By Ms Suzette Jackson, Senior Associate, HASSELL
Creating a cultural change in sustainable business practices requires a broader, more holistic approach then simply adopting a sustainability policy or reporting. It requires affecting sustainable behaviour as a basis for operating not only within the workplace, but within our communities.
Organisational sustainability is a journey not an end point. On this journey there are numerous international principles and references to guide our process. In recent years we have also witnessed the emergence of organisational sustainability as a mainstream requirement for not only publicly listed companies, but for all companies who operate globally. In addition, carbon reporting, carbon reductions and carbon offsets, to create a low or zero carbon business operations, has evolved into an industry of its own.
This paper (to be presented at the Sustainability Conference in May 2012) utilises the experience of HASSELL in implementing organisational sustainability to propose a pathway of Principles, Process and People for organisations on the journey to a sustainable business.
International Principles and guides are reviewed and referenced along with international standards for Environmental Management Systems and Sustainability reporting. This is a holistic approach to embedding sustainability into the organisation. In addition the discussion moves into the methods of employee engagement, education and reporting required to ensure cultural change is ongoing and both from the ground up and top down in an organisation.
The paper looks at the methods reviewed by HASSELL, the organisational strategies implemented and the level of commitment by staff to engage and live by these principles, which was achieved by a small dedicated team of individuals within the Sustainable Futures Unit and regional sustainability communities in four countries.
Ms Suzette Jackson
Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation Conference
Radisson Resort, Gold Coast – May 21 & 22,
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