Looking back at Sustainability LIVE September 2022

Sustainability LIVE is a two-day event for business executives to discover the latest practices and principles that meet ESG policies and align with sustainability. It provides the opportunity to expand one’s network and create meaningful business connections that enable individuals to work towards people, planet and profit.  

This year’s event included talks, panel discussions and workshops that touched upon topics that are spread across the sustainability spectrum. From presentations that highlighted the need for EDI to workshops that shared decarbonisation strategies, Sustainability LIVE 2022 had a comprehensive content programme featuring inspiring keynotes and lively roundtable discussions with innovators and leaders of some of the world’s largest companies and innovative start-ups.  

Here are the highlights of a few exciting sessions the Novo-K Team and I attended virtually:  

?????? ???????? ???? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ?????????? by Mike Tournier and Katie Tamblin

Considering the unpredictable nature of the current macroeconomic environment, it is essential for supply chains to switch to sustainable methods that guarantee their stability in the long run. Companies must introspect on their operations and thoroughly evaluate their carbon targets while drafting policies that support them. Individual organisations must prioritise and execute strategies that will practically allow them to achieve net zero supply chains.  

Key Takeaways: 

• Net Zero requires transformational change & strong leadership 
• Deep and robust understanding of your supply chain carbon liabilities is key: "?????? ???????????? ???????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ????????????????" 
• Collaborate & actively participate in leadership groups across sectors to drive decarbonisation 
• For those who are yet to start their journey towards Net Zero: Start with Supply Chain Mapping - find for those hotspots with highest emissions 
• Always #WalkTheTalk

?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???????? by Steve Smith 

Energy has a deep-seated role in solving the climate challenge. Over the last 200 years, it has been by far the biggest contributor to rising emissions. Today, it represents our best hope to turn things around. Using today’s technology, it is within our realm of possibility to build a world that is more electric and more digital, thus paving the fastest route towards achieving net-zero. 

Key Takeaways: 

• There is progress towards Net Zero, but there is also a need to go faster to achieve the 1.5 Degree target  
• Unfortunately today, we see only 8% of global companies actually delivering on their targets 
• The significant transformations required to reach Net Zero by 2050 are ??????????????????????????????, ???????????? ???????????? ???????????????????????? & ???????????? ???????????? ????????????????????  
• In short, companies must ????????????????????, ???????????????? & ?????????????????????? to get to Net Zero!

?????? ?????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? by Crista Buznea 

Eight in ten business owners want to be greener - but don’t know where to start. Therefore, it is important to educate organisations about the critical first steps on the net-zero journey – to know the difference between carbon-neutrality and net-zero, and how businesses can successfully communicate impact while avoiding greenwashing. 

Here are some critical first steps on the net-zero journey: 

• Use the right language to communicate your impact & goals 
• Support your claims with data using third party verification  
• Ensure sustainability marketing initiatives are supported by wider operational changes 
• Be honest about your brand’s sustainability journey, flag areas for improvement & the journey you are on!  
• ???????????? ???????????????????? is the goal right now & ?????? ???????? is for the future  

?????????? ????????????????????: ?????????????????????? & ?????????????? ???????????????? with Ruaridh Welsh, Claire Hulett & Ross Burling 

Studies have shown that 50% of companies are sacrificing their sustainability programs in order to manage the burden of rising inflation. However, time is running out and it’s more important than ever to implement a robust ESG strategy, right down to the supply chain. Businesses must create pathways through which they can embed sustainability and ethical practices into their supply chains.

???????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????? ???????? by Jenni Adams 

Constituting a vast majority of global enterprises, SMEs are at a crucial position to prioritise sustainability in their operations. But amidst other demands that seem more critical, SMEs tend to disregard the priority that should be given to sustainability. It is essential that these organisations are aware of the commercial and financial reasons why sustainability needs to be one of their top priorities and the support they can avail to take their first steps. 

Key Takeaways: 

• SMEs make up 99% of UK's enterprises, contributing ￡2.2 trillion as revenue to the UKs economy. 
• Adopting sustainable business practices improves your organisation's reputation, saves cost, helps in future-proofing by pre-empting risks, attracts more or different investors, attracts and retains best talent, etc. 
• Understand the impact your business has on the environment by measuring the 3 emission scopes laid down by the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol. Using this information, calculate your current carbon footprint to know where to start taking action. 
• Approach sustainability consultants and external organisations that focus on establishing ESG and sustainable business practices.