If you're starting a new business and haven't looked at your environmental impact, you're already behind the competitive curve. Sustainability is a good plan for the planet, but don't underestimate its value in reaching the buying power of millennials. those born between 1981 and 1996. Making up about 30% of the world population, and a generation that values sustainability, millennials place increasing reliance on sustainable businesses and that reliance is only growing in the generations coming up behind them. So read on for some recommendations for creating a sustainable business that will sustain you.

Determine Location

While most small businesses start wherever the owner is, remember that you can setup a business anywhere you're willing to be. In fact, as far as incorporation goes, you don't actually have to be located in the location in which you are incorporated. For tax law incorporating in specific states or countries may offer more benefits, but also consider how you can maximize renewable resources like solar by relocating. Whether you build from the ground up, or you purchase prebuilt, the desert is a great place to use solar energy. In fact, staying in the US might not even be the best place to start your business. Check the globe for places that might fit your power needs. Besides solar, your location might be best served by wind or other renewable energy sources. Companies like Tesla are maximizing profits by designing their buildings around renewable energy. Their gigafactory in Nevada worked so well they are using the same design for factories in New York, Shanghai, Berlin and Texas.

Consider LEED Certification

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, LEED, is a worldwide system that rates green buildings. Building your business to LEED standards can have several benefits. Like being eco-friendly in general, LEED is a specific rating to which you can point in your marketing. LEED takes into account everything from the materials used for construction and location to the ongoing operation of the building. A majority of corporations understand that sustainable practices lead to better business performance. Even if your business is building structures for other businesses to lease, LEED buildings have lower vacancy rates and tenants are willing to pay more for the location.

Establish Best Practices

Once you've got your business location selected and ready to go, start off on the right foot by establishing green business practices from the start. Reducing paper in your business doesn't just save trees, but keeps clunky plastic toner cartridges out of landfills. If you thought about printing receipts, instead try emailing receipts or skipping them if customers don't want one. More point-of-sales systems are offering these options. For necessary paper consider a composting program that will allow you to recycle bioproducts like paper effectively and will cut down on your facility maintenance costs. 

Besides reducing paper, consider the health of your employees and customers by using green cleaning products. Not only are these products free of harsh chemicals which can be tough on people with breathing issues, but they will usually be packaged in more eco-friendly, recyclable and refillable containers. Using green cleaning products is part of maintaining LEED certification, but even if your business isn't certified, studies have shown that using these products can decrease absences caused by asthma and allergy reactions to cleaning chemicals. In the same study, respondents reported feeling less stress and depression as well. 

The fact is that planning and executing an environmentally-friendly business can be expensive and mean delays in profitability. Only with longsighted and strong leadership can a business make the dream of a green business a reality. Many businesses pay lip service to going green, greenwashing their products and hoping customers won't do the research, but they forget that the research is now at everyone's fingertips and as newer generations increasingly look at a business's environmental impact, the long-term investment is where businesses should have their focus.