What is Sustainability?

Sustainability focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The concept of sustainability is composed of three pillars: economic, environmental, and social—also known informally as profits, planet, and people.

Challenges for Sustainability:- Are They Sustainable?

Investors can be wary of companies that commit to sustainability. Although the optics can be beneficial to share price, investors worry about companies being transparent with their earnings results.

Big brands often make pledges to sustainability, but it often takes a long time to achieve sustainability goals.

The challenge for producers is to increase consumer confidence with better data and better sustainable communication. Many organic products are “not organic”.

https://eurocert.asia/all-about-ce-mark-certification/

Why is Sustainability a Buzz word for Business?

Research has shown than 70 % of the consumer are willing to pay 10 % MORE or wait for 20 % more time for the products that they perceive is made with “sustainability” in mind. – This essentially is the reason sustainability efforts are gaining in many forms and flavors

What is the Type of Sustainability Initiatives?

SUSTAINABILITY TYPES Example Scheme Costs Of Efforts FOCUS

SOCIAL Sedex Audit USD 1000-USD 20000 Reduce Supply Chain Risk

HUman SA 8000 certification USD 3000-USD 20000 Labour welfare

ENVIRONMENT Recycle-Reuse –Index USD 1000-USD 50000 Marketing Advantage

The SUSTAINABILITY- CONFUSION

Many Industry-specific sustainable initiatives have come up with very little value to the Sustainability and more value to the TRADE. The idea is to get the advantage over competition while doing very little to the END effect of the initiatives.

For example - just observe what one of the sustainable initiatives writes on their website

If you really look at this statement - just try to make out if you can about what is their sustainable Objective?

Productivity- It is linked to profit

increasing profitability- It is again linked to profit guaranteeing ethical working conditions- Safe working condition is a legal obligation and an equitable distribution of the results of production (labor wages etc.)- Again a legal obligation

THE CORE OF SUSTAINABILITY- REDUCTION

The benchmark core of Sustainability effort should be the reduction of Human activity on the Planet and this should synonymous with REDUCTION – If we are increasing the activity/production then we cannot claim that this is sustainable

17 UN Sustainable Goals

The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:

GOAL 1: No Poverty

GOAL 2: Zero Hunger

GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being

GOAL 4: Quality Education

GOAL 5: Gender Equality

GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality

GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

GOAL 13: Climate Action

GOAL 14: Life Below Water

GOAL 15: Life on Land

GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

GOAL 17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goal

Are We really working towards Reducing Impact?

Out of the Above 17 Sustainability Goals adopted by the United Nations, Only ONE is associated with REDUCTION.-

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

But it remains to be seen - If the Focus of this goal is More towards production or REDUCING- Consumptions

Are We really working towards Reducing Impact?

Out of the Above 17 Sustainability Goals adopted by the United Nations, Only ONE is associated with REDUCTION.-

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

But it remains to be seen - If the Focus of this goal is More towards production or REDUCING- Consumptions

Is Sedex a Sustainability certification?

In a way, Sedex Audit is slightly a sustainability certification but only slightly – it is more a supply chain risk analysis tool as of today https://eurocert.asia/all-about-ce-mark-certification/

Is Sedex a Sustainability certification?

In a way, Sedex Audit is slightly a sustainability certification but only slightly – it is more a supply chain risk analysis tool as of today https://eurocert.asia/all-about-ce-mark-certification/