Sam LynasThe Responsible Business Summit was recently hosted by Business in the Community at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, focusing on how businesses can become ‘future proof’. Local entrepreneur Sam Lynas reflects on the summit’s workshops and debates.
We all have an understanding or idea of what it means to be responsible. When I was growing up, it meant doing my homework on time. Now it means paying my bills. But what does responsibility mean in the context of business?
Before looking at responsible business I suppose you need to question, why bother? You might say to yourself, “business is business, it is a money game and that is all that matters.” Quite simply, sustainability is the answer. For example, would you rather be given £1,000 today or £10 every week for the rest of your life? Clearly, the second option will be more sustainable and will, in turn, offer higher probability of financial success.
Shifting our horizon to the long-term is the key to changing our collective behaviour – and it’s the rational choice to make.
I’m sure that many people in business would agree that responsibility and sustainability have become increasingly important, and yet they often seem to be reduced to simply buzzwords, making it difficult for people to understand their true meanings and the actions required to make positive change.
When it comes to the practical side of responsibility and sustainability, two key themes emerged at the summit: people and planet. They’re closely linked to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are set out as a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They are a great resource for any business.
Source: UN in collaboration with Project Everyone
People
The actions of businesses have a huge impact on the lives of people across the world, and working in business our responsibility is not just towards our customers or employees but to society as a whole. No matter how large an organisation, or how important your role within a company, we all have the ability to make a difference.
- Equality and Inclusion (SDG 5 & 10)
Within business an inclusive environment should be created allowing any individual from any background to thrive and access equal opportunity. Although there have been positive steps towards better equality and inclusion in business there is still a lot of progress to be made with the UK having one of the poorest rates of social mobility in the developing world. Equality and inclusion facilitate diversity, which contributes to sustainability. Although not speaking specifically about business, Maya Angelou encapsulates why businesses should strive to be inclusive: “In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”
- Community Goals
One small action can make a big difference in someone’s life. David Armstrong, Partner in PWC, provided a perfect example of how a business can have a practical, positive impact. Each year PWC organises a day in May, the purpose of which is to host events that benefit the wider community. One of these events involves working with community groups to provide personal advice and guidance for individuals on CV writing and interview skills, empowering people in the community.
- Health and Well-being (SDG 3)
The World Health Organisation defines health as a, “state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Many leaders would agree that a healthy and happy workforce is at the heart of a productive and prosperous business. Employers are in the perfect position to take a proactive, rather than a reactive approach to health in the workforce, and can do so by promoting well-being and reducing health inequalities.
Planet
During a panel session, Jeremy Darroch, CEO of Sky plc, mentioned that his company is committed to eliminating all single use plastics from its operations by 2020. He shared his personal desire to encourage positive change within Sky and asked the audience the very sobering question: when you had a chance to do something about it, what did you do?
The reality is every individual and business can do something about it and now is the time for change.
- Healthy Eco-Systems (SDG 14 & 15)
It can be more difficult to understand the negative effect of daily actions by individuals and business on our eco-systems because often we are detached from the damage. The production of shows such as Blue Planet are beginning to bridge this gap and have become something of a call to action. But, as many will understand, it will require considerable action to reverse the damage that has already been done to our planet and eco-systems.
Lucy Seigle, who spoke at the summit, writes in her book Turning the Tide on Plastic: “Without big action, at the current rate, pieces of plastic will outnumber fish in the ocean by 2050. That is the legacy we are leaving our children and grandchildren.” The key to creating change is not how we deal with the waste but how to prevent the production of plastics, especially single use plastics, which perfectly leads into the concept of a circular economy.
- Circular Economy (SDG 12)
In The Lion King, Mufasa says to Simba, “When we die we become the grass and the antelope eat the grass, and so we are all connected in the great circle of life.” The life-cycle of nature as explained in my childhood by Mufasa works, and always has worked, yet as humans we have created a new approach, which involves creating and disposing. From fashion to technology, we are creating and disposing faster than ever before.
The alternative, a circular economy, would work in a similar way to a life-cycle where our approach to waste would fuel the economy rather than being a cost, creating a more sustainable society. This is an exciting concept that will be an important part of business and I would encourage you to follow the amazing work being done by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
- Preventing Climate Change (SDG 7 & 13)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is an organisation founded in 1988 to provide a clear scientific understanding for governments on the causes, impacts and solutions to climate change. As reported heavily over the last few weeks the recent report completed by the IPCC states that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society. Nevertheless, we are exposed to leading politicians who disagree with this research, despite the fact their role is not to argue with, but to make positive progress in light of research. In business, our intentions should be the same and based on the recent report by the IPCC, we should aim to eliminate carbon and reduce our contribution to climate change.
During the morning session, Kirsty Britz of RBS noted that “sustainability and responsibility cannot be boxed, it cannot be a department. It must be a central approach stemming from core business models.” It is also true that both small and large actions create a culture of responsibility. In business we should encourage sustainability to be a value held at all levels of business, whether in changing an organisation’s recruitment policy or supply chain or individually saying no to a single use plastic, we all have a part to play.
What business are you in?
So, what’s the bottom line?
As an individual and as a business you are part of society, you contribute to our economy, and your actions have an effect on our planet. The work of Ted Levitt, the American economist, was mentioned throughout the summit, and I was reminded of his thought provoking question: “What business are you in?”
That’s what it comes down to. Is your business one which is creating positive change, or one that is causing damage? Does it value the sustainability of our natural and human resources, or does it waste them? Does it take seriously its responsibilities, or does it ignore them?
People and our planet are counting on your choices.
