Business needs society to grow. Society needs businesses to prosper and survive.

By Rusen Kumar

A business approach to sustainability continues to recognise the interconnection of the planet and society – and that sustainability can be a driver of business performance.

Improving the health of our planet India has seen several incidents linked to global warming in 2021 alone. From a glacier collapse in the Himalayas to a sweltering heat wave and three cyclones that occurred within a few days of each other causing considerable damage to lives and livelihoods.

The urgency to tackle climate change, reduce plastic waste and protect nature has never been greater.

This article suggests key interventions and action toward business responsibility:

Climate action

Climate Action is at the heart of our business strategy. Every business needs to be committed to the Climate Action Plan that sets out the steps that will be taken to reduce emissions and achieve net-zero in our operations by 2030.

A world with less waste

A business needs to achieve plastic neutrality by collecting and responsibly processing. Businesses need to have a framework for less Plastic, better plastic and no Plastic with which they can evaluate their plastic footprint.

Also Read: 7 Lessons for Planning an Effective CSR Program for business

Protect and regenerate nature

We continue to work towards a deforestation-free supply chain as a responsible business. People & Nature Policy is a need of the hour of business which will enhance supplier requirements around no deforestation and human rights for its key commodities.

Business needs to have regenerative agriculture principles that guide suppliers and farmers, including smallholders, on how to nourish soil and water, capture carbon and restore the land.

Businesses need to have an ecosystem to source and procure their products from sustainable sources. Water management should be a priority area for businesses as water is a valuable resource and no business can survive without water within and around.

A fairer, more inclusive world

We need a transparent business. Every business must play a critical role in helping to build more resilient and equitable communities by raising living standards and advancing equity, diversity and inclusion.

Raising living standards

No doubt, growing inequality in society has a direct impact on consumption and India has one of the highest gaps. Businesses need to set an ambitious target to ensure everyone in their value chain who directly provides goods and services to them shall earn a living wage by 2030.

Under the CSR programme, every business must train women and youth in employable and future-fit skills such as IT, electrical, plumbing, solar technician, tailoring, beauty and more.

In a journey to build a fairer and more inclusive future, businesses need to provide training to people with disabilities, transgenders, sex workers, widows and other vulnerable communities, through innovative developmental work.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

In a democratic environment, every business must believe in it until social justice and fairness become commonplace. It is the business’s responsibility to drive equity and create a fairer, more socially inclusive society. To achieve SDGs targets, every business managerial base needs to have a strong roadmap to be gender-balanced by 2025. Through several programmes, businesses need to strive to enhance women’s representation on the shop floor. Every business must have the ambition to achieve at least 5% of the workforce to be made up of people with disabilities by 2025.

Improving health, confidence and wellbeing

Health, confidence and well-being are key for society. Through their operations, every business must continue to promote health and wellbeing, inclusive beauty and positive nutrition – finding ways to power growth through purpose. The purpose of healthcare is to prevent illness and save lives through a healthy living culture.

Every business must start a campaign to make a humble appeal to the people of the country, asking them to play their part in fighting the virus by practicing proper hygiene, wearing a mask in the right way, maintaining social distance, and getting vaccinated and healthy living culture.

Respecting and promoting human rights

The ultimate aim of business is to advance and promote respect for human rights in everything it does – within workplaces, through supply and distribution chains and brands. With their suppliers, peers, industry bodies, trade unions and civil society businesses working to address human rights impact and ensure that all those connected to the business value chain are treated with respect, dignity and fairness. Code of Business Principles upholds the principles of human rights and fair treatment.

The Code also conforms to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) principles. The principles of human rights are followed in the same spirit within and outside the organisation when engaging with business partners.