sustainable thinking

why doing good is good for business

?sustainability

what is

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.Brundtland Commission, 1987

one definition...

business exists to make a profit

a widely held belief...

For those who thinkbusiness exists to make a profit,I suggest they think again.

For those who thinkbusiness exists to make a profit,I suggest they think again.Business makes a profit to exist.Surely it must exist for some higher, nobler purpose than that.

Ray Anderson, founder, Interface

sustainability issues...

resources, biodiversity, natural systems, climate change

economic survival, carbon economy, innovation

population growth, infrastructure, human rights, community support/diversity, urban systems

101sustainability

a quick look at 4 essential concepts

Triple bottom line

Economic

1

Environmental

Social

Profit

Planet

People

Systems thinking2Take the pelican...

Stakeholders3Staff, customers, suppliers, government, NGOs, community, influencers, investors, media...

Material issues4What impacts does your business have?Which issues matter most?

level of business impact

degree of concern to

stakeholders

The business case

1. Reduce costs

2. Gain competitive advantage

3. Manage/reduce risk

4. Comply with regulations

5. Reach new markets, add new products/services

6. Increase productivity

7. Attract & keep staff

8. Gain trust & loyalty of customers/stakeholders

9. Improve reputation, ‘licence to operate’

10. Innovate, learn, grow

sustainabilitystories

are you sitting comfortably?

Actions for your business

understand sustainability issues & impacts for your business

investigate opportunities to be more sustainable; set goals/benchmarks

implement initiatives, communicate, promote, engage stakeholders

embed sustainabilty into business planning & processes

evaluate, report, adapt, reinvent