Sustainable Growth through Sustainable Business
A business persons easy guide to What, Why and How Sustainability is the only way forward to growth and value
Christopher Gleadle
Disturbingly, SMEs are four times more likely to do nothing with regards sustainability than larger businesses. This is typically because they see sustainability as a cost, and cite resource constraints. This due in the main, to a lack of understanding of the risk mitigation, value opportunities and business benefits associated with sustainability; therefore, not making it part of future strategy. This view being supported by sector associations in the PwC, CDP, DEFRA Review of the Contribution to GHG Emissions Reductions and Associated Costs and Benefits report.
Therefore, Sustainable Growth through Sustainable Business is about guiding and inspiring businesses to be more sustainable. It is not designed to make a CEO or other executives passionate about sustainability and climate change, but to show how making a business sustainable supports the passions they do have. There is a solid business case for sustainability: it makes a business more competitive, more effective and more efficient. Sustainability promotes an extra dimension to the good governance of a business by demonstrating the executives have sight of long-term risks, and are embedding plans and actions to support risk mitigation and drive down costs. Sustainability is a quality stakeholder engagement programme of continual imporovement. Through these actions, the executives are supporting and extending their brand and reputation and supporting the sales function to win business, and in many cases, giving their sales departments the ability to enter new markets through innovation and market attraction.
Christopher Gleadle