Corporate sustainability moves from the sidelines to centre stage; Big businesses
embracing a triple bottom line see positive business returns; Growing
commitment by corporates to helping achieve the UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs); Increasing scrutiny – how are companies
measuring up?_
What are big businesses doing to build a better future? More than you
may realise. Although there has been widespread concern that
environmental issues and global inequality would be placed on the back
burner as a result of COVID-19, it appears many corporates have shifted
sustainability from the sidelines to the centre stage.
Corporate sustainability in practice was under the microscope at a
special Expo 2020 Dubai edition of the _Canon Frontiers of Innovation
_thought-leadership series, featuring Unilever’s Head of Corporate
Affairs & Sustainability, Priya Sarma Muthur (https://bit.ly/3IWZgWY)
and Canon EMEA’s Sustainability & Government Affairs Director, Peter
Bragg (https://bit.ly/3muY2sL).
At Unilever, a ‘Sustainable Living Plan’ places sustainability at
the heart of business strategy and operations. “More than 2.5 billion
people use Unilever products each day,” explains Muthur. “We made a
strategic decision to use our scale to help consumers and the planet.”
According to Bragg, the philosophy of ‘Kyosei’, a Japanese word
meaning ‘living and working together for the common good’, has been
central to Canon’s operations for over thirty years. “Whilst the
principles are nothing new, there is a growing sense of urgency to drive
the sustainability agenda, from product development and manufacture to
service.”
Ethical equals resilient
The World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Risk Report
(https://bit.ly/3oZQpff) highlights that the world’s top five risks
are environmental – extreme weather events, natural disasters, climate
change, human damage to the environment and major biodiversity loss. To
make a real impact, corporate sustainability has to look beyond the core
business. “These risks impact our people, customers and suppliers,”
says Bragg. It’s not enough to drive change only for ourselves, we
have to drive it across our entire operation. Ethical supply chains are
proven to be more resilient.”
Muthur strongly agrees, “We are working to specifically prevent risk
across the supply chain at scale. For example, climate change is a
concern for tea production, and we are one of the largest buyers of tea
in the world.”
From a linear to a circular economy
Companies are seeking viable ways to shift from a throwaway to a
circular economy. Canon pioneered recycling printer cartridges more than
30 years ago; today every product is designed to be efficient and remain
in use for as long as possible, through remanufacturing, refurbishing
and recycling. Unilever has committed to be net-zero by 2039 with an
ambitious Clean Future Strategy and a billion-euro reforestation
programme. “We are innovating design so that 100% of packaging is
recyclable, renewable or compostable by 2025,” explains Muthur.
“Already in the MENA region, 70% of our packaging is ‘recycle
ready’, meaning it can be recycled if the infrastructure exists.”
Sustainability under scrutiny
Allegations of greenwashing and low consumer trust in brands
(https://bit.ly/3pYqO5P) mean that companies are under pressure to
demonstrate credible results. The demand not only comes from consumers –
at the G7 Summit (https://bit.ly/3oXiEeH), global finance leaders called
for standardised measurement of corporate impact on climate and the
environment, as well as mandatory disclosure of exposure to
climate-related risks.
Until standards are set, corporates adopt different approaches to
measure success. “The SDGs are a universal framework and a useful tool
to set targets and assess performance,” says Bragg, who is in favour
of scrutiny from independent bodies. “Canon invites EcoVadis
(www.EcoVadis.com) and CDP (www.CDP.net/en) to examine and score our
performance. 2021 was the sixth consecutive year we received a gold
rating from EcoVadis (https://bit.ly/31VavyP), placing us within the top
3% of companies globally in terms of environmental practices.”
For Muthur, Unilever’s ambitious targets ensure focus. “Our goal was
to be 100% zero-energy by 2020, which we achieved in 2019, followed by
recognition with first place in the GlobeScan Sustainability Leaders
Report 2021 (https://bit.ly/3ma8eXg).”
What’s good for the planet is good for business
It’s official: commitment to people and the planet benefits the bottom
line. A recent report from Deloitte (https://bit.ly/3dYNywO) found that
46% of businesses surveyed had experienced revenue growth as a result of
their sustainability efforts. They also reported more resilient supply
chains, increased efficiency, improved interactions between stakeholders
and better financial performance.
From a consumer perspective, it’s well documented that people are
willing to spend more on eco-friendly products and will stop buying
products that are not. Yet, there are some misconceptions about the
financial impact of bringing sustainability to the fore, which Muthur is
keen to dispel. “Sustainability makes us _more_ competitive,” she
says. “Of our 400+ brands, the ones with the strongest purpose are
growing the fastest. It also helps us attract the best talent and has
been instrumental in forming strong partnerships with businesses,
governments and NPOs. It’s a win-win.”
Expo 2020 Dubai – showcasing a more sustainable future
It’s no coincidence the conversation took place at Expo 2020 Dubai in
the ‘Terra’ Sustainability Pavilion, which is designed to be 100%
self-sustaining. The expected 25 million visitors to the pavilion will
be challenged to look at the world in new ways. “We are showing a
potential future,” explained ‘Terra’ Director, John Bull. “By
helping people reconnect with nature we hope they will be inspired to
join us in working to overcome the enormity of the challenges.”
Expo 2020 Dubai and Canon will be hosting Frontiers of Innovation
(https://bit.ly/3pZkaw4) talks every month until March 2022. For more
information follow Canon Middle East and Africa on LinkedIn
(https://bit.ly/33zn6rP) or Facebook (https://bit.ly/321L0M7).
_Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa
(CCNA)._
Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
E. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com
APO Group – PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
E. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com
About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (Canon-CNA.com) is a division
within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The
formation of CCNA in 2015 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance
Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s
in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s
commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their
demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15
years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a
solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high
quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of
Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA
manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://bit.ly/3dO59aM)
– ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues
sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental
impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s
products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly
redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our
technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is
possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before.
We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we
can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
For more information: Canon-CNA.com