SUSTAINABILITY

The United Nations defines sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. In a commercial environment, we think of this as;

success today does not have to be at the expense of tomorrow

Sustainability is also the realisation that we have to live in harmony with the world around us: the resources that we consume, whether as individuals or corporations, only come from one place; our planet. It means an acceptance that these resources are not finite and that we need to create and maintain a balanced approach to how we operate our businesses.

 

Sustainability is not only about corporate social responsibility; it’s wider than that. It’s about strategic integration into how a business functions and co-exists with different elements of society and then how society exists with the environment. This interlinked relationship can be illustrated as;
 

Sustainability isn’t just about ‘green issues’; whether or not you believe in man as the cause of climate change, you want a business that is successful in the long term, not just for the short term.  Sustainable processes are those that can be repeated over time, as well as developed and expanded.

If there are more people in the world, then more resources will be consumed – whether they are food, basic industrial raw materials or energy – regardless.  Awareness of this, itself assisted by the digital age and proliferation of information via the world wide web, means that we now appreciate that resources must be managed in a sustainable manner, both in their creation and utilisation or consumption.  Sustainability is not about stopping doing something. It is about understanding that the way in which we do things has to change, so that we can continue to do them for the future.

Being Sustainable means

Being inclusive.  It is not ‘A or B; do B at the expense of A’; – you can do B and A and doing B will make A even better.

Sharing.  Sharing knowledge and new ways of working with stakeholders. Sharing maximizes the impact and results

Longevity.  For example, our CPhI show is not just an event for 3 days – it is about what goes on before and after. It is a responsibility to the venues and communities where we do business; not just to turn up, consume resources and move on. It is also a responsibility to our shareholders and our staff.

Taking the next step.  The requirement to change and take the next step, as the world, economy, market and live event have all changed and so change is now a necessity and considered a social responsibility.
 

Why focus on sustainability?

Sustainable development has been defined as “an enduring, balanced approach to economic activity, environmental responsibility and social progress”.

Far from sustainability being just a ‘green’ issue, studies have shown that there have been shifts in the perspectives of investors and stakeholders in assessing the environmental and social impact of companies over different stakeholders.  Investors are developing criteria to ensure that their lending policies support emerging norms on social and environmental performance.

As a result of technology driving a greater visibility of issues and leading to increased transparency, there is greater scrutiny and concern about corporate practices related to sustainable development.  Companies are being asked to demonstrate the impact of their activities, particularly in relation to supply chains.

There is an opportunity for companies wishing to stake a claim to leadership on corporate responsibility issues by reviewing the extent that business activities are transparent and consistent with wider sustainability objectives.

Our success depends on commitment from all levels and functions.  In addition, it also depends on the system being flexible and integrated within the event management process and not just regarded as an ‘add-on’ component.

 

For tips on how to be a sustainable exhibitor, please click here