It’s no secret that green is the new black.

From construction to consumer goods, companies across the board are making a substantial effort to go green.

Corporate sustainability and social responsibility are cropping up to be two of the biggest trends shaping the way companies interact with consumers and the world.

In this article, we’ll break down corporate sustainability and social responsibility; why it’s important to adopt these businesses philosophies; and how we at LIVDEN are living these business beliefs day in and day out.

What is corporate responsibility and sustainability?

It’s important to first understand the difference between corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability.

Corporate social responsibility, or CSR, is a business approach that prioritizes doing good for the community through responsible actions.

Corporate sustainability is a business approach that prioritizes altruistic, long-term decisions over short-term financial gains.

How is sustainability distinguishable from corporate social responsibility?

The key difference between these two concepts is the focus on sustainability.

For corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainability is just one piece of a larger puzzle.

The real focus here is on the relationship between the company and the community.

While CSR initiatives may include elements of environmental sustainability that help the community, sustainability is not the only focus of this approach.

That’s why companies also utilize corporate sustainability.

This business approach is entirely focused on how companies can find sustainable solutions to current business needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Essentially, businesses now look beyond their bottom line to understand how their decisions affect our planet and people for generations to come.

Instead of making decisions based solely on immediate profits or losses, businesses will factor in contextual considerations like resource depletion, safety, or environmental preservation when weighin­­g business decisions and opportunities.

By injecting this element of ethical consideration into business operations, corporate sustainability seeks to diminish the negative impact of companies on the world at large.

Why should businesses adopt corporate social responsibility?

Ramping up corporate social responsibility initiatives can benefit businesses in several ways.

Socially responsible companies can bolster their reputation, increase their customer loyalty, empower their employees, and boost their employee morale.

By giving back to the communities that support them companies can build positive brand recognition. Through socially responsible projects, companies can gain greater awareness and frame themselves as conscientious, responsive, and responsible in the eyes of consumers and stakeholders.

And this reputation building can often lead to a better bottom line.

Consumers may be more likely to support a socially responsible company knowing that part of its profits will go towards important social issues. In some cases, socially responsible business practices can even lead to increased customer loyalty or repeat customers.

Socially responsible companies can attract employees eager to make a positive impact and can give them the resources they need to truly make a difference. A company’s commitment to social responsibility can also serve to inspire and motivate employees, leading to increased morale and productivity.

To reap these benefits and more, companies should examine how they can incorporate more socially responsible practices into their ongoing operations. 

Why should businesses adopt sustainability?

The business case for sustainability is clear: climate change and environmental issues impact everyone, including businesses. Without corporate involvement, these issues will persist.

Adopting sustainable practices can not only aid environmental issues but it can also aid business growth, cost savings, reputation, and relationships.

By prioritizing business strategies that factor in environmental issues, like limited natural resources, businesses can develop groundbreaking new products, services, or even entire business models.

This innovation provides infinite possibilities for businesses to grow and increase their profitability, all while adding immense social value.

Today, consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues and the cost of doing business at the corporate level. They are demanding more sustainable business practices and products available on the market.

In fact, a recent survey found that 65% of consumers said they want to buy products from purpose-driven brands that promote sustainability.

To align with a changing consumer base and our rapidly evolving world, corporate sustainability is a sure path to success.

The LIVDEN Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility

At LIVDEN, we recognize the importance of corporate social responsibility, and the ability we have as a business to create a lasting, positive impact on our community.

Fair & Ethical Treatment of Employees

And one of the ways we practice corporate social responsibility is by prioritizing fair and ethical treatment of all our employees.

From our office to our warehouse, we ensure that every environment our employees enter is safe and suitable for work. And we offer full benefits and livable wages to every member of the LIVDEN team.

Diversity at all Levels

We promote diversity at all levels of our organization. We are a female-founded, female-led, and female-run organization that focuses on giving equal opportunities to every LIVDEN employee. 

Paid Family Leave

Being a female-founded and female-led team, we also understand the necessity of paid maternity and paternity leave. That’s why we offer Paid Family Leave (PFL) in accordance with the Employment Development Department of the State of California. 

Team-Based Work with Shared Values

When it comes to work, we employ a team-based work model. Under a team-based work model, we encourage our employees to work together towards a common purpose or shared goal. This work model allows us to build and share values of mutual confidence and shared responsibility at all levels of the organization.  

Ongoing Commitment to Community

As a new company, we are always looking for ways we can improve our commitment to being a socially responsible company. In the future, we hope to expand our corporate social responsibility initiatives to include charitable donations to key environmental nonprofits and volunteering within our local community. 

The LIVDEN Commitment to Corporate Sustainability

As a business, we are not only committed to corporate social responsibility, but to corporate sustainability as well.

From our product materials to our packaging, we promote sustainability in almost every aspect of our business.

Products Made from Recycled Materials

Our commitment to corporate sustainability starts with our products.

When we first launched LIVDEN, our goal was to create a high-end, sustainable tile option that made it easy for people to go green and incorporate more recycled materials into their homes.

And today, our products do just that—every LIVDEN tile is made from recycled materials.

Our PaperStone products are made from 50-to-100 percent recycled papers, natural pigments, and non-petroleum resin. Because of their unique makeup, PaperStone products have earned their status as certified recycled by the Rainforest Alliance to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards.

Outside of PaperStone, we also utilize terrazzo in our collection, one of the world’s first recycled materials. Our Polar Ice Terrazzo and Crystallized Terrazzo products contain 65-66% post-consumer recycled material.

By offering products made from recycled materials, we lessen our impact on the environment at large. These recycled materials come with a smaller environmental footprint because they offer more durability, less maintenance, and less energy consumption when compared to traditional tile materials. 

Sustainable, USA-Based Manufacturing Partners

At LIVDEN, we are thrilled to work with like-minded companies that are equally devoted to creating a healthier ecosystem and conserving our natural resources.

Our PaperStone manufacturer resides in Hoquaim, Washington. And our raw PaperStone materials are directly sourced from within the United States. Our PaperStone manufacturer implements eco-friendly manufacturing processes and has an on-site laboratory, complete with a paper engineer and PhD chemist who ensure that our PaperStone products are high-quality and sustainable.

On the other side of the country, in Sebring, Florida, you will find our Terrazzo manufacturer. Our Terrazzo is made by a member of the U.S. Green Building Council who is deeply committed to producing building materials that are environmentally responsible.

By working with suppliers and materials local to the United States, we achieve 100% domestic manufacturing. This type of manufacturing supports sustainability by reducing the environmental costs associated with producing and transporting tiles.

Zero Outsourced Jobs

We also promote sustainability by refraining from environmentally damaging cost-cutting measures, like outsourcing labor.

As a company, we are proud of the fact that we do not outsource any jobs.

Our manufacturers, raw materials, and employees are all domestic, and 100% USA-based.

Water-Free Production Process

We recognize that one of the biggest ways we can positively impact climate change and our environment is by reducing our water use.

We do not use any water in our production process. By eliminating water from our production, we significantly reduce our water use overall, and the impact our water consumption has on the environment.  

Reduced & Recycled Packaging for Products

If we had to pick one word to describe our packaging process, it would be recycle.

We recycle from the moment we receive our materials from our suppliers. From boxes to pallets, we take whatever packaging materials our suppliers send us and reuse them in our own production process.

We also utilize recycled boxes and packaging material to ship out our tiles. All carboard generated by our production is reused in our shipping department, along with the cardboard from the companies next door to us.

And a great aspect of our tiles is that they require significantly less shipping packaging materials. Because they are made from recycled materials, our tiles are sturdier, more durable, and more lightweight than other tiles. They do not chip easily and are built to last.

Local Recycling Program Participation

Another way we support sustainability is by using our local city-wide recycling program in San Diego. We use this program to recycle all metals, glass, and plastics safely and responsibly.

As for our business operations, we try to go digital wherever possible. When paper documents are necessary, we print on both sides of the paper and we recycle!

As we mentioned earlier, we are constantly looking for ways that we as a company can be better for our people and planet. One day we hope to enhance our waste management practices and go entirely paperless.

Eco-Friendly Travel Practices

When we do travel, we adopt eco-friendly travel practices.

That means, when possible, we fly non-stop to reduce our emissions associated with air travel.

Where possible, we look to book our travel stays at eco-friendly or green hotels who are committed to corporate sustainability and environmentally friendly business practices.

Even when it comes to day-to-day travel, we try to promote sustainable practices. Currently, no one in our office commutes more than 25 miles to work. Any employee outside of the 25-mile radius works remotely.

Let’s Talk LIVDEN

At LIVDEN, we use corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability to guide how we function as a business.

We adhere to several sustainable practices today and are excited for the ways in which we can expand on those practices in the future. We are committed to making a positive impact on our community and to making a better environment for everyone. 

Curious about our sustainable tile offerings?

Learn more about our sustainable tile materials, or browse our latest sustainable tile options today! We also have a gallery of installation images so you can envision how your home will look with eco-friendly, high-end tile designs.

Have a question about our commitment to corporate social responsibility and corporate sustainability? Feel free to reach out to us today! We look forward to connecting with you.