Simple steps to sustainability in business – Practical Changemakers podcast

When you’re bitten by the sustainability bug, it can be tempting to jump in with both feet. But it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the size and scope of the issues facing our climate – and being a sustainability warrior is a marathon, not a sprint. April Hannah’s got a few suggestions to help ditch the overwhelm so you can make sustainable choices as a consumer and outlines some of the key benefits of sustainability for business.

April Hannah is a Waste and Sustainability Training Consultant. She joins Louise and our very own Lauren Purcell to share some practical tips for approaching sustainability as a consumer. Listen to find out how watching The War on Waste inspired April to make small changes—and how empowering it can be to focus on sustainability.

When you first learn about the incredible effect businesses can have on the climate, the problem can feel so big that making an impact feels out of reach. Take a moment to narrow your focus. Ask yourself: is there a smaller issue I can tackle?

Asking questions is the easiest way to take back your power. April shares the story of how she (as a customer) queried a businesses’ sustainability practices to learn the end result of their recycling efforts. Find out how to stick it out through the (potentially) awkward question period to find the answers you need.

No matter the size of your business, sustainability has got stacks of benefits. Prioritising sustainability can lead to:

• Reduced environmental impact
• Positive social impact
• Revitalised team
• Wider, more aligned customer base
• Improved staff recruitment

If you’re keen to make a change in your workplace, April suggests approaching leadership with a solution rather than a problem. Ask yourself: 

• What is the problem I’ve identified?
• What are the barriers to change?
• What is driving the change? 

In her Sustainability in the Workplace sessions, April outlines the steps you can take to make small sustainable changes in your own workplace. Learn to bring your ideas to life in a way that gives them the best possible change with colleagues and decision makers.

Living more sustainably is about making small changes that align with your values. Whether you’re a consumer, an employee, or a business owner, the power to make change is in your hands. To learn more, subscribe to Practical Changemakers podcast today on Apple or Spotify.