Sustainable Inclusive Business, Knowledge Centre is here to give you a ‘practical’ hand in how to start being a (more) Sustainable and Inclusive Business resulting to a positive impact on people and the environment.
From a start to policy.
On all departments of a company there are quick wins to be made. Bigger impact is being made when you can connect various actions and wins on all levels and discuss internal about how to turn quick wins into long lasting sustainable inclusive solutions.
Only with support of colleagues you can change a corporate culture.
Sustainable Inclusive Business runs through all levels and aspects of a company. It is or it becomes part of corporate DNA. Therefore it is not a process of change that you explain in a second. It has to become part of a mindset and requires a new fresh look at everything.
The following aspects are helping to start that change.
Transparency.
Share, inform and involve people in what you are doing. That gives others the opportunity to join, think and participate. Realize that SIB has not one clear road with a fixed timeframe. SIB is a constant process of change and improvement and different for each company . The development of a (more) sustainable and inclusive business model will evolve naturally.
Transparency is a way to encourage SIB. It will enable to not only share success stories but also to share struggles, face challenges and to connect.
Engaging with your stakeholders.
They have a stake in the company decisions and they are of great influence (and vice versa).
Organize stakeholders dialogue and aim for the following output: knowing your stakeholders, understand your stakeholders expectations, prioritize the most important stakeholders, identify 5 relevant topics for stakeholders, set the tone for a SIB strategy, capture stakeholders input for your annual report and SIB planning.
Communication and marketing.
Clients and customers all over the world value the importance of SIB more and more. Make sure you communicate what you are doing in the right way.
Communicating about your company as a SIB requires a well thought plan. Questions like how do I communicate my SIB approach, how do I communicate transparently and honestly?, what is relevant for my target group? How do I reach out to them and via which mean(s)? How do I report / place certificates in my annual report? How do I make sure my company benefits from positive SIB communication? What’s the business case for SIB communication? It is worth making a solid plan and stream the messages and the way of communication throughout the organization.
Sustainable Inclusive Business is relevant on all levels and activities of the company.
Export
A SIB export company cares about the local market and environment. It is essential to know if your product or service is appreciated and if it has a positive impact on the local employment situation and environment. The benefits of exporting should not only be for the exporter. Therefor negative or disruptive trade-impact should be avoided. As well as a zero tolerance towards corruption. Benefits are that the market will remain stable and the corporate image/ brand will be strong and good.
The OESO – guidelines will help to start exporting (more) sustainable and inclusive.
HR
HR is a very important department to recruit the people with the right mindset, matching the ambitions of the corporate. Therefore they play a big role when it comes down to change and managing of change, culture, mindset.
Organizations and corporates can’t talk or act, it’s the People who do. That is why humans are the most important capital of a corporate. People will be more productive and deploy more of their ability and talents when they are motivated, appreciated, rewarded and able to grow, have a voice and operate within a good work environment.
HR and SIB go hand in hand by:
• Recruiting the right employees
• Enable talent to bloom within their job
• Capacity buildings plan & career plans in place
• Rewarding and acknowledging people
• Managing the turn over of HR
Finance
In all aspects of finance SIB can be in place. Think of investments; is the money coming from a SIB source or vice versa will money be invested in SIB? (Corporates disrespecting labor laws, polluting the environment or any other form of direct or indirect negative impact on the value chain) has adverse negative impact on People and Planet.
Office, ICT and management
Office, ICT and management are very visible parts of a corporate for clients and stakeholders (extern) especially for the employees.
A sustainable working environment should carefully consider type of building, use of daylight, energy saving, water re-use are daily aspects. Furthermore, sustainable printing, reducing ink, toilet paper, organic/ healthy lunch, flexible work space, reduce travel during rush hours, and so on can improve the working force.
Supply chain
Direct or indirect corporates have supply chain/ value chain responsibility. Maintaining and sustaining a healthy supply chain with a positive impact on People Planet and Profit will benefit all. There are various moments to be conscious. In the buying process price, quality and delivery time are key, but if you buy responsibly also aspects of impacting environment and personnel are very important. How does your supplier deal with waste, with labor laws and work environment, for instance?
It comes, nowadays, with a lot of complexity. Many supply chains start in a foreign country. It is not easy, but important for your own sustainability to know the circumstances in which the products are being produced.
Logistics & mobility
Whether it is about transporting goods or transport of personnel from home to work, it has all to do with logistics and mobility. This has an impact on people and planet and also profit. Wasting time in traffic is a waste of human energy and time and capital. The fuel costs do keep on increasing when more time is spent in traffic that in turn pollutes the environment directly.
There is always a win present for every company that has a clear business case.