You're balancing sustainability and financial goals in your business. How can you ensure both are met?

Think about the cost to your business, and its resilience down the line, if you don't prioritise sustainability. Instead of thinking about sustainability as a nice to have or to do once profits are made, think of how it can become a tailwind that positions your business to not only survive, but thrive in the face of acute climatic and social disruptions.

> identify and quantify the environmental and financial impacts and opportunities of your entire value chain > focus on the most relevant sustainability issues with a dynamic materiality assessment that updates as stakeholder feedback and market trends occur > determine new revenue streams from waste reduction and resource efficiency as you transform linear business models into circular ones > develop a matrix that aligns business activities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identifying areas where business growth contributes directly to sustainability goals > create an internal incubator to develop new products and services that solve sustainability challenges.

No deberíamos correlacionar directamente la sostenibilidad y los objetivos financieros. Un cambio sistémico implica no construir un business case para la estrategia de sostenibilidad; esta debería existir por sí misma como manifestación de la supervivencia de la empresa. Si la empresa no es beneficiosa para el mundo, debe iniciar un proceso de reorientación, adaptación o cambio de foco, o, en su defecto, considerar su desaparición. Mezclar el ROI con el compromiso de ser una empresa que aporte al mundo diluye la responsabilidad o misión que las empresas deben asumir.

1. Integration: Embed sustainability into your company's mission and values. Ensure that your sustainability goals are reflected in your business strategy and daily operations. 2. Culture: Foster a corporate culture where sustainability is seen as a key driver of business success, not just an add-on

Integrate sustainability into core strategy Set specific, measurable targets for both areas Invest in efficient, eco-friendly technologies Develop sustainable products/services Reduce waste and energy consumption Engage employees and stakeholders Measure and report progress transparently Seek partnerships and collaborations Consider long-term value over short-term gains Leverage sustainability for marketing and brand value

Drawing from my experience in senior leadership roles within larger corporations, I have spearheaded sustainability initiatives and cultural transformations. While compromise is often necessary, adapting and evolving within dualities can lead to a broader, more impactful outcome. Currently, I am dedicated to creating no-cost educational financial wellness videos accessible to the public, particularly in lower SES and for victims of crime, to promote greater financial health and equity. Additionally, I collaborate with small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as larger corporations, to implement internal financial wellness programs that support disadvantaged communities.

1. Dialogue: Regularly communicate with stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, and investors, about your sustainability initiatives and financial performance. 2. Collaboration: Partner with stakeholders who share your values to enhance sustainability efforts and create opportunities for mutual benefit.

Es importante fomentar diálogo constante entre ambas partes, ya que, una comunicar asertiva ejerce un equilibrio en todos los aspectos

Involve Key Stakeholders: Actively engage with employees, customers, investors, and the community to understand their perspectives and priorities regarding sustainability and financial performance. This involvement makes sure that your strategies are aligned with stakeholder expectations. Collaborate for Mutual Benefit: Work closely with partners, suppliers, and even competitors on sustainability initiatives that can also drive financial benefits, such as cost-sharing on sustainable technologies.

El "escuchar a las partes interesadas" es uno de los elementos que requiere mayor diseño; pues depende del método usado, pueden existir sesgos y finalmente "escuchar lo que se quiere escuchar"...a veces una mediación de una tercera parte no involucrada, puede ser un rol importante para asegurar que esa escucha, represente adecuadamente el interés de la parte interesada.

1. KPIs: Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure both sustainability and financial performance. 2. Reporting: Implement robust reporting mechanisms to transparently showcase how your business is achieving its sustainability goals while maintaining financial health.

Develop Metrics for Both Goals: Create measurable indicators for tracking progress toward sustainability and financial objectives. This dual approach helps ensure that neither aspect is neglected. Regularly Review Performance: Continuously assess financial and sustainability outcomes to identify areas for improvement. This practice ensures that your business stays on track to meet its goals.

Es primordial elaborar un KPI con indicadores / ratios con informacion cruzada (financiera y de sostenibilidad). Al igual que existen reportes financieros mensuales, el seguimiento y control de emisiones, consumos y gestión de residuos debe elaborarse mes a mes para tener una medición conjunta con las finanzas de la empresa. El disponer mensualmente de informacion sobre la cantidad de CO2 emitido en las operaciones y la facturación es un ejemplo elemental sobre como integrar y dar visibilidad a ambas esferas de las empresa de manera conjunta.

En base a mi experiencia, el establecer indicadores de impacto es clave para identificar aspectos u oportunidades de mejora. Los indicadores financieros son validados a nivel global, sin embargo en los indicadores de sostenibilidad o de impacto de la inversión social (por ejemplo) hay menos consenso.

Measuring is the only way to give light to what is being done inside the company. But for this to happen it’s important to have resources and resources mean some investment. People focused on defining and measuring kpi’s are the foundations for a good reporting system.

◾Foster Cross-Functional Teams: Encourage the formation of cross-functional teams that bring together diverse expertise from different areas of your business. These teams can drive innovation by integrating perspectives from finance, operations, sustainability, and marketing. Collaborative problem-solving across departments can lead to creative solutions that address both sustainability and financial goals. For example, a cross-functional team might develop a new product that uses sustainable materials while also reducing production costs, thus aligning with both objectives. We can integrate this idea into the "Innovate Continuously" section to highlight the value of collaborative innovation in achieving both sustainability.

La forma de innovar continuamente es buscar espacios de "incomodidad", escuchar nuevas perspectivas, viajar, empatizar, capacitarse, son aspectos que permiten mirar los temas desde otras perspectivas y en definitiva...innovar.

You should focus on implementing energy-efficient technologies and practices to reduce costs and environmental impact. You can explore investing in sustainable supply chains and materials to enhance brand reputation and attract eco-conscious customers. Don't forget to leverage government incentives for green initiatives.

1. R&D: Invest in research and development to create sustainable products or processes that can differentiate your business and open up new revenue streams. 2.Adaptation: Stay agile and adapt to emerging sustainability trends and technologies that can enhance both environmental and financial performance.

An innovative culture is needed in order to make creativity flourish. This is relevant for all company sectors, from sustainability, new products development, innovative campaigns, financial savings or operational improvements. But the key element for creativity is a confident team spirit, a place where mistakes are allowed and people feel save for bringing new ideas 💡, even if they seem stupid. This is the nest for real and continuous innovation take place.

Finding short term ROI projects in energy efficiency and waste minimization may help lean a company quickly and offer sustainability benefits. I try and speak to leadership in Cost per metric ton abated…the cheaper projects are prioritized and the more expensive projects come later with organizational maturity.

1. Efficiency Initiatives: Implement resource optimization strategies, such as energy-saving measures, waste reduction programs, and supply chain improvements, to lower operational costs and reduce environmental impact. 2. Sustainable Sourcing: Choose suppliers and materials that align with your sustainability goals. This can lead to more sustainable practices throughout your supply chain and potentially lower costs in the long term.

A circular economy looks to waste as a resource itself. A end live product can be a great raw material to produce a new product. Rethink the way products and services are design is teachable. Content about reuse, recycle, repurpose and root materials need to be incorporated in every employee training, so these concepts of a circular economy are part of the company’s culture and not only some jargon that sustainability team uses.

Resource optimization became our focus when raw material costs soared. Instead of seeking cheaper alternatives, we launched a company-wide efficiency program. We discovered we could reduce waste by 30% by optimizing production, cutting costs and our environmental footprint simultaneously. We then partnered with another industry to turn our waste into their input, creating a new revenue stream. This experience revealed that optimization isn't just about doing more with less; it's about reimagining the entire value chain. It taught us to view waste not as an inevitable byproduct, but as a sign of inefficiency and potential opportunity. True optimization, we learned, requires a holistic view and creative thinking.

Keep horizon scanning for opportunities that deliver against sustainable objectives and financial objectives. For instance with a large global estate portfolio that requires decarbonisation and efficiency investment, first consider if any of the asset portfolio should be slimmed, releasing capital that could support investment in a reduced decarbonisation requirement.

1. Open Communication: Maintain transparency about your sustainability efforts and financial performance. This builds trust with stakeholders and demonstrates your commitment to both areas. 2. Reporting: Regularly publish sustainability reports and financial disclosures to provide a clear picture of how your business is balancing and achieving both sustainability and financial goals.

Transparency ensures legitimacy and legitimacy ensures accountability and accountability manifolds dimensions open for every one where there is a tendency of creating space to others. This kind of institutional strength of the organisation delivers a practical comprehensive alive portrait of practising Participatory Democracy in local level.

Communicate Openly: Be transparent about your sustainability and financial goals, and regularly report your progress to stakeholders. This transparency builds trust and demonstrates your commitment to balancing both priorities. Foster Accountability: Hold yourself and your team accountable for meeting both sustainability and financial targets. This accountability ensures that neither goal is sacrificed for the other.

There are several things I found helpful regarding transparency: 1. Annual Sustainability Reports: Publish detailed annual sustainability reports that outline the company's sustainability initiatives, progress, challenges, and future goals. 2. Third-Party Verification: Use third-party audits and certifications to verify sustainability claims and enhance credibility. 3. Full Disclosure: Be honest about both successes and shortcomings. Acknowledge areas where the company is struggling or has room for improvement.