I was in a specialty shop. It was snowing outside. I was wearing a hat. A store employee told me she liked my hat and asked where I got it. I told her the name of the secondhand store where I found it. She huffed, told me she would never walk into that store, and walked away.
As a business person, I was surprised that an on-duty employee would be so rude. I was tempted to run after her to clarify that I had potentially saved it from a landfill.
I like clothes; I buy a lot of clothes. But much of my wardrobe is secondhand, partly because I developed that habit of shopping frugally many years ago (out of necessity because I was broke). Today, shopping secondhand is something I’m proud of. I save money and keep more clothes out of landfills. But that day, I didn’t justify my hat purchase. That specialty shop employee had already decided that secondhand stores were not for her. But I kept thinking about her attitude.
The exchange made me think about how we have much sustainability work to do as a society. People seem to enjoy buying products with sustainable missions and values. This specialty shop has a website section dedicated to “conscious practices” and environmentally friendly products. But do companies share why they fight for sustainable practices and encourage their employees to do the same? Does yours? Could it do better?
What does environmental sustainability mean? Does what we do make a difference? How can we do better? And why should we tell others about our company values?
What is Environmental Sustainability?
Environmental sustainability means avoiding depleting the earth’s natural resources. This signifies many things to companies and consumers; we’ll only discuss a few today. For example, some organizations cut down on single-use plastics; others find creative ways to reuse their “waste” products.
Several certifications can be earned by companies that meet sustainability practices. For example, when I worked for a manufacturer of wood products, they worked hard to earn their SFI or Sustainable Forestry Initiative certification. Builders who are looking to be sustainable look for the SFI seal on the flooring and doors they purchase. They know the materials come from healthy forests with thoughtful harvesting plans.
A local iron foundry I work with has achieved Green Tier 2 status by the Wisconsin DNR. This helps them to attract employees who care about where they work and multinational customers who want to build sustainable products. In addition, the foundry’s industrial waste, in the form of non-hazardous sand, has been used to provide fill for a pond conversion in a nearby community and a closed quarry so the land can be repurposed for future development.
Benefits of Sustainable Shopping and Procurement
Conscious customers reduce harmful emissions, fight climate change, and decrease the amount of waste sent to landfills. When businesses identify and mitigate the environmental impacts of their supply chains, sustainable procurement can lower costs, grow revenue, and invest in our future.
How do sustainable practices save money? Sustainable suppliers reduce an organization’s costs by reducing waste and energy costs; lower energy use = lower energy bills. How do sustainable practices make money? Customers often willingly pay a little more to support ethical products and organizations. Higher prices also make paying workers living wages possible. Sustainable procurement protects our supply of materials for the future.
How to Buy Sustainable
If you are in charge of purchasing for your organization, you can single-handedly make a significant impact in improving your company’s sustainability. Research the materials you buy and evaluate how they are acquired. Talk with the CEO or other executives about how to do better.
Identify low-impact, fair trade, or environmentally friendly suppliers. Use production materials that have been sourced responsibly. Reduce waste by reusing packing material. Seek out renewable resources such as bamboo or hemp. Cut down on transport and single-use plastics.
What Can We Do?
What about personally? Can you cut down on single-use plastic, walk instead of taking the car, or reduce your clothing purchases? Can you buy local food? I worked with a woman who would not buy any food with excessive packaging. She supported her local farmers and was an advocate for food co-ops. She inspired those around her to do better, too. Today, she’s working on starting her own restaurant. I can’t wait to try it out!
As for me, I’ll keep shopping secondhand. Fast fashion has low costs, but often at the expense of underpaid laborers. I’d rather buy something of high quality that has been gently used. Can you buy secondhand or purchase higher-quality products that will last longer? What about reading the tags? Can you strive to buy more natural materials or recycled materials? Can you simply buy less?
Highlight Your Company Values
What values will you live by? How does that compare with the place you work? What are company values? Core values shape company culture and support its mission. Values tell potential customers who you are. Is sustainability important to you? Make it part of your values and ensure that everyone in the organization understands sustainability.
People buy products not just for what they do but for how the product makes them feel. They buy because the product has values they value. So if you care deeply about the future of our planet, sustainable practices make sense. Yes, we all have to work to take better care of this beautiful earth, but let’s pick one thing to do a little better, encourage others, and keep working to fight climate change and reduce landfill waste.
And the next time you compliment my clothes, I’ll proudly tell you if I bought them secondhand.
Resources:
http://docs.wbcsd.org/2012/04/Why_procurement_professionals.pdf
https://www.stopwaste.org/at-work/sustainable-purchasing/sustainable-purchasing-benefits