This article attempts to talk about why manufacturers must embrace sustainability, however below is more to the point.

Said simply, for a manufacturer to remain in business, and grow, it must

• Become more efficient / reduce costs – companies that are certified under our program MUST become more efficient.
• Become more attractive to B2B prospects – 97% of larger companies have sustainability programs and, via same, are mandated to use sustainable vendors when available (assuming quality and price are comparable). Net, becoming certified sustainable will make your offering more attractive to a large group of prospects you are currently not selling to.
• Become more attractive to B2C prospects – 70% of ALL consumers will leave their current brand and move to a product (assuming equal price and value) from a certified sustainable company. If your company wants to take market share, waving the “We are certified sustainable” flag is the highest ROI tool you have.
• Reduce its cost of money – Be it debt or equity, manufacturers always need money to grow. Certified sustainable companies pay less for their funds.
• Reduce its insurance cost – Certified sustainable companies are viewed as a lower risk, positively impacting insurance costs.
• Be compliant – As we have reported, governments around the world are creating sustainability regulations. This is no longer an ‘if’’, it is a ‘when’.  The sooner a manufacturer is compliant, the sooner it can promote same to prospects.
• Be able to hire and retain talent – Certified sustainable companies are able to hire and retain better talent, at a lower cost, than their non-certified peers.

As a manufacturer, there is nothing you can do that will have a higher ROI than to become environmentally certified sustainable.  This master class discusses the eight things you should look for in a program.  If appealing, contact us. 

We’ve recently talked about Greenwashing and the fact that the majority of consumers do not believe a company’s claims if not supported by legitimate 3^rd party validation/certification.

This article talks about a Yale study that grades companies on their decisions to exit or continue operations in Russia after the Ukraine invasion.  In many cases, companies with F and D grades (ie, continuing to operate in Russia) promote their social responsibility on their websites.  These are cases in point as to why consumers do not believe organizations that do not have 3^rd party validation/certification of their claims.

If you commit the time and money to pursue any corporate cause, be it sustainability, carbon neutrality, net zero, social responsibility, ESG, et cetera, hire a legitimate organization to 3^rd-party validate/certify your claims.  This master class gives the 8 things you should look for in a program. 

Article by Check Odulio, contributing writer.

Companies often face ridicule for greenwashing, where they exaggerate sustainability claims.

Fearing scrutiny, some choose to stay silent, resulting in a phenomenon known as greenhushing—when a company does not communicate its verified/certified sustainability efforts.

Be warned – companies guilty of greenhushing are starting to take the hits too.

Consumers are increasingly demanding that companies take a firm stance. In fact, 67% of Americans expect companies to stand up for social, cultural, and environmental issues.

Your company’s failure to speak up about sustainability can gradually erode your business.

In our previous article,  we highlighted the increasing consumer demand for sustainability and that it’s happening faster.

• 70% of consumers are willing to change brands specifically for sustainability
• 25% of consumers have already changed brands due to sustainability

Is your business willing to gradually lose this much?

But as companies move towards sustainable practices, be wary that customers are doubtful of claims. As such, supporting evidence for any green claim is now becoming a must.

Dr. Andreas von der Gathen, co-CEO of Simon-Kucher, a renowned global consultancy firm emphasizes the need for it,  “As expectations around sustainability climb, companies will face significant pressure to prove their sustainability credentials and continue to make it a central part of their value proposition.”

Obtaining a sustainability certification, such as the Edenark Group ISO14001 is a strategic move that can help your business thrive. Pursuing a sustainability certification program serves as tangible proof of your commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

If you’ve been putting off your plans to get a business sustainability certification and greenhushing, there’s no better time than now.

Stay ahead of your competition and the market or prepare to gradually lose your business.

Regardless of your size or industry, Edenark Group can help you acquire a global sustainability certification designed and priced for SMEs like you.

Break your company’s silence and book a call with Edenark Group today.

We have stated for years that if your sustainability program does not include a people piece, it is not a sustainability program.

This article talks about how people should be at the heart of corporate responsibility.

We could not agree more.

At Edenark Group, our environmental sustainability program includes a people piece that is unrivaled –

• A Better World Starts With Me
• Gym For The Brain / Testimonial
• Center for Brain

You will not find a better sustainability program for your company.  Within that program, you will not find a better people piece that helps your staff become happier, healthier and more productive.

We are all exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) every day.  Low levels of EMF are not considered dangerous for most people and the World Health Organization has established 5000 v/m as a guideline maximum exposure level.

However, most office work environments, with wireless equipment, computers, printers, routers, and cell phones, all producing EMF, can easily operate day in and day out at +100,000 v/m.

Further, there are all the machines in the neighboring offices; and their EMF travels through your walls.

That much radiation, day in and day out, is not good for your health.

What can be done?

Recently, Gym For The Brain moved into a new leased space.  As part of its Edenark Group ISO 14001 sustainability certification program, we reviewed the EMF levels in the space it would be occupying; and seeing they were many times higher than the maximum exposure guideline, painted the entire space with EMF absorbing paint (pic 1 and pic 2).  Then, painted a top-coat of regular paint.

By doing so, the EMF exposure for employees, clients and visitors is now less than 1% of what was previously radiating in that office space, and less than 10% of the WHO guideline exposure level.

All it took was a few gallons of EMF-absorbing paint to dramatically improve the wellness of that workplace environment for all.

This video, of one of our clients at Gym For The Brain, is both a remarkable and regular story.  We have dozens and dozens of stories just like this one.

The ‘people side’ of the Edenark Group ISO 14001 program does not get as much attention as the environmental side due to society not yet seeing the connection between environmental and wellness issues. 

As we have repeatedly stated, if you have a sustainability program and it does not have a people piece (ie, wellness and performance), you really don’t have a sustainability program.

This master class explains how we think.

We previously reported on the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) which went into force on 16 May 2023.

The purpose of the CBAM is to target carbon leakage, which occurs when a company produces its products in countries with less strict climate policies.  In other words, anything being imported into the EU from countries that are not as climate-sensitive, will be taxed.

This article states that 27% of India’s iron, steel and aluminum exports go to the EU and the CBAM is expected to increase the landed cost of these items by 20-35%.

In effect, India has a few choices – a) challenge the regulation via the WTO, knowing it will probably have little to no impact; b) attempt to negotiate a lower tax; or c) recognize the direction the world is heading and help its business community become certified sustainable with a carbon reduction program. 

Edenark Group can help.

This week saw the hottest day since records began.

It will get hotter, as El Niño is layered on top of global heating caused by you and me.

If your business wants to be part of the solution, watch this master class and give us a call.

As this article states, “Corporations across the economy are at risk of losing financial value by either underplaying or overplaying their hand when it comes to sustainability.”

There is a cost attached to greenwashing (ie, overstating your sustainability achievements) and there is also a cost attached to not having a sustainability program or having one and greenhushing (ie, not promoting your validated sustainability achievements).

Both greenwashing and greenhushing are hurting company bottom lines. 

If your sustainability claims are not validated/certified and you are promoting them, it negatively impacts your brand and value.  On the other hand, if you do not have a sustainability program; or if you have a valid/certified sustainability program but are not talking about it; that also negatively impacts your brand and value.

As an example, per the study, if Microsoft did a better job of talking about its sustainability program, it could add approximately $1.5 billion to its overall company value.

Pepsi could add $500 million, or 3%, to its overall value, if it did a better job of promoting its sustainability program.

On the other hand, Tesla, which does not score well on social sustainability or governance, has $4 billion, or 6% of its value, at risk, due to over-promotion of programs that are not certified and are not as good as they claim….and the market sees it.

The key takeaways for your company:

• Like it or not, consumers are evaluating your company on its sustainability effort
• A meaningful part of your company’s value is tied to its sustainability effort
• Greenwashing (promoting a sustainability effort that is not validated/certified by a 3^rd party) will hurt you
• Greenhushing (not promoting a sustainability program that is 3^rd party validated/certified) will hurt you
• You need a 3^rd party certified/validated sustainability program that helps you promote your real/accurate sustainability efforts
• This masterclass explains what to look for in a program

Per this article in Entrepreneur magazine, here are three environmentally sustainable business practice reminders

• Reputation – Being environmentally sustainable is admired and builds trust with consumers and others in the business community; doors will open, consumers will seek you out, and your brand’s reputation will be enhanced

• No Greenwashing – Do what you preach

• Maximize Your Marketing Budget – People are looking for certified sustainable companies. There are not many, if any, things you can do with your marketing budget that will have a bigger positive impact than being able to promote being certified sustainable and using your marketing budget to tell sustainable stories about projects your organization is working on

Edenark Group can help you implement and execute these practices to your benefit