The business benefits of using sustainability standards [infographic]

In the natural products industry, we know that story matters when it comes to selling the latest better-for-you product. An important element in that story — sustainability standards — adds great value in today’s triple bottom-line economy.

While almost all sources in a recent meta-analysis note the important role sustainability standards play on sales and marketing, the across-the-board business benefits add up. Amsterdam-based Aidenvironment, a sustainable production and trade consultancy, completed the business benefits report for ISEAL Alliance, a group of sustainability standards organizations.

The infographic below notes the benefits of sustainability across the supply chain by highlighting how many reports in the meta-analysis found business impacts such as reduced supply chain risk, better access to financing, reduced costs and more.

As written in the full report: "The wide range of reported benefits suggests that businesses can approach the choice of adopting standards more strategically. Rather than using them as a standalone tool, businesses are encouraged to use standards as an instrument that is part of more integrated medium- and long-term strategies on operations, procurement, sales and marketing, stakeholder engagement and promoting sector-wide change."

A case study noted Unilever’s adoption of Rainforest Alliance standards for its Lipton tea brand. Not only did the strategy change customer perception, but it resulted in overall sales growth and helped seal a contract deal with McDonald’s.

Get the report summary or the complete "Aidenvironment report business benefits of standards" analysis from ISEAL Alliance.

This piece originally appeared on New Hope Network, a Supermarket News sister website. Visit the site for more.