Making your company more sustainable offers numerous advantages, from reducing operating costs to attracting new clients and markets. Sustainability also enables compliance with regulations and guarantees tax benefits, as well as improving business competitiveness. Implementing good environmental practices is essential for long-term growth and success.
The sustainability priorities and objectives are the order of the day, especially as far as business is concerned.
The competitive advantages of take over as a sustainable company are many and varied, ranging from reducing operating costs to attracting new customers, as well as tax benefits and even enhancing the image of the business in the public eye.
These are just four of the reasons why reduce the environmental impact of your businessBut there are more, as you'll see below.
1. The impact of sustainability on your company's image
With a he population is increasingly aware of the need to change behaviour patterns to ensure greater environmental sustainability, and taking a step towards ecological responsibility and the adoption of good environmental practices in companies is a guarantee that the image of your business will benefit..
Remember that consumers look for companies that ethically and morally share the same principles as them.
2. Reducing costs through environmental practices
Investing, for example, in renewable energy, electric 100% vehicles, reducing plastic (or cardboard) packaging and in digitising your business management by offering digital payment methods will help you reduce fixed costs and eliminate waste.
3. Compliance with environmental regulations and legislation
If there were no reasons for your If a business adopts ecologically responsible management principles, non-compliance with current environmental regulations and legislation can lead to fines and penalties that can be very costly.even from a reputational point of view.
4. Attracting aware customers and new markets
Portuguese consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious and this is clearly evident in the growing demand for sustainable products.
According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the Most Portuguese are willing to pay 10% more for products that are demonstrably sustainable and have a greater tendency to trust companies that are committed, for example, to use of recycled materials, less packaging and carbon offsetting.
In this way include environmentally responsible practices in your organisationThis will be compensated not only with more sales, but also with the conquest of new consumer markets.
5. The importance of sustainable innovation in business growth
As we've already mentioned, the green businesses, i.e. companies that invest in management based on good environmental practicesIn this way, they will be able to attract more customers, conquer new markets, reduce operating costs and gain competitiveness in an increasingly challenging market.The result is growth.
6. Tax benefits and support for sustainable companies
In addition to exemption from paying the Single Road Tax (IUC) and Vehicle Tax (ISV) and financial support for the purchase of electric 100% vehicles for your companyIf your business is seriously committed to sustainability, you may have access to various state supports, such as:
- O "Productive Business Investment for a Just Transition" (on the transition to a low-carbon economy);
- O "Companies 4.0" (on the digitalisation of companies).
It could also benefit from other components linked to the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), including the use of forest-based raw materials and the production of hydrogen and other clean energies.
7. Including employees in good environmental practices
Any strategy that aims to underline the company's commitment to sustainability must involve employees, who are not only ambassadors for the organisation, but also consumers.
This is more than enough reason so that you take care to train and involve your company's employees in responsible environmental practices.
8. Increased competitiveness through sustainability
To implement ESG practices (environmental, social and governance), your company will be able to optimise the resources it uses, innovate in processes, achieve better risk management and anticipate future legislative changes, making it more efficient and competitive in the long term.
9. Preparing the business for the demands of the future
Act now to reap later. This is how we can summarise investment in corporate sustainability.
In addition to enabling your he business of aligning itself with consumer needs and escaping sanctions for non-compliance with current legislation, investing in more sustainable solutions will enable it to prepare for future demands and reduce costs related to the green transition that will eventually become mandatory..
10. Sustainability as part of corporate social responsibility
Perception isn't everything; you need a commitment and a serious, regular investment in your business if you want to be a responsible company.
This should be done by calling social responsibilityi.e. a a set of actions that not only enhance the business, but also improve the life of the community in which it operates, such as choosing to use local suppliers, promoting recycling through community training or including the neighbouring population in the company's strategic decisions.
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