Business has a role in saving our planet

Regular AMBITION readers will know that responsibility and ethical leadership are at the core of AMBA's purpose in creating a better world through sustainable business practices. 

Back in September we took a look at responsible business from the perspective of the luxury sector. In his alternative take on luxury, Politecnico di Milano School of Management's Alessandro Brun took a look at some ethical innovations in this sector – demonstrating that even in an industry in which goods come with a hefty price tag, planet and purpose are coming before profit. 

Brun outlined examples of several luxury brands that are pioneering sustainable practices, including high-end fashion house Stella McCartney, which never uses leather or fur, but focuses on new and alternative materials and cutting-edge technologies to push towards circularity and protect endangered forests. 

It also measures its impact through an environmental profit and loss tool, which calculates a form of natural capital accounting and measures greenhouse gas emissions, water use, water pollution, land use, air pollution and waste across its entire global supply chain.

Continuing with the theme of business working to make the world a better place for future generations, Kevin Lee-Simion spoke to a cross section of Business School thought leaders and MBA graduates, to gauge how the MBA qualification has acted as a springboard for many, to make a difference. 

His research found that MBA graduates are creating a better world through creating sustainable organisations; working for organisations whose values and ethics align with their own; leading the conversation with Business Schools and other major organisations about how they can play their part through corporate social responsibility; and working or volunteering for charities and not-for-profit organisations.

AMBA wants to celebrate the achievements of Business Schools in adopting a responsible agenda, so we've introduced a new award to The AMBA Excellence Awards, to recognise the Business Schools making a positive impact on their communities and society.

This is coupled with our brand new research on Poverty and Action, which launched this month, and aims to highlight and showcase examples of Business Schools and MBAs working to alleviate poverty, in terms of research, action and outreach across the world.

David Woods-Hale, Editor, AMBITION and Director of Marketing and Communications, AMBA & BGA