Thrive Post-Pandemic Series: Why You Must Care

Congratulations!

You have made it to the end of our three-part series. Yes, I see your teardrop.

In this ultimate installment, we unveil a pivotal shift – the rise of responsibility as the nucleus of the consumer experience. Embrace this paradigm shift, as it holds the key to your business’s enduring success.

You’ll see how responsibility has become so central to the consumer experience.

Social Responsibility

You can no longer ignore what responsibility means for your business.

Social responsibility has 4 key expressions: environmental, philanthropic, ethical, and economic. Here are some examples of each:

Reducing your carbon footprint
Using environmentally friendly packaging
Improving recycling practices in your organization
Composting correctly
Increasing your charitable giving and corporate social responsibility initiatives
Volunteering work in your local community and abroad
Changing corporate policies to benefit our environment
Making socially and environmentally conscious investments
Participating in fairly sourced items
Improving labor policies

Sustainability Has Entered the Conversation

From the Himalayas in India and the clear canals of Venice to the city skylines of California, people worldwide began to see sights that hadn’t been visible in ages. During the pandemic, stay-at-home mandates or curfews reduced the number of carbon emissions and pollution. People were positive about the impact the pandemic would have on our environment.

The beauty of it all reminded us of the importance of sustainability.

53% of consumers globally said they think the environment will improve in Q2 2020, up from 41% in Q1 2020. This was the first time we’d seen optimism increase in that magnitude. All the beauty and clean air was a ray of hope in our reality.

Consumer backlash could replace optimism as reality becomes clearer.

This is because the changes appear to be temporary. While quarantines across the globe largely cut down our carbon footprint, the outbreak also created a whole host of problems that are simmering under the surface. The production of disposable plastics has increased considerably, especially with the surge in PPE usage.

At the same time, other changes in consumer behavior during the pandemic have contributed to the waste problem. Consumers are shopping online and consuming more takeout food, which is still heavily reliant on overusing single-use packaging.

The pessimists seem right to have fears about the looming future.

Brands should heed the warning.

In February 2020, food delivery giant JustEat partnered with sustainable packaging startup Notpla to try tree and grass pulp boxes lined with seaweed. The packaging decomposes in about four weeks. More brands need to follow suit.

Corporate Sustainability

It’s becoming impossible to escape sustainability.

72% of consumers across 20 countries said companies behaving sustainably was more important to them because of COVID-19 Click To Tweet

In a recent survey, people expressed concerns about the following:

Air pollution (43%)
Increased waste due to COVID-19 (43%)
Rising global temperatures (41%)
Extreme weather conditions (39%)
Overconsumption (38%)
Plastic pollution (38%)
Water scarcity (29%)
Overpopulation (27%)
Deforestation (27%)
Habitat and Biodiversity losses (27%)
Rising sea levels (20%)

As non-decomposable waste piles up, ocean ports are littered with plastic, and natural disasters increase, consumers will not be quiet. Rather there’ll be a roar for better.

Consumers don’t want empty promises. Click To Tweet

Consumers want to see a commitment to change. They want to know that they support the mission for sustainable living by choosing your product.

Going digital is one simple way you can cut down your carbon footprint.

One remarkably effective approach to reducing your carbon footprint is going digital. Whether through paperless processes, remote work setups, virtual communication, or marketing your brand online, going digital can drive significant positive change.

Going digital is about making things easier and taking care of our planet. Click To Tweet

When you digitize your operations, you significantly decrease your reliance on paper, reducing deforestation and energy-intensive printing processes.

Also, virtual meetings and remote collaborations eliminate the need for extensive travel, resulting in fewer vehicle carbon emissions and pollution.

A digital-first mindset streamlines operations and demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship.