World-Class Sustainability

How To Grow Your Business With Sustainable Resources In Mind

Sustainable Development, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental Footprint Reduction are all hot current topics for discussion. But what do these issues really mean for your business? Depending on your industry, the best way to address these issues will differ. Whether it’s chemical manufacturing, agribusiness, grape growing, winemaking or coffee farming, there is a common thread: respecting and addressing the social, environmental and economic needs of the communities in which you operate, while ensuring benefits for other stakeholders (employees, customers and investors). Operating a business with sustainability in mind is not just good for the planet, it’s good for the growth of any business, whether it is a large, global operation or a small family-owned farm. At SBI we are passionate about improving the world and believe that private enterprise can,  and should, be a major and effective player in this. So what can you do to make your business more sustainable? It starts with one thing, commitment. Commitment to:

• Be engaged with the community in which you operate
• Go beyond government regulations in your efforts to protect the environment
• Adhere to the highest standards of product reliability and safety
• Respect the human rights of, and provide equity to, suppliers and workers through good governance, ethical operations, fair and humane treatment.

How you address your sustainability commitments will either enhance or undermine your:

• Reputation
• Brand equity
• Risk profile
• Innovation
• Productivity
• Efficiency
• Access to capital
• License to operate
• Ability to attract and retain talent

Adherence to sustainability practices can also enhance product quality – two excellent examples are shade grown coffee and biodynamic wine.

Sandra Taylor and the Shaping of Corporate Social Responsibility

As the recipient of the 2015 Johnson Institute Exemplary Leadership Award at the University of Pittsburgh, Sandra Taylor’s career is the subject of a case study used to teach sustainability leadership at the graduate school level: University of Pittsburgh Case Study Series | Fall 2017. “The widely used term Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to an enlightened philosophy about a corporation’s responsibilities to the public.   In general, CSR embraces the notion that corporations need to be proactive, not just reactive, in improving their impact on society. For maximum impact, a vibrant CSR program must be embraced by top leaders in the organization and fully integrated into the firm’s mission, operating values, and business strategy. The CSR philosophy invites corporations to create ways to simultaneously meet their own business goals while doing what is right for communities, nations, and the world in which they work.”  SEE MORE

The future is now

At SBI we help companies reduce their environmental footprint and develop valuable relationships with communities and stakeholders, no matter where they are on their journey. Whether you are a recent entrant/adopter of CSR priorities or want to be a CSR leader, SBI can provide guidance and work closely with you to:

• Develop a viable corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy
• Engage with community leaders, activists and employees for the good of all
• Identify opportunities for corporate giving, strategic philanthropy and social investments
• Design communication tools ? including CSR and sustainability reports ? aligned with your business goals.

Contact us today for advice on how to achieve your sustainability goals.