Investigating the Drivers of Pro-Environmental Actions
Society has already been discussing global issues like clean water availability, using alternative sources of energy, and other hot topics for many years. Recent Pandemic events demonstrated that life might change in one moment, and we have no opportunity to postpone taking care of the environment anymore. They positively influenced on reducing pollution and proved that people must take climate action instantly. That’s why we tried to figure out the drivers of pro-environmental actions towards SME sustainability.
Drivers of Pro-Environmental Actions
There are two kinds of individuals; those who believe in personal responsibility — in taking little actions to add up to something great; and those who do not care. All of them should remember that we live in one world, and human actions may cause undesirable effects on the environment, which can be threatening economic, human health, and other aspects. Small, individual actions can grow into bigger solutions. That’s why every business should consider drivers of pro-environmental actions and start changing their strategies to remain eco-friendly and profitable at the same time.
Business Case
Luckily, the battle for involving companies in a sustainability approach is almost done. Executives of SMEs and large organizations understand that main stakeholders like employees and customers care about eco-friendly solutions. Moreover, climate change is crucial for business success. The companies will have to work out new strategies because of the long-lasted impact of climate change that includes changes in sea level, temperature, rainfall patterns, etc. As a result, executives are embarking upon the sustainability path, assess internally and supply chain wastes, examine approaches to climate change via value chain and own operations.
They also should engage employees in corporate responsibility by allowing them to learn what sustainability is and what impact every person has on the environment. Companies may arrange online education to create all conditions for the staff to obtain essential knowledge. All in all, the business case is a powerful driver of pro-environmental actions as the brand reputation and revenue are at stake.
Compliance requirements
Another great driver of pro-environmental actions is mandatory reporting. The Global Reporting Initiative promotes sustainability reporting as an efficient tool for organizations to become more sustainable and donate to a sustainable global economy. That’s why companies of all sizes are encouraged to come up with regular reports to reveal a personal impact on the environment and demonstrate stakeholders they don’t do anything to harm a sustainable future.
Each country has its own peculiarities of mandatory sustainability reporting. Anyway, preparing a report requires the company to be transparent and demonstrate how all business processes take place. It should include data on industrial safety, environmental control, innovations, digital transformation, combating climate change, etc. As a result, companies consider taking pro-environmental actions as they know that mentioning the results of their environmental behavior in the report will attract more stakeholders.
Guilt and pride
If you remember at least a few pro-environmental messages, you will agree that most of them are focused on a negative experience. These messages suggest that people who do not try to live more sustainably are going to feel guilty. However, a recent study of Princeton University states that focusing attention on possible pride that people will feel if they take some eco-friendly steps, is more effective. In this case, they will likely change their environmental behavior both in private and business life.
Some people react badly and start acting opposite to an expected way because somebody tells them that they should feel guilty. Hence pro-environmental policy may end up with failure. Pride has all opportunities to become a driver of pro-environment actions. That’s why it is important to avoid relying on guilt while motivating people to step on the path of sustainability. SME business sustainability should start with the rethinking of climate change messaging.
The Final Thoughts
Sustainability in SME begins only after taking pro-environmental actions but not gaining general knowledge of what sustainability is. Many companies and individuals know about environmental challenges but do not take any actions because changing the lifestyle requires effort, will, and time. Here when drivers of pro-environmental actions come in, they create a crucial fundament for forcing people to start acting right now. If you want to begin your way to SME environmental sustainability but do not have enough expertise, we at SustainOnline, are ready to become your guide to the eco-friendly business, that after all, will be both beneficial for the environment and your pocket.
