge, networks and capabilities.
Eon Visual Media is partnered with Oh Yes! Net Zero, an organisation aimed at reducing the carbon footprint in the Humber region. This partnership is greatly successful for both businesses in showing sustainable efforts and utilising the facilities of the other to promote the environmental message!
4. Strong Brand Agenda
A subeading of strategic alliances if you may. Communicating your brand agenda is paramount in building trust through transparency, by reinforcing the mission of your business. Modern companies with a reputation for environmental stewardship have more of an opportunity to build a stronger brand with a modern cosumer base.
The use of social media and marketing can be very effective in conveying brand agenda, ensuring each page is showing the heart of the business, and what’s really on its mind, and on the mind of its consumers.
5. Be Innovative
Recently, the world has undergone a digital revolution. We are now primarily using digital forms of media and communication both personally and in business. Our mobile phones and devices are innovative technologies that have transformed the nature of life.
Now, we are faced with another huge wave of innovation in the shape of an environmental shift. Engaging in innovation is key to surviving and futureproofing your business against sustainability and climate change.
Here at Eon Visual Media, we have engaged in several innovative methods and technologies to help with our sustainability effort, including using auto-lights, solar panels and LED lighting.
Engaging in sustainability and finding a way to communicate sustainability to your stakeholders is key to helping futureproof your business and positioning you as a sustainable power within your industry!
Use this revolution as an opportunity, and make the changes to your business whilst we have the chance.
Contact us here for help with how to communicate sustainability to your stakeholders. Alternatively, you can message, or email us at hello@eon-media.com!
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