Can you drive business growth whilst being mindful towards the environment

28 Jun 2021 • 3 minute read

Being mindful of the environmental impact and sustainability within a business isn’t anything new. Yet increasingly, it’s becoming an important issue worldwide for businesses and governments to make changes. The climate crisis will continue to grow unless we do anything about it.

As business owners, leaders, entrepreneurs and individuals, it’s really important that we do our part to adopt sustainable business models that can help keep our world a place we can live in.

Businesses (and the world) are now slowly starting to realise just how important it is to make changes. But sustainability in business doesn’t mean that it stops growth – it can enhance it.

We’ve seen a lot of resistance in the past providing backlash against a capitalist environment vs a sustainable one. But businesses and economies can also thrive whilst embracing a more environmentally friendly approach.

It’s not only heard of but proven – and we’re here to help. Here are just some of the ways you can not only drive business growth by being mindful of the environment but blossom.

Gain Customer loyalty

With an increasing acknowledgement of environmental causes and government support, customers are now paying attention when businesses are doing the right thing.

As a business that supports and adapts to environmental changes, we’re seeing a huge increase in customer loyalty. Consumers want their goods, but the majority also want to make sure they’re purchasing from the right companies.

From a history of factory workers, farmers and sweatshops that has seen illegal child workers, bad practices and a massive increase in pollution – it’s important that customers can now see brands are coming out the other side.

With new environmental, social and governance policies being placed on businesses, it can help consumers make buying decisions that are right for them. When a business moves towards greener practices, it generates a new kind of loyalty from customers.

Increasingly, customers back and share the brands that they believe in. We’ve seen this with higher demand for loyalty cards, membership cards and gift cards. What’s more, if you really wanted to make an impact, eco gift vouchers and eco-friendly loyalty cards are available too, which are often cheaper than plastic alternatives but also can be recycled, adding extra value to your brand.

Enhance your reputation

Whilst being mindful of environmental issues shouldn’t be about your company itself, it can indirectly impact reputation. Supporting green causes, charities or adopting environmentally-friendly policies can only have a positive impact.

Avoiding them, on the other hand, can go the other way. Therefore, it’s essential to stay on top of policies and governmental legislation, so you not only stay on the right side of the law but also seem to be ahead of the curve (and competitors).

Going green shouldn’t be just for the company to benefit from, but rather an attempt to try and make the world a better place for their customers, employees and the economy.
Our gift card manufacturing partners also adopt sustainable approaches meaning we can produce eco-friendly loyalty cards and give retailers the option to provide eco gift vouchers that have minimal impact on the environment.

Attract new customers

There is an increased awareness around the environment and, as a society, the impact that we have had both now and in the past.

As governments commit to moving towards a carbon-neutral world, more and more is being demanded by consumers from businesses. With access to more information, those that want to purchase from businesses that value a greener and more sustainable world are likely to switch or change their choices where they may have been loyal before.

Therefore, whilst adopting new eco-friendly approaches, providing sustainable alternatives or reviewing your supply chain or operations, you can put yourself in a position where you can attract those customers.

Particularly, if you’ve not adopted a greener approach before, you can now reach new markets and start new conversations to attract new customers and drive growth.

Increase brand awareness

 By adopting environmentally friendly practices, a business has much more to talk about than just its product or service. It’s always encouraging when a business can share its contribution to the environment and its local communities. The rise of ESG also impacts investment from the markets. We see more and more investors taking a serious view of business’s ESG policies as part of their investment plans. If an organisation is falling short of its ESG responsibilities, it is likely investment will dry up.

By being mindful of the environment, brands can create PR opportunities, join in community discussions and get involved in the climate debate. When you’re demonstrating leadership in that area, it opens up a world of opportunities to develop your brand online, generating more awareness as a result.

When you’re more present in relevant discussions for your customers, it can help attract new business and start the conversation with consumers you may not have been able to reach before.

Adhere to government legislation

 In more recent years, the government has committed to making changes to policies affecting both individuals and businesses to reach targets in reducing our carbon emissions and impact on the environment.

As a result, businesses have been required to make changes or face fines, particularly in the automotive and retail industries where we’ve seen taxes imposed on diesel, fines imposed in condensed traffic areas and taxes or the banning of single-use plastics.

But it’s not just about avoiding the fines; it’s about having a sustainable business that supports government goals and customer demand for a better future. At Green Gift Cards, we ensure that as much of our supply chain is as environmentally friendly as possible, including our gift card paperboard manufacturers and partners, Holmen Iggesund. This ensures our product has as little impact as possible on the environment right from start to finish.

Attract high-calibre, loyal employees

As well as attracting new customers, being more mindful of the environment and demonstrating action against the climate change crisis can also attract high-calibre employees who support your values as a business.

Not only that, but they are also likely to be more loyal when working with a company that has the right values and mission towards a better future.

So, when asking if you can still drive business growth whilst being mindful of the environment – the answer is absolutely! In fact, in the majority of cases, it’s likely to improve business growth, attract new customers, build trust and build a bright future for both your business and for the world we live in.