Here's our latest media release written by Chris Bischoff, our senior stakeholder liaison:
The world has just
witnessed one of the biggest global climate strikes that took place in
September, and while many tune in to the fierce words of young environmental
activist, Greta Thunberg, we are left with the question: “Where does the
corporate world stand in the fight against global warming?”
It’s really not about
participating in your local climate strike, or reposting video’s from famous
climate speeches, it’s time to take action: it’s about implementing your
company’s commitment to reducing their environmental footprint by having a
strategic sustainability strategy,” says Chris Bischoff, senior stakeholder liaison at Reputation Matters.
With an increase in consumer awareness around all
environmental issues, all companies are under the spotlight at any time. So how
can companies step it up and make a sustainable difference whilst staying
afloat? Bischoff weighs in on three important issues surrounding corporate
sustainability and how having a strategy at the top level will improve your
company’s reputation:
1. Looking at your
triple bottom line (TBL).
‘Sustainability’ is a broad term, most frequently used in
the context of ‘environmental sustainability’ and equally ‘financial
sustainability’. TBL connects people, planet and profit; to hold companies
accountable across all spheres, not just their bottom line. “A company’s
reputation is now directly influenced by its financial performance, commitment
to reducing environmental footprint and its investment in society; three
business aspects that have become a measure of reputation,” adds Bischoff.
“In the investment landscape, investors directly look at TBL
through a company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors,” says
Bischoff. Known as ESG investing, investors are not just concerned about your
financial turnover potential, but also your social and environmental
sustainability. Therefore, having a good reputation across all three spheres
will increase your investment potential.
2. Achieving a
sustainable chain supply
It is important to have a look at what your suppliers and
business partners are doing to prioritise their sustainability. Your company
may have a great plan to reduce their environmental footprint, but your effort
can quickly be undone by partners and suppliers who don’t. Consumer are not
just looking at you, they are also looking at who you are aligned and doing
business with.
3. Becoming a
benchmark brand
“If I think of a benchmark brand as the advocate for
corporate environmental sustainability, the first company that comes to mind is
Patagonia, the outdoor gear and clothing company that is making waves for its
activism for environmental conservation,” say Bischoff. Its founder Yvon Chouinard
announced the company’s new mission statement last year: “We’re in business to
save our home planet.” How’s that for a mission statement of a company that has
an annual revenue approaching $1bn? It goes to show that consumers support
businesses that support a clean and healthy environment.
Have you ever measured how sustainable your business is
perceived to be, and how this influences your reputation? Reputation Matters
has developed a research tool, the Sustainability Check to measure the
collective perception of how sustainable a business is operating; as this has a
big influence on your reputation. “Not only do we measure sustainability, but
we also provide recommendations and implementation plans to take your
organisation’s sustainability and strategy to the next level,” concludes
Bischoff.
Follow the conversation on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/yourreputationmatters/
and on Twitter https://twitter.com/reputationiskey.
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Released by
Reputation Matters
Media
contact:
Chris
Bischoff
Mobile
Number: 081
435 2917
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