Strategy: A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.
Have you got ‘Sustainability Strategy’ somewhere on your to do list?
Whether from external pressure, or internal drive, most businesses have “Create Sustainability Strategy” on their never-ending list of things they would like to do. It’s a relevant and important action, and one we highly recommend you take – so let me suggest a way that you can achieve your goal easily and efficiently.
If you have plans to create a sustainability strategy, you’ve probably already got a strategy in place that sets out how your business will grow and thrive into the future. If you do, then you already have something to build on; you don’t need a separate strategy (thank goodness!).
A confused mind trying to follow multiple strategies doesn’t act.
Instead, let’s ensure your current business strategy is focused on sustainable growth – which to us at Connect Three – is growth that’s good for your people, your wider stakeholders, and the planet.
What does that mean in practice?
What is your overall aim for your business?
If it’s purely economic, to maximise profits for your owners or shareholders, then you may be good as you are, for now; but a business that does not want to be agile may not be a going concern for that much longer. In other words, if you are not seeking to identify and act on potential changes in legislation, customer expectations, social crises, environmental threats and degradation – your business aims won’t get you where you want to go.
If you are considering your people, wider stakeholders and the planet in your future strategy for economic resilience and sustainability, why not double up and establish what value you could create for people and the planet, while on your business growth journey?
How would you like to create value in the world?
Economically
- Profit:
As your profit grows, where will you invest it for wider returns?
In your employees’ well-being? Improving your products/services? in the environment? or a global issue you align with? - Job Creation:
How many good jobs will you create and how inclusively will you recruit? - Procurement:
Where will you spend your procurement budget?
With suppliers that are local, ethical suppliers or minority-owned?
Better still, how can you be part of solving the big economic problems of today, be it poverty, inequality, cost of living crisis, access to markets…how can you use your business for good economically?
Socially
- People:
Do you want your business to be an amazing place to work? Do you want to attract, retain and develop top talent within your workforce? How will you achieve this? - Community:
Do you want to be a great business within your community? Can you donate staff time and/or funds to local projects? Or maybe there are global causes or advocacy campaigns you and your team can lend your voice to? - Customers:
Do you want to get 5 star reviews from your customers? Do you want to be rewarded for innovation and, even better, how can you be part of the solution to the big social issues of today – be it homelessness, mental health, obesity, loneliness, migration…or something even closer to your heart?
Remember, your people are your most important asset – treat them like this and the business will flourish.
Environmentally
- How will you mitigate climate risk, adhere to incoming regulation, transition to net zero and take advantage of the flourishing green economy?
- How can you do your bit to understand the strain your business puts on resources – be it land, water, waste or carbon – and after setting a baseline publish a strategy to reduce your footprint?
- How can you be part of the solution to the big environmental issues of today? Can your product or service solve problems for your clients by reducing resource use, tapping into the circular economy or providing environmental education and services? What new efficiencies and revenue streams could this create?
You don’t need a separate sustainability strategy, as you can see. The three pillars I’ve highlighted above can be integral to your existing business strategy. Look after your people and the planet, and you will have a resilient, thriving business way into the future.
To take the next step – Connect Three’s ESG team have created a free ESG Diagnostic tool. It is a 16 question, 7 minute survey that helps businesses to establish where they are and offers advice for the next steps they should take on their sustainable growth journey.
If you complete the Diagnostic and realise that there are some gaps and unexplored opportunities in your strategy then get in touch with Connect Three. We can help you to establish your sustainable strategy and take action to accelerate your impact and value in the world.