You've found yourself at the starting line of the sustainability race and it feels a bit like you've shown up to a marathon in flip-flops. Overwhelming, right?
Louisa Watson, environmental, social, and governance director
of beam and marketing director
of Wyboston Lakes Resort, is here to take the overwhelming edge off sustainability in four simple steps...
The starting block
First things first, feeling overwhelmed is perfectly normal.
After all, embarking on the journey to make your business more sustainable is
akin to deciding you're going to climb Everest. It's daunting, but just like
any marathon, it begins with a single step.
So, how do you move past the paralysis of choice and the
fear of "doing it all at once"? The secret is surprisingly simple:
just start. Pick one area that feels the most pressing or achievable—whether
it's reducing waste, conserving water, mandating event measurement or switching
to renewable energy sources. Remember, this marathon isn't a sprint!
Navigating the maze of accreditations
Accreditations—the buffet of sustainability certifications
that leave you wondering if you've piled too much on your plate. The truth is
there's no universal "best" accreditation. Each has its strengths,
and what works wonderfully for one business might not be the perfect fit for
another.
The key here is not to get lost in the labyrinth of options.
Instead, reach out and chat with other similar businesses that have already
gone through the process. Hearing firsthand about their journeys, challenges,
and victories can provide invaluable insights and guide your own decision-making.
Remember, choosing an accreditation is like planting a stake
in the ground—it's your declaration of commitment and provides a structure to
climb the sustainability ladder. And yes, it's perfectly okay to aim for other
accreditations down the road or simply focus on enhancing your sustainability
practices.
Weaving sustainability into your DNA
Perhaps the trickiest part of all is not just adopting
sustainable practices but making them a core part of your business culture. How
do you ensure that your team doesn't just follow these practices but believes
in them?
The answer lies in engagement. Make sustainability a shared
goal, not just a management mandate.
Involve your team in the decision-making process, celebrate
the small victories together, and encourage innovation and suggestions from all
levels of your organisation. Sustainability should be as much a part of your
businesses identity as the services you provide.
And remember, engaging with sustainability is a journey that
evolves. As your team grows more committed and your practices more refined,
sustainability becomes not just something you do, but something you are.
Most importantly, just begin
To my fellow hospitality leaders feeling the weight of
starting their sustainability journey, I say breathe. Speak to peers, choose an
accreditation that resonates with your values, and engage your team in the
mission. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way, not just to a more sustainable
operation, but to setting a standard in the hospitality industry.
Sustainability is a journey worth embarking on. And it all
starts with that first, seemingly daunting, but ultimately rewarding step. So,
lace up those metaphorical sneakers (the eco-friendly ones, of course), and
let's hit the ground running. Together, we can make a difference, one
sustainable step at a time.
Want to find out more? These topics and more are discussed in depth, with contributions from Greengage EcoSmart Accreditation, B-Corp Plenary Session and
Circular Life talking about 'Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast', and the Open
Mic Session to share Best Practice, at the beam ESG summit on 8th
May at Unity Place Milton Keynes and non-members are welcome.
