272. How sustainability is good for business: KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, CEO/Founder of Sustainable Brands
Retail Gets Real · with KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz · June 14, 2022 · 24 min
Summary
This episode emphasizes that sustainability is no longer optional for retailers, but a critical driver of business success and brand resilience. KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz highlights how evolving consumer behaviors and the current global landscape demand that brands integrate sustainability into their core operations to thrive and remain relevant. Retailers must proactively adopt sustainable practices to meet consumer expectations and contribute to a more sustainable future, positioning themselves as leaders rather than laggards.
Key takeaways
The 'train has left the station' for sustainability; businesses must integrate sustainable practices now or risk being left behind.
Consumer behavior is rapidly evolving to favor sustainable brands, making it a critical factor for retail success.
Sustainability should be viewed as a business opportunity and a path to resilience, not just a regulatory burden or an ethical choice.
Retailers are actively implementing sustainable practices, and it is crucial for new businesses to learn from and adopt these measures.
Businesses can position themselves as positive forces by strategically focusing on sustainability, moving beyond mere compliance to genuine impact.
KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, CEO/Founder, Sustainable Brands, joins the show to share what retailers are doing to become more sustainable, how consumer behaviors are evolving and what the future of retail looks like through a sustainability lens. Sustainable Brands is a global community of changemakers who are working together to shift the global economy toward a more sustainable future. She’s committed to pooling data and experiences from across industry in order to position business as the hero of the future, not its destructor. Starting in the sustainability space in 2004, she’s seen, and directly participated in, a total shift in how businesses and the consumer view it. As she puts it, the train has left the station, so to speak, and today’s brands better get on board or be left behind. Tune in for yet another expert perspective on how our industry continues to thrive during a period of rapid change. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
