Common Sustainability Mistakes Companies Make

Julie Starr • May 26, 2021



It’s no secret that companies need to focus their energy on ensuring that their practices are sustainable. We all need to do our part if we’re going to stand any chance of avoiding climate change catastrophe, and that includes both at a personal and corporate level. Companies that do work to improve their environmental record won’t just be doing the right thing, either — they’ll also be more likely to win over customers. The public is increasingly opting to give their money to businesses that show a wider moral conscience, especially younger customers.

Of course, sheer will won’t make your company more sustainable. You need to work on making it so. During the process, you’ll want to avoid some of the common mistakes that many companies make when they’re transitioning to more eco-friendly practices. We take a look at some of the most common errors below.

Token Gestures 

If you’re going to transition to become an environmentally friendly business, then it’s important that you’re doing more than just token gestures. Recycling your paper is important, but it won’t get to the heart of the problem. It’s best to look at making large changes that’ll have an impact 5, 10 years down the line. The world is going to move towards being more environmentally friendly, not less. If you’re just doing the bare minimum, then you’ll always be playing catch up, so look at dedicating time, energy, and money to getting things right at the first time of asking.

Where They Work

It’s not just the working practices that impact a company’s environmental record. The stuff around those practices has an impact, too. For example, let’s take the building . A company could enact plenty of eco-friendly aspects into their day-to-day operations, but if they’re working in a building that is decidedly bad for the environment, then the effects of their efforts will be minimal. The extent to how much you can impact the eco-qualities of your building will depend on whether you own or rent the building, but there’s always something that you can do.

Outdated Appliances 

As well as the building, it’s worthwhile looking at your company’s infrastructure. They might not be as good for the environment as they could be. If you haven’t updated your printer, lights, and other hardware in some time, then it’s possible that they’re energy-drainers. Investing in newer models won’t only be good for the planet, but they’ll likely save you money. These things do require a greater upfront investment, but they end up paying for themselves, as well as bringing other benefits to your company.

Sustainable Communication

There’s always a way to do things in a manner that benefits the planet. Take how you communicate with your customers. If you’re sending out paper marketing, or they need to visit you in person every time they have an issue, then you’ll be using up more resources than are necessary. Instead, look at doing things in a smarter way. In the digital age, there’s no reason for companies to send out printed materials. How your customers communicate with you can also change. Rather than asking the public to visit them in person, companies should offer digital communication methods. Looking to add chat to your website or having a customer service telephone number will reduce your carbon footprint while still ensuring that the customer experience remains positive. It’s what all the big companies are doing.

Lack of Investment 

You have to spend money to make money. It’s true that not all environmental changes will come free, or cheap. Sometimes, the changes that you have to make will come at what seems like a considerable cost. However, it’s worthwhile paying the price — for starters, those changes will last for many years. Second, it’s an investment . They’ll pay for themselves eventually. Plus, in an age when companies that don’t show a concern for the environment will be left behind, not making the investment could prove to be a big error later on down the line.

Conducting a Full Analysis 

You can’t figure out where you need to go until you know where you are. It’s worthwhile looking at your current setup and identifying where you’re currently acting in an unsustainable way. Everyone knows the basics of switching to an environmentally friendly operation. However, while there are things that all companies can do, it’s important to remember that each business is different. If you can perform a thorough review of current practices, you might just discover that you have one or two issues that are causing more damage than you realized. 

Trying To Do Everything Themselves

It can pay to bring outsiders in. After all, you don’t have all the skills needed to run your business. Indeed, your expertise will lie in the products or services that you offer. Other things, such as marketing and legal and the rest, will require help from elsewhere. This principle can apply to your environmental practices, too. There are companies and individuals out there that can provide a more detailed analysis of what you should change than you can. In an age when it’s easier than ever to outsource work, there’s no reason to do everything all by yourself.

Only Showing Concern For The Environment Through Marketing

By far the greatest danger — to the environment and the company’s reputation — is to focus on greenwashing your company . It’s easy to incorporate earth-friendly rhetoric into your marketing materials, but if you’re only paying lip service to the environment, then eventually, it’ll backfire. The world is shifting to greener policies, and in a few years, the businesses that didn’t take it seriously will be left behind. Plus, let’s not forget that customers aren’t stupid. They can see through companies that are just saying what they think the public wants to hear. So make sure that your earth-friendly operations run through all that you do, rather than just being something that you say to curry favor with consumers.

Eco Supply Chain 

You’re not running your company in isolation. You’ll have suppliers, partners, and so on. So it’s worthwhile looking at the eco-credentials of the other companies that you work with. While you might have good practices at your company, if you’re hiring companies with a less than stellar environmental record, then that’ll fall on you, too. Plus, the world will only change if people and companies stop giving their money to businesses that cause harm to the environment. Have the same standards for the companies you hire as you do for your own company. 

Not Taking the Employee’s Views on Board 

The environmental policies that you enact at your company should come from the bottom up, not the top down. Part of the logic behind this is because eco-friendly policies must run through everything you do, rather than just at the top level of your operations. The other reason is that you’ll be more likely to miss something if you focus at the top. A good way to get around this common mistake is to take your employees’ views on board. They’ll likely know where things could be improved, simply because they’re working on the “shop floor” every day. If all the decisions are made at an executive level, then something will be overlooked. This is a generally good rule for all decisions related to your company, not just ones related to the environment.

Overly Ambitious Goals 

It’s good to be driven by passion when it comes to making improvements to your business. But if you’ve never thought about your company’s environmental record before, then it’s a good idea to start slow. While it’s noble to want to change everything and to become a champion of the environment, if you have overly ambitious goals, then it’ll be more likely that you’ll lose focus. Get the basics under control and then you can think about stepping up and doing more. If you are going to set ambitious goals, then be sure to make your plans as detailed as possible, with realistic time frames in mind.

Getting Stuck 

Finally, let’s think about your ongoing commitment to the environment. It’s good to start with the basics, but that shouldn’t be the end of your journey. There are new eco-friendly practices coming out all the time. Indeed, in the space of a couple of years, there’ll be new ways of doing things. Once you’ve finished your current transition to earth-friendly practices, keep on top of what new developments are coming out and other ways that you can improve. You could consider creating an environment officer role at your business; it’ll be their job to stay abreast of developments. It’s all about developing in line with new ways of doing things. 

Conclusion

It’s up to all of us to do better for the planet. Take our tips above, and it won’t be long before you can feel like you’re playing your role. In an age when concern for the climate is becoming more mainstream and important than ever, now’s the perfect time to look at improving your business. 

Blockchain for Sustainability: Cutting Through the Hype with Strategic Communication

By Julie Starr • April 28, 2025
As blockchain continues to gain traction in sustainability circles—from tracking carbon credits to improving supply chain transparency—more organizations are exploring how these emerging tools might support their ESG goals. But with innovation comes complexity, and for many stakeholders, blockchain still feels like a black box. That’s where communication becomes essential. At Taiga Company, we work with clients to simplify complex sustainability narratives without oversimplifying the value. While blockchain can offer traceability and transparency, it’s not a silver bullet—and how you talk about these technologies matters just as much as how you use them. Poor communication can undermine credibility, especially in a landscape where stakeholders and regulators are increasingly alert to greenwashing . On the other hand, clear, honest messaging about blockchain-enabled sustainability efforts can build trust and differentiate your leadership. Our approach is grounded in materiality and alignment. We help organizations: Translate technical tools like blockchain into plain language that resonates with diverse audiences Connect new technologies to core sustainability strategy Craft credible narratives that evolve alongside innovation Blockchain may be new territory, but strategic communication remains the foundation. Whether you're piloting traceability tools or just starting to explore how blockchain fits your ESG roadmap, we help you tell the story with clarity and confidence. Let’s make innovation meaningful.

6 Things All Modern Businesses Need in 2025

By Julie Starr • April 22, 2025
If you’re starting your own business, then you know all too well that it’s equally an exciting and overwhelming time. There’s so much to think about, and you want to get it right from day one. But it doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as you might think. Let’s go through everything your new business needs to hit the ground running this year. A Clear Business Plan Before anything else, take the time to figure out your game plan. This doesn’t need to be a long, boring document that you’ll never look at again. Think of it as a simple guide that answers three key questions: Who are you selling to? What are you offering? And how are you going to get noticed? Once you’ve written that down, you can always tweak it as your business grows. From a communications standpoint, clarity on your audience and value proposition also sets the foundation for authentic brand storytelling—something Taiga Company helps clients refine at every stage. Responsible Financial Management Money is one of those things that can make or break a business. The good news is you don’t need a finance degree to get it right. Start with a simple budget. Know how much is coming in, what’s going out, and what you’re setting aside. Think about things like stock, marketing, bills and wages if you’re hiring. Keep it realistic and keep it updated. Doing this from day one will make life much easier later. Reliable Cloud Services In 2025, storing everything on your laptop isn’t really a safe bet. Files go missing, computers break, and you don’t want to lose important stuff. That’s where cloud services come in. They keep your files secure, backed up and easy to access from anywhere. Whether it’s documents, customer info or creative work, having it all saved online gives you peace of mind. And when you're building a business in a digital-first world, having secure, accessible assets also means your team can collaborate more efficiently across channels—essential for strong communications. Flexible Payment Options Most people don’t carry cash anymore, so if you’re only accepting it, you’re going to lose sales. Get yourself a card reader that takes all the usual stuff like debit cards, credit cards, contactless and Apple Pay. The easier you make it for someone to pay you, the more likely they are to buy. Simple as that. A Basic Website Even if you’re not selling online, you still need a website. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just something that tells people who you are, what you do, and how they can contact you. Think of your site as your digital front door. If someone hears about your business, chances are they’ll look you up online. Make sure what they find actually helps them. A clear website is also one of the most powerful communication tools your business has. We work with clients to ensure their digital presence reflects their story, purpose, and value. A Way to Spread the Word You can’t rely on people just stumbling across your business. You’ve got to put yourself out there. Social media is a great start, but don’t stop there. Think email newsletters , posters in your local area or even just chatting about your work whenever it comes up naturally. The more you talk about your business, the more others will too. Starting a business in 2025 is a big move, but it doesn’t have to feel impossible. Get the basics in place, stay flexible and keep learning. With the right tools and the right message, you can build momentum and create connection. Taiga Company helps growing businesses translate operational essentials into brand trust and long-term impact.