A short yet very important tangent that's all based on one question.
Why isn't everything sustainable?
It's 2019 and there are still companies who feel they don't have a responsibility to alter their habits and become more sustainable. I understand I'm not a business owner, nor am I qualified to pass judgment on business plans but on another note, I'm also not an idiot.
If one wants their business to perform or relate to a broader audience, which I'm presuming is everyone's goal, one would keep tabs on how to be more successful. Do research to watch trends, see what's catching the public eye, what changes need to be made to your business model. So on and so forth.
The biggest and most useful trend to hit society is sustainability. Due to the hole in the market for sustainable and ethical companies, this niche has been filled by smaller companies. Hence, people's interest in wanting to buy from small or local businesses. Since the spike in environmental and general ethical awareness amongst consumers, people want to purchase items from brands that are up to their new standards. So much so that according to Solitaire Townsend Forbes article 88% Of Consumers Want You To Help Them Make A Difference.
As we've heard before, all it takes is one person. One person to do the right thing, spread the word about an oppressed niche or even talk about their new diet in order to see change. During 2018, in November, a survey was conducted by Futerra, where they had 1,004 people from the USA and UK answer whether they believed personal actions such as being sustainable and donating makes a difference in the world.
The result? 96% of people feel their own actions can make a difference according to Futerra, Townsend reported.
Then, data from another survey, also conducted by Futerra, focused on brands and their direct impact on the environment. 88% of people said they want brands to help them be more environmentally friendly and ethical according to Townsend’s article.
This consumeristic trend is not only real but is a step in the right direction. A direction many corporations need to adjust to. Now, things take time which is understandable but that is not the point I want to make right now. My point has to do with accountability.
How is it that other companies such as Love Beauty and Planet, Athleta, Patagonia and more have decided to base their business model around creating a sustainable foundation from the start and or have altered half or all of their products to become more up to date with environmental needs, while others simply just proceed on with their old destructive ways without a second thought?
A small snippet of what the companies mentioned above are doing:
1. Love Beauty and Planet bottles are made from 100% recycled materials, chemical-free and vegan
2. Athleta's material is made up of 60% sustainable fibers
3. Patagonia is a transparent company that allows customers to return unwanted old garments in order to be properly recycled and reused, donates 10% of pre-tax profits to environmental groups and more.
If Love Beauty and Planet can create recycled and recyclable bottles, so can Dove.
If Patagonia can donate money towards environmental groups, so can North Face.
Companies have a responsibility to provide the best of the best to their customers. They have the responsibility of being transparent. They have a responsibility to be ethical too.
Why should it take them being dragged on the internet for them to change their prehistoric ways? Why do we allow them to get away with it? Why not just make that change themselves? Also, from a PR standpoint, isn't this also a smart move in order to save face too? Idk just a thought.
I would say I'm sorry about this rant but I'm not. I kinda wanna live idk till I'm past 50 which won't happen if we keep living the same way we currently are.
Try to reevaluate what you're buying and see if there are other environmentally better choices. I will say, sustainable products will be more expensive so pick and choose what you are going to switch out with your own discretion, a small change is better than nothing, but also understand the future outcome and impact is great. One person can make a difference. Just look at history.
So again, I have a question. Why is everyone not switching their business models to be sustainable? Why are we letting large corporations get away with outdated practices? Bring on the heat ladies and gents. Change doesn’t thrive in silence.
Till next time, cheers!
Clo
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