Stay Focused On The Three Pillars

Julie Starr • August 3, 2021



Sustainability has become a catchphrase among companies. The idea of going green, changing the world by their brand, and even being able to glitch the big contracts if your ethos screams the word. But are you losing focus on what sustainability is? 

Sustainability rests on three pillars that together will give you the desired outcome. Those three pillars are society, economy, and environment. In layman’s terms, it’s people, profit, and the planet. Unfortunately, many companies are only focusing on one or two of these pillars. Without the support of all three, their ‘sustainable’ company and cause start to crumble.

Paperless

A noble cause of going paperless most companies embrace did not happen overnight. Yet, the concept or idea has been here for ages. It took years of tech development and app enhancements for this idea to become a reality. But taking the picture back a few years, going paperless definitely satisfied the pillar environment, although the economy and society suffered to an extent. It was an expensive exercise due to tech development not being so advised. The employees at paper mills and other factories were staring retrenchment in the face. This is where visionary companies excel. They do not focus on the now (a few months). They focus on the future and what the possibilities will hold. How they will satisfy the other two pillars. Partnerships with other sectors of the economy blossomed, and together they set out to build paperless sustainability. 

Single-use Items

Single-use items were also being brought under the crossfire of environmentalists. Companies that traded in this industry did not have the full scope of sustainability in mind. They only focused on profits and people (their needs). They made an incredible profit back then, but two generations later, and they are being held accountable. Corporate responsibility strategies (CSR) are being enforced by many companies in fear that their company reputation and profits will be ruined. Takeaway containers are now made out of recycled material, and no more plastic cutlery for you. Here is your bamboo cutlery . Evolving with the demands to sustain the three pillars is what will safeguard companies in the perfect storm of sustainability.

Organic

Clothing items might be cheaper to make from high synthetic material and polyester, pushing up your profits. But the lack of taking into consideration social and the environment are pushing customers to buy items that are organic. And it doesn’t stop there. Everything organic and local has become the focus of consumers. 

Still Not 100% Environment

It is true that we are still far from achieving the goals to go 100% green, but there are still some responsible actions companies should take. Actions like the transportation of hazardous materials which must be secure, complete all the checks when loaded, safe (if it’s flammable, there must be enough fire extinguishers at hand), and so on. If your company still requires timber, are you replanting trees? With your next big brainstorm or marketing strategy, make sure that you stay focused on the three pillars. 

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.