Key steps to drive corporate sustainability
Stakeholder expectations for improved sustainability performance are mounting, paralleled by the escalating severity of social and environmental challenges. In today’s landscape, urgent action across all levels is essential. Advancing sustainability effectively requires a structured and planned approach.
The first step involves clearly defining the strategic transformation plan. Businesses must set a clear purpose and ambition, understand their current sustainability maturity, and chart a detailed roadmap towards significant goals like carbon neutrality. Good governance and the identification of potential partnerships are also critical to drive change.
Innovation in products and services is equally crucial. Businesses should adapt their marketing and sales capabilities to meet sustainability standards, rethinking their product portfolio to include sustainable solutions and aligning the customer journey with these new values.
Engaging stakeholders is a foundational aspect of sustainability. Businesses need to manage their impact on all fronts—from employees to investors—and foster a brand experience that resonates with shared values of sustainability, involving training and continuous engagement.
Data management optimization is another vital step. By defining key performance indicators and integrating responsible ESG criteria into decision-making processes, businesses can ensure that their strategies are effectively monitored and adapted as necessary.
Lastly, the integration of CSR into management operations should be comprehensive, influencing everything from operational optimization to sustainable real estate strategies. Additionally, adopting green IT practices by setting a vision for IT’s role in sustainability, diagnosing infrastructure issues, and integrating CSR into IT practices from the ground up is essential.
Capgemini created this diagram with a focus on financial institutions, yet the insights it provides are applicable across various industries and sectors. This guide serves as a valuable framework for any business aiming to bolster its sustainability journey, reflecting a universal blueprint for environmental and social responsibility.
Source: Capgemini
