We know there are many benefits of being environmentally certified sustainable:

 

  • It is the right thing to do. We could stop here.

 

  • Certified sustainable companies are growing up to 20x faster than non-certified peers;
  • 7 out of 10 consumers will move to a certified sustainable business;
  • 25% of consumers already have moved their purchases, the next 25 – 40% is in play;
  • Approximately $500b will move from non-certified to certified companies in 2024;
  • 75% of Gen X and Z view sustainability as more important than your brand name;
  • Sustainability is the #1 thing consumers are using to evaluate you on the internet;
  • Higher bid kill rate;
  • Your corporate clients are moving to vendors that are certified;
  • Your hiring and retention of employees will be less costly;
  • Governments are tightening regulations requiring it;
  • Cost of money (both debt and equity) is lower;
  • Finding money (both debt and equity) is easier;
  • 99% of certified sustainable companies are enjoying lower costs;
  • Margins are better as you can charge more in combination with your lower costs.

For this discussion, let’s talk about the cost of NOT becoming certified sustainable and just look at one of the above line items – hiring and retention of employees.

Per this, and many other studies, 35% of employees have quit their jobs due to the lack of environmental actions by their employer.  If we look at the Under 40 aged workers, that percentage rises to 44%.  Further, 66% of employees say their company’s environmental commitment is not acceptable.  So, two thirds of your employees are looking to leave and at least half of that group, one third of your work force, will leave….due to your lack of environmental sustainability commitment.

You are thinking – “Those studies are too high.  We think the number is lower.”

Then, let’s go with 1 – By your not being environmentally certified sustainable, you will lose at least one employee this year. 

What is that cost to you? 

  • Per this, and many other studies, the cost to you, of every employee that leaves you, is .5 – 2x that employee’s annual salary.
  • If a single employee, making $50,000, leaves you due to your lack of environmental sustainability commitment, the cost to you is $25,000 – $100,000.

 

What is the cost of you becoming environmentally certified sustainable under our program?

  • Much less than the cost to you of losing even one employee, let alone the number of losses the studies show.

 

Net, if we ignore the benefit to the planet, and all the revenue side benefits and operating cost side benefits to your company, and just look at the retention of employee benefit; the ROI of becoming certified sustainable is positive every year.

If you would rather have employees want to join you rather than want to leave you, read this on what you want in a sustainability program, watch this master class, and contact us.