Best-selling author and life and business strategist Tony Robbins has long invested in sustainable solutions like renewable energy and food equity. Now, he’s sharing his sustainability tips with other entrepreneurs.
How can business leaders benefit from keeping sustainability top of mind as they invest in and develop new businesses?
Sustainability is not just about responsibility — it is about building something that lasts. If you are in business, you are in it for impact, for growth, and for legacy. The businesses that prioritize sustainability today are the ones that are going to thrive tomorrow.
One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs make is confusing growth with scaling. Growth is adding revenue — but also adding cost at the same rate. That is not sustainable. Scaling is different. Scaling means you grow in a way that creates more value while keeping costs under control. When you scale the right way, sustainability is not an afterthought; it is built into the core of your business.
I saw this firsthand when I founded the 100 Billion Meals Challenge, an organization with the goal of providing 100 billion meals over 10 years. We did not just say, “Let’s hand out food.” We asked, “How do we create a system that solves hunger long-term?” That is why we partnered with business leaders, food producers, and global organizations — because collaboration scales impact. It has worked. In just under two years, we’ve provided 30 billion meals, setting us on a trajectory to exceed our goals.
When disaster hits — like the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles — we don’t just respond, we rebuild. That’s why I committed $4.4 million to fire relief efforts — not just to provide immediate aid, but to support first responders, rebuild homes, and make sure families have the tools to recover for good.
If you are building a business, don’t just chase short-term wins. Think bigger. Build something that is scalable, sustainable, and makes an impact that lasts for generations.
What advice do you have for leaders looking to drive a positive environmental impact in their businesses who are facing financial and political roadblocks?
Challenges are part of business. Whether it is financial pushback, political obstacles, or market resistance, you have to find a way forward. That is what separates leaders from followers.
If you are facing resistance in your business, you have to:
- Align with the right partners: Find others who share your vision and scale impact together.
- Prove sustainability is good business: When you show it drives profits, investors and customers follow.
- Innovate your way past obstacles: When Patagonia decided in the 1980s that its mission was “to save our home planet,” it faced deep skepticism from the business community. However, the company ignored the critics, built one of the first cause-based businesses, and forced the world to take notice. That is the mindset you need to create lasting change.
The bottom line? Obstacles are not stop signs; they are invitations to innovate.
You’ve said before that “the secret to living is giving.” Can you share more about what that means to you and how individuals can integrate altruism into their everyday mindset?
There is no greater fulfillment than giving. I learned this firsthand when I was young. My family was struggling — we had no money and no food. Then, one Thanksgiving, a stranger knocked on our door with a basket full of food. It changed my life.
When the Los Angeles wildfires devastated communities, I didn’t just want to donate — I wanted to make sure families had what they needed to heal. That is why we funded housing relief through Airbnb.org and mental health tools like NuCalm and Tapping Solution memberships — because true giving is not just about money, it’s about helping people rebuild their lives.
How do you integrate giving into your life? Make it a habit.
- Give your time. Volunteer, mentor, or help someone in need.
- Give your knowledge. Teach someone a skill that can change their life.
- Give in ways that empower others. Do not just hand out fish; teach them to fish so they can change their own future.
At the end of the day, success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure. If you want a life of meaning, make giving a non-negotiable part of who you are.
Being more sustainable comes down to building habits. What advice would you give to people looking to integrate sustainable practices into their lives so often that it becomes second nature?
Motivation does not create habits — action does. The key to making sustainability second nature is consistency, clarity, and simplicity.
- Get focused: Define why sustainability matters to you. A vague goal won’t stick, but a clear, compelling reason, like protecting your children’s future or reducing waste, fuels lasting change.
- Set yourself up for success: Make sustainable choices easy. Remove barriers. Keep reusable bags in your car, set up a recycling station, and switch to energy-efficient appliances. Reward progress so your brain links sustainability with positive reinforcement.
- Take action and reframe challenges: Stop waiting for perfect conditions. Start small and stay consistent. Shift your mindset from “I’m trying to be sustainable” to “I am someone who makes sustainable choices.”
Sustainability is not about doing everything at once; it’s about making better choices daily. Small actions, done consistently, create massive impact over time.
