Defining sustainability
by Zen Family Member, Jamie Hall
Introduction:
So, what does a sustainable organisation look like, and where do you begin in becoming one? Sustainability can mean different things to different people, but balance and journey are often a good starting point. Balance because it’s about taking those steps to improve our day-to-day lives without compromising the needs of future generations. And journey because nobody can become sustainable overnight – it’s going to be a transition.
Which leads us to the question: why do organisations need to demonstrate sustainable business practices? At Zenergi, we believe that individuals and organisations can no longer ignore their responsibility to act on the biggest challenges facing our planet. You don’t need to look too far to see that climate change is accelerating and impacting lives all around the world. It is having a profound impact on the weather and our ecosystems, right through to the economy, politics, geopolitics, and even food production. The latest IPCC reports express, in no uncertain terms, that we are in a climate crisis and time is running out to avert it. We need quick, rapid, decisive action, and businesses need to accelerate their net zero roadmaps.
How to start your net zero journey
Many organisations have made great progress on their net zero journeys. But for others, a lack of specialist internal resource and data specialists is hampering efforts. The first step for any organisation would be getting a good grip on where you are today, which means measuring your emissions to calculate your baseline. For this, you need to have good quality data, alongside data specialists.
Many organisations have made great progress on their net zero journeys. But for others, a lack of specialist internal resource and data specialists is hampering efforts. The first step for any organisation would be getting a good grip on where you are today, which means measuring your emissions to calculate your baseline. For this, you need to have good quality data, alongside data specialists.
The next step would be to think about how fast you can go and to consider the opportunities available to make net zero a reality. Organisations will need a structured plan that is underpinned by realistic timelines and a clear business case identifying the opportunities and risks.
The third area would be to engage the right partners to help deliver on your plan. It is important to recognise where your gaps are and to bring in the expertise where needed. If you’ve created a comprehensive plan, you probably won’t have all the tools and the ability or capability in house. For many organisations, there will be a skills gap at the initial data gathering point, for others it will be during the planning stage, and for the lucky few it will just be executing parts of that plan.
The key for all organisations, whatever their level of maturity on the net zero path, is to recognise that we can’t always do everything ourselves and to identify the partnerships that will help us achieve our goals.
The bigger picture
Addressing net zero is going to be a starting point for many organisations aspiring to be sustainable. And rightly so, because there is no denying that organisations will have to take accountability for their progress towards net zero targets.
However, being a sustainable business is so much more than reducing your environmental impact and meeting net zero targets. Businesses will also need to look at their overall impact and contribution to society and work to embed social value principles into everyday decision making. This can take many forms, from ensuring you are looking after your employees, to inclusive recruitment policies, to ensuring you are giving back to society. Starting with the quick wins and building up to bigger projects can make the ultimate goal feel more achievable.
Engage your team to maximise success
The key to a truly successful roll-out of your strategy is to take your people on the journey. Think about how you can articulate your story to help everyone understand why you are doing it and what the benefits are.
You will need all your teams to be joined up for the organisation to come together and execute the plan successfully. They are often going to have some good ideas to contribute, so involve them through workshops and forums to understand their interests and then set up working groups to allow your people to contribute.
Regularly reporting on progress and successes, both internally and externally, and being transparent about your progress is going to be important in keeping the momentum going and focusing on achieving milestones and targets. Meanwhile, engaging organisations or third parties to externally verify your progress will add value and authenticity.
There are various standards and accreditations that you can work towards in order to make sure that you’re doing the right things, and then you can use those as a springboard for further promotion of all of the good things that you’re doing.
Focusing on becoming a sustainable business is a positive move for your employees, your customers, your investors, your suppliers and all stakeholders with whom you have touchpoints. It will take time, investment and resources, but the benefits will pay dividends.
At Zenergi we believe we will be defined by our social value ambitions, so please head to the website below to learn more about our work.
Further information check out Zenergi Social Value
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