Business Sustainability

World’s largest corporate sustainability initiative opens chapter in Ireland

Climate Journal reporting — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:47:22 +0000

World’s largest corporate sustainability initiative opens chapter in Ireland

Tags

SDGs

Climate Action

Business Sustainability

Topic

Business Sustainability

A special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact, will officially launch its Irish chapter on November 28th at Dublin’s Exo Building to accelerate actions towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030.

Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact will open the exclusive event where senior representatives from business, government, academia, and civil society will explore how ambitious change can be implemented for a more sustainable future in Ireland.

At the current COP29, the UN Climate Change Conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ojiambo emphasised that the world is “so far off in terms of climate targets and where we need to be" and that providing clear pathways for the private sector is crucial.

The launch event will provide more insights about the UN Global Compact and programmes such as the Forward Faster initiative, a global platform for credible, ambitious corporate action to guide companies on where to make the most significant impact the fastest.

Nessa Whelan, United Nations Global Compact Ireland Country Manager, highlights that Ireland needs forward-thinking leaders from the private sector committed to prioritising sustainability.

Nessa Whelan, United Nations Global Compact Ireland Country Manager

“The official launch of the network in Ireland marks a groundbreaking milestone towards driving positive, sustainable change. New members can expect to join like-minded organisations that will advance their business beyond mere regulatory compliance towards sustainable actions that add true value through longevity and profitability.”

She adds that since only 17% of the United Nations’ SDGs are on track to be achieved by the 2030 original deadline, introducing the Forward Faster initiative in Ireland to increase accountability and transparency is a major step in accelerating change.

“The Forward Faster initiative will be adopted in Ireland by focusing on key areas where businesses can drive rapid progress on the SDGs. These include gender equality, climate action, living wages, water resilience, and sustainable finance,”

Whelan explains.

The Forward Faster initiative by UN Global Compact aims to accelerate actions to deliver on SDG targets by 2030.

The launch event will feature high-level discussions with national and international speakers, including David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, and Noel Keeley, CEO of Musgraves Ltd and other influential figures, to provide insights, facilitate the exchange of ideas and foster collaborations.

To join the UN Global Compact Network Ireland, businesses must align their operations with the Ten Principles covering human rights, labour standards, environment, and anti-corruption. This requires a public commitment from their CEO and submitting an annual Communication on Progress (CoP).

Regarding benefits for businesses, Whelan says: “Participants receive access to a range of training sessions, workshops, and best practice resources that guide them in embedding sustainability into their operations. Furthermore, they gain visibility for their leadership in sustainability and are supported in meeting emerging regulatory requirements related to sustainable business practices, helping them remain competitive in a changing global economy.”

The UN Global Compact Network Ireland will provide companies with tailored support, resources, and learning opportunities to accelerate their progress while encouraging them to take bold action and lead the way in creating a more sustainable and resilient economy.

To make membership accessible to businesses of all sizes, the annual fee is tiered based on company size and revenue so new registrants can join the network of existing Irish members such as An Post, DAA, Smurfit Kappa, Ryanair, ICON plc, and AIB.

With over 15,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, involving 69 Local Networks, the UN Global Compact has become the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative since its launch in 2000, accelerating change at scale to deliver on the SDG targets by 2030.

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“Stories alone won’t save the world, but they have a massive role to play”

Szilvia Szabó — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 18:09:55 +0000

“Stories alone won’t save the world, but they have a massive role to play”

Tags

Business Sustainability

Climate Communication

Circular Economy

Topic

Climate Communication

This article is part of the 'Celebrating Circular` initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

It aims to highlight the encouraging achievements of companies that participated in the MODOS circular economy training provided by Local Authorities to local businesses and supported by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and Dublin City Council.

Expert Insight

As Co-Founder of Change by Degrees, an online sustainability skill-building business, Madeleine Murray has been at the forefront of engaging companies and organisations in climate action and implementing sustainability strategies for many years.

She delivers the communication and customer engagement modules of the MODOS programme, aiming to help companies explore what makes a good story and how to use storytelling for good.

Smashing the ‘green assumption’

She warns that greenhushing, when deliberately concealing your sustainability efforts due to fear of being called out, is a trend that can set back climate action since learning from each other and seeing how others are taking steps towards this direction is a crucial element in shifting mindsets.

Madeleine explains: “I want them to find authentic stories so they can share what they are doing without drifting into greenwashing.”

“To be clear, nobody ever has the perfect story, but everyone has an impact and a mission. I try to focus on the power of using your influence, which can become your superpower on the market to grab attention and engage stakeholders.”

Madeleine Murray, Co-Founder of Change by Degrees

She adds, "Stories alone won`t save the world, but they play a massive role in steering attention, priorities and actions. We are social beings heavily influenced by other people and brands.”

When Madeleine and her team started developing training to get employees more involved with sustainability, they first wanted to smash the big ‘green assumption’ that it's all about the environment.

Breaking down carbon silo thinking

“We asked what colour sustainability is for you. The overwhelming answer was green. Then we started showcasing that sustainability is so much more than environmental issues, and it definitely involves social issues.”

Once they get to break down the ‘carbon silo’ thinking, it opens up a library of stories that shines a light on how multidimensionally sustainability can be.

Although she admits that it is an uphill battle to position sustainability as a core business issue.

“People are distracted by the day job – meeting targets, scaling, HR, finance – a million things that can take the place of sustainability, so one of the most important things is to make businesses realise that this is an overarching theme that will guide actions on all fronts.”

Learn more about the Celebrating Circular initiative!

The 'Celebrating Circular` digital publication and online story collection spotlight trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

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Focusing on the ‘human hook’

Madeleine shares that a critical part often missing from sustainability communication is the “human hook,” which could help people relate to a story.

She explains that some simple yet strategic steps can help companies find their authentic voice and tell genuine stories. She uses a model that starts with finding ‘The Ambition’ and identifying specific goals you want to achieve with a piece of communication. The more specific, the more you can target your message and measure your impact.

Next, you choose a definite audience and understand it to tailor your message. Ideally, you select the most influential audience that can have the biggest impact on achieving your goals.

Finally, you find your hook that resonates with your selected target group and craft a story in human language, making your message easier to receive on the other side.

“Certain things will enhance your success in telling your story, such as finding a relatable and lovable ‘messenger’ to tell your story besides having clear actions you want your audience to do.”

She adds that calibrating your communication also heavily depends on knowing your available time, talent and budget so you can set realistic goals and assign resources accordingly.

At the MODOS training, she shares many realistic real-life examples, examining potentials, tensions and conflicts between what works and what to avoid.

Revising language to engage audiences

One of the case studies she highlights is a campaign run by AnPost to promote green loans, where they used softer and more likeable language.

For instance, instead of saying ‘retrofit’ or ‘insulation’, they used ‘cosy’ and ‘upgrade’, which made their offer more appealing. Madeleine adds that besides choosing their words carefully, the other success factor was having a relatable messenger to deliver the message.

She believes that, in addition to showcasing examples, participants need time to internalise learning as part of the MODOS course.

“I like to pause and allow people to reflect. Awkward silence is OK for me, so they have time to digest and get back to sharing instead of swallowing it down. This is the space where real connections are built.”

Exploring synergies and spotting opportunities

Madeleine is inspired by the fact that participants typically develop an appetite to learn more and explore further opportunities after a training session she or her colleagues host.

While learning is essential, she believes the power of collaboration can play a vital role in boosting impact.

Since she has worked with a wide variety of clients across multiple sectors, she loves taping into her extensive network to explore synergies by connecting people.

Spotting opportunities is one thing that drives her to push beyond boundaries.

She says: “What I love about sustainability is the endless possibilities. Recently, I became a bit obsessed with AI, exploring how it can be used in our field of work. Maybe it’s the nerd in me, so I get to do more research. But in the end, this lets us go ahead of the market and help clients do the same.”

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“Without denying the challenges, we need to balance climate issues with a positive attitude”

Szilvia Szabó — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 15:54:25 +0000

“Without denying the challenges, we need to balance climate issues with a positive attitude”

Tags

Circular Economy

Business Sustainability

Expert

Topic

Business Sustainability

This article is part of the 'Celebrating Circular` initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Expert Insight

An environmental scientist at heart, over her career, Aideen O’Hora has created national programmes to inform policy and drive progress on corporate sustainability. She continues to contribute to game-changer projects.

As a Partner and Co-Founder of Sustainability Works, a consultancy firm offering practical solutions across sustainability strategy, finance, innovation, communications and reporting, she draws on her diverse expertise working in the public and private sectors.

She was one of the first experts to get involved with creating the MODOS programme, working on modules and managing processes as a coordinator to ensure continuity and consistency while polishing the content to make it more specific over time.

making a circular economy business course appealing

Besides gathering experts to deliver the training and develop the curriculum, they also had to work on a proposition to make the MODOS programme appealing to businesses.

“Although the term circular economy is relatively new, the concept has been around for a while, so my approach is to get businesses to relate to what is already there.

The reality is that companies are already doing some elements of sustainability, so the most important strategic approach for me is connecting the dots.”

Aideen O’Hora, Sustainability Expert, Co-Founder fo Sustainability Works

Looking at the circular economy as a whole might be too much to take on. Still, considering access to raw materials and the increasing cost of materials as a real business risk gives you a better entry point for integrating sustainability, as Aideen explains.

“The raw material challenge is more on the radar for bigger companies now, and closed-loop systems are making more business sense. This might not be because of environmental motives, but it doesn`t really matter in terms of impact. We take what we can to drive changes.”

Regarding the MODOS training, Aideen says the key to designing the programme was making it practical and having smaller cohorts that allow everyone to participate and learn from each other.

Learn more about the Celebrating Circular initiative!

The 'Celebrating Circular` digital publication and online story collection spotlight trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Explore stories>>

Download the digital publication unveiling stories of changemakers and expert insights!

Read it here>>

The need for a ‘can-do’ attitude

They realised that participants might not use the “sustainability lingo”, but in reality, they are implementing many things, and sharing their experiences is invaluable in the learning process.

“This is the part when you see things applied, making you believe that it can be done, so we wanted to give space to embrace the power of peer learning.”

This ‘can-do’ attitude reflects Aideen's fundamental belief that we can solve the climate challenge despite the many obstacles we need to face.

“There are opportunities in this. Without denying the challenges, we need to balance climate issues with a positive attitude.”

Working with climate-tech companies is one of the sources that keeps her hopeful.

“I got to work on the Climate-KIC accelerator programme in Ireland that supports tech-focused climate solutions.

This is where you get to see that on one side of the equation, you have those challenges, and on the other side, you have inspirational and clever solutions driven by enthusiastic entrepreneurs.”

Contributing to society in a positive way

The question Aideen keeps asking herself, “How can I facilitate and help those with brilliant, innovative solutions to succeed?”

Contributing to society in a positive way has always been an inner drive for her, and she seeks that in every project she is involved in.

Besides working with entrepreneurs, Aideen sees empowering communities as another way to scale solutions.

She emphasises that once you make people understand the benefits and inspire action, it can become an energy exchange that spirals into a bigger change.

One of the projects she is most proud of was working on an Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) initiative aimed at empowering and enabling communities to adopt sustainable practices.

Starting from one community, they managed to build up around 600 communities across Ireland, which she recalls as an experience like watching an oak tree grow from a single acorn.

Collaboration being the heart of making change happen

Aideen adds that collaboration is at the heart of making change happen: “We cannot achieve net zero goals by working in silos. We need to look at opportunities to partner up and collaborate to bring out synergies.”

She says this thinking was also crucial in their work with the MODOS course.

“MODOS is not only a course for participants but also a template for multistakeholder collaboration that could set a precedent for what this could look like and how to harness the benefits of having various organisations work towards a common goal.”

Looking at CSRD as a change management tool

Aideen’s take on the recently adopted Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) EU initiative, which requires companies to report on the impact of corporate activities on the environment and society and audit the information they provide, reflects on her approach to spotting opportunities where others might only find challenges.

“I see CSRD as actually forcing change. If you step back from the obligatory part, you can see this as an incredibly transparent, supercharged risk assessment of environmental and social issues that can help us identify hotspots of opportunities and challenges alike. Based on the data, picking the areas that can make a difference would be possible.”

She further explains that once you get through the pain piece of reporting, CSRD could be used as a change management tool, allowing leaders to allocate capital towards hotspots with the highest potential to have a ripple effect on achieving net zero and other goals.

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“We need to make sustainability easier to understand and demonstrate feasibility”

Szilvia Szabó — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:50:40 +0000

“We need to make sustainability easier to understand and demonstrate feasibility”

Tags

Business Sustainability

Circular Economy

Resource Efficiency

Topic

Business Sustainability

This article is part of the 'Celebrating Circular` initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Expert Insight

James Hogan has been an Environmental Consultant with the Clean Technology Centre (CTC), based at Munster Technological University since 1995.

His key areas of expertise include Environmental Management Systems, Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Carbon Management, Renewable Energy, ESG and Sustainability.

Managing several national programmes, such as the Green Business Programme and the Green Hospitality Programme, gave him a broad overview of adopting sustainable practices in different sectors. In addition to these experiences, he is currently Programme Manager for the HSE's Green Healthcare Programme.

Resource efficiency as a low-hanging fruit for businesses

As one of the trainers in the MODOS course, he mainly focuses on resource efficiency and connecting the circular economy with practical solutions that can increase business productivity.

As James explains, resource efficiency can be the low-hanging fruit that allows businesses to taste the benefits of adopting sustainable practices.

“For instance, in hospitality, it doesn't really make business sense to throw out food you paid for, so reducing food waste means significantly improving your bottom line.”

James Hogan, Environmental Consultant at Clean Technology Centre - Munster Technological University

However, in many cases, it requires changing habits and expectations while creating new routines.

James shares that these changes can be met with some resistance due to formalities or traditional ways of doing things that we seem to hold on to.

“Simple things like inviting hotel guests to make their own toast instead of placing a basket full of toast on each table can make a difference. Still, you need to manage guest's expectations in order to shift mindsets and practices.”

Behavioural change as a bottleneck for change

He says behavioural change is a massive challenge on both sides – business offerings and consumer acceptance.

“The lack of time is the biggest enemy in making change happen. Businesses are busy running their operations, and it is hard to dedicate time to upskill and adopt changes.”

However, as James sees it, resource efficiency can help take the first few strides, as shifts are usually low-cost and provide a high return on investment.

Still, at some point, you need to train your staff and raise awareness among employees just as much as with customers.

This is where programmes like the MODOS training can help, as they allow participants to gain practical knowledge that can be applied right away.

Learn more about the Celebrating Circular initiative!

The 'Celebrating Circular` digital publication and online story collection spotlight trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

Explore stories>>

Download the digital publication unveiling stories of changemakers and expert insights!

Read it here>>

Keeping up with new routines

“The magic happens when businesses start doing it and seeing the savings. It becomes tangible and not just a concept, realising the actual impact, which can be highly inspirational and a driver for adopting further changes,” says James about why resource efficiency is a good place to start a sustainability journey.

He notes that a crucial part of keeping up with these positive changes is repeatedly training staff not to slip back into the old routines.

Mentoring is available to participating businesses to help them adopt what they have learned from the MODOS course, providing them with the opportunity to work on specific issues with the help of experts.

James has recently worked with Peter Marks Hair Saloons as a mentor after they graduated from the course to explore how to increase resource efficiency in their operations.

Measures included reducing hot water consumption by switching shower heads and using more efficient hairdryers to decrease energy usage, besides looking at opportunities to install solar panels in the future.

Exploring the untapped business potential of circularity

Promoting easy wins for businesses is an area where James feels more can be done to increase awareness and buy-in.

“We need to make sustainability easier to understand and demonstrate feasibility alongside straight-forward signposting regarding where to go to get support and take the next steps.”

Although circularity is getting more attention, there is massive untapped potential for businesses. To make it more mainstream, James believes senior management should be more involved and devoted to putting sustainability on their priority list, while shareholders could demand this and look beyond short-term profit.

Based on his three decades of experience, he says one thing that still encourages him is seeing that companies are capable of change and taking on sustainability as a way of enhancing their business.

“Most forward-thinking businesses want to do more once they get the hang of it and see the benefits. They want to keep advancing, keep getting better and move towards higher levels after harvesting the low-hanging fruits.”

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Celebrating five years of getting sustainable stories hit the headlines

Szilvia Szabó — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 09:59:22 +0000

Celebrating five years of getting sustainable stories hit the headlines

Tags

Sustainability

Business Sustainability

Climate Communication

communication

Topic

Communication

Sustainability is carving out more space in the media year after year, still it is an uphill battle to fight for attention, especially when you have limited sources.

Fiona Donnellan, a real pioneer in this field, founded Sustainable PR public relations agency in 2019 to defy the odds and open up media opportunities for Irish eco-conscious and sustainable businesses to amplify their reach and catalyse positive change.

Now celebrating five years of actively shaping the media landscape, she shares what propels her forward:

"My focus on working with sustainable brands is a commitment to making a positive impact, resonating with consumers who increasingly value ethical and eco-friendly practices and products."

Fiona adds that sustainability and sustainable living have been part of her everyday life, and merging her passion with her profession seemed like a natural fit when she decided to leave a great job to pursue her dreams in 2019.

Fiona Donnellan, Founder of Sustainable PR

"I work with smart, eco-conscious, and sustainable brands that care about the planet, providing simple and effective PR strategies and storytelling to enhance their reputation," says Fiona.

With over 12 years of experience in PR, journalism, and communications, she is dedicated to getting purpose-driven brands the attention they deserve while promoting sustainability and ethical practices in business.

Her current and previous clients include Volvo, Etsy, Street Feast, De’Longhi, KIND Snacks, Thanks Plants, Sligo’s The Canopy, Cairde Sligo Arts Festival and Shells Cafe.

While embracing PR can seem like an inaccessible opportunity for many smaller businesses, Fiona firmly believes there is a lot of untapped potential here, regardless of the size of a company or organisation.

“I think some businesses and business owners know they need marketing and PR, but they're not quite sure how it all works, so then it can seem out of their reach or expensive, but actually, I can custom campaigns for any sized business.

I’m also so proud of how much cut-through my clients have had in the press; they’re competing with all the top brands, but they’re independently owned, sustainable Irish brands for the most part. How cool.”

When she started Sustainable PR five years ago, she recalls that talking about sustainability was more low-key and a niche area.

However, since then, it has become part of many business strategies and is getting more attention than ever.

Sustainable PR is public relations agency based in Sligo, amplifying the voice of eco-conscious and sustainable brands.

“It’s also something customers look for now when they’re buying. One recent survey I saw said 65% of customers want to buy purpose-driven brands, which is a huge shift, and that’s down to how we communicate about it,” Fiona explains.

Communication is crucial in shifting conversations about sustainability, but it is easier to be said than done to get it right.

“I have to be careful not to use too much jargon when I’m pitching stories just because I live and breathe sustainability. I have to be mindful that not everyone does, so it’s about explaining it clearly and concisely.

To break through the noise, you have to put it in simple terms, I think. Too convoluted, and your message will be lost.”

One project she has been recently working on is helping The Good Neighbour refill store communicate that they are changing locations so existing and new customers know about the move.

“I worked with the owner Jess Dollinger on a press release with all the information and sent the press release along with gorgeous images to journalists across the country.

The Good Neighbour was then featured on LovinDublin, in Irish Country Magazine, and on FM104, and Jess spoke to Dublin City FM and South Dublin FM.”

This two-month campaign was a great success, as Fiona managed to get the exposure they were after.

Jess Dollinger, owner of The Good Neighbour refill store is one of Sustainable PR`s clients.

She adds that there is no magic formula to make things work, but every press release or story can be reshaped if it`s not working, for example, by drawing on the personal story of a business rather than the product itself.

She adds that other clients might be looking for a more long-term PR campaign in the build-up to Christmas from September to December.

“Every year, I work with Emmet Bosonnet from Kopper Kreation, a homewares brand that uses reclaimed and recycled materials, to get news about his beautiful products out there.”

Building on all the learning curves and successes, Fiona is optimistic about the future and looks forward to continuing to champion sustainable brands.

“When I started out, I made a wish list of clients I’d love to work with, and I’m so proud that I got to check all these brands off my list. Time to make a new list.”

She feels the media landscape will change significantly again in the next five years, shifting from print and radio to TikTok and podcasts.

Therefore, evolving her business is inevitable to ensure she can keep up with the new trends and benefit her clients.

"There is a growing global consciousness about environmental and social responsibility, and my agency complements this," Fiona adds.

"I want to see people making smarter, mindful purchases rather than overconsuming."

Fiona’s dedication goes beyond her professional life as she takes up the role of Climate Ambassador with An Taisce, advocating for environmental education and action.

Besides, as a proud member of the 1% for the Planet movement, she is dedicating 1% of the annual profit generated by Sustainable PR to support nature conversation efforts in Ireland.

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Most Irish SMEs plan to increase or maintain investment in sustainability

Bronagh Loughlin — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:55:09 +0000

Most Irish SMEs plan to increase or maintain investment in sustainability

Tags

Business Sustainability

SMEs

Topic

Business

Irish Water, Uisce Éireann published its SME Sustainability Sentiment Survey, which found that 94 per cent of Irish SMEs plan to increase or maintain their investment in sustainability.

This represents nine out of 10 Irish SMEs that plan to keep their investment in the next 12 months to meet the demand for more sustainable services and products.

About the survey

The research conducted by Behaviour and Attitudes (B&A) inspired these developments, and over 350 SMEs were interviewed.

The purpose of the survey was to get their opinion on the importance of investing in sustainability for their customers and businesses. In addition, to examine the barriers that currently exist to investment in sustainability.

What were the results of the survey?

Most of the survey respondents (73 per cent) said they intend to maintain the current levels of investment. However, over 1 in 5 responded that they would expect to raise their spending in this specific area.

The research determined that satisfying customers’ desire for more eco-friendly services and products is now the second (43 per cent) critical key driver influencing SME decision-making concerning investment in sustainability. This ranked behind cost savings (55 per cent).

Over half of the Irish SMEs (52 percent) shared they feel operating a responsible business attracts more customers too. Cost concerns and rising prices continue to be stand-out barriers to investing more in sustainability initiatives and strategies for 72 per cent of SMEs.

Lack of education or information and Government support also remains a barrier to investment for 45 per cent of SMEs.

The survey also uncovered that most Irish SMEs (64 per cent) are unaware or uncertain as to how to access support, including financial guidance and information to achieve sustainable savings.

What does the research mean, and how is Uisce Éireann supporting Irish SMEs?

This research gathered by Uisce Éireann reveals that Irish SMEs recognise the importance of providing sustainable services and products to their customers. With this in mind, most of them are planning to either continue putting money into sustainability or increase their investment to introduce new sustainable solutions and practices.

In saying that, the survey did highlight there is a lack of guidance and education for businesses surrounding sustainability.

Nine out of ten respondents shared they do not know what to do or how to access support.

Uisce Éireann is trying to tackle this by offering a suite of easy-to-access and free resources to assist SMEs in becoming more eco-friendly and cutting costs when it comes to the use of water.

This includes their Annual Certification Scheme and Water Stewardship Programme.

The decision to launch these resources comes as they recognise the challenges facing SMEs and their concerns around sustainability.

They have said SMEs understand the value of water to their business but that they desperately need to become more water-aware.

Headline image by benzoix on Freepik

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“Sustainability is at the heart of our vision”

Bronagh Loughlin — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 16:12:40 +0000

“Sustainability is at the heart of our vision”

Tags

Business Sustainability

Sustainability Strategy

Sustainability Reporting

Topic

Business Sustainability

Cpl, the global provider of talent solutions to startups, multinationals, and SMEs in every sector, has recently published its 2023 Sustainability Strategy and Report.

This marks the second year of the report, a place for the company to capture all its sustainability efforts, covering 14,000 staff and operating in 13 countries, and reflect on how far they have come.

Lorna Conn, CEO at Cpl, explains: “Sustainability is at the heart of our vision. Our delivery of transformational talent solutions and experiences must be beneficial not just to our clients and candidates but also to the environment in which we work.”

“We are committed to operating a sustainable business across five core Sustainable Development Goals, deeply ingrained in our operations.”

The execution of Cpl’s sustainability strategy is led by a core team that actively works across all areas. This team is made up of key members of Cpl’s Executive Team, the Sustainability Steering Group, and the GreenWorks Committee.

The Cpl Sustainability Steering Group was established in 2021 and consists of the key senior stakeholders across the business that run its sustainability and governance projects.

Lorna Conn, CEO at Cpl

Speaking on Cpl’s leadership approach and how this has enabled them to successfully integrate sustainability into its business strategy, Lorna says:

“Expertise and strategic acumen remain crucial in business, but there is also a need for empathy, compassion, the ability to communicate openly and transparently and to make good decisions.”

Lorna believes that leaders who can understand and connect with their teams on a human level are not just desirable but also critical.

She explains:

“Empathy allows leaders to comprehend the unique concerns and aspirations of their employees, fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty.

Compassion enables them to provide support during difficult times, building trust and camaraderie.

Open and transparent communication cultivates an environment of trust where employees feel valued and informed, empowering them to contribute their best.”

Lorna feels sustainable leadership is much more about individuals than traditional leadership and integrates the health and well-being of people and society into the needs of the business. Sustainability also plays a significant role in Cpl’s client relationships.

Cpl`s 2023 Sustainability Strategy and Report. Image: Cpl

This is because their clients want to work with organisations that put sustainability at the forefront of their business. Cpl believes sustainability issues will and should play an increasingly important role in the long-term success of all companies.

It is not enough to look to others to implement change; rather, we should look at what we can do.

We are seeing increasing demand for sustainability coming down the line from our clients through tenders, compliance surveys, and more direct responsible business surveys.”

When asked about how to breathe life into sustainability reporting and implementing actions, Lorna shares that Cpl is a people business, and they place people at the heart of everything they do. They believe that by working together, they can create a ripple effect that positively impacts all those who interact with the company.

“While data is important, it’s not the focus area. Our people created our sustainability strategy, considering our entire value chain and the communities we work in.

To us, sustainability reporting is more than a box-ticking exercise; we report voluntarily because we believe that by sharing our progress, challenges, and achievements, we can inspire other organisations to do the same.”

One of Cpl’s strategic pillars is being ‘Future Ready’, which is linked directly to the environment and the ecosystems in its sustainability strategy.

Lorna shares why Cpl has chosen five primary SDGs to focus on: “When analysing the results of our double materiality, it was clear the five areas we have chosen as our SDGs would have the most impact in terms of sustainability and our business.

It was also clear these areas would resonate with our people and communities. The SDGs that were easiest to implement were the social ones like SDG 8 of Decent Work.

Cpl`s analytics on sustainability factors to drive meaningful change. Image: Cpl 2023 Sustainability Strategy and Report.

”Within this pillar, their core Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is Climate Action, committed to reducing their environmental impact and raising awareness. Their overarching target to become net zero by 2045 is a huge driver for their action plan, a plan which shares their 30+ targets across 5 SDGs.

She adds: “The most challenging SDG to implement was Goal 13 of Climate Action. However, our GreenWorks Committee has done a fantastic job getting people involved in initiatives and activities throughout the year.

Cpl also took a huge leap forward in 2023, expanding its data collection to include 10 of the 13 countries where it operates.

Lorna explains: “We also conducted a materiality assessment on our Scope 3 emissions and included all material Scope 3 categories in our data collection. Collecting our emissions data across our 45 offices has been a huge project for Cpl due to the dispersed nature of our offices.”

She says: “To overcome this challenge, our reporting pillar is developing a custom report that will make this task much easier.”

Another initiative Lorna feels has made a massive impact has been Cpl’s BeProud Cafés, which were shortlisted for several awards last year.

Launched in March 2022, over 30 cafés were held on a wide range of diversity, equity, and inclusion topics spanning menopause, men’s health, LGBTQI+, parenting, cultural awareness, and more.

The cafés generally boasted an attendance of between 40 and 70 people and offered a safe space for people to share and learn without fear of saying something wrong.

Cpl believes in the transformative power of deep, meaningful relationships and actively promoting inclusive leadership and equality at work.

In 5 years, they hope to be on track to meet the KPIs laid out in their sustainability report and transform people’s lives for the better.

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Szilvia Szabó ⬤ Author

Journalist, Editor

A rising tide lifts all boats - The power of business sustainability education

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:23:48 +0000

A rising tide lifts all boats - The power of business sustainability education

Tags

Business Sustainability

Sustainability

Training

Education

Topic

Business Sustainability

Fireside chat with Máire Fay, Head of Sustainability, Education & Development, Dublin Chamber

Here at Dublin Chamber, our role, first and foremost, is to represent and support businesses of all sizes from all industries. We speak and lobby on their behalf, but we also listen – meaning we can offer a wide range of services relevant to the needs of businesses today.

I research, develop and lead new sustainability projects and continually innovate on existing ones, such as the Sustainability Academy, which was established in response to these needs.

Our classes are virtual but in a live classroom, taking leaders through all the critical areas of ESG, otherwise known as Environmental, Social, and Governance factors.

Máire Fay, Head of Sustainability, Education & Development, Dublin Chamber

From workshops on sustainability 101 to carbon strategy, from carbon footprint to the circular economy and green public procurement, our courses form a pathway that participants can follow from start to finish – or pick and choose what areas they wish to focus on.

It can seem like such an enormous undertaking, but Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither is a good sustainability strategy.

We undertook extensive research, including our 2022 Sustainability Survey, conducted with Amárach Research and learned that many of our member companies wanted to take action but didn’t know where to start.

Many could see the benefit of having a roadmap but were unclear about how to do that on a practical level and where to start.

We wanted to demystify business sustainability and offer tangible support to help businesses through the process one step at a time.

That’s why we also offer one-on-one support along with the workshops, as we are keen to strip back the complexities and encourage action, not confusion.

We also see the separation of priorities as a barrier somewhat since organisations should embed sustainability into core business strategy as opposed to it being a separate policy.

All classes are held live online, allowing participants to learn from experts while discussing and brainstorming relevant issues with their teacher's assistance.

We see representation from all industries of all sizes with various motivations to take the courses, which is wonderful as it leads to diverse discussions and great idea-sharing.

One of the most valuable assets at Dublin Chamber is our network, so members can access our award-winning workshops, a robust community and various supports that will help them push forward in their efforts to be more sustainable.

A rising tide lifts all boats.

Sustainability Survey 2022 by Dublin Chamber.

It can be deliberating to find a community, a tribe of those in the same position or those who might be already on their journey. This is where the power of collaboration can never be underestimated. Especially when you are starting, it is good to know that you are not alone.

One of the biggest revelations during our course is that ‘it is doable’!

All these things will help you be honest about your sustainability journey – with yourself, your customers, employees and other stakeholders.

You can create a sustainability strategy to be as truthful and realistic as possible, making your objectives and timelines more achievable and strengthening your position towards reaching your goals.

We are delighted to see more companies choosing to upskill in this area based on market needs. This happened with Cpl, Ireland's most prominent and longest-standing recruitment agency.

They noticed a significant increase in supplier requests for sustainability criteria and were unsure where to begin answering them.

Since 2020, Cpl has made significant progress and has gone from a limited knowledge of sustainability to developing their first sustainability strategy and report, establishing baseline data and disclosing it to the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project).

While they did bring in external support to execute their plans, they gained a strong foundation of knowledge.

Looking at our progress and seeing companies going through transformational changes, I have noticed that once you are in, you are in. Once you care, you care.

It certainly has been a challenge to raise awareness of the importance of running greener businesses, but I can honestly say that it’s also been so rewarding.

Word of mouth has been so valuable to us, and it is also a great vote of confidence to know that our participants are happy to recommend their experience.

Besides, we also use various channels to communicate sustainability topics to our members, aiming to make it as easy as possible to understand the relevance and access support.

Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more informed your decisions will be.

It is a challenging landscape out there at the moment, and the recently published IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Synthesis Report offered some very sobering data.

However, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool optimist and believe we can achieve astonishing change as a global community.

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Digital business hub to drive sustainability in the CEE region

Bronagh Loughlin — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:14:09 +0000

Digital business hub to drive sustainability in the CEE region

Tags

Business Sustainability

Education

Sustainability

Topic

Business Sustainability

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has launched a digital information hub for sustainable business solutions in Central and Eastern Europe to support businesses on their journey in fighting the climate crisis.

The platform is called “The Future of Business” and is freely accessible to all interested parties, including start-up innovators, elected officials, corporate leaders, and sustainability experts.

The Future of Business online information hub is powered by WWF and provides insights on sustainability and climate action. Image: WWF

“We have created “The Future of Business” with the purpose to examine what the future of our region could look like and how to shape it in favour of people and nature,” shares Peter Baráth, Regional Director of Marketing and Partnerships at WWF-CEE.

He highlights that the main objective of creating this platform is to ignite the vital conversation on the business case behind sustainability in this region.

The platform will unfold five themes: climate leadership, water and forest stewardship, finance and food systems.

It is hoped to offer the business sector actionable insights on the most recent credible sustainability practices relevant to specific industries and in the future there will be sector-based events to share more experience and knowledge.

The hub currently has three different forms of media available, such as articles, podcasts, and videos.

Peter Baráth adds:

“It is designed for passionate change-makers who want to generate a positive impact for both the business sector and the planet”.

Also available on the platform is “The Future of Business” podcast, supported by VELUX, the world’s leading manufacturer of roof windows.

In addition, a virtual library with practical guidelines and scientific reports is yet to come.

The hub was created with the vision to examine what the future could look like and how to shape it in favour of nature and people.

To begin, the platform will share knowledge on primary themes, including water and forest stewardship, climate leadership, food systems, and finance.

The first episode of the “The Future of Business” podcast explored how businesses can push for the transition to a net-zero economy, focusing on corporate climate leadership with guest speakers including Lubomila Jordanova, founder of an award-winning platform for decarbonisation called Plan A.

The WWF created this platform as they recognise that businesses have a critical role to play in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change.

Publicly listed businesses are responsible for around 40 per cent of all climate-warming emissions, and while their impact is significant, this is also an opportunity.

As one of the largest and most seasoned independent conservation organisations, the World Wildlife Fund believes the private sector can transform into a driving force for the transition to a nature-positive and net-zero economy.

Education can be a barrier to climate action for businesses, so the arrival of more informative hubs, insights, and tools is crucial in helping to make change happen.

The mission of WFF is to halt the deterioration of the planet’s natural environment and create a future in which people coexist peacefully with nature.

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Impulses on the path to accelerating sustainability in business

Business Spirit News reporting — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 08:49:24 +0000

Impulses on the path to accelerating sustainability in business

Tags

Business Sustainability

Event

Sustainable Development Goals

Topic

Business Sustainability

Europe's largest B2B annual event for sustainable transformation, the IMPACT FESTIVAL, is returning for its third edition on 13 and 14 September in Germany with top-class speakers to provide visitors with inspiration, knowledge and concrete solutions for embracing a sustainable economy.

The two-day event will present keynote speeches, panel discussions, start-up pitches and performances on three main stages focusing on the six innovation areas derived from the EU Green Deal and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Speakers will include Dr Med. Eckart von Hirschhausen, delivering a keynote on "Healthy Earth - Healthy People. What we can now achieve with assets - and what it costs us to do nothing".

Sustainability expert Maja Göpel will discuss the meaning of value in the 21st century, while Godo Röben, former managing director of vegan food production company Rügenwalder Mühle will share his vision on the future of food.

The IMPACT FESTIVAL offers knowledge exchange, networking and inspiration to innovators to embrace sustainability.

Visitors can also expect networking sessions, the next edition of the IMPACT AWARD, music performances, and how an artist will create a live art object from banners and signs used in the previous two IMPACT FESTIVALs.

Different tickets are available for students, businesses and investors to join the event.

The event first took place in 2021 and has grown into a movement that offers opportunities and content all year round as a platform for key stakeholders of the sustainable transformation to network and exchange ideas.

The IMPACT FESTIVAL is a project of the neosfer GmbH, an early-stage investor and innovation unit of Commerzbank Group that investigates future technologies relevant to business and society while promoting and developing sustainable and digital solutions.

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