Since October, I have been fortunate to be working on a Combined Authority-sponsored program at Aston University focused on sustainable business. This is something that I believe strongly in – not just about operating a business with an increased awareness of our ecological footprint, but also about how the businesses can go forward with consideration to people, profit, and the planet.
An outcome of this was the need to formulate a plan. This is focused on
- Ethical sourcing: We must be educated about the environmental impact of their purchases and be encouraged to choose products that are made with sustainable materials and processes.
- Sustainable products and services: This is one of the most important strategies for reducing waste and preserving natural resources. By reducing the number of new materials we use, reusing items whenever possible and recycling materials that are no longer needed, we can reduce the strain on our planet’s resources- Remember the mantra Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Upcycle.
- Direct support initiatives: Where we have the capacity, we should work with partners to increase involvement in chosen and aligned CSGs.
- Product innovation: We must continually be looking for and integrating new services and products with an increased awareness of the environmental impact that they have.
These seem to be imperative to me, but if you were to look at this approach for yourself – how would you define some key pillars?
As ever with any change initiative, what is a single achievable starting point for you?
One important note, I still believe that a coaching or supervision assignment is based on the clients’ agenda. The sustainability agenda for me is about how I turn up. It is about how I work with clients and become a better business through my eyes.
So 2023 has started with a greater focus on responsible business.
