Running a business in the second decade of the 21st century is associated with many challenges, far beyond the economic ones (although these are of course considerable, what can you do if you can't help it). The attention of entrepreneurs is no longer focused only on growing their business as efficiently as possible, generating profit and increasing their audience and potential consumers, but also on topics related to broadly perceived social, environmental responsibility and the areas of HR, Employer Branding, CSR, ESG.
Today's market offers a number of solutions that support entities in the introduction and successive development of eco-friendly and pro-awareness activities. One of these is the Gleevery platform, which offers companies and individuals the opportunity to rent their favourite items as a unique employee benefit or directly from electromarkets across the country.
Alright, product placement is behind us, it's time to get down to specifics. So... why should employers redirect their attention to the issues mentioned above? What benefits do they have from doing so? What do they gain? Is it worth it? And what came first, the egg or the chicken? Let's answer most of these questions.
It pays off!
Let's be pragmatic. Adopting conscious and ecological ideals in the workplace simply pays off, and in a multifaceted sense.
On a literal level, undertaking such an activity can mean, for instance, reducing the amount of waste generated, reducing gas emissions, reducing unnecessary or excessive water and electricity consumption, installing appliances with energy-efficient systems. All this means lower bills. And this should get the attention of every authority. In contrast, looking from a different angle, properly implemented actions can be 'monetised' on an image level - and this is perhaps even more important because....
Image matters!
Creating an innovative, user-friendly and environmentally sustainable workplace has an invaluable impact on a company's positive image. This in turn opens up a number of opportunities worth considering.
Firstly, employees are increasingly paying attention to the organisational culture and values of the entities where they are employed. A modern, aware employer creates conditions that can strongly reduce the exodus of employees to competitors.
Secondly, a company's image shines brightest outside its walls. Potential consumers, contractors, partners, investors, etc., are also particularly sensitive to it. Being eco-friendly is just attractive, and research clearly shows that customers are very willing to cooperate with or choose products from producers who demonstrate ecological sensitivity towards their own operations.
Thirdly, it helps you grow because...
You attract talents to you!
That's what we all want, right? A pro-environmental attitude and an appropriately managed corporate image will ensure that, at the time of selection, potential employees get another, very important argument for doing business with your company. The times when salary was all that mattered are over. Nowadays, if we want to recruit the best employees, we have to become the best version of ourselves.
That's how you save the planet!
This is where we make the emotional argument, because that is what it comes down to after all. The ultimate currency of the above actions is the battle for the future of the environment. Every action, even the smallest one, regardless of its motives, will make our planet the first and most important beneficiary. And even only for this reason alone, it is worth taking action.
Answering the first of the questions asked above, we can clearly state: IT'S WORTH BEING ECO and IT'S WORTH HAVING AN ECO-BIZNESS. If you want to know a few tips and tricks on how to easily get started at your own place, then rest assured. We'll reveal it in our next post.
In terms of eggs and hens, Google says the first were some Archaeopteryx. We'll leave the judgement up to you.