Business and self-sufficiency are two things that are hard to match. It isn’t easy to sell to someone who doesn’t need anything. Businesses earn more when people keep buying their products frequently. If a large percentage of consumers would suddenly find their products unnecessary, they would have to close the shop. So, of course, they would want people to keep needing or wanting their products.

This is what has primarily driven us to become a highly consumerist world. Marketing strategies convince people to want things even if they don’t need them. For years, people unnecessarily consumed resources, affecting our environment and well-being. And now, we have reached a point where it’s difficult to keep disregarding this situation.

If you plan to engage in business, think out of the box. Don’t follow the old business models that eventually led to overproduction, oversupply, and overconsumption. Base your business on something that our ailing planet could sustain. There are several ways to approach such a business plan. First is a needs-based appraisal of what’s in demand in the market. This is an important step as most companies would instead create artificial needs to sell their products.

People’s needs could vary over time, but there are also constants. For example, there are people’s seasonal needs. In summer, when the temperatures go up, cooling systems are in demand. In winter, water heaters are extremely indispensable. The next thing you must do is the opposite of most business intentions. Look at how you could help people who need less. Sell products that would save consumers from frequent expenses.

You don’t have to worry about whether your business will last if you follow this route. Once your product is understood as necessary, you will not lose customers. Besides, nothing lasts forever. After some good years, they will have to be replaced. Although this is not an exhaustive list, here are some examples of business ventures that could support sustainable lifestyles and, at the same time, be profitable for a long time.

Business

Water filtration system

As the environment is degraded, more localities face the problem of potable water. The immediate solution for people, especially urban dwellers, has been to buy bottled distilled water. Groceries and supermarkets even sell packets of small water bottles for convenience. However, besides wasting a lot of money, the small but numerous water bottles add to the world’s plastic problem.

Rather than convincing people to buy bottled water, encourage them to install their filtration system. Your business could be sustained through the maintenance of these systems. Eventually, the system will have to be replaced after some years, but the number of water bottles saved during its service will surpass its installation price.

Materials for a backyard food garden

Whatever happens in the future, food will always be a need. We had recently appreciated it more when lockdowns were established worldwide, and even mundane tasks like grocery shopping could not be done regularly. We saw display shelves wiped out. We experienced the momentary panic of not having enough food in stock as isolation measures had initially been uncertain.

At the onset of panic buying, people hoarded processed food. Canned meat, bottled seafood, everything heavily loaded with preservatives. Only later on people realized they could grow some of their food. Farming supplies show an increase in sales during the lockdowns. This could be a good business for you, too. You will be supporting food security. While people would like a sustainable food basket, they wouldn’t have the time to prepare things such as organic fertilizers, seed banking, and other supplements, especially in container gardens.

Solar-powered gadgets and appliances

Not many could immediately afford to install full solar-power systems in their homes. Offer a cheaper alternative to individual gadgets that could be solar-charged. Cellphonesamps and even radios are already charged with the sun’s rays. Thanks to the hype of living off-grid and RV lifestyles, more products free from electrical needs have been developed.

Enduring household items

These have been in the market for a long time. But it’s good to remind people to go for durable products instead of single-use items. It has become convenient to buy disposable plates and utensils that could just be thrown away after eating instead of spending time washing dishes. Companies have even convinced people that it’s okay if they’re biodegradable. But that doesn’t change the fact that they’ve still become waste, and they consumed resources. Not all businesses are destructive. Although profit is the main driving force beyond opening one, it could be done ethically, responsive to both consumer’s and the environment’s needs.