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Evaluation of environmental issues can reduce costs by, for example, minimizing operating expenses (such as raw-material costs or the real costs of water and carbon). Therefore, when analyzing the comparative resource efficiency of companies within given sectors, investors should look for correlation between resource efficiency and financial performance. Studies suggest that companies with more developed sustainability strategies will outperform their peers. One approach is to integrate environmental policies into their operations strategy and functions, incorporating operations such as product design, technology choice, and quality management. Companies that don’t acknowledge the consequences of environmental problems on the operations function may not succeed in the future in a competitive market, so this element of operations strategy needs to be aligned with the corporate strategy.

Large companies are transferring sustainability from the bottom line to the top line. They are becoming more sustainable and implementing changes tied to their direct operational control. For example, strengthening distinctive competence in terms of operations objectives contributes toward a competitive advantage. The environmental properties that an organization can control determine whether a particular activity, product, or service creates emissions, waste, or land contamination. Other issues that a company may be able to influence include the environmental performance or extended life of product design, minimizing the use of material resources and energy in packaging, and improving the biodiversity of land use.

Therefore, organizations should ensure that environmental inspections are undertaken on a regular basis to mitigate factors that could impact the company. While larger companies have more resources for such activities, it’s equally important for small and medium-sized businesses to consider the influence of external factors on operations, as they may be more vulnerable to such issues. Moreover, this helps organizations take advantage of opportunities before their competitors, tackle issues before they become substantial problems, and support plans to meet shifting demands.