Best Practices for Implementing Sustainability Projects

Sometimes, I reflect on how we got here and remember how lucky we are. Before we started Spearhead, we had decades of experience in the industry. We already had an idea of leveraging our expertise to build a practice that provides quality service sustainability and embodies strong DEI practices in every conceivable way. But that’s not true for most small businesses. There are probably smaller-scale suppliers out there who are reluctant to embrace sustainability because they believe it’s too difficult and too expensive. Why go sustainable when there are so many cheaper options?  It’s an easy mindset to fall into. I believe for the world to continue moving in a positive and sustainable direction,  all businesses should have access to eco-friendly solutions that fit their budgets. This is why I’d like to share some of my methods with you today… Audit your packaging materials to identify where you can reduce waste.  - With clever engineering, you can use less material that is as protective or even more protective of your product   - Reimagine your supply chain by sourcing materials locally to cut down on transportation emissions. Vet your suppliers for their sustainability practices.  - Periodically review and refine your joint efforts for continuous improvements. - Don’t choose solely based on cost. Remember, a sustainable partnership can save you money in the long run through better resource management. Use Green Manufacturing Practices to lower your impact.  Shift to energy-efficient machinery.   Invest in renewable energy sources for production.   Train your team on sustainability practices to ensure everyone is contributing to energy conservation. #SpiritsIndustry #PackagingIndustry #Sustainability

6 Principles for Avoiding Sustainability Stall Right Now Your company may be in a contraction phase, but there are still ways to keep ESG efforts moving forward. Here are recommendations (from MIT Sloan Management Review) along with my thoughts on how to do this everyday: *Leverage your company values to inspire leadership and employees toward sustainability  *Incorporate sustainability into corporate strategy - start with at least one collective corporate goal around sustainability and use your success to win more *Sustainability trainings - leverage your passionate employees starting with key departments *Create a sustainability culture in your organization - easier said than done, but the first step to get you there is to engage executive support *Do business through a sustainability lens - start with corporate strategy and quick wins, like wrap-to-ship to save resources and packaging *Connect with all your employees - when I was as a team of one, some of my best implementers came from areas I didn’t expect: Creative Director, Customer Support, Social Media Manager Comment below if you have questions or other tips to keep ESG momentum going. h/t Ellen Weinreb for posting this article #sustainability #esg #changemanagement

You don’t need a giant sustainability team to buy carbon removal credits. Both Adyen and Zendesk have just one full-time internal team member working on their CDR purchasing (while juggling other responsibilities). Here are three strategies these lean sustainability teams are using to purchase CDR right now - 1. It’s not about the tons: focus on impact over offsetting Neither company is securing carbon removal (CDR) credits to directly offset corporate emissions. Instead, both concentrate on backing projects they see as providing long-term, additional carbon removal and sequestration, and that have the potential to scale. 2. Link CDR budgets to other company climate wins to build employee engagement Zendesk’s original CDR budget came from the operational savings the sustainability team had created from several years of internal energy efficiency programs. Teams most impacted by the energy efficiency program are now the staunchest supporters of the company’s CDR strategy. Adyen’s CDR budget comes from an internal carbon tax on employee travel, a highly visible and trackable emissions source. 3. Bring in external expertise and build a diverse project portfolio Both have worked with external experts to source and vet projects. And both are buying from CDR projects across a range of carbon removal mechanisms, including CarbonCapture Inc. (modular direct air capture), Charm Industrial (biomass carbon removal and storage) and InPlanet (rock weathering). Big thanks to Shengyuan Su and Lena Pyatkovsky for sharing some of their lessons learned! #carbonremoval #corporatesustainability #climatesolutions #cdr