Season 4 Ep 3 - The business case for sustainability with FuturePlus

An effective sustainability strategy is now a necessity, but sometimes it can feel like yet another task to add to the pile. In times of uncertainty, however, sustainability isn’t just another chore – it’s the foundation for resilience, competitive advantage, and long-term survival. 

In this episode, Giulia interviews Mike Penrose, co-founder of sustainability management and reporting ecosystem Sustainability Group and FuturePlus, who argues that sustainability needs to be integrated into core business, rather than being addressed as a standalone endeavour.

The conversation covers the role of chief sustainability officers, the impact of regulations, and why businesses should adopt proactive sustainability strategies.

Measuring data such as carbon emissions, natural resource consumption, and social impact can provide insights that can help plan for more efficient, future-proof and, ultimately, profitable, operations. 

This data can prove pivotal in raising funding and complying with legislation, which is getting tighter in many jurisdictions. As Mike says, sustainability comes with upfront costs, but retrofitting the business later down the line may prove significantly more expensive.

Reading materials:

• ESG performance has positive impacts on its resilience in the form of stability and flexibility: study
• Guide on global sustainability reporting frameworks, standards, and protocols
• OECD’s Global Corporate Sustainability Report 2024, which analyses the evolving landscape of corporate sustainability practices worldwide
• Sustainability or profitability? Increasingly, you can have both: Boston Consulting Group

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