Sustainable Business Strategies for a Small, Women-Owned, Zero-Waste Shop

Abstract

The impacts of global climate change are felt around the globe, as is the increasing pressure to make sustainable differences to reduce pollution and emissions. Many climate change solutions are geared towards larger entities or political policies, skipping the intimate opportunities for the consumer to become engaged. Ekologicall, LLC is a small, woman-owned business in Charlotte, North Carolina selling zero-waste products and educating the community on zero-waste lifestyle. This project examined Ekologicall, LLC’s current business operations and its unique market as a zero-waste shop through periods of observation and benchmark analysis. Then, using sustainable business strategies including strategy cascade, TOWS analysis, and business model canvas, this project considered which strategies were best aligned with its goals. Findings from this project suggest that to increase profits and expand growth, Ekologicall, LLC should 1) form more purposeful relationships with local partners, 2) secure permanent retail space, 3) provide additional value to customers through increased engagement, 4) seek and leverage additional certifications, and 5) hire additional staff for support. This project highlights the limitations and difficulties of being a small business, and more specifically, being a zero-waste shop.