Sustainability has become increasingly important in recent years and is now a vital component of many organisations’ social, economic and environmental efforts. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015 by all 193 UN member states in order to enhance sustainable development in the economic, social and environmental sectors. They are a new, universal set of 17 goals, 169 targets and several indicators that member states will use to frame their agendas, political policies and investments. SDGs define global sustainable development priorities and aspirations for 2030 and seek to mobilise global efforts around a common set of goals and targets.
Covid-19 has created some positives for the environment, green technologies and sustainability. The Build Back Better campaign to post-Covid-19 recovery that reduces vulnerability to future disasters and builds community resilience to address physical, social, environmental, and economic vulnerabilities and shocks.
Climate change and green recovery will see many more businesses in green technologies, reducing their reliance on non-renewable resources, and looking to more sustainable inputs to do business. Science-based targets provide companies with a clearly defined pathway to future-proof growth by specifying how much and how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon emissions have seen a vast drop in their numbers since the pandemic was announced. Some have reported the figures to be as high as a drop in 17% of carbon emissions globally. Many politicians around the world have considered focusing on promoting the environmental sector and giving a green boost to the economy to grow post-Covid-19.
Organisations paving the path in their sustainability agenda include Microsoft’s announcement to be carbon negative by 2030. Other examples include Mercedes-Benz’s pilot project for using blockchain to track CO2 emissions. While consumer products manufacturers previously led the way for sustainable manufacturing practices, a growing number of manufacturers in other sectors are treating sustainability as an important operational objective to increase global competitiveness.
Sustainability now includes enterprises of various sizes across multiple industries. Many manufacturers now publish separate sustainability reports or incorporate the information in their annual report. The benefits include:
· Improved operational efficiency with reduced waste and costs
· Increased competitive advantages and access to new customers
· Enhanced long-term business viability
· Improved responsiveness to existing and new regulatory requirements
I am excited to see the various types of businesses entering this year’s Made in Britain Impact Awards. Sustainability is not going away and is only growing in importance for customers, investors, governments and manufacturers across the UK and globally. I look forward to reading this year’s entries and nominations and see the individuals and businesses delivering ambitious actions and tangible impact to create a sustainable future.
The awards will be held on Thursday 1st December. Book your tickets to attend the Made in Britain Impact Awards via Zoom.
By Made in Britain 1 year ago | Impact Awards