Linda is a Retail and Sustainability Consultant. With a lifetime of business experience, she has worked with companies ranging from multinational stores to solo entrepreneur retailers. Linda has held senior leadership positions in Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, The Body Shop and the Simon Community.&nbsp;

She has served <a href=&apos;https://www.charityretail.ie/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Charity Retail Ireland</a> as Executive Secretary for the past 14 years. Linda is a Board Member of <a href=&apos;https://crni.ie/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>CRNI</a>, the Community Resources Network Ireland and an Industry Subject Matter Expert for <a href=&apos;https://www.qqi.ie/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>QQI</a>, the state agency responsible for the external quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland.

Her latest venture is <a href=&apos;https://greenzebra.io/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Green Zebra</a> that helps business to go green. Knowing that you want to do something is one thing, knowing where to start is another. With the support of Green Zebra, your business can prioritise high impact steps to greater sustainability. You too can have a greener business with the right support.

Our Vision
A world where all businesses make profits with purpose through planet positive actions. By integrating sustainability into strategy, businesses can save money, make a profit and still contribute to a more sustainable planet.
 Our Values
<ul>
<li>Respect for the planet</li>
<li>Respect for all people</li>
<li>Respect for the facts</li>
</ul>
Our Give Back
<ul>
<li>Pro bono programme for charities</li>
<li><a href=&apos;https://onepercentfortheplanet.org/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>1% For The Planet</a> member</li>
</ul>

Co-founder - Green Zebra

Linda Ward

Sarah helps companies to create a climate conscious workforce that will increase staff retention, attract the best talent and make your business future fit. Sarah believes companies can make a profit and be planet positive. Sarah helps clients with B Corp Certification and Carbon Literacy Certification for employees.

Director

Sarah Blake

Patricia Kane

As the beauty industry continues to grow, some of its practices are having a negative impact. 

As much as 70% of the plastic waste the industry generates isn't recycled, ending up in landfill instead. Concerning news, given an average moisturiser pot can take nearly 1,000 years to decompose.

Businesses in this space, by their very nature, exist to make people and society better. But the outcomes don't always match the ambitions. The well-known negative impacts of body stigma and body image mean companies whose products provide health benefits must consider any unintentional effects their marketing can create.

Not only traditional marketing but social media too, where the rising number of unhealthy products being promoted by influencers is making it harder for consumers to trust products that make valid health claims.

But movements for change are happening, and more customers are wanting to buy from businesses that have a clear purpose and positive impact on society and the planet. If each business made a small, conscious change to the way it runs, the effect would be game-changing, across both the country and the world.

In this blog, we explore some of the ways that beauty, health and wellness businesses can become more sustainable, help tackle climate change and change society. Excitingly, none of this has to come at the expense of profit.

The business case for being more sustainable

Standing out from the competition is so important in today's market. News stories about environmental and social responsibility are the 

 in terms of affecting people's decision to buy. According to research by Squarespace, consumers are:

grow your current customer base and reach new markets

, customers must be able to recognise their values in your company. Indeed, a 

 found that 59% of women over the age of 35 say buying eco-friendly beauty products is important to them personally.

 and environmental sustainability are business challenges. What affects people and the planet will affect your business too.

If estimates are correct, your business's pre-tax earnings could fall by 25% to 70% if these challenges have the effect of:

Managing and reducing these risks, and proactively looking for ways to bring what you do into line with the needs of people and the planet, will 

make your business stronger for the future

Indeed, future businesses are the ones that consider the 

impact they're having on society and the environment

. If people know that your business has unfair labour practices at any point in its supply chain, or that you're exploiting the environment in some way, they simply won't buy from you.

Making commitments that not only benefit the people who are interested in your business, but have a net positive impact on the environment too, will encourage 

Many beauty, health and wellness businesses have used their 

 to develop new and creative products, disrupt traditional business models and access new markets. They're choosing to be proactive in the face of new social and environmental challenges.

Depending on what you sell, there are a number of certifications you can apply for to prove you're making genuine claims about your product. Some well-known certification bodies include the 

Each has its own assessment process you can follow to get certified and be able to put their logo on your products.

While it isn't an official certification, there are emerging trends like "zero waste", which many conscious consumers now look out for when purchasing products.

What consumers expect from the companies they shop with is constantly evolving. People are paying more attention to how products are made and packaged, and want your business to consider all aspects of its entire manufacturing process.

Whether you make it official or not, there are certain online and physical marketplaces that focus on these certifications and bring together like-minded sellers and customers.

creates almost 120 billion units of packaging, and yet only about 9% of these products are recyclable

. If you make and sell a product, how can you work towards removing waste from your products and processes?

Eliminate -> Reduce -> Recycle/reuse -> Supplement

 may help when trying to understand this in your own business. Here are some examples.

Ingredients on skincare products are listed in terms of weight. More often than not, the first in the list is water, typically the cheapest of all ingredients used. The result is products that are 95% water, leaving only 5% for active ingredients.

Because products contain so much water, not only do they fail to give our skin the nutrients it needs, but the excessive use of water in the manufacturing process creates a significant 

. It's predicted that by 2025, more than five billion people will be affected by water shortages.

The shampoo bar is a great example of a product that's been around for ages but is now seeing sustained growth. The movement among consumers to switch from liquid shampoos to shampoo bars means other brands are having to step up and remove unnecessary waste from their products too.

 is often the most talked-about issue when it comes to the impact on the environment. How can you design your product so it doesn't become waste at the end of its life?

Simply making sure your packaging is recyclable is important, yes. But thinking more creatively could set you apart from the competition. Refillable bottles and multi-use or reusable packaging is a growing trend, as is packaging you can compost or plant.

70% of the carbon emissions the beauty industry creates could be eliminated

Consumers are definitely more eco-conscious now, and this attitude is only growing. Demand for better business practices will continue as we all become more aware of how our buying habits affect people and the planet.

Buyers are increasingly frowning upon excessive or unnecessary packaging which would end up in landfill. They're also learning more about the flaws in the recycling process, whether this happens because of human error or within the waste management industry itself.

And while biodegradable waste is an improvement, some products and packaging use inks or ingredients that are toxic. These toxins end up being fed back into the environment.

 is hugely based on the trust between your business and your customers. Now people have access to a wealth of information online, it's much harder for companies to make false claims about their products.

Being honest about everything, from your product's ingredients to its benefits, will help make sure your customers return to you because you're a brand they can trust.

For a lot of people, treating themselves is a luxury they can't afford. With so many communities excluded from this self-care, how can you make sure you're reaching those customers who traditionally wouldn't be able to reach you?

You can make space for people who would perhaps miss out on health, beauty and wellness services by offering different payment structures. This might mean letting customers voluntarily pay it forward, or increasing prices slightly so you can provide reduced rates to people on lower incomes.

In some cases, businesses have offered their services for free, while partnering with a local charity can give you a sustainable solution that also covers your costs.

Work with your competitors, not against them

It's easy to see being in business as a race against the competition. But the more you can 

Inevitably, as you've built your business, you'll have developed a great network of interested people. 

 by introducing like-minded individuals to one another. Once connected, they can all learn from each other and share tips and insight.

Finding organisations and businesses that offer a product or service that complements yours can help you have a much more positive impact – and grow at the same time.

As you build your business, you'll also, perhaps unknowingly, be amassing knowledge in a specific area or problem. While your first focus should be on providing the best service possible, you should also be aware of the positive impact your expertise and influence could have.

You have a huge opportunity to spread information and education to the right people – government, small businesses, employees of large businesses, or the general public. You can also use your voice to promote a cause or highlight a problem that you care about.

Plan it with Purpose, from Enterprise Nation

Want more tips on making your beauty, health or wellness brand sustainable?

Download our free guide to find out what measures you can put in place to make sure your beauty, health or wellness business has a positive impact. 

Enterprise Nation has helped thousands of people start and grow their businesses. Led by founder, Emma Jones CBE, Enterprise Nation connects you to the resources and expertise to help you succeed.

How to make a beauty, health or wellness business more sustainable

Learn about the ways to become more sustainable, help tackle climate change and have a positive impact on society.

When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, a large percentage of your business's footprint is in how you and your staff move about.

Emissions are grouped into three 'Scopes'. Driving to and from work comes under 

: emissions that your business doesn't generate itself, but are associated with its activities. 

While hybrid working has likely reduced the number of days (and the emissions generated) people are commuting, it's still a significant portion.

But what are the options in reality? In this blog, we explore the measures and metrics of what just getting to work looks like.

To work out what emissions your business travel is generating, you'll need to know a few key figures:

To be more accurate, you can also gather information such as days worked per year and so on. It's recommended that you collect data for each member of staff and then combine the figures at the end.

A part-time employee who cycles to work will have a much different footprint to someone who drives every day in a diesel-powered vehicle, even if they're travelling the same distance.

Once you've done that, you'll need to start getting per mile usage stats. 

 has a easy-to-read source that uses 2019 data from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – we use that data in this blog.

However, there's new data being published all the time, so you might find a different source you'd prefer to use for your own calculations.

All data is given in grams of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per kilometre. To adjust this into miles, we've multiplied all figures by 1.6.

It's worth noting that these figures take into account the whole lifecycle of the fuel and vehicle. That is, the emissions generated from the extraction, transport and refinement of the petrol, and not just the tailpipe emissions.

This gives a much more accurate picture, especially with electric vehicles charged by the grid (which isn't entirely green yet).

The two vehicles use the same fuel source, but the heavier, larger vehicle produces nearly double the emissions. If you're car-sharing, this may not be as much of an issue – although the average car occupancy in the UK suggests commuting is mostly a solo affair.

We can now look at two electric vehicles:

Here, the difference is smaller but still considerable. The smaller difference is explained by the fact that electric motors are incredibly efficient, converting around 85% of the energy they consume into motion.

By comparison, a petrol engine is around 30% efficient. Consequently, if the car is heavier you need much more fuel to move the same amount.

These differences are fairly minor individually, but they become apparent when you look at a yearly carbon footprint.

Let's assume we're commuting 10 miles a day, five days a week, and working 48 weeks of the year. That makes the formula:

A small electric car charged off grid energy has a footprint that is around 85% smaller than a petrol SUV.

It can be hard to put these figures into context, so let's consider how many trees we'd need to plant to offset the amount of emissions.

A mature tree can sequester (capture and store) around 22kg of carbon dioxide every year. However, new sapling trees, such as those you're planting, are likely to only sequester a fraction of this – around 2kg or 3kg per year.

Let's assume 2kg because your emissions are now, and you need to offset what you're producing today – not in 20 years' time once the tree has grown.

Trees are priced at around £6 each in the UK, so you do the maths on how much it could cost!

Cars are pretty energy-intensive as typically only one person uses them. They also require a lot of energy to move around. But what about public transport or bikes? This is where the difference becomes significant.

As many buses use diesel, they're quite high polluters compared to the alternatives. However, more fleets are becoming electric or hybrid, and so the data here (from 2019) may be out of date.

Trains and trams, on the other hand, demonstrate significant reductions, even when measured against electric cars – just 56g per mile compared to 73g for a small electric car.

Even better is the electric bike. Because they're powered, people can cycle much further on them. There's less strain on the body, and commuters aren't arriving at work with the dreaded cycle sweat. For this reason, we highly recommend that you invest in an employee cycle to work scheme!

Compared to a car, an electric bike is incredible value and boosts employees' productivity and wellbeing, especially during summer. Would you rather be getting some exercise or stuck in a traffic jam? Plus the more people cycling to work, the less traffic there is.

There's a lot of information to take in, but calculating this data for your own business is relatively straightforward and something you can do easily with a spreadsheet.

Begin by gathering up how far everyone comes in each day and how they do it. From there, you'll be able to quickly add in emissions data to build up a footprint. It's a start!

Plan it with Purpose Ireland: Helping businesses develop a better understanding of environmental and social issues

Plan it with Purpose: Sustainability discovery tool

Answer a series of questions about your business and get a tailored action plan that tells you where to find the support, resources and advice you need to be more sustainable. 

99% of businesses in the UK are small and existing guidance isn’t accessible for them to take action. Many existing organisations and government agencies focus their efforts on advising large multinationals. Reducing the carbon impact of  Sainsburys will provide a better return on their efforts than chasing many small ones.

This has meant small businesses are often overlooked. While larger organisations chase after the 1% to make changes, we are here to advise you, the small99, on how you can make an impact today. So, please join me on this journey as we transform the carbon output of the UK’s economy, one small business at a time.

Small business emissions: How is your commuting affecting the environment?

A large percentage of your business's carbon footprint is in how you and your staff travel.

As a small business owner, have you ever wondered how sustainable your business practices are? Are you looking to reduce your environmental impact and improve your bottom line? A sustainability audit can help you assess what you do currently, then identify areas for improvement.

 or have already implemented some green initiatives, carrying out a sustainability audit is crucial.

In this blog, we'll guide you through the auditing process and help you to reduce your environmental footprint while having a positive impact.

A sustainability audit is a process that examines your business's environmental, social and economic practices to see how well you're meeting certain sustainability standards. The main purpose of the audit is to:

Sustainability auditing also allows you to benchmark your performance against industry standards and best practice, giving you valuable insight into your sustainability efforts. That way, you can set realistic and achievable sustainability goals and monitor your progress over time.

Why would my business need a sustainability audit?

More and more businesses are doing sustainability audits, for several reasons. There's a growing recognition of the importance of environmental responsibility and the need for everyone to reduce their environmental impact overall. By carrying out regular sustainability audits, your business can assess its:

Once you've done that, you can identify opportunities for improvement and create effective 

Sustainability audits also help your business stay within the law and meet other industry standards. By evaluating your sustainability practices, you can make sure you're keeping to environmental regulations and reducing any negative social impacts associated with how you operate.

How do I carry out a sustainability audit?

 and why they're important. Once you're clear on that, you can figure out what sustainable practices your small business can adopt.

Look into environmental laws and standards that might affect your business. Talk to staff and customers to work out what impact your business has on the environment, then work together to find solutions.

The key to a good sustainability audit is to have a strong action plan in place before you begin. This is crucial for getting support from senior management (if that applies) and making sure your project doesn't lose momentum after a short while.

It will also ensure that sustainability becomes an important part of your business's culture and that your 

A sustainability action plan outlines what everyone in your business needs to do to reach the sustainability goals you've set for yourself. It details the tasks that must take place if you're to meet your objectives and improve your environmental performance.

To determine how sustainable your company is, look at factors like your energy usage and your supply chain. Use tools to estimate your 

Audit all major business operations, from recycling materials in the workplace to 

 and how you source raw materials. Consider getting a professional environmental audit, especially if you want certification or to be a 

You can create your sustainability action plan by following these key steps.

How to do a sustainability audit for your small business

Learn how the auditing process can help you to reduce your environmental footprint while having a positive impact.

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