Contest to spur greening of SMEs

ENTREPRENEURS have often played an important role in driving social change over the years. It therefore comes as no surprise that a new wave of “ecopreneurs” – business owners whose businesses are not only driven by profit, but also by a concern for the environment – are leading the drive for sustainable business practices.

Outside this movement, however, there are still many business owners who believe that sustainable business is less profitable.

Challenging this view, Gugu Mjadu, spokesperson for the 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year competition, sponsored by Sanlam and Business Partners, refers to a study by global consultancy McKinsey & Company, which shows a strong correlation between resource efficiency and financial performance among businesses.

“The same study revealed that businesses with well-rounded sustainability strategies were more attractive to investors and funders – something that is usually very important to entrepreneurs.”

To support local entrepreneurs in their going-green journey, Mjadu offers simple and practical tips on how they can embrace sustainable practices and strategies without breaking the bank. ◆ Replace inefficient business assets:

Something as simple as fitting energy-efficient lighting throughout your business can make a major difference to energy consumption.

In fact, the replacement of incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient (CFL or LED) lights is said to reduce electricity consumption by around 80% to 90%, depending on the sector.

For South African entrepreneurs especially, Mjadu believes that this should be a no-brainer considering the electricity tariff increases that are expected to continue over time.

◆ Create a sustainable company culture:

It is important to ensure that everyone involved in the business venture is on the same page as you in terms of sustainability. Mjadu says the easiest way to do this is by making green thinking a part of your company culture through adhering to simple initiatives such as recycling drives and utilising green vendors or suppliers where possible.

“Other practical measures such as encouraging carpooling and the use of public transport among employees can help in limiting the business’ pollution yield, while allowing employees the option to work from home on certain days can remove a great deal of this transport-related pollution altogether,” she says.

◆ Utilise resources more efficiently:

As paper is still a major cause of concern for any business committed to sustainable best practice, Mjadu believes that entrepreneurs should consider going paperless wherever possible.

Similarly, considering that only 16% of plastic is recycled in South Africa, she says that installing a water filtration system in the office can do wonders in terms of eliminating the need for plastic water bottles.

While many entrepreneurs may be tempted to delay the greening of their business until they are more established, Mjadu advises against this. “Implementing sustainable practices and strategies into a business is only going to become more complicated as a business expands.

“To assist with this process, winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year competition can use their mentorship or technical-assistance voucher prize to develop their green strategies.”