How can you advocate for sustainability in your industry and society?

It all starts with values! Identify your values that support a company's sustainability strategy. Next identify the scope of your sustainability program. What particular topics you would like to practice and promote? Sustainability is a vast subject and without clear direction and scope your sustainability stewardship can get lost.

From my experience, to effectively advocate for sustainability in our industry and society, one must first define a compelling vision. This vision, deeply rooted in our core values, mission, and purpose, should not only meet the expectations of stakeholders but also be realistic, measurable, and adaptable. I believe a clear vision is the cornerstone of sustainable advocacy, inspiring teams and rallying support.

As a feminist and ally, I believe advocating for sustainability is crucial. Our vision must align with values, address diverse needs, and be measurable and adaptable. Sharing facts and stats on deforestation, emissions, and marginalized communities' impacts creates urgency. A well-defined vision motivates our team and attracts support. Let's drive change by integrating these principles into advocacy efforts. Together, we can create a future where sustainability and equality thrive, leaving a lasting impact. #AdvocateForSustainability

Businesses are under scrutiny. Customers, investors, and employees expect companies to be mission-driven, purposeful and to act with authenticity. But whose responsibility is it to deliver? I love the words of StartSomeGood co-founder Tom Dawkins, "Impact needs to be a lens, not a category." In other words, as leaders, we need to continually think about impact across all business functions, ensuring the external messaging, is aligned and reflected internally. For too long, impact has been reduced to 'add-on' tasks, typically within HR or marketing, functions that are already under pressure.

Have a clear understanding what sustainability means for you and your business: Impact Strategy - Develop a cohesive impact narrative, connecting to the overall strategy of the company. Sustainability - From gaining — and maintaining impact certification, to resource usage and stakeholder impact, ensure clear reporting and disclosures. Ethics - With an increasing number of companies committing to reporting on impact, decision-making has a new layer of complexity. Values & Purpose - Articulate your values, backed up by action. Wellbeing - Support the whole person; physical, mental, economic, emotional, social & spiritual. Diversity & Inclusion - Build diverse and inclusive teams that are supported, and equitable.

Engaging stakeholders is vital for effective sustainability advocacy. By actively involving customers, employees, suppliers, investors, regulators, media, NGOs, and local communities, we can create a collaborative environment. Understanding their perspectives, concerns, and expectations is key. By listening to feedback, addressing issues, and involving them in decision-making, we build trust, loyalty, and partnerships. Reporting progress and impact demonstrates transparency. Let's engage stakeholders to forge lasting relationships in our sustainability journey. #StakeholderEngagement

From my perspective, genuine stakeholder engagement is a critical step to champion sustainability within our industry and society. These stakeholders, encompassing a wide range of individuals and groups affected by our actions, provide invaluable insights and feedback for our sustainability initiatives. I firmly believe that by actively listening and responding to their concerns, we can foster trust, build lasting partnerships, and drive our sustainability goals forward.

Embracing sustainability involves a symphony with stakeholders as key players. It's about listening to diverse perspectives, from customers to communities. While I applaud the collaborative spirit, finding the right balance can be a nuanced dance. A company I observed tackled this intricacy by fostering transparency and making sustainability intrinsic to their operations. They showcased that engaging stakeholders isn't just a checkbox; it's crafting a harmonious journey toward sustainable progress.

Educating your audience is crucial for sustainability advocacy. By informing customers, employees, leaders, media, policymakers, and others, we can highlight the importance, benefits, and challenges of sustainability. Educating about environmental, social, and economic aspects, industry risks and opportunities, and best practices fosters understanding. Sharing our own sustainability vision, goals, actions, and results demonstrates leadership. Through education, we raise awareness, drive behavioral change, and cultivate demand for sustainability. Let's empower others with knowledge to create a more sustainable future. #EducationForChange

Educating the audience on sustainability is akin to planting seeds of change. In my experience running a sustainable solutions business, I've found that transparency and simplicity are crucial. Breaking down complex sustainability concepts into relatable, actionable insights resonates with customers and industry peers alike. It's not just about what we do but also about fostering understanding and enthusiasm for sustainable practices. This educational journey becomes a shared commitment toward a greener, more responsible future.

Innovation is key in advocating for sustainability. To address challenges and seize opportunities, we must innovate our solutions. This includes developing new products, services, processes, technologies, business models, and partnerships that create value for stakeholders and the environment. Applying creative thinking, design thinking, systems thinking, and circular thinking is crucial in this process. Leveraging our core competencies, resources, networks, and data is essential for effective innovation. By doing so, we differentiate ourselves, boost competitiveness, and catalyze positive change. Let's embrace innovation to lead the way towards a sustainable future. #SustainableInnovation

I believe that in order to innovate and the solution become really sustainable should be taken a step further towards regenerative system approaches. Sustainability as defined today indicates the ability to maintain or support a process over time, so reducing impact could be seen as enough actions. A regenerative approach will imply a more transformational focus.

In my journey with Adventure Driven Threads (ADT), the fourth step in advocating for sustainability involves embracing innovation to tackle the challenges and opportunities within the realm of sustainable solutions. ADT focuses on creative thinking, incorporating design and circular thinking to revolutionize products, services, and processes. This commitment to innovation isn't just about keeping up; it's about leading the charge towards a more sustainable future. By harnessing our core strengths, ADT seeks to set new standards in the industry, fostering competitiveness, and ultimately propelling positive change.

Leading by example is crucial in advocating for sustainability. Demonstrating commitment, passion, and accountability through our behavior, actions, and decisions is essential. Aligning personal and professional values, ethics, and goals with our sustainability vision is key. Embedding sustainability into our culture, strategy, operations, governance, and performance is imperative. Recognizing, rewarding, and celebrating sustainability achievements, both our own and others', fosters a culture of progress. By leading by example, we set the tone, shape the culture, and inspire others to embrace sustainability. Let's be catalysts for change through our own actions. #LeadWithSustainability

In my sustainability journey, leading by example stands out in advocating for sustainability. Aligning personal values with sustainability goals and embedding it in culture fosters genuine commitment. However, relying solely on external recognition without fostering internal sustainability culture might not be sufficient. I've seen companies authentically integrating sustainability into their DNA, with leaders inspiring collective dedication. It's not just about the destination but the journey we take together.

While we are running behind creating sustainable cities and communities each one of us has a vital role to play in the field of education. When I am saying each, it really means you, me and everyone out there directly or indirectly associated with the field of education. I am a promoter for sustainable development goals and to bring them to the grassroots is a key driving factor in my career. ‘Small is the real big’ is a motto that I believed and believe in everyday life no matter what hat I wear in a professional or a personal setup in life. Simple! Small! Every act counts!

Share news on progress ... communicate what is working and also specify areas where improvements are needed. Sharing these information may be a catalyst for encouraging those already on board with sustainability while on the other hand, it may also convince those on the sideline to join the initiative.

While sustainability is often promoted as a crucial responsibility, it's essential to question its true impact and effectiveness. Instead of blindly following the sustainability trend, consider challenging the status quo. Examine whether the resources invested in sustainability initiatives truly outweigh the benefits. As a leader, prioritize innovation and efficiency over virtue signaling. Let's question the assumptions, rethink the strategies, and ensure we create genuine value for all stakeholders, including shareholders and employees. It's time to challenge the mainstream narrative and pave the way for a more balanced and pragmatic approach to leadership and sustainability.