How To Build A Sustainable Brand in 2025

Sustainable business and corporate social responsibility aren’t just buzzwords. According to a poll from Harvard Business School, 77% of consumers and 73% of investors are motivated to give their money to companies who take a stand on social and environmental issues.  

Looking for ways to make your brand more sustainable? Follow these business practices.

A key part of sustainable business practices is reducing your company’s carbon footprint, which includes measures such as sourcing materials responsibly, reducing carbon emissions and reducing consumption of natural resources.  

Madeline Kuczynski, a nurse who is opening a medical spa, said she is mindful of how she consumes natural resources when running her business. Although she acknowledges that waste is sometimes necessary for preventing infections and bacterial exposures, she said she tries to mitigate it as much as possible. Some practices she implements include washing dishes and linens rather than investing in single use paper bowls and protective sheets even though they are less expensive and require less care. 

“It’s so important to try and mitigate even a small paper bowl ending up in a landfill by sterilizing dishes,” Madeline said. 

Her advice: “try not to do just what is easiest.” 

According to Forbes, replacing traditional advertising mediums such as billboards and printed brochures with digital marketing can reduce your company’s carbon footprint since digital marketing requires fewer materials.

Alyssa O’Toole, who runs Boston-based music school and studio Musician’s Playground, said she has found print marketing is not only a waste of materials, but also a waste of money. 

“We tried mailers a couple times with mediocre results. All of these things are less traceable in terms of KPIs,” she said. 

Digital marketing allows you to not only reduce your environmental impact but also reach your customers in a meaningful way.

It is important to be clear about your values and incorporating them into your brand. Customers are wary of “greenwashing,” or brands who market themselves as environmentally friendly without taking meaningful actions.

Alyssa said she is passionate about using music to bring diverse groups together. One way she creates a welcoming environment in the studio is with gender-inclusive bathrooms that say “whatever, just wash your hands” on the doors.

“I personally strive to create an inclusive environment and one that all feel comfortable being a part of,” she said. 

Gladys Munoz founded her firm Intinova Consulting to address systemic disparities and build opportunities for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds and centers social impact in all of her projects. 

“Every project we undertake aligns with our broader goal of reducing disparities in health, wealth +and education,” she said.

Gladys said she always makes sure to actively integrate herself and the business into the communities in which she serves. She makes sure to attend local community meetings in order to understand her constituents’ concerns.

“By staying informed about current community events and listening to their priorities, I can better understand their needs and collaborate on sustainable solutions that align with their vision,” she said.

According to RWB group, a drainage and environmental remediation company based in England, encouraging environmental awareness among employees is important because businesses and office spaces are a major source of pollution.

RWB suggests pairing tangible steps such as paperless operations and recycling with educational initiatives such as training on handling hazardous materials and other environmental issues 

Environmental awareness not only reduces waste but also improves public standing and helps companies comply with regulations.

As new generations of employees look for companies that align with their values, make sure your brand catches up. This will not only enhance your company’s corporate reputation but you will also attract and retain top talent as millennial and Gen-Z employees are drawn to companies that care about sustainability and social impact.