In sustainability, we all need a Toto!

In sustainability, we all need a Toto!

One of the most iconic scenes in movies is toward the end of The Wizard of Oz, when Toto pulls back the curtain to reveal that the so-called Wizard, was not real, but was someone who had conjured up the wizard through clever deception. Until Toto exposed this charlatan everyone believed that this conjurer was real.

When it comes to sustainability (social, economic and environmental) every organization needs a Toto!

Why? Because when enterprises deal with suppliers everyone asks through formal or informal means are they sustainable and perhaps a few questions about their sustainability programs/approach.Most firms have statements on their commitment to sustainability on their websites, write about the things (sometimes random) in regards to what they have accomplished. S

And there are businesses that have done an excellent job on sustainability. However, in most cases, if you "pull back the curtain" you will find that there is little substance, limited action and mostly smoke and mirrors. Their statements are marketing lore.

No alt text provided for this image

So how do they get away with pandering to sustainability this way? Because they don't have a Toto, someone who actually goes and assesses their actions and accomplishments on sustainability. As such there is little risk to the supplier to be found out. Their marketing team, can use all the buzz words to ensure that the smoke and mirrors seems authentic.

Ronald Reagan said, "Trust but Verify" and this is extremely important when it comes to pronouncements about sustainability by your suppliers.

Make sure you have a Toto, who pulls back the curtain. You will be surprised what you will find!

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Patricia J Moser的更多文章

  • "Bless me Mother Nature for I have sinned." The Problem with Carbon Offsets

    "Bless me Mother Nature for I have sinned." The Problem with Carbon Offsets

    Buying carbon offsets makes us feel good. Many organizations and individuals now buy carbon offsets because it is…

    2 条评论
  • Blame it on Covid!

    Blame it on Covid!

    Do you remember the Shaggy song from 2000 "It Wasn't Me"? The basic premise of the song is that the protagonist was…

    1 条评论
  • ZERO IS SADLY NOT AN ABSOLUTE

    ZERO IS SADLY NOT AN ABSOLUTE

    We've all seen them. These well crafted zero tolerance policies towards identifying an institution's stand on…

    1 条评论
  • Lessons from my Father

    Lessons from my Father

    This is my 10th Father's Day without my father. So much has changed in the world since he passed, and a lot has changed…

    8 条评论
  • Your Emperor's New Clothes

    Your Emperor's New Clothes

    You have a leader who talks, but doesn't listen. There is an expectation of agreement and compliance by his reports.

    5 条评论
  • When is the right time?

    When is the right time?

    How often have we stopped ourselves from acting on something either in our professional or personal lives by saying…

    1 条评论
  • Imagining the impossible in the New Year

    Imagining the impossible in the New Year

    As we move towards the end of the year, it is a time of reflection for most of us. We consider the last year, what we…

    4 条评论
  • Finding the White-Eyed Gull

    Finding the White-Eyed Gull

    Have you ever seen the white-eyed gull, let alone heard of it? Probably not, as it is endemic to the Red Sea and in…

    1 条评论
  • Persistence vs. Stalking and Common Courtesy

    Persistence vs. Stalking and Common Courtesy

    Either professionally or personally we have all been in this situation. You've had a great meeting, interview, or date…

    2 条评论
  • We aren't challenging enough!

    We aren't challenging enough!

    Happy International Women's Day! You will hear this salutation a lot today. And there will be virtual video sessions…

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了