WSC Sustainability for Businesses

Sustainable development is the development or evolution that meets the needs of the present generations without sacrificing or compromising the needs of future generations. Tied into that is development without depleting natural resources of our environment. But it is much bigger than just the environment. Sustainable development includes stability and growth in economy, social justice and inclusion and the wealth of the environment.

Adopting sustainability into a business model, framework and practices can benefit a business in money saving, efficiency, lowering risk, opportunity for grants or investment, innovation, growth and being a positive advocate for protecting the planet. In which can also gain competitive advantage and improve business performance.

For all SME’s and businesses, it is important that sustainable practices are adopted for the recovery of the climate crisis. To do this all must understand their social and environmental impact to then be able to adopt meaningful change and solutions.

As a business you could start by making the pledge below and working with us at the Sustainability Centre. Where we will provide you with resources, advise, tools and more to help you in achieving these important changes. You can join us by just receiving updates, just pledging, or joining as a member for support. Otherwise, you can do all three. 

More about Pledging & form here  

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are made up of 17 goals created from the United Nations Summit in 2015. They include 169 targets aimed at tackling climate change, ending poverty, and fighting inequality and injustice that all UN members have agreed to achieve by 2030. You can explore them here: THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (un.org).

*SDG Video* - This one if we are allowed to use it:

 Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times | Presented by Thandie Newton - YouTube

Sustainable development has many definitions however one of the most accepted definitions was “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Written in the 1987 Bruntland Commission Report.

If you need support as a business you can now use this free SGD Action Manager that has been provided by B Corp & UN https://lnkd.in/dU7BcDV

The action manager tool allows you to find starting points and a model whilst becoming aware of your company's current impact. You can then set out goals to create improvements.

The circular economy is a circular model, regenerative by design opposed to the common ‘take-make-waste’ linear model that is most often used. It is a systemic approach to enhance and benefit businesses, societies, and the environment. In its most general terms it is looking at how we can reuse our resources and keeping it into a closed loop instead of the need of needed raw finite resources that end up in landfills.

To learn more about the circular economy and frame work, you can view this page by Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which is leading in the development and promotion of the 21^st century economic model: What is a Circular Economy? | Ellen MacArthur Foundation

For other resources/organisations in Circular Economy:

-Cradle to Cradle Certification, framework, and book: About the Institute - Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (c2ccertified.org)

-ReThink Global circular economy talks, workshops, coaching (rethinkglobal.info)

-WRAP- WRAP and the circular economy | WRAP

Environmental & social standards in sustainability are important and beneficial for so many reasons, so of them being saving money, cutting carbon emissions, saving energy and saving the environment. In a market where citizens are becoming more aware they are also becoming more educated and choosing companies that have accredited standards. However many companies take this as an opportunity to ‘green wash’. Which means to make false claims of benefits to the environment to be on trend knowingly to attract consumers or even lack of knowledge.

By having standards in sustainability, it can not only assist a business to become more sustainable but also to have the approved accreditation to go with it. To find out more and to see standards available: Becoming more sustainable with standards | BSI (bsigroup.com)

One of the main accredited standards globally is ISO40041, an environmental Management system for businesses of all sizes. ISO40041 looks across day to day operations across the businesses to adopt sustainable practice. You can find out more here: ISO – Developing sustainably

B Lab is a not-for-profit organisation that certifies the voluntary B Corp Certification for-profit entity. A B Certified Corporation means being a business that meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, with public transparency and legal accountability to consider and balance both profit and purpose.

To become a B Corp you will have to be assessed by the B Lab and meet their standards. To find out more about the B Corp Certification and B Lab, click here- Certified B Corporation

B corp have also partnered with the United Nations to create the SDC Action Manager tool for businesses to that is free and confidential. You can find out more here Welcome to the SDG Action Manager | Certified B Corporation  and use the tool here: B Impact Assessment.

 Businesses

1. Aligning with the United Nations and the UK’s Government legal commitment to commit to being Net Zero by 2050 – and aim for 2030 as a business. Please sign the commitment here.
2. To pledge to work towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. You can use this tool to assist you. We recommend focusing on the 2-3 you have the biggest impact on first, rather than taking them all on at once.

3. To take a business pledge to reduce the environmental impact of your operations. For example: “We pledge to take action to reduce our water footprint by 50% by 2030” – you and your pledge will then be displayed on our pledging page.

4. To take a business pledge to enhance the social impact of your business model. For example: “We pledge to take action to ensure people working within our supply chain are paid at least the national living wage”.

5. Bonus pledge that we recommend >>> To aim to register your business as a B Corp company within 3 years of joining us and get the certification by 2030. More info here. Alternatively, you could look at other environmental or social certifications/standards that better suit your business – an example list is available at the bottom of the page.