{"id":49560,"date":"2021-04-21T17:39:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T17:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=49560"},"modified":"2022-10-28T02:54:33","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T09:54:33","slug":"how-businesses-can-make-earth-day-the-first-step-in-their-journey-toward-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/au\/blog\/how-businesses-can-make-earth-day-the-first-step-in-their-journey-toward-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Earth Day The First Step In The Journey Toward Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Across Earth Month and for Earth Day<\/a> tomorrow, we celebrate, innovate, debate and act on the theme of connection: connection to the environment, to people and to communities. It\u2019s a powerful concept and one that resonates with the efforts of Earthforce<\/a> to encourage engagement with issues of sustainability. More widely, it speaks to Salesforce’s commitment to leading by example when it comes to businesses taking on a critical role in achieving sustainability targets and combating climate change<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the day itself is a wonderful opportunity to highlight what\u2019s at stake and the month gives us the time to get people on board with a whole range of activities, at Salesforce we strive to make every day Earth Day. One day isn\u2019t going to be enough. Neither is twenty-eight. As Pip Marlow said in her discussion about International Women\u2019s Day<\/a>, it\u2019s up to us to transform these landmark days into more than just a day and a hashtag. It\u2019s up to us to use them to make long term, meaningful change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we are far from alone in that drive for change. More and more organisations recognise that sustainability not only makes ethical sense but is becoming a business imperative. A recent PWC survey<\/a> found 65% of Australian CEOs listed climate change and environmental damage as a top threat to growth. An IBM survey<\/a> found 77% of consumers say it\u2019s important the brands they buy from are sustainable and environmentally responsible. Furthermore, according to a report commissioned by CouriersPlease<\/a>, two in five Australian consumers would be willing to pay more for ethical and sustainable products and 85% want retailers and brands to be more transparent about the origins and sustainability of their products. Trailblazer Nick Holden, Founder and Director of Innovation at ModularWalls agrees. \u201cSustainability means more than a green tick. To us, it means to act, live, and breathe sustainability in every aspect of the business. We don\u2019t want a set and forget mentality,\u201d he says.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This focus on the role businesses have to play in environmental care was reflected at the recent Salesforce Live: Australia and New Zealand <\/a>where sustainability was identified as one of the biggest trends influencing the future of sales. As Eion Geaney, Regional Group Business Leader, 3M Australia and New Zealand, explained, it\u2019s a natural extension of changes that happened as a result of the pandemic \u2013 creating a better future is on everyone\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Translating good intentions into action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For the Salesforce community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For Earth Month it\u2019s about being able to choose your level of engagement around the issues that speak to you including topics like sustainable travel, sustainable procurement and the triple bottom line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

EcoChallenge<\/a> has partnered with Project Drawdown<\/a> in a month-long event, where you can commit to simple actions that you want to take in your daily life to educate yourself and keep yourself accountable around sustainability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have culinary events highlighting the benefits of a plant-based diet and opportunities to educate ourselves on ways to engage with nature, whether that\u2019s discovering new hiking trails or learning the indigenous history of national parks. We\u2019ve also partnered as allies of BIPOC Outdoors on initiatives that highlight Black, Indiegnous and People of Color in the outdoors and outdoor pursuits, where these groups are underrepresented and underserved to elevate their stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s a workshop, podcast, film, activity, discussion or opportunity to use some of your VTO, Earth Month is packed with ways for the Salesforce community to connect with each other, their environment and their work through the lens of sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For consumers who want to support sustainability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We have to voice our concerns, and keep challenging brands and businesses to deliver on their sustainability imperative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not always easy. It means asking hard questions about the life cycle of the products we want to buy. And that includes the ones that look green but still have an unsustainable second life. As Nick Holden put it, \u201cit is critical, through design and development, that these materials once re-purposed for a second time can then be recycled again and again otherwise, we are just ‘kicking the can down the road\u2019.\u201d A brand might produce a shoe made out of recycled plastic, for example. But when it is thrown out, then it\u2019s just a shoe made of recycled plastic sitting in a landfill. So as much as we are holding those brands accountable, so too must we hold ourselves accountable for our purchasing decisions. What is the story attached to this item and is it one I want to be part of?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For businesses that want to go green and stay green<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Organisations have a valuable opportunity \u2013 and, we would argue, an ethical obligation \u2013 to get ahead of the curve when it comes to sustainability. Be a leader in the field. Set precedents. Raise the bar and keep meeting it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Trailblazer Benjamin Boulter, Global Head of Partnerships at Blackbull Markets explains, \u201cConsumers today are looking to do business with companies that care about sustainability targets. So, as far as brand alignment and marketing positioning is concerned it’s only a positive for businesses to put sustainability at their core.\u201d As a young, innovative company, Blackbull Markets made sustainability a priority early on, which helped optimise business workflows and business functions from the get-go. \u201cIt has seen us not only operate efficiently, but also sustainably.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we saw with the COVID-19 pandemic, the businesses who could adapt fast had the advantage. It will be the same with climate change.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As my colleague and Vice President of Sustainability, Patrick Flynn, says, every company and organisation needs to understand their most sustainable customer because before long, every customer will be sustainable. That\u2019s a good place to start. Here are five other ways in which organisations can commit meaningfully to sustainable practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n