Is it important to choose sustainability goals for your business?

Recent research undertaken by Deloitte found that, in 2022, consumers adopted a more sustainable lifestyle compared with 2021. Many of us are choosing to buy from brands that have ethical or environmentally sustainable practices and values, at the same time as not buying from brands because of concerns about sustainability practices or ethical values. The research found that 38% of consumers are already willing to pay extra for more sustainable or durable products - in fact durability is more important to them than recyclability.

According to the 2020 Consumer Culture Report, 71% of consumers say they prefer buying from brands that align with their values, and YouGov research shows that 57% are willing to pay more for products that are good for the environment. Therefore including sustainability goals in your company's CSR goals and environment, social, and governance (ESG) ratings makes good business sense as well as being the responsible thing to do.

Choosing sustainability goals for your business

If you are setting sustainability goals for your business, take inspiration from the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. We're not advocating adopting all 17 goals, but it’s a good idea to focus on the ones that are appropriate to your business. As an example, Castle Water is supporting Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Even in the UK, water stress has become a fact of life. Yes, there has been a lot of rain since last summer's heatwave, but according to the Met Office, we’ll need record-breaking amounts of rain in parts of the UK to even reach average figures. Taking steps to save water is also essential for the environment, with serious water shortages being predicted even for the UK in the near future if no action is taken now. And, of course, any measures you take to help your business save water will also save money on bills.

The good news is that water-saving measures don’t need to cost a great deal and will provide you with a quick return on your investment. Measures could be as simple as fitting tap aerators which slow down the stream of water without reducing the pressure. This means you’ll be using less water and your staff won't even notice a difference.