Sustainability: Doing business and working sustainably

In the sustainability debate, a topic has become the central driver that only a few years ago played a rather marginal role in the field of environmental protection: climate change. And because the consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly tangible worldwide, you don't have to be a prophet to predict: In the coming years, climate change will be seen by a growing proportion of the population as a massive threat to human life. And this, in turn, will increasingly force politicians to intervene in a regulatory manner.

Climate change alters the economic environment

It is therefore foreseeable: Business will be confronted with increasingly stringent requirements in the area of environmental and climate protection. The purchasing behavior of customers. will also change. In addition, more and more top performers - i.e. people on whose know-how and skills companies depend - will ask their employer to what extent the latter works in a climate- and environmentally friendly way and contributes to the sustainable development of our society.

The problem here is: In the social discourse, it is disputed what is meant by "sustainable development" and how this goal can be achieved. For this reason, companies dealing with the issue of sustainability should first ask themselves what these terms actually mean to them and establish a commitment to this.

Become aware of your own driving forces

In doing so, decision-makers must be aware that their organization is embedded in an environment that has specific expectations of it; moreover, that the expectations of the various stakeholders such as customers, employees, suppliers, capital and legislators are changing and often diverge. For only if a company knows the various expectations can it decide: Which ones do we want to, can we, and must we respond to?

This in turn requires clarification of the question: Why do we concern ourselves with the topic at all? Are we doing this out of our own intrinsic motivation - for example, because we ourselves are convinced that sustainable management and operation is necessary for survival? Or is the opposite the case? Do we deal with it primarily because we are compelled to do so - for example

• because the raw materials needed for our production are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive, or
• because the legislator is forcing us to do more and more through specifications or
• because the criterion of "sustainability" is becoming increasingly relevant for our customers' purchasing decisions?

Overcoming the one-dimensional approach

Such a one-dimensional approach to the issue of sustainability will usually no longer be sufficient in the future to meet market requirements and secure the existence of companies in the long term. It must be replaced by the realization that the long-term stable development of societies is only possible if ecological, economic and social (development) goals are given equal priority.

This line of thinking also shapes the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formulated by the United Nations in 2015 in its 2030 Agenda, which are intended to guide the future actions of all governments, societies and companies worldwide (see box).

Sustainability: A rethink is taking place on the executive floors

This awareness is also increasingly growing on the executive floors of companies. That is why a growing number of projects are taking place in them, in which the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals often serve as a basis for reflection:

• What does sustainable management and work mean to us?
• How does this manifest itself in our day-to-day work in all our business areas and processes?
• What development goals are associated with this on our part - economic, ecological and social? And:
• What changes are necessary for this in our organization at the cultural, structural and process levels?

The results are then used to derive sustainability concepts and, in turn, change and transformation projects. In addition, more and more companies are setting up cross-divisional and cross-functional project groups that continuously develop the sustainability concept, because ultimately, when it comes to sustainable development and sustainable business and work, we are currently all still learning or searching for the promising path.

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda, which sets out 17 global goals for sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They cover economic, ecological and social aspects of development.

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere - among other things, eliminate the absolute, existence-threatening poverty of many people worldwide and reduce the relative poverty of some population groups in numerous countries.

Goal 2: Secure food worldwide - through sustainable agriculture and rural development, among other things.

Goal 3: Promote health and well-being - among other things, enable all people to have access to good medical care, healthy food, clean water and pure air.

Goal 4: Quality education worldwide - Among other things, all people should receive a high-quality education that provides equal opportunities.

Goal 5: Gender equality - not only legally, but also in everyday life.

Goal 6: Best quality water - Among other things, a safe and sustainable supply of clean (drinking) water for all people worldwide.

Goal 7: Affordable energy from sustainable energy sources - among other things, as a prerequisite for economic and social development and effective environmental and climate protection.

Goal 8: A sustainable economy as an opportunity for all - among other things, ensure minimum social standards and an adequate (working) income on a global scale.

Goal 9: Innovation and infrastructure development - ensure sustainable economic growth and sustainable education and healthcare systems, among other things, through intelligent innovations, modern infrastructures and high-performance industry.

Goal 10: Fewer inequalities - Among other things, reduce inequality in income, wealth and development opportunities worldwide.

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities - Among other things, create affordable housing and pursue an integrated urban development policy.

Goal 12: Produce and consume sustainably - among other things, use natural resources sparingly and in a manner that protects the environment, climate and health.

Goal 13: Global climate protection - among other things, significantly limit climate change so that extreme weather events such as droughts and floods are avoided and parts of the world do not become uninhabitable.

Goal 14: Protect life under water - Among other things, avoid further pollution of the oceans and ensure that they are preserved as habitats as well as sources of food, raw materials and energy.

Goal 15: Life on land - among other things, ensure that ecosystems remain intact and that environmental disasters do not jeopardize sustainable development and cause hunger and poverty.

Goal 16: Strong and transparent institutions - Among other things, create and promote non-corrupt, rule-of-law institutions that respond well, provide peace and justice, and enable sustainable development.

Goal 17: Global partnership - ensure, among other things, that the sustainability goals are achieved and the associated challenges are mastered through a strong, global partnership.

To the author:
Dr. Georg Kraus is managing partner of the management consulting company Dr. Kraus & Partner, Bruchsal.