Business priorities have been greatly modified after the pandemic suffered since 2020 and, from this adaptability, new approaches have also emerged that, in addition to helping businesses, also benefit the planet.
It’s estimated that 79% of companies say that there are competitive advantages in the 2030 Agenda. And 49% that the incorporation of sustainability and the SDGs has positively affected monetary results.
Digital innovation is driving the business world towards new business models and the redefinition of some processes. This will lead to the emergence of intelligent companies.
In businesses where recurring work will be automated, remote management will advance and decision-making will be progressively digitized. Digitalization is consolidating as a robust lever in favor of sustainable development.
Sustainability in the Supply Chain
The supply crisis caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have clearly pointed to the need for secure and resilient supply chains. Increasingly, there is a growing appreciation for incorporating resilience measures and managing risk exposure with a three-pronged approach: economic, environmental and social.
The need to improve sustainability will promote the search for alternative suppliers, training of existing ones, ensuring the rights of people along the chains, and due diligence and adaptation.
Sustainable Trends this 2023
In view of the fact that one of the pillars of the business strategy of different organizations is to adopt sustainable practices, what are the sustainable trends revolving around 2023?
-Climate action. More and more companies are taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus reduce their carbon footprint.
-Circular economy. Basically, closing the life cycle of products and materials to reduce waste and increase resource efficiency.
-Social responsibility. Companies are taking steps to improve their social and environmental impact, such as improving the working conditions of their workers, supporting local communities, and protecting and caring for what belongs to everyone: the environment.
-Transparency and sustainability reporting. More and more companies are sharing more information on their website or social networks about their environmental and social impact, in order to improve transparency.
-Boom in sustainable financing. Companies that work around sustainable practices are attracting the attention of investors, so green financing is a must in 2023.
-Technological innovation. Relying on different technologies that generate data with which we can become aware, such as the Creast calculator, to find more efficient solutions in terms of energy and resources.
For example, fashion companies such as adidas, Burberry, Guess, Gap, Hugo Boss, H&M, Inditex, and Levi Strauss & Co. have pledged to comply with the climate policies proposed by the UN's Fashion Climate Charter. Around 30 companies signed the charter at the COP24 summit in Poland in 2018.
At that time, they pledged to reduce their emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by mid-century. A year ago, they set a new and more ambitious target to halve their CO2 emissions by the end of the decade, and more than 100 companies signed the pledge.