As we’ve mentioned on the Eco Strategy page and the Defining Your Strategy post, the most effective way to become a more sustainable organization is by aligning your sustainability goals with the core mission of your company. This helps you avoid conflicts between your business objectives and sustainability goals, it maintains stronger momentum behind your eco initiatives, and drives meaningful innovation for your business. For some businesses it’s easy to find an eco purpose that align well with your business purpose – others may need a little more ideation to find a great fit. Depending on what type of work you do, there may be a sustainability ‘flavor’ that is a great match with your business mission. Take a look at these 8 flavors to see if one is a great match for what you do.
Flavor #1: for the kids
Show kids you want to give them a great future.
Maybe your business provides something great for kids. If your business or organization serves kids or families, there is an opportunity to connect with your customer by showing you care about their future. Businesses can make eco choices that preserve resources, protect special places, avoid child labor, and eliminate toxic ingredients. If you want to promote sustainability as part of your brand, you can even help kids learn about being good to our planet and share the actions your business takes to support a vibrant future for earth.
This could be a great fit for:
Children’s retail 
Preschools and child care 
Kids games and media
Is this your flavor? Dig in deeper for some inspiration and ideas to get you started.
Flavor #2: for healthy living
Create a healthier world for your customers and beyond.
Maybe your business is all about health. If yours is a health or well-being focused business, you can deliver these value propositions through sustainable solutions that promote health. If you begin to look at the wider range of health impact – both to your immediate customers, your supply chain, and the planet – you may find some inspiring opportunities to make a difference.
This could be a great fit for
Fitness & Yoga 
Spas & Salons 
Health Care Providers
If health is your flavor, read this for some thought provoking win-win solutions.
Flavor #3: for the ladies
Empower women and save the climate at the same time.
Maybe your business is tailored to women. Climate change is already impacting women and children, particularly in developing countries. By empowering women & girls we can improve their resilience and help save the planet. If your business or organization primarily serves women, this angle on sustainability could be a powerful way to align sustainability with your business mission and values.
This could be a great fit for:
Beauty, Skin Care & Fashion 
Women’s Coworking Spaces 
Women’s Magazines & Media
Read more about women focused sustainability here
Flavor #4: for the community
Strengthen and improve your local community.
Maybe your business is closely tied to your community. If your business is located in a community that is at risk for climate-related threats, you can focus some of your sustainability efforts on impacts that directly improve your community’s protection and resilience. You can support local initiatives that make your community more self-sufficient, protect from climate threats, and create a cleaner and healthier place to live.
This could be a great fit for:
Schools & Libraries 
Local Businesses 
Real Estate
Read more about community focused sustainability here
Flavor #5: for social justice
Support social justice through climate justice.
Maybe you are all about serving minorities. If your organization is focused on social impact or your business serves minority and low income communities, sustainability can be one more way to help the community you serve and align sustainability with your mission. A great framework for exploring the relationships between social justice and environmental stewardship is defined in the book Doughnut Economics (get a glimpse at some of the book’s key points in my summary post)
This could be a great fit for:
Nonprofits 
Businesses in Minority Communities 
Minority Owned Businesses
Read more about social justice focused sustainability here
Flavor #6: for global impact
Maybe your business spans the globe. If your business works across international borders or relies on resources from developing nations, then working to support global preservation is a priority that may align well with your business goals. Focusing on initiatives that maximize climate decarbonization is a powerful way to make an impact that benefits the entire world.
This could be a great fit for
Coffee Shops 
Travel & Tourism 
Consultancy with International Clients
Read more about global impact focused sustainability here
Flavor #7: for the trees
Maybe your business is all about outdoor activities. If this is your focus, then a sustainability strategy that really focuses on preserving natural beauty and ecosystems could be the best fit for you. Initiatives that preserve beautiful places, protect diversity, and increase access to nature can all be part of your eco strategy.
This could be a great fit for:
Outdoor Recreation 
Sporting Goods Stores 
Vacation Rentals
Read more about nature focused sustainability here
Flavor #8: for food lovers
Maybe your business is about serving amazing food. Since agriculture is one of the most impactful industries when it comes to climate change, the choices you make for sourcing your food can have a big impact. Sourcing your food thoughtfully, opting for local foods, and talking to your farmers and suppliers about how food is produced can all help make your business a force for good.
This could be a great fit for:
Grocery Stores 
Restaurants 
Farms & Growers
Read more about eco for food lovers
Flavor #9: for your customer
Maybe your business is all about providing value. For some businesses, the value you bring to your customers is more abstract. This can often be the case for services and business to business organizations. In these cases, a strong eco strategy often begins with how sustainability can deliver greater value for your customers. If this describes your company, think about using Sustainability to differentiate your offering by adding new customer value.
This could be a great fit for:
Tech Companies 
Service Industries 
Freelancers
Read more about customer focused sustainability here
Ready to get started?
For all of these, there are some great solutions from the green business toolkit that can help you build a plan around your sustainability ‘flavor’. If you haven’t found a perfect fit here, read Defining Your Eco Strategy to create your own tailored sustainability approach.