In less than 20 minutes a week, we'll introduce you to an expert or business owner with deep experience in what they do. Grow you, grow your team, grow a small business. In this episode, host Rob Cameron interviews Renate Crollini, founder of Brownie.io, a successful sustainability consulting firm generating $2M in revenue. Renate shares insights on how their 10-member team specializes in eco-friendly practices, attracting passionate employees, and driving growth for small businesses. Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Embrace Sustainability as a Business Mindset: Renate emphasizes that adopting sustainability practices is not only good for the environment but also offers a competitive business advantage. Small businesses should view sustainability as a pathway to address issues like reducing energy costs, increasing revenue, and attracting passionate staff and consumers.   Start with Simple Actions: The journey towards sustainability begins with small, actionable steps. Renate advises businesses to start with what they already have in place, such as renewable energy, recycling, composting procedures, or flexible working policies. These steps demonstrate that sustainability doesn't have to be complex or costly.   Effective Communication and Stakeholder Buy-In: One of the success stories shared involved a bakery that achieved stakeholder buy-in and developed an effective communication strategy with their staff. This led to successful adoption of sustainability initiatives and even attracted a new staff member passionate about sustainability. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for?   The Role of Brownie in Supporting SMEs: Brownie, the platform co-founded by Renate, provides tailored recommendations to help small businesses implement sustainable practices. It simplifies the process, making it easier for businesses to take immediate, impactful actions.   Continuous Improvement: Sustainability is an ongoing journey. Businesses should not aim for perfection from the start but should continue to take incremental steps and build on their successes.   Resources and Contact Information: For those interested in learning more or seeking guidance, Renate encourages connecting via LinkedIn or visiting Brownie’s website at brownie.io. She also offers her email for direct inquiries: renata@brownie.io. One action small business owners can take: One action small business owners can take is to start implementing sustainable practices, such as recycling, energy conservation, and waste reduction, within their operations. By making these changes, businesses can reduce their environmental impact, attract eco-conscious customers, and improve their overall sustainability. Do you have 2 minutes every Friday? Sign up to the Weekly Leadership Email. It's free and we can help you to maximise your time.   Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey. ?     Quotable quotes from our special Grow A Small Business podcast guest: Sustainability isn't just a trend; it's a fundamental shift in how we do business – Renate Crollini Every small step towards sustainability counts, no matter how small – Renate Crollini Don't wait for perfect conditions to start. Begin with what you have, where you are – Renate Crollini