Creating sustainable practices benefits your business, stakeholders, customers, communities, and environment. Such practices are a win-win for all! Sustainability is receiving a lot more attention in recent years, due to
- Climate change concerns,
- Regulations,
- Inventor relations,
- Peer pressure and
- General rising awareness
On a high-level, sustainability means consideration of environmental, social, and economic stability for current and future generations. Sustainability is often used interchangeably with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). Both terms have the same objective of promoting responsible business practices.
Regardless of which term is used, sustainability, or ESG is more than compliance, regulatory requirements, and public relations.
We at Dimensions believe that businesses can and should do good in the world, and those that do, not only make a difference but attract the best talent and loyal customers. Stakeholders want to work for, and potential customers want to buy from, businesses that care, protect, and promote sustainable practices. Businesses have started realizing the risks involved in not adopting sustainability practices.
In fact, recent research among investors found that,
- Investors believe being an environmentally responsible business is good business. ESG and sustainable investing has demonstrated that such businesses are more successful and have strong financial returns.
- They feel investments related to the clean energy transition will outperform most other sectors and earn investors money in the short and long term.
- They recognize that climate risks are significant business risks that, if ignored, could hurt the financial performance of companies and investment portfolios.
Climate is critical to business investors.
Dimensions has promoted sustainability as an essential component of our environmental, health, and safety services (EHS). We believe businesses can play an integral and pivotal role in providing solutions to today’s critical issues. Dimensions became a certified B Corp to be part of the collective voice of companies that focus on integrity, responsibility, sustainability, and doing good in the world rather than focusing only on profits.
We have always believed that sustainable practices must begin ‘at home’ –embedded in the culture of the organization before expanding outward. Although it takes a team effort with stakeholders throughout the organization involved, we encourage the approach organizations often use of having EHS as the department that spearheads sustainable practices, often adding an ‘S’ to cement the commitment – EHS&S.
Accountability for measuring sustainability performance is important and necessary. As it is rightly said, “What cannot be measured, cannot be managed.” And we would add, cannot be improved, or changed. ESG reporting allows organizations to adopt sustainability practices by measuring performance in different aspects of the business including all elements (environment, social, governance). The rising need to list out Scope 3 emissions, and the number of individuals searching for meaningful workplaces that care and make a difference are great examples.
That said, organizations are still struggling with where to start, and often seek guidance. It’s not just what is done that matters, but how it is done, and the approach taken with people, the work, and the environment.
So, in addition to our experienced and expert EHS staff, we now have staff who have advanced knowledge in environmental sustainability enabling us to consult with our clients on these issues as well.
Keeping in mind that sustainability (the E, S, & G!) is embedded in the culture, we apply our same principles, values, and model of excellence to sustainability as we do for safety, well-being, and leadership. Actually, sustainability begins with these 3 elements – safety, well-being, and leadership qualities. The 3 elements form the foundation of a sustainability!
While we have always supported sustainable environmental practices and have made a substantial contribution in this area for clients wanting to reduce and recycle waste, conserve energy, and enhance their recycling efforts (The E in Esg), Dimensions’ foundation was built on social and governance aspects (eSG) of sustainability. Our primary focus has been cultivating a safe and well workplace which are essential for stakeholder and organizational well-being. When considering all the dimensions of well-being, the social dimension is a critical and often missing element in sustainable business practices. This dimension can be, and must be, fostered.
Talent acquisition (essentially knowledge and skills) and retention through organizational well-being (civility, flexibility, meaningful work), well-being (directly connected to organizational well-being), and a safe work environment (physical, social, and psychological safety) are what create a sustainable organization.
Environmental sustainability is an essential element and now a stronger business arm of Dimensions. Whether you are just beginning your Sustainability journey or have achieved a few Sustainability milestones, we are promoting and excited to offer greater services in environmental sustainability consultation to support and embrace all elements of ESG.
Please contact us at info@dimensions-ohs.com to discuss options for your organization.
Photo from pixaby