Sustainability has also become critical to winning new business and new contracts. Today’s vendor selection processes often include sustainability and social responsibility as part of the decision criteria. In fact, being certified as a green business may determine if your company even qualifies for being included in formal contract and RFP bids. Not being sustainable and green certified may actually lose you business and customers.[/vc_column_text]
The Role of Sustainability in Private Sector Bids
Competing for new contracts in the private sector may now require green business certification, so companies must take that into consideration when committing resources to the bidding process. The work that any company has to do in responding to contract bids is costly and time consuming, but worth it when it leads to new business, company growth, increased market value or in some cases, survival. It is not worth it, if the lack of proven sustainability efforts prevents companies from winning their fair share of new business opportunities.
In today’s hyper-competitive private sector environment, no company can afford to be eliminated from a bid that in any other case they might win, simply because they failed to become green or sustainability certified. Sustainability requirements are being driven by many large commercial companies such as Wal-Mart, Target and IKEA. These companies are driving the vendors in their supply chain to meet certain minimal sustainability thresholds as a baseline to work with them.
“A large number of the bids we see demand that companies responding must not only demonstrate green certification, but that their certification be from a trusted third party”.
President, ContactWorks
The Role of Sustainability in Public Sector Bids
In the public sector, you will find the sustainability requirement even more prevalent. Most government Requests For Proposals (RFPs) require some level of sustainability in place by potential vendors bidding to win the contract. Massachusetts, California, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington State, Maine, Vermont and Colorado, to name a few, have all issued executive orders or passed some form of legislation to ensure that some type of environmental impact is accounted for by companies bidding on projects. The stakes are high. The California government alone awards over $10 billion in contracts annually. This can take many forms, but the baseline for firms wishing to do business in these states is a demonstrated commitment to sustainability and in many cases official green certification.
Green Business Certification Makes Business Sense
The fact is that being greener and more sustainable is good for business. This should not be a surprise to any business leader as the bottom line benefits of sustainability are well understood and proven. Green initiatives like solar power, recycling, hybrid vehicles, and LED lighting drive operating efficiency, reduce waste, and lower energy costs. Sustainable businesses now have a competitive advantage, this includes a brand identity that is more aligned with employee and customer expectations. In other words, sustainability impacts sales and can improve both the top line and bottom line.
If you are a business that bids on contracts, green certification will increase the number of bids you are eligible for and improve your chances of winning. Your company and employees likely spend extensive time and energy to respond and secure bids. It would be a shame to be eliminated for not doing something that at the end of the day is good for the planet, good for your employees and good for the bottom line of your business.
