Moving the Needle Starts at the Top

We talk often about sustainability. It’s no secret that developing, implementing, and measuring sustainable practices bring enormous benefits to an organization. Not only are these practices the “right thing to do,” but they improve the organization’s reputation, boost public perception, increase employee recruitment and retention, and enable efficiencies, which often generate additional profit. All in all, a win-win at every level.

However, while many organizations have some form of sustainability practice in place, the true meaning, methods of implementation, and impacts are often misunderstood. For example, a common misconception is that sustainability is solely focused on an organization’s operations that impact the environment. Yet, sustainability is about far more. 

True sustainability seeks to dive deep into an organization’s core to analyze economic, social, structural, environmental, and policy-based systems and their impacts. And the only effective way to accomplish this deep dive is if the board of directors are committed to the process of making impactful changes. Simply, for sustainability to permeate every aspect of an organization, it must start at the top … in the boardroom. 

The topic of the role a board of directors plays in advancing sustainability, while remaining mindful of their stakeholders’ interests, was recently discussed at a Fortune virtual roundtable. While opinions varied, “the consensus among the participants [was] that there’s plenty of room for growth in this important area, and that its success can be a massive differentiator between a company and its competitors.” Noting the importance of board action, panelist Anne Sweeney, president of BUA Ventures and formerly of Disney and Lego, said “We’re in a position to make true progress on a lot of fronts, but the boards will have to stay on top of it.”

For those who haven’t yet addressed sustainability in the boardroom, we’ve compiled six tips to get started:

Six Tips to Kickstart Sustainability in the Boardroom

• Audit current sustainability practices.

As a board, conduct a review of organizational systems, processes, and board actions, as they pertain to sustainability. Take a complete audit of all the environmental, social, and economic impacts of current systems, and look into how the organization affects every community it touches—from the communities surrounding areas of operation to the communities of suppliers and vendors. Taking this holistic approach, a detailed account of the environmental, social, and economic factors that each of these communities face as a result of the current systems can be formulated. Create sustainability goals for the organization based on these findings.

• Determine what can be corrected or added to your current systems.

Once a thorough assessment of the organization’s sustainability processes and impacts is conducted and there is a better understanding of the gaps, it’s time to work on improvements. Look at each process and system from various perspectives to discover the holes. And evaluate each of the systems to determine what can be altered or added to reach the sustainability goals developed during the audit. 

• Bring sustainability to every meeting.

Set sustainability as a priority on every board meeting agenda. Sustainability efforts are just as important as any other scheduled item at any meeting. But far too often they are overlooked in lieu of more “pressing” matters. If we don’t actively participate in sustainability, it will never be a priority for the board. And if it’s not a priority for the board, it will never be a priority for the organization. Ensuring it takes precedence at this level will lead to more sustainable business practices throughout the organization. 

• Continuously set new goals.

Consistently setting goals is the most effective way to keep a plan from becoming stagnant. To truly move the needle, sustainability goals should be attainable within the quarter, so that new goals can be built upon them. In fact, many organizations have mandated that the board or C-suite executives make sustainability goals each quarter in an effort to keep their practices moving forward without interruption.

• Track progress.

Just like all organizational KPIs and goals, metrics are crucial in any sustainability efforts. Reexamine statistics from the first sustainability review and continue to monitor how they are affected (or not) by the new sustainability plan. Conduct quarterly and yearly sustainability reviews to track, and report on, progress. 

• Call in the experts.

Generating a successful sustainability implementation plan can be challenging. As such, many organizations choose to bring in sustainability experts and analysts. Their assistance can significantly improve the chances of success. 

At The Win Woman, we focus on sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibly for organizations of all sizes. We work with boards and C-Suite executives to help develop the right solutions for their specific situation in their specific industry. For more information about developing your sustainability plan, please email hello@thewinwoman.com. 

Until next time, keep Building Your BADASSERY.