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87% of the world's energy needs are met by fossil fuels. According to scientists, almost 90% of coal and around 60% of oil and gas must remain underground to stop the climate crisis. Regardless of the individual or company, there is much we can do for the planet, both in our individual lives and as part of corporate sustainability.
At the point we have reached, we have started to look for sustainable ways as a whole humanity: Our homes, workplaces, living standards, production and consumption processes…
If we do not adopt the concept of sustainability in every aspect of human life on earth, new dangers will emerge that we will have to deal with as the climate crisis progresses. Therefore, it is time to take action to adapt the issue of sustainability to our workplaces.
In this article, we will explain the concept of corporate sustainability, give examples from institutions that have successfully adopted sustainability in the world, and offer tips on how you can adapt the concept of sustainability to your own institutions.
What You Need to Know About Corporate Sustainability
- What Is Corporate Sustainability?
- Examples of Corporate Sustainability
- How Can A Corporate Sustainability Plan Be Developed?
What Is Corporate Sustainability?
We inevitably met the concept of sustainability, as the ecological and social crises experienced caused us to understand that the natural assets in the world (natural resources with their widespread use) were not as unlimited as we thought, and a search for a more sustainable lifestyle was started.
Corporate sustainability, on the other hand, in the report Our Common Future, presented by the Brundtland Commission in 1987, as'meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'.
Corporate sustainability, on the other hand,as represented of Borsa Istanbul's"Sustainability for The Companiescan be defined as “taking economic, environmental and social factors into account in company activities and decision mechanisms together with corporate governance principles in order to create long-term value in companies and effectively managing the risks associated with these factors”.
Sustainability prioritizes long-term growth through sustainable methods rather than focusing on short-term financial gains. Other values of corporate sustainability can be explained according to Dr. Izel Levi's book "From Continuity to Sustainability" :
- to think for long term, not for short term
- pressure to balance social, environmental and economic impacts instead of profit pressure
- progress and development instead of just growth
- money and other parameters, not just money and measurement
- partnership with competitors, not competition with competitors
- not only in the interest of the institution, but in the interest of the whole
- not only consumption but also saving and derivation
- local rather than global
- language of peace instead of destructive language
- not horizontal thinking, integrated thinking
A business committed to sustainability must ensure that it uses natural resources responsibly, invests in the long-term well-being of the planet, and ensures that all people involved in the business are treated fairly.
Examples of Corporate Sustainability
Many companies are on their way to making meaningful changes with their initiatives and values. Let's take a look at some companies that are trying to do their part and create strong sustainability plans:
- IKEA
IKEA is one of the few business examples known worldwide for its efforts to ensure sustainability throughout its supply chain and operations. The furniture brand appeals to its employees, customers and stakeholders with its sustainability practices.
The Swedish furniture manufacturer sustainably sources nearly half of its wood and the cotton it uses in its textiles. All are produced to a standard that minimizes water pollution through organic farming practices. The use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is limited.
IKEA's 2012 statement was that it would be powered by 100% renewable energy sources by 2020. They strived for this goal as part of ensuring corporate sustainability.
- Lego
In 2018, LEGO launched plant-based polyethylene toys that will soon replace standard plastic toys. These legos are known for being sustainable and can significantly reduce non-eco-friendly waste.
LEGO also announced that they will overcome the inevitable waste problem and move forward within the zero waste project by 2025. While this may sound like an ambitious idea, the company has already recycled 93% of its waste in 2018.
The company's current sustainability goals include making all core products from sustainable materials by 2030 and aiming for zero waste to go to landfill by 2025.
LEGO also has a facility where customers can donate their used lego toys to children in need instead of throwing them away.
- Microsoft
Microsoft has made some big strides in sustainability in recent years, including removing more than 60,000 metric tons of waste from landfills and funding 20 different water regeneration projects in 2020.
Microsoft's current sustainability goals include being completely carbon negative, producing zero waste, and building the planetary computer by 2030.
This computing platform will use global environmental data and artificial intelligence to provide practical insights for sustainability insights.
- Allianz,
Working with the “Sustainable Value Creation Model” since 2016, Allianz,is one of Turkey's remarkable examples of sustainability.
In order to create a more sustainable life model, Allianz invested in renewable energy with the use of windmills and increased the share of electricity produced from renewable sources in electricity consumption to %1,5. .
The institution also supports sustainable business models, donates to non-governmental organizations and prioritizes women's employment.
- Abdi İbrahim
Another company that plans to be carbon neutral by 2030, Abdi İbrahim is the first Turkish pharmaceutical company to use 100% renewable energy. (1) Abdi İbrahim studies on many projects such as medicine box and blister optimization process to use less material and especially less plastic, production of personalized vitamins and medicines with biodegradable or 3D printer.
The institution supports local entrepreneurs with social innovation programs, develops social responsibility through practices such as volunteer hours per employee, supports women's employment and adopts a fair economic development plan.
How Can A Corporate Sustainability Plan Be Developed?
Sustainability is not just about the environment. It includes social, economic and environmental factors and adopts fair practices in all areas.
Sustainability management is where the business meets sustainable practices. It builds on a company's foundation of profit, humanity, and the planet, allowing the three to coexist in harmony.
If you want your organization to develop a sustainable strategy, you can start by providing the following steps:
- Reducing your carbon footprint and having a carbon neutral policy,
- Using natural assets responsibly by purchasing sustainable resources and raw materials,
- To create fair working conditions and a healthy company culture by improving labor force policies,
- Fair trade and production,
- To adopt diversity, equality and inclusiveness as a principle,
- Making global donations,
- Participating in community and virtual volunteering projects,
- Creating corporate policies that benefit the environment,
- To make social and environmentally sensitive investments.
Corporate Sustainability with ecording
Technologies developed by ecording against the climate crisis support the steps that brands can take in the name of corporate sustainability. For example; In order to reduce the carbon footprint of company employees, you can choose the mobile application ecordingApp, which aims to help people gain sustainable living habits through gamification.
On the other hand, it is possible to take a step towards sustainability with ecording's ecoDrone technology, which shoots seed balls in hard-to-reach areas. As a social and environmentally responsible investment, you can integrate the ecoDrone mark into your brand's products, services or transactions.
The ecoDrone sign is a QR code that you can integrate into every product, service or transaction of your brand, and it enables ecoDrone to bring a seed ball together with nature for each product, service or transaction, thus supporting reforestation and biodiversity efforts around the world.
In addition, people who prefer the ecoDrone marked product can follow the adventures of the seed balls by reading the ecoDrone Mark with their phone camera. By integrating the ecoDrone mark into your brand's products, services or processes, you can bring one seed ball to the ground per product/service or process.
