Alejandro Pena, CEO of Keter Plastic Company, is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the industry. Now, he’s calling for more sustainability from the business world as a whole.

Pena started Keter in 1995 and has since grown it into a multi-million dollar company with 1.4 million square feet of warehouse space worldwide, employing over 2,000 people. This all occurred without receiving any government grants or loans – making him an ideal example of what can be achieved via smart business decisions and hard work alone.

In a recent interview article for the Better Magazine, Pena discussed some of the fundamental principles behind Keter’s success. He also discussed some of his tips on how companies can become more sustainable.

What Does It Mean to Be a ‘Green’ CEO?

Alejandro Pena has been named one of the top 25 most influential people in green retail by Environmental Leader magazine, and he has worked hard to develop Keter into a more sustainable company which takes care of its workforce, consumers, retailers and factory employees.

Keter was the first company to utilize solar panels on its factory in Italy, and the company claims to have reaped numerous benefits from this decision. The solar panels are estimated to have saved $50,000 since 2006 and the company will save another $80,000 in electricity costs annually with these panels.

“We can prove that we do not take people for granted,” said Alejandro Pena. “We are working to put people first. We believe this is one of the best messages for consumers to hear about our business.”

Pena also pointed out that many companies do not understand their value to the communities in which they operate, and he believes that the most successful businesses are the ones which operate with a sense of purpose.

“This humanistic approach towards business is what makes people want to buy our products and services,” he said. “Consumers want to see their business doing good things for society.”