Most Business leaders prioritize monetary gain and financial capital with the word ‘sustainability,’ not being part of their repertoire. “But this single-minded focus can be a major problem when it comes to tackling slow-building, systemic challenges, like global warming, that could take down not just supply chains but, over time, entire economies.” The planet is heating up and ecological systems are fundamentally changing. The course the world’s population has been taking in terms of basic respect and consciousness for the globe cannot continue. The Earth cannot support the lifestyles and economies we currently partake in and the roots of our difficulties are simple, yet for many business and political leaders completely hidden from view. “The activities of most firms, and the goals and structure of the economy as a whole, have been shaped by fundamental misjudgments about how the planet functions and what it means to live a good life.”
At the most basic level, this requires moving from a “linear” way of thinking to a “systems” perspective that brings behaviour in line with the natural laws of sustainability. These limited areas of interests and beliefs are slowly making their way out as business leaders are getting in tune with the growing conscious-minded consumer. By using ‘framing,’ corporations and leaders are able to put sustainability in their terms which makes it easier to digest and implement. By changing our frames we change our perceptions and how we prioritize and invest time, effort and money. The biggest questions asked by companies wanting to implement or having already implemented a sustainability initiative are how can we make money from our sustainability practices? Then they wanted to know what it meant to be fully sustainable and what they had to do differently. According to The Globe and Mail the top areas for concern regarding sustainability are:
- Collaborating for sustainability
- Addressing climate change
- Building stakeholder trust
- Designing effective sustainability communications
- Turning sustainability into strategic priority
- Transitioning to green products and services
- Respecting free, prior and informed consent
“Leading Canadian companies now realize that sustainability cannot be tackled alone.” We think a great avenue for businesses to explore and learn from is collaboration. The Salon Movement functions and was built from this model specifically as a tool to support others. We combine education, marketing, retail and the environment as the core four pillars of our business model. by utilizing these four areas we are able to empower others through education, get the word out through marketing, help our planet and also of course make a profit from out efforts. Switching from a typical business model and structure has allowed us to grow and continue our efforts in a more forward way of thinking and being. If you are interested in learning more about our business model or how we as business owners tackle sustainability, take a look here for more info on getting involved. Still have questions? Contact us at: info@thesalonmovement.com
Leave a Reply