This was the query we posed to a number of of our judges and award winners on the presentation ceremony for the 2024 edie Awards, which passed off in central London earlier this month.
The edie Awards recognise and reward the unbelievable folks, tasks and partnerships which might be reworking enterprise, for good. They’ve been operating for 17 years and 2024 winners included the likes of Caroline Lucas (lifetime achievement award), Sky (advertising and marketing and buyer engagement marketing campaign award) and Mitie (transport and fleet administration award).
As we convened representatives from our shortlisted organisations – plus a number of our judging panel – for the glittering award ceremony, we had the possibility to ask how they’d outline sustainability management, whether or not from a person or an organisation.
David Bent, senior affiliate marketing consultant at Skating Panda, stated: “Sustainability management towards the background of the polycrisis is an enormous, massive ask and poses an enormous, massive query. For me, the polycrisis is a results of numerous components of our establishment failing and demonstrating that they don’t seem to be match for goal.
“So, management is about transformation… reworking our financial system, our political system and the way we dwell our lives, in order that we will have 9 billion folks having fun with themselves and selecting their very own model of a superb life which is aligned with nature.
“Businesses need to change all aspects of their all operations and all of their relationships – with shareholders, staff.”
Crista Buznea, head of promoting at Ecologi, added: “Sustainability leadership, to me, right now, would involve taking a very focused decision to go after long-term benefits rather than short-term gains… we’ve seen a lot of short-termism, and we want to move away from that.”
Julia Barrett, chief sustainability officer and holdings board director at Willmott Dixonechoed these sentiments, stating: “Sustainability leadership means being consistent, focusing on the long-term and making sustainable decisions part of your everyday business.”
Amelia Woodley, govt board director for ESG, Speedy Rentadded: “Well, I think sustainability leadership is about having tenacity and patience. There are always going to be ebbs and flows within different geopolitical and economic crises, so really being sustainable as an organisation is about focusing on your north star… to ride through those changes.”
When specializing in long-term planning, it is very important examine in in the course of the interim to maintain observe, rejoice and collaborate, famous Jonas Persson, head of sustainability and ESG finance at Lloyds Financial institution.
He stated: “It’s actually vital for firms to get the possibility to rejoice successes in sustainability. It permits us to validate methods and investments that would have been very tough. It additionally permits our groups to carry colleagues with them.
“The other point is that they can share with other businesses and accelerate accordingly.”
A full video of responses to this query may be watched above.
A free-to-download PDF listing all 2024 edie Award winners can be accessed here.
