At Naked Sustainability, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do; it’s not just a fancy buzzword or some greenwashing BS. We are committed to running our business in a way that minimizes our environmental impact while promoting sustainable practices in our community and that means integrating sustainability into every aspect of our business operations. And to show that we’re not just giving you guys the “marketing spiel,” we’re committed to documenting our business sustainability initiatives and progress toward them.
We’re a “baby business” at the moment. We’re building our brand, creating partnerships, and crafting our signature programs to help make sustainability the easy choice for all of us. These initiatives and goals might change as we look forward to the future and grow, but the core values and goal to NURTURE the planet instead of DESTROY it will always remain the same.
You have my promise on that.
Sustainability Initiatives
Since Naked Sustainability is still small, our impact is mostly that of my {Ginny Rayne’s} everyday life, which we (the Boyfriend and I) are actively working to minimize. But we realize that much of our everyday impact/carbon footprint, especially in the modern world, is behind the scenes that we really can’t see. Please bear with us as we figure out what should be reported and how to report it to you.
Environmental Sustainability
We aim to minimize our environmental footprint through targeted initiatives and best practices in environmental management. We focus on reducing our energy consumption, minimizing our waste, and promoting renewable energy sources.
Social Sustainability
Although we are small, we want to ensure we foster a diverse and inclusive workplace culture from the get-go. This means ensuring fair labor practices and respect for human rights throughout our supply chain, and any partnerships we’ve established, as well as engaging with our local communities through philanthropic initiatives and volunteer programs.
Governance and Ethics
We have established governance structures to ensure ethical business practices and accountability while adhering to our high ethical standards in all aspects of our operations and maintaining transparency with our stakeholders (YOU).
Progress Made
Since our progress towards waste reduction, energy efficiency, and renewable energy started before the inception of Naked Sustainability, please note that some our progress has been made slowly and surely throughout the years.
We are proud of the strides we have made in our sustainability journey. Here are some key areas where we’ve made significant progress:
Waste Reduction
- Implemented comprehensive waste reduction strategies, including composting and recycling.
- Factored in packaging materials to ensure they are eco-friendly.
- Adopted practices to consume less overall, minimizing waste generation.
Energy Efficiency
- Upgraded our home with energy-efficient appliances, such as a dishwasher, oven, induction cooktop, and mini-split heat pump.
- Added insulation and upgraded the roof of our home to improve energy conservation.
- Implemented home automations and lifestyle changes like line drying our clothes to reduce our energy usage.
Using What the Earth Provides
- Transitioned to whole-home solar power, significantly reducing our reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
- Started rainwater harvesting to reduce water consumption and support our garden and landscape.
- Implemented native plants and wildlife habitats throughout our yard, promoting biodiversity and reducing the need for irrigation.
Looking Ahead
As I look back over the home we have created over the last 9 years (we bought our house in 2015), I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve accomplished so far. But we need to do more. Here are some of the key ways we plan to continue to lower our impact on the planet (both in my life and in Naked Sustainability moving forward):
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1. Eco-Friendly Hosting
This is one of the first “business” updates we are making! When we started Naked Sustainability, we had NO idea how important our hosting provider was, and NO idea that sustainable web hosting existed. Once our current contract finishes (Sep-2024), we plan to switch over to GreenGeeks, an eco-friendly hosting provider that is powered by renewable energy to minimize our carbon footprint.
2. Energy Efficiency
We will continue to be more energy efficient in our life and business operations. Some updates planned (hopefully by the end of 2024) include: new energy efficient heat pump hot water heater, adding a wood stove to supplement our mini split heat pump (instead of our oil-based furnace), and continue learning how best to optimize our solar panel production.
3. Sustainable Sourcing
Whenever we need supplies, we choose products made from recycled materials, eco-friendly packaging, and suppliers who adhere to sustainable practices. We continue to implement this in every facet of our life in small bite-sized chunks. This includes partnering with like-minded businesses and organizations that share our commitment to sustainability and ethical practices.
4. Carbon Offsetting
Currently we offset our carbon footprint by using the power generated from our solar panels and planting trees on our property. We know this doesn’t negate our carbon footprint, but it’s a start. As the business grows and creates more consistent revenue, we will be investing in carbon off-setting programs to achieve the “coveted” carbon neutral status.
5. Community Involvement
We plan to make more time to be actively engaged with our community to promote sustainability through educational content, partnerships with eco-friendly organizations, and local sustainability projects. We’re a member of WildOnes and look forward to the volunteer and community opportunities provided.
Continuous Improvement to Our Sustainability Initiatives
We are always looking for new ways to improve our sustainability efforts, regularly reviewing and updating our practices to ensure they meet the highest environmental standards.
At Naked Sustainability, sustainability is our guiding principle. By integrating sustainability into every aspect of our operations and fostering a culture of responsibility, innovation, and collaboration, we aim to create long-term value for our company, our stakeholders, and the world. We are committed to authenticity, transparency, and continuous improvement in our sustainability practices, and we strive to inspire others to join us in building a more sustainable future.
You can read more about our sustainability initiatives in our Sustainable Business Strategy.