An Initiative For Planet & People: Sustainability holds the Key to Long-Term Growth
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From creating an eco-conscious environment for the world to becoming a socially responsible organization, businesses are moving forward in a space where sustainability is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a must-have to secure long-term growth.
A PwC Global CEO survey found that nearly 73% of CEOs consider sustainability an essential factor contributing to long-term success in their company.
How come they think like this? Sustainability has passed the way of being a mere CSR concern. It is a new way to create and contribute to doing good for the people, planet and society, which later flourishes as more substantial profits, happier employees and loyal customers.
People working in the organization constantly face challenges around establishing sustainability, high usage of net zero energy, and more, in order to establish sustainability in the community.
Curious how sustainability can fuel your business growth? Stay tuned with the full blog for the inside scoop on the power of this radical trend.
Standing Out AND Saving the Planet: A Sustainable Business Win-Win
Sure, making a name for yourself in the market is crucial. But wouldn’t it be even better to achieve that while taking care of the planet and controlling your energy bills?
Managing business expenses is a never-ending cycle. You never know how high costs can increase from operations and infrastructure to marketing and finances. With a sustainable strategy, passing through thick and thin will be manageable.
Quick heads up: sustainability isn’t only about saving the environment; it’s also preserving the business funds for the future. How does lower electricity bills, reduced waste disposal costs, and a strong brand image building an eco-friendly business sound like?
Companies like Hitachi have led the way since the 1960s, proving that sustainability goes hand-in-hand with long-term success. It’s become a critical factor in a company’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance, which is increasingly important to investors and stakeholders.
Still thinking for more reasons?
Why Sustainability is the Smart Choice for Your Business (Not Just the Planet)
Once “going green” used to feel like a good deed, not a strategic move. But has something changed now? In today’s world, sustainability is a wise business decision. Here’s why:
1. Cost Optimization:
Being sustainable goes hand-in-hand with saving money. You’ll see a real difference in your bottom line by reducing waste and maximizing your efficiency.
For example, implementing solar panels for energy-efficient practices or using sustainable materials as much as possible to lower operational and electricity costs. Every penny saved is a penny earned!
2. Boost Your Brand Power:
Consumers care about the environment, and they’re looking for companies that do, too. TotalJobs studies show that 60% of job seekers even research a company’s sustainability practices before saying yes to an offer! Implementing eco-friendly practices builds brand reputation and attracts top talent and loyal customers.
3. Stay Ahead of the Curve:
The future is sustainable. While startups might not feel the immediate pressure, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) compliance is becoming a central selling point. Even in B2B markets, deals pivot on sustainable value chains or investors prioritizing companies with firm social and environmental commitments. Adapting to sustainability now will put you in a good position for long-term growth and access to valuable resources.
Bonus: Happy Planet, Happy Employees!
Sustainability isn’t just about money. By creating a more eco-conscious workspace, you’ll be fostering a positive and responsible company culture. That’s a win for the environment, your employees, and your business.
This all sounds too good to be true. And to make it a reality, you need a phase 1 plan to kick off your journey towards building a sustainable business.
Worry not; we have that ready for you in the next section:
5 Strategies to make your business more sustainable
Here are the five strategies that will help you in building a business with sustainability at its core:
1. It all starts with People
Sustainability is more than one person’s job. Achieving or establishing sustainability requires commitment from everyone in the organization. Leaders can start setting an example for employees by prioritizing carbon reduction and encouraging them to contribute and suggest improvements.
Net Zero strategy can add more value to it. Design a net zero strategy comprising your organization’s ambitions, goals, and initiatives towards achieving sustainability, including everyone working around you. Actively seek ideas from within the company and find ways to incorporate them into your overall strategy, which creates a sense of ownership and investment in the journey towards a more sustainable future.
Employee support is essential for any sustainability initiative. People must understand their role, whether remembering to turn off computers at night or participating in more involved projects. However, it is equally important to cultivate belief in the cause; you must connect them with the purpose behind the efforts, allowing them to rally behind the initiative.
Companies with the most impactful sustainability programs often succeed by educating their employees and including them in the process. You can organize educational opportunities like webinars, lectures, or lunch-and-learn sessions. Sometimes, investing in training on corporate social responsibility (CSR) best practices or offering them paid time to volunteer also helps.
2. It goes beyond from CO2 to save planet
Environmental concerns come first as a driving force for many businesses when discussing sustainability. However, managing resources and reducing emissions will provide more benefits than expected.
For starters, you can monitor and manage your energy, water, and waste consumption, leading to substantial cost reductions. Additionally, you can conduct a baseline energy review or carbon footprint analysis of your operations. It will help you learn in detail about your workplace emission level and areas you can improve.
You can find various strategies that would help you in reducing carbon emissions. For example, you can install intelligent senses to automatically adjust heating, cooling and lighting systems, ensuring their usage is limited to when used. On-site renewable energy generation, such as installing solar or wind power panels, can free you from relying on the traditional grid.
3. Protect the climate, mitigate the risk, and find new opportunities
Climate change is no longer a concept in books; it’s happening and impacting businesses across the globe. From the direct risks of disruptions in operations, whether being an extremist or resource scarcity, comprehending supply shortages to indirectly affecting the society and shifting its demand, businesses suffer in this dynamic atmosphere.
It can affect everything from a company’s geographic location and production processes to its logistics, target markets, and availability of liquid finance. What can help? Develop a climate change action plan or integrate climate impact considerations into existing business sustainability plans to address these challenges.
However, many times, challenges lie among opportunities. Customers proactively seek less carbon-intensive products and services, promoting businesses to shift towards innovation and more sustainable solutions. By proactively addressing climate concerns, companies can ensure their own resilience and contribute to a more sustainable future.
4. Improve Energy Utilization
Energy efficiency is a win-win for businesses aiming at two targets with one arrow. By introducing energy-saving initiatives, companies lower operational expenses, primarily on electricity and fossils. In 2017, the US saved 147 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions by saving electricity.
Combining the following strategies can help you substantially reduce energy bills and decrease carbon dioxide harming the environment:
- Building Insulation: If you have an older building, upgrading its insulation will positively impact energy usage. Better insulation improves temperature control, retaining cool air in summer and heat in winter, reducing workloads of heating and cooling systems and hence saving energy.
- LED Lighting: Lightning plays a vital role in the energy consumption of a commercial building. Implant LED lightings save more energy than fluorescent bulbs and even more significant savings than traditional incandescent bulbs.
Consider building or renovating your workspace to maximize natural light during working hours for optimal employee well-being and energy efficiency.
5. Start Giving Back to the society
Charitable giving can comprehend your sustainability strategy. For example, if you donate unused, non-renewable resources, you take them far from entering a landfill. Monetary charitable donations or sending teams to volunteer can be a valuable addition. You can also work alongside nonprofit organizations to help them with their cause (social or environmental). For example, many companies donate a percentage of their proceeds for specific products to a nonprofit listed on the product label.
Charitable giving can also offset business practices that are challenging to make sustainable in other ways. For example, consider purchasing offsets or donating to causes that plant trees, allowing you to be carbon-neutral.
Well, this was all about why and what you can do to prevent over-taking from the planet and returning it all to neutralize the harm your practices can cause.
Next is about how an IT consulting company is already on its mission to achieve sustainability.
Beyond Business: Cyntexa’s Commitment to People & Planet
At Cyntexa, sustainability is one of the core concerns in everything we do: managing operations, reducing carbon emissions, and taking the right actions to help us prevent negative environmental impacts.
People at Cyntexa are on a mission to leave a positive legacy. We develop innovative products and build eco-conscious infrastructure to create a better, more sustainable world for future generations.
Here’s how we are currently working on 3 P’s to achieve positive results for the environment, people and business as well:
- Planet: Every action we take considers its environmental impact. We continuously seek ways to reduce our carbon footprint and minimize resource consumption.
- People: Our employees are vital to our success. We foster a culture of sustainability awareness and empower them to contribute to our green initiatives.
- Profit: We believe that environmental responsibility and business success go hand-in-hand. Sustainable practices improve efficiency and create long-term value for our company.
As of now, our primary concern is to fulfill our responsibilities towards the first two Ps:
Towards Planet
Our number one priority is the Planet! Here are some exciting initiatives our community is leading to make a positive impact:
1. Efficient Systems for Digital World
The digital world is growing on innovation, but energy consumption can appear as a hidden cost. Data centers, extensive hardware, and constant power needs contribute to a significant environmental footprint. Did you know that 40% of data center energy is used for cooling?
At Cyntexa, we’re committed to building a sustainable digital future. That’s why we embrace energy-efficient best practices. Here’s how:
- Cloud Migration: We’re transitioning our IT infrastructure to the cloud. This requires less physical hardware, reducing our carbon footprint as fewer machines emit CO2. Cloud-based solutions are often more energy-efficient than on-premise hardwired systems.
- Process Automation: Streamlining workflows and automating tasks in operations and HR minimizes the need for physical resources. This reduces reliance on hardware, electricity, storage space, and paper.
2. Designing Purpose-driven Infrastructure
At Cyntexa, our commitment extends to the design of our workspace itself. We believe in creating an environment that works in favor of a win-win for both employee well-being and environmental responsibility.
It all started with creating a healthy and inspiring work environment. Our leaders ensure the availability of fresh air and natural light, minimizing reliance on artificial sources. Nearly 40% of our workspace is specifically designed with a “go green” approach, promoting clean air and energy efficiency.
Looking beyond the immediate, we’ve taken steps to reduce our environmental impact for the long term. We generate clean energy on-site by installing solar panels, reducing our reliance on the traditional grid and our carbon footprint. The interiors are built with durability and minimal maintenance, minimizing waste and resource consumption over time.
Towards People
The second “P” we have for People and the following are some ways through which we are trying to foster sustainability for, to, and through people:
1. Building & Sustaining Leaders To Thrive In Salesforce Ecosystem
At Cyntexa, we believe in creating and sustaining the next generation of Salesforce leaders. Since our roots are firmly planted in the Salesforce ecosystem, we’ve grown a team of over 400 passionate experts. The commitment towards empowering young talent across India by providing them with the resources, knowledge, and guidance they need to thrive.
We equip individuals with the skills and expertise to become innovative and skilled professionals through in-house training programs. Furthermore, S2 Labs, our sister concern, extends this mission further. Along with Cyntexa, S2 Labs has helped over 50,000 aspiring Salesforce professionals build careers by providing accessible training resources and expert guidance.
Our focus goes beyond just imparting skills. We believe in nurturing the right attitude alongside knowledge, aiming to transform individuals and create a more sustainable and prosperous future for themselves and the Salesforce ecosystem.
2. Opportunities Equals Talent
Here at Cyntexa, experience is only part of it. If you’ve got the talent, skills, and drive to prove yourself, the door to advancement is wide open. The concept of meritocracy is something that we actively practice so that people work on building skills and knowledge rather than experiences over several years.
Many of our leaders are under 30. That tells you something, right? We value fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. We encourage everyone to think outside the box and share their ideas. If it has potential, we will make it happen!
This isn’t just about empty promises. One of our core values is giving people the freedom to take ownership while holding them accountable. We create an environment where you can learn, grow, and push your creative boundaries. It’s all about building a sense of community and motivation and helping everyone here level up their careers and their lives.
The Final Take
Sustainability isn’t just about environmental protection; it’s about ensuring a healthy planet that supports not only our businesses but also the well-being of future generations. By prioritizing sustainable practices, we’re investing in a long-term future where resources are plentiful, and communities can grow. This mission requires constant evaluation and improvement, from resource conservation and renewable energy adoption to reducing our carbon footprint and minimizing environmental harm.
It’s a shared responsibility. While companies like ours strive to implement sustainable practices, individual actions also have a significant impact. What steps are you taking in your daily life to contribute to a more sustainable future? When multiplied across a population, small changes can create a powerful positive force for our Planet. Let’s all be part of the solution.
So, what initiative are you taking to make the Planet a better place? Whether reducing your daily energy consumption, opting for sustainable products, or spreading awareness, every action counts.
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