What you can do to make your freelance business more sustainable
You’ve probably heard of or even bought from a sustainable brand. You’ve read about the great things they’re doing for the ocean or the changes they’ve made to their supply chain. Maybe the recent news headlines had you wishing you could do more to help.
How can we apply that to our freelance or small business? Let’s take a look.
What is sustainability?
First off, let’s recognise that the term ‘sustainable’ has become a bit of a buzzword. Now that almost every brand from Shell to boohoo claims vague sustainable values, it’s become nearly meaningless.
To me, when I talk about a sustainable business, I’m describing a business that considers the future of the planet and its people in its operations.
And whilst that’s a good start, I’d like to go a step further. To me, a sustainable business is one that’s sustainable for me and my clients. A business where I can continue to learn, grow and provide the best possible service for my clients while enjoying a healthy and balanced life.
Why should I care about running my business sustainably?
Let’s get one thing straight: whilst the action of individuals is important, significant change will only come when governments and big corporations step up.
That said, as a collective of freelancers and small businesses, we’re a huge force for change. Our superpower is to adapt, show what’s possible and apply pressure to those who say it can’t be done. Cool, no?
What’s even cooler is that you get to choose how you build sustainability into your work. And there are so many amazing ways to do so.
But remember, we are small businesses. Most of us probably do our own marketing, finances, admin and everything else. Don’t put pressure on yourself. No one can do everything.
How can I make my business more sustainable?
Think about what really matters to you and how you can make an impact. And remember, saying no to burnout, presenteeism and hustle culture are radical and empowering ways to make your business more sustainable before you even get started on anything else.
You could pick up new habits:
reduce your paper consumption
choose refurbished electronics
switch to an ethical bank
make time to work on your passion project
choose your own working hours
You might raise awareness of causes that matter to you:
advocate for mental health
promote a healthy freelance work culture
campaign against the gender pay gap
Or perhaps you’ll contribute to creating change:
donate a percentage of your annual profit to an important cause
support new and upcoming freelancers in your industry
plant trees *no longer recommended
work with clients who are doing good in the world
advocate for diversity and inclusivity in your workplace or community
What’s a social responsibility policy?
Now that you’ve decided on the positive action you’re going to take, why not write it down?
A social responsibility policy explains what you’re doing to contribute to a more sustainable future. You don’t have to be a big business or have a huge list of sustainable initiatives to have one.
It’s a chance to share your values and attract clients or customers who think like you do. You might even encourage someone else to make a change.
Your policy can be totally unique to you, your values and your local area. The important thing to remember here is not to overthink it. It’s a statement of intent. A work in progress. As well as sharing what you’re doing already, include some goals for the year or five years to come. If you start before you’re ready, it will grow with you.
Check out my work-in-progress policy here.
For more inspiration, Sarah Townsend wrote a brilliant blog post that sums up her no-nonsense environmental policy.
That all sounds great, but where the hell do I start?
If you’re feeling inspired to adjust your impact and do all the things right away, it can feel super overwhelming. Instead, start small. The important thing isn’t to do the perfect thing, it’s just to do something. Change just one thing. Then next month change another.
Making a difference is an ongoing endeavour, you don’t have to have all the answers right away. As long as we’re doing our best, that’s what’s important.
So pick one or two issues that matter to you and start there. See where it takes you.
I’d love to hear how you get on. Come and find me on LinkedIn for a chat.