Sustainability has grown in importance for consumers, shifting from an option to an essential element. As organizations increasingly move away from greenwashing and surface-level attempts at sustainability, a strategic approach is needed to implement environmental initiatives without completely derailing established business systems or coming at a huge expense.
To help, 20 Forbes Business Council members share one way a business leader can work to build a more sustainable business moving forward in 2025. Read on to learn more about the changes they recommend leaders make.
1. Review How Your Business Impacts The Environment
The first step is taking a close look at how your business impacts the environment. Small adjustments, like using less energy or cutting down on waste, can have a noticeable effect over time. Switching to more eco-friendly materials or optimizing how you manage logistics doesn’t just help the environment—it can also strengthen your brand with consumers who value sustainability. – Pavel Stepanov, Virtudesk
2. Embed Sustainability Into The Business Model
Start by embedding sustainability into your business model. Prioritize circular practices like reducing waste, sourcing responsibly and designing for reuse. One immediate step is conducting a supply chain audit to uncover inefficiencies and switch to greener suppliers. Consumers reward businesses that lead with purpose because sustainability is no longer optional; it’s the expectation. – Bryan Davis, The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Furman University
3. Determine What Sustainability Means To Your Customer Base
Sustainability has different meanings to different industries and individuals. As a leader, it’s crucial to understand what sustainability means to your customer base and to strive toward their unique goals. Leaders can reshape the narrative of sustainability by offering a more holistic perspective and highlighting how their business contributes to a larger, meaningful sustainability goal. – Lihy Teuerstein, IDE Water Assets
4. Start Small
All it takes is one change, and that change can be small and affordable. One change could be to use natural cleaners for machinery or start a recycling program. One change most businesses can make is to find a way to repurpose or recycle old equipment, including computers. Computers are outdated so quickly that finding a way to recycle them would be a huge plus toward sustainability. – Baruch Labunski, Rank Secure
5. Integrate Circular Economy Principles
To build a more sustainable business in 2025, leaders should focus on integrating circular economy principles. Start by redesigning products for reuse, repair or recycling. This reduces waste, cuts costs and opens up the possibility for new revenue streams. Not only does it protect the environment but it also boosts profitability through resource efficiency and long-term savings. – Dan Kelly, ADAR Technologies
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6. Reduce Plastic Use
If your business purchases products for customers like hotels or spas, ensure your purchasing team evaluates packaging sustainability. Focus on avoiding single-use plastics and on reducing the total plastic volume used. Opt for eco-friendly alternatives like wheat straw, corn starch or biodegradable paper. Prioritizing low-plastic or plastic-free options contributes to sustainability efforts. – Paul Hodge, World Amenities, Inc.
7. Improve Operational Energy Efficiency
In 2025, business leaders can boost sustainability by improving energy efficiency in operations. Upgrading to energy-efficient machinery, using smart lighting or adopting renewable energy sources can reduce carbon footprints and lower operational costs. This shows the company’s commitment to the environment, appealing to eco-conscious consumers and supporting long-term success. – Beth Worthy, GMR Transcription Services, Inc.
8. Make Sustainability A Company-Wide Effort
A common mistake when it comes to sustainability is confining efforts to just one team. To drive real change in 2025, make sustainability a company-wide initiative that resonates with all departments and extends to your business partners. Equip employees with the resources to integrate sustainability into their roles and make it easy for partners to do the same. – Greg Hewitt, DHL Express U.S.
9. Be Transparent
Transparency builds trust. Make your business an open book by showing how sustainability is embedded in sourcing, production and operations. When people see that you’re truly committed to sustainability, it builds trust. They will relate to your values and want to get behind your efforts, sharing them with others naturally. – Michael Goshka, Planfix Inc.
10. Adopt Eco-Friendly Production Methods
Business leaders reduce waste by adopting eco-friendly production methods, using sustainable materials and optimizing energy use. Switching to renewable energy sources and promoting recycling within operations can significantly lower a company’s environmental footprint, aligning with consumers’ growing demand for sustainability. – Salvador Ordorica, The Spanish Group LLC
11. Provide Green Features Or Platform Integrations
Offer green features or integrations within your platform, such as energy usage tracking or sustainability analytics for customers. This not only reduces environmental impact but also positions your SaaS business as a partner in helping clients achieve their own sustainability goals. – Asaad Hakeem, SARC MedIQ Inc.
12. Leverage Technology
Business leaders can leverage technology to enhance sustainability by optimizing resource use and reducing waste. For example, AI-powered systems can track and minimize energy consumption, lowering carbon footprints. Additionally, adopting cloud-based solutions streamlines supply chains, reduces paper waste and boosts efficiency, driving both environmental and operational improvements. – Chris Coldwell, Quicksilver Software Development Inc.
13. Use Local Suppliers
Shift to hyper-local supply chains to cut transportation emissions and support local economies. By prioritizing suppliers close to the end market, businesses can simultaneously reduce carbon footprints and foster community partnerships. – Reggie Young, Exit Advisor – Business Broker
14. Prioritize Aspects Of Resilient Design Principles
Business leaders can prioritize aspects of resilient design principles to create a lasting positive impact on communities by actively restoring and enhancing social resilience. When we align our business goals with resilience as a core value, leaders will meet consumer expectations and create opportunities to futureproof our business and communities. – Riki Nishimura, Populous
15. Adopt International Sustainability Standards
Companies can show that they have a tangible, auditable strategy for sustainability by using international standards for environmental, social and governance actions. For example, consider adhering to standards like ISO-14001 and ISO-45001 for environment, ISO-30415 for social inclusion and ISO-27001 for cyber governance. – James Felton Keith, InclusionScore
16. Look To Innovators In Environmental And Climate Spaces
Sustainability is an important topic often ignored among businesses with less than ethical practices. Explore innovators in environmental protection and climate change. Paper reduction, LED lighting, the use of solar energy and remote options to eliminate commutes are a good start. Ignore bogus tree planting initiatives and other similar greenwashing schemes. – Charles Stanton, Transient Consulting
17. Lead By Example
Business leaders must model their insights, job duties and commitment to match what they are expecting. If you are totally committed, no change is needed. However, if you find others are not, maybe this is a wake-up moment to look at your potential, taking a little further interest in and being more dedicated to the company. – Tammy Sons, Tn Nursery
18. Embrace Remote Work
Embracing remote work can make a business more sustainable. At my company, reducing commutes and office energy use has significantly cut our environmental impact. Leaders can also explore eco-friendly suppliers or optimize processes to minimize waste. Small, thoughtful steps can make a big difference and resonate with eco-conscious consumers. -Braden Yuill, Virtual Coworker
19. Take Care Of Your Team
The most sustainable thing leaders can do right now is take care of their employees. Sustainability isn’t always about plastic or the Earth; sometimes it’s about people. I see a malaise among employees of companies that have the dark shadow of layoffs constantly looming overhead. People do much better work when they are properly taken care of and are heard. Let’s focus on that for 2025. – Kate Assaraf, Dip
20. Remain Focused On Your Mission
Building a sustainable business requires unwavering commitment, even when faced with setbacks. There will be moments when progress seems slow or challenges threaten to derail your efforts. It’s during these times that a leader’s resilience truly shines. Stay focused on your vision, adapt to changing circumstances and never lose sight of your business’s positive impact on the world. – Elie Y. Katz, National Retail Solutions (NRS)
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