Sustainability is being driven by large forces at play. Consider that we have a global population of more than 7 billion people who all want to live like we do here in the U.S. That puts incredible strain on our natural resources. Add to that the fact that the climate is warming at an unprecedented rate. These global forces present an ethical challenge for us all, but they also present a business opportunity. The businesses that get out ahead and help to solve these issues will prosper. Taking it down a notch, there are three reasons for small businesses to consider sustainability in their business practices: productivity, risk reduction and growth.

A company may not know how it will achieve the more ambitious future goal but it knows it needs to be investing in innovation and motivating its employees to develop game-changing solutions. The longer-term targets also help ensure that the company’s short-term investments support lasting solutions, such as renewable energy or product innovations.