I am often asked what the difference between an entrepreneur and a business person is. Whilst the answer is not as straightforward as one might think, entrepreneurs have different priorities to business persons. One such priority is that an entrepreneur seeks to create an innovative and sustainable business. This priority supersedes the more commonly known priority of turning a profit.You too should focus on building a sustainable business. Accomplishing this will result in a stronger company brand and a better relationship with your customers and community. Apart from this, when your business is growing, having a sustainable growth structure will allow you to reach important milestones without damaging your value or reputation. Here are some ways you can create or transform your current workplace into a sustainable business.1. Start with your suppliersNo matter what business you operate in, you almost certainly have some sort of suppliers. These can either supply you with goods or handle outsource work for you. As you start or grow your business you need to continually check to see that they can handle your growth expectations. The last thing you want is to get a lucrative order and not be able to handle it because of your suppliers.Whenever possible choose local suppliers rather than ones across the globe. Understandably, you might be lured to cheap production costs elsewhere, however, consider your costs carefully. What are your transport costs? How much duty would you need to pay customs? What happens if the quality is not up to scratch? What if deliveries are late? Choosing local suppliers presents several advantages, including, amongst others, less pollution caused by the transportation of your goods.2. Cooperate rather than competeThere is this flawed perception that businesses need to compete with each other in order to thrive. In fact, when you cooperate with your competitor you are both building a sustainable business. Rather than spending your time focusing on what your competitor is doing, you can focus on creating new products and services together. Collaborating ensures that both businesses gain from the success of each other.A very popular example of businesses that cooperate is, of course, cooperatives. Cooperatives trace their history back to farmers who could not afford machinery to farm their land. They joined forces and bought the machinery and were all able to grow and prosper. The alternative would have meant that farmers, even today, would not have the necessary financial resources to farm their land effectively.3. The business’ human sideYou could spend millions of euros on marketing to win new customers, but if you are not able to retain them it will all be money down the drain. To build a sustainable business, you need to be able to form a rapport with your customers. Speak to them and find out how to win them over through the power of convenience. This rule is important whatever the size of your business, be it a coffee cart or an international financial institution.Using social media effectively is another way you can show your company’s human side. It is important to listen to your customers and seek ways to adapt your business to suit their needs. Show them that your business is not solely a money-making machine. Organise team-building activities where you do some community work in your local area. Encourage your social media fans to join you so that your business will be a symbol of sustainability in your local area.4. Leadership plays an important roleTo truly have a sustainable business, you need to look at your leadership team. Leadership does not only mean you as the business owner. Any directors, managers, or supervisors need to understand the importance of sustainability in business. Very often people who have been in a certain role for a very long time become complacent. Rather than seek ways to adapt and evolve they get comfortable in their ways.It is therefore up to the leadership team to motivate all the members of the team to make suggestions to improve the company. Anyone can provide a great idea to transform your company into a sustainable business. By anyone, I mean any team member, any customer, or any supplier. You must, therefore, train your leadership team to be able to listen to new ideas and discuss them internally. If a business cannot evolve and adapt to new circumstances then it is not a sustainable business.5. Profit is, nevertheless, important.No business can survive and be sustainable if it is not profitable in the long run. Your business plan should include one or more revenue streams that will ensure a profitable business. This blog is full of articles and resources to help you build a profitable business, so we won’t be going into detail on this topic in this article. Remember, however, that as you start your business, you should keep your costs lean.