New guide draws on the expertise of recognised corporate sustainability leaders such as Ikea and Unilever to set out 10 principles for effectively embedding environmental action within an organisation
How can businesses ensure they integrate and deliver sustainable practices throughout their operations? In a contemporary corporate landscape characterised by escalating climate risks, emerging clean technologies, and mounting pressure from green consumers, investors, and regulators it is a critical question for many business leaders. Now a new report aims to provide guidance on just that issue, drawing on insights from leading companies that have been recognised for their sustainability efforts.
Published by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), the report outlines 10 core principles harvested from the experience of four global giants: DSM, Ingka Group, the parent of retail giant Ikea, Interface, and Unilever. Titled Leading with a sustainable purpose: Leaders' insights for the development, alignment and integration of a sustainable corporate purpose, the report divides these principles into three overarching goals: align purpose, strategy and sustainability; integrate practices across the core business; and communicate and engage externally.
"There has been a lot of debate about corporate purpose, but less about how it's done," said CISL director of business strategy and report author Ben Kellard. "We have sought to capture how leaders have especially aligned corporate purpose with a transition to a sustainable economy."
The report explores the different ways the principles have been successfully adopted by leading businesses. It suggests that a business is unlikely to deploy all the recommended practices, but should be able to select, combine, and adapt a selection of the principles that best fit its size, culture, and context.
Among its key recommendations are to take an 'outside-in' view that engages external stakeholders and an 'inside-out' view that engages employees to help shape sustainability efforts.
"I'm pleased to share Unilever's experience in this report that reinforces the essential nature of the multi-stakeholder model and demonstrates the imperative to embed sustainability through the entire business and supply chain," said Rebecca Marmot, Unilever chief sustainability officer.
The report also advises businesses on how to integrate a sustainability purpose into metrics, external disclosure practices, corporate positioning, and communications, as well as how to select and build external partnerships and undertake green advocacy.
"To create positive, substantial and required impact on climate, companies need to act together," said Pia Heidenmark, chief sustainability officer at Ingka Group. "I hope that this guide will inspire more companies to embark on a journey to puts purpose at the core of the business."