In our modern world, sustainability is more important than ever. Recent studies have suggested that consumers are becoming more earth-conscious in their purchases, prompting companies to advance towards more sustainable business strategies. Is it necessary for business owners to consider the environmental costs of their business? How can businesses maintain sustainability, and by extension, what does it mean to be a “sustainable business”? In a quest to learn more about the value of sustainability in businesses, I interviewed a local business owner, Mr Andy Sila, owner of Thai Secret Restaurant in Surbiton.
“I would say that contrary to popular belief, sustainability doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing profits. Being a restaurateur for the past 20 years has taught me that there will always be customers who refuse a good or service because of the way in which it was brought about was environmentally unsustainable. Simply put, a sustainable business is one which takes into account how a given organisation operates in the ecological, social, and economic environment.”
"Of course, these initiatives are an investment in the short-term", but the idea is, Mr Sila suggests, that “businesses will reap the long-term benefits of consumers opting for more sustainable alternatives”. In the business world, competition is everything. Mr Sila suggests that being purpose-driven, rather than profit-driven, can actually be a competitive advantage. “In a time where there are plenty of suppliers to choose from, I feel that there are almost always people who are not too concerned with price if their main concern is to help the environment. One thing I recently changed in my business in order to become more sustainable was introducing heat-sealed, fully recyclable takeaway trays, as well as biodegradable brown paper bags”.
Ultimately, sustainability is a crucial business approach which Mr Sila anticipates will become more prevalently integrated into future business strategies as a result of more environmentally conscious consumers.
