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Communicating the BUSINESS CA$E for Sustainability

Communicating the BUSINESS CA$E for Sustainability. Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series Toronto April 22, 2008. Bob Willard bobwillard@sympatico.ca www.sustainabilityadvantage.com. Definitions of Sustainability. Sustainable Development (SD)

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Communicating the BUSINESS CA$E for Sustainability

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  1. Communicating the BUSINESS CA$E for Sustainability Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series Toronto April 22, 2008 Bob Willard bobwillard@sympatico.ca www.sustainabilityadvantage.com

  2. Definitions of Sustainability Sustainable Development (SD) Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs-- Brundtland Commission, 1987 – Sustainability The possibility that human and other forms of life on earth will flourish forever -- John Ehrenfeld, Professor Emeritus. MIT – Sustainable Development (SD) Enough - for all - forever -- African Delegate to Johannesburg (Rio+10) --

  3. Sustainability 3-Legged Stool Sustainability Environmental Leg 0 Pollution & Waste Renewable Energy Conservation Restoration Economic Leg Good Jobs FairwagesSecurity Infrastructure Fair Trade Social Leg Working conditions Health services Education services Community & Culture Social justice Quality of Life / Genuine Wealth / Genuine Progress

  4. Corporate Sustainability 3-Legged Stool Sustainability – Sustainable Development (SD) Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Corporate Responsibility (CR) – GreenTriple Bottom Line (TBL) – 3Es – 3Ps Environment - Planet Eco-efficiencies Eco-effectiveness Economy - Profits Growth, Jobs, Taxes Products Services Equity - People Employees Community / Culture World

  5. Smart Business 3-Legged Stool Asset Management Natural Capital Financial Capital Built Capital Human Capital Social Capital Sustainable Value Creation

  6. Municipal “3-Legged Stool” Responsible Growth Enhanced Environment Air, Land, Water, Energy, Green space Vibrant Economy Jobs, Tax base, Attracting good businesses Infrastructure for Growth Safe Community Quality Services Health Care, Education, Housing Cultural Diversity

  7. 5-Stage Sustainability Journey 5. Purpose/PassionValues-driven founder / CEO 4. Integrated StrategyEnhanced business value 3. Beyond ComplianceEco-efficiencies / PR crisis / Regulatory threat 2. ComplianceRegulatory enforcement 1. Pre-Compliance

  8. Company Value “Iceberg” Balance Sheet Market Capitalization

  9. Company Value “Iceberg” Balance Sheet Tangibles Financials Intangibles - Nonfinancials Reputation - Brand Image Stakeholder Relationships Market Capitalization

  10. Company Value “Iceberg”: 1981 Balance Sheet Tangibles Financials 83% Intangibles / Nonfinancials / Reputation 17% Market Capitalization Arthur D. Little, The Business Case for Corporate Citizenship , 2002

  11. Company Value “Iceberg”: 1998 29% Tangibles Financials Intangibles Nonfinancials Reputation 71% Arthur D. Little, The Business Case for Corporate Citizenship , 2002

  12. Sea of Demanding Stakeholders Financials Economists NGOs Employees Global Markets Media The Public Nonfinancials / Reputation Investors Customers Banks Insurers Competitors Governments Scientists

  13. Two-Part Business Case OPPORTUNITIES Financials Economists NGOs Employees Global Markets Media RISKS The Public Nonfinancials / Reputation Investors Customers Banks Insurers Competitors Governments Scientists

  14. The Perfect Storm Oct. 27 – Nov. 1, 1991 • 1.Hurricane Grace (former) • 2.Cold front from Great Lakes • 3.Warm front from Sable Island Fed on each other’s energies Worst storm in history …100’ waves Sudden, unexpected, devastating v

  15. Mega-Issue Storm Clouds Pollution & Health WealthChasm Climate Crisis Pandemics WaterCrisis Energy Crisis ErosionofTrust Food Crisis Economists NGOs Employees Global Markets Media RISKS The Public Nonfinancials / Reputation Investors Customers Banks Insurers Competitors Governments Scientists

  16. The Debate is Over …

  17. 7 Climate Change Risks Regulatory “price on carbon:” Carbon caps or taxes Litigation: Lawsuits for GHG pollution Supply Chain: Suppliers passing on carbon costs and risks Physical: Damage to assets from severe weather – yours, suppliers’, or customers’ Competition: Rivals develop climate-friendly products and technologies first Reputation / Revenue:Backlashfrom consumers, markets, and important stakeholders if do not react Access to Capital / Threat to Market Value:Viewed as “risky” by investors and banks HBR, “Competitive Advantage on a Warming Planet,” by Lash and Wellington, Mar 07

  18. Risk of Losing Awakened Consumers The “Goracle factor”+ Hurricane Katrina+Weird weather globally + Rising energy prices + … 70-80% of consumers say are switching to “green” companies20%actually did in 2006 (Sustainable brand study by egg, March 07) LOHASsector $209B in 2007 $420B by 2010 $845B by 2015 Cover collage from Deloitte & Touch “Tax Wednesday” seminar, March 26, 2008

  19. Attracting & Retaining Employees 40% of MBA grads rated CSR as a an “extremely” or “very” important company reputation measure when job hunting (Hill & Knowlton Jan 08) 79% of Americans say it is very important to work foremployer with similar values(Fleishman-Hilliard 2006 survey) 83%of employees in G7 countries say company’s positiveCSR reputationincreases theirloyalty(GlobeScan 2006) 83%of employees in G7 countries say company’s positiveCSR reputationincreases theirmotivation(GlobeScan 2006)

  20. Warnings from Economists Stern Review Report (Oct 2006)Former World Bank chief economist, Nicholas SternQuantified warnings in the 1997 Economists’ Statement on Climate Change • Cost of climate change mitigation:1% of annual global GDP by 2050 if we act now;5-20% if we act later • Benefits of $2.5Tif we act now; global depression if we do nothing • Must stabilize GHGs: Usecarbon taxesand / oracap-and-trade system; deploy low-carbon technologies;remove barriers to energy efficiency

  21. Carbon Intensity Regulates carbon / product, not absolute cap / company Sydney DeclarationNon-binding "aspirational targets" to reduce APEC’s 2005 level of "energy intensity" by 25% by 2030 (Sept 07) U.S. GoalVoluntary 18% intensity reduction by 2012,but absolute rise of 12% forecasted

  22. Carbon Intensity Regulates carbon / product, not absolute cap / company Sydney DeclarationNon-binding "aspirational targets" to reduce APEC’s 2005 level of "energy intensity" by 25% by 2030 (Sept 07) U.S. GoalVoluntary 18% intensity reduction by 2012,but absolute rise of 12% forecasted

  23. Cap-and-Trade Today’s Emissions Emissions Cap Company A Company B

  24. Cap-and-Trade Today’s Emissions Emissions Cap Credit New Emissions Company A Company B

  25. Cap-and-Trade Today’s Emissions Trade Emissions Cap Credit New Emissions Company A Company B e.g. European Union Emissions Trading System (ETS)Capped 11,500 EU firms producing half of emissions 40 euros/T penalty if exceed cap, rising to 100 euros/T

  26. Sustainable Building is “Hot” • Marshall:Geothermal option for Copperfield homes in Oshawa • Rodeo: 34-house EcoLogic LEED-Platinum enclave in Newmarket • Monarch: 196-unit Evergreen LEED-H brownfield project in Scarborough 94%of Americans prefer to work in‘green’ buildings(Mortgage Lenders Network, 2006)

  27. Risk of Becoming a “Risky Investment” Carbon Disclosure Project Q. Revenue, regulatory, or physical risks to value from climate change? A.Carbon-intensive manufacturers could lose 40% of theirmarket value; Banks could lose 29% of value

  28. Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR) • 65 institutional investors, $4T in assets • Asked SEC to require listed companies todisclose climate change risksin their financial performance(June 06); • Climate Watch Listof worst 10 GHG emitter companiesgot shareholder resolutions on climate change(Feb 07); • Capital to Capitol report: Request that Congresscut GHGs 60-90% below 1990 levels by 2050(Mar 07)

  29. Threat to Access to European Market Pollution & health regulations Restriction on Hazardous Substances(RoHS) Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment(WEEE) End of Life Vehicles Directive(ELVD) Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals(REACH) Energy-using Products(EuP) Climate Change PlanReduce CO2 20% below 1990 level by 2020 Big retailers taking action

  30. Threat of Local Actions U.S. Mayors’Climate Protection AgreementKyoto at city level for 800+ U.S. cities (as of Mar 08)7% below 1990 GHG levels by 2008-2012 Western Regional Climate Action Initiative (Feb 07)5 west-coast U.S. States + BC & MB Cap-and-trade system; -15% GHGs by 2020 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)(Sept 03)10 East-coast U.S. States Cap-and-trade system Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord (Nov 07)6 Midwest States + MB: -80% GHGs by 2050 US Climate Action Partnership (USCAP)31 corps and NGOs; want cap-and-trade, 15% GHG cut in 15 years; 60-80% GHG cut by 2050

  31. Unusual Threats Driving Sustainability National Security  Alternative energy$2B by 2011 fromU.S. Gov for international clean energy technology fund to help fight climate change. War for Talent  Sustainability reputation 70% of NA grads seek companies with good CSR reputations Revenue Pressure  Carbon trading$60B global market in 2007, up 80% from 2006 Sarbanes Oxley  Sustainability reporting Global Reporting Initiative guidance on reporting risks 64% of Global 250 do sustainability reports

  32. Two-Part Business Case OPPORTUNITIES Financials Economists NGOs Employees Global Markets Media RISKS The Public Nonfinancials / Reputation Investors Customers Banks Insurers Competitors Governments Scientists

  33. One More Goal … or an Enabling Strategy? Profit Share price Growth Revenue Customer care Expense savings Competition Market share Leadership Governance Innovation Speed to market New markets Talent wars Productivity Motivation Brand image Managing risks Compliance Supply security

  34. Typical SME Company Benefits Revenue $4,000,000 Profit $200,000 (5% of Revenue) Workforce: 50 (43 + 7 Managers) Avg. Employee Salary $25,000 Avg. Manager Salary $55,000 Potential profit increase: +66% + Energized employees + Improved corporate image + Competitive advantage + Positioned for the future

  35. Lead It Like Any Culture Change • 1. Walk the talk as senior leadersIntegrate into vision - mission – strategiesBusiness strategy vs. philanthropyAvoid “green-washing” hypeVisible support – speeches, questions, actions • 2.Educate the whole companySolicit employee ideas - help • 3.Align with measurement & reward systems

  36. 6 Benefit Areas • 1. Reduced recruiting costs • 2. Reduced attrition costs • 3. Increased employee productivity • 4. Eco-efficiencies: savings in energy, water, materials, waste handling • 5. Increased revenue / market share • 6. Lower insurance & borrowing costs • … yielding a profit increase of +66% Usual focus REPUTATION

  37. Potential Improvements -1% -2% +6% -10% +5% -5% • 1. Reduced recruiting costs • 2. Reduced attrition costs • 3. Increased employee productivity • 4. Eco-efficiencies: savings in energy, water, materials, waste handling • 5. Increased revenue / market share • 6. Lower insurance & borrowing costs • … yielding a profit increase of +66% REPUTATION

  38. What if … ? -1% -2% +6% -10% -5% +5% -5% • 1. Reduced recruiting costs • 2. Reduced attrition costs • 3. Increased employee productivity • 4. Eco-efficiencies: savings in energy, water, materials, waste handling • 5. Increased revenue / market share • 6. Lower insurance & borrowing costs • … yielding a profit increase of +66% • +56% REPUTATION

  39. What if … ? -1% -2% +6% -10% +5% +2.5% -5% 1. Reduced recruiting costs 2. Reduced attrition costs 3. Increased employee productivity 4. Eco-efficiencies: savings in energy, water, materials, waste handling 5. Increased revenue / market share 6. Lower insurance & borrowing costs … yielding a profit increase of +66% +64% REPUTATION

  40. What if … ? -1% -2% +6% +3% -10% +5% -5% 1. Reduced recruiting costs 2. Reduced attrition costs 3. Increased employee productivity 4. Eco-efficiencies: savings in energy, water, materials, waste handling 5. Increased revenue / market share 6. Lower insurance & borrowing costs … yielding a profit increase of +66% +48% REPUTATION

  41. What if … ? -1% -2% +6% +3% -10% -5% +5% +2.5% -5% 1. Reduced recruiting costs 2. Reduced attrition costs 3. Increased employee productivity 4. Eco-efficiencies: savings in energy, water, materials, waste handling 5. Increased revenue / market share 6. Lower insurance & borrowing costs … yielding a profit increase of +66% +35% REPUTATION

  42. Two-Part Business Case OPPORTUNITIES Financials Economists NGOs Employees Global Markets Media RISKS The Public Nonfinancials / Reputation Investors Customers Banks Insurers Competitors Governments Scientists

  43. The “Tipping Point”? 5. Purpose/Passion Values-driven founder / CEO 4. Integrated Strategy Enhanced business value 3. Beyond ComplianceEco-efficiencies/ PR crisis/ Regulatory threat 2. Compliance Regulatory enforcement 1. Pre-Compliance 20%

  44. In Summary … Sustainability is smart business Business language applies Important stakeholders’expectations are rising New market forces & risks are in play Relevant to existing business priorities Can protect & enhance company value Many willing, helpful partners Opportunity for leadership

  45. Communicating the BUSINESS CA$E for Sustainability Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series Toronto April 22, 2008 Bob Willard bobwillard@sympatico.ca www.sustainabilityadvantage.com

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