Today, being ethical is a significant part of running your business. Being ethical is an important factor for both customers, suppliers, and partners, and it’ll play a significant part in how others perceive your business.
Ethics go beyond a standard set of business values; they form part of a well-balanced company culture which endeavours to make sure that it gives just as much as it takes from the environment.
Things To Do To Make Your Business More Ethical
Here are some of the top ways in which a company can take a more ethical approach to business.
1. Make Ethical Products
One of the many ways to become more ethical as a business is to produce and sell ethical products.
There are several reasons why it’s so important for your products to be made in an ethical way, including standardizing your products along with ensuring the quality and consistency of each item.
To do this, come up with a product creation process that does not harm people or the surrounding environment.
Create products that are useful for the others and be sure that the sources used by you are also useful for your business by helping it to provide an awesome product for your clients. For example, coffee shops can source fair trade coffee, and ensure that the coffee beans are packed in biodegradable packaging.
2. Use Eco-Friendly Energy
Any business consumes energy and may use other utilities as well.
Businesses that are office-based or are using a store, restaurant, coffee shop, etc., may consume both water, electricity and natural gas.
To make such a businesses more ethical, you need to use an energy source that is greener, which means that instead of burning gas for cooking you can use electrical devices that release no harmful emissions.
You can use the energy provided by an utility company or you can produce your own energy (which is also free and clean) by installing a solar PV system or wind turbines. By using the renewable energy option you will also enjoy significant savings on utility bills.
3. Give Back to the Community
Giving back to the community is an ethical business trademark that can also help to boost your reputation and improve your reach on the local market for your company.
For example, pledging a portion of your profits to local charities, giving supplies to local schools, or offering jobs and support to homeless individuals in your area are just some ways to become a more ethical and socially responsible company.
It’s just as important to remember the communities that help your business succeed as it is to focus on improving your bottom line.
4. Create an Ethical Culture
Last but not least, make your ethical living an example to follow in your workplace.
Encourage employees to not only make more ethical choices at work, but also at home in their daily lives.
For example, you could help to reduce the carbon footprint of your employees’ by providing a car-pool option or allowing them to avoid the commute, by working from home.
Be sure that all your in-house practices are fair and moral, and any form of unethical conduct amongst employees is immediately discovered and removed.
The top management of the company needs to be an example for the others by promoting ethical choices, behaviour and guidelines inside the company.
