Engaging team in #sustainabledevelopment is not just the latest trend, it's an essential shift in many ways. But there is still a significant lack of support and it's no longer just a question of #learning, but also of #teaching.
Numerous initiatives have been launched, such as the
@climatefresk ,
@2030SDGgame and
@damtower.
Their success is undeniable, with millions of participants across Europe and the world.
These are effective ways of getting teams excited about the company's mission. Sustainable development attracts the best talent. Young people looking for work today want to work for companies that care about the #planet and #society. Show them that you're on the same wavelength and you'll be a more attractive employer.
Sustainability isn't just about being green, it's a smart business approach. These #workshops are proof that it's a win-win approach that engages teams, attracts the best talent and creates a self-sustaining cycle of #positivechange and #innovation. Every day that passes adds to the regulatory and societal burden, so don't delay, get on board!
The Pope caused a sensation by publicly expressing his support for migrants and our obligation to welcome them in Marseille. Above and beyond any religious conviction, he is taking a stance on climate change and our social responsibility in the run-up to COP 28. Worth reading:
“It is no longer possible to doubt the human – ‘anthropic’ – origin of climate change …/… For when human beings claim to take God’s place, they become their own worst enemies. …/… There are no lasting changes without cultural changes, without a maturing of lifestyles and convictions within societies, and there are no cultural changes without personal changes”
“Laudate Deum”: the Pope’s cry for a response to the climate crisis - Vatican News
Summer is the perfect time to take a step back, see things from a distance and consider future decisions. Disconnect, they say? For me, never completely. The little song of continuous improvement, of listening to what's going well and what's not, never completely switches off. I've tried two approaches to dealing with it. The first is to ignore it, and then it turns into anxiety. The second is to listen to it and turn it into action. That's what I did this summer.
The climate fresc. Climate Fresk. Before the summer, I had taken part in this great movement of education and awareness. I was enthusiastic about many aspects of the process. Apparently I'm not the only one, with over a million people taking part. This time I decided to become a player and went through the steps to become a facilitator. It's an excellent tool for individuals and businesses to get the teams started on climate change. Simple, participative and educational, its success is no accident. For damtower customers, it's a first step towards business transformation.
SDG Game 2030. 2030 SDGs GAME This time we're heading for Japan, where this interactive workshop was created. It is much more wide-ranging, covering the three aspects of sustainable development: People, Planet, Profit. It puts everyone in a position to act on the 17 goals defined by the Global Compact. Once again, I was seduced by the methodology. It encourages reflection and commitment. It is perfectly in line with damtower's ambitions and acts as a trigger, an emulator and a facilitator for producing solutions.
In addition to the 7 weddings I took part in this summer and the great weather, I'm very proud to now be able to offer these two approaches. The music of continuous improvement has, for a while, lost its intensity.
See you soon for new exciting experiences together.
Benoit Montet COO
In the ever-evolving landscape of corporate practices, sustainable development has emerged as a central concern for companies worldwide. As they strive to adopt more environmentally, socially, and economically responsible approaches, the year 2023 sets the stage for key trends that will guide these efforts and shape corporate strategies. These trends can be broadly categorized into three main areas: people trends, legal trends, and environmental trends, each carrying significant implications for sustainable business practices. While the following list is not exhaustive, it presents a comprehensive overview of these trends and their far-reaching impact.
Human-related trends (soft):
Legal trends (reporting) and green finance:
Environmental trends:
The years ahead hold promise, with companies increasingly committed to responsible business practices. The identified key trends underscore the growing importance of addressing human, legal, financial, and environmental aspects in corporate strategies. However, it is crucial to remain vigilant against potential greenwashing practices, especially when companies in the global North outsource production to countries in the global South. These nations face multifaceted socio-economic and environmental challenges, along with political, economic, and financial pressures from their clients in Western and Asian markets.
Creating a sustainable future requires collective will and commitment atall levels. Overcoming present challenges and embracing collaborative and inclusive approaches will enable us to build a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable future for generations to come.
In the realm of business, labeling a company can prove to be a valuable process for enhancing performance in areas such as sustainable development, social responsibility, quality, and safety. However, determining whether the outcomes of a certification should be shared with a company's employees is contingent upon various factors, including organizational culture, company size, certification objectives, and the sensitivity of the data involved.
Let's delve into the potential positive and negative effects that arise from sharing the results of a labeling exercise with employees:
Positive Effects:
Negative Effects:
The decision of whether or not to disseminate certification results to employees hinges on the company's objectives, organizational culture, and the associated risks entailed in divulging sensitive information. If the choice is made to share these results, it is essential to adopt a transparent and educational approach, ensuring that employees comprehend and integrate the findings into their daily work. We eagerly anticipate your valuable insights on this matter!
Carbon neutrality and global sustainability are critical issues facing society and it is essential for all employees in organizations to be trained and engaged in addressing these challenges. Here are ten reasons why all employees should be trained and engaged to face the challenge of carbon neutrality and global sustainability: Chose one and contact us ! :
In conclusion, training and engaging all employees to face the challenge of carbon neutrality and global sustainability is critical for companies to achieve their sustainability goals, gain a competitive advantage, save costs, improve employee engagement and satisfaction, attract and retain top talent, stay ahead of regulatory requirements, build a positive brand image, foster innovation, ensure sustainable supply chain management, and future-proof their operations.
by Benoit Montet.
There are a variety of reasons why employees may not be engaged in sustainability in their own companies. Some of the most common reasons include a lack of understanding of the importance of sustainability, a lack of incentives or recognition for sustainability efforts, a lack of resources or support from management, and a lack of clear goals or objectives for sustainability initiatives. Additionally, some employees may feel that sustainability initiatives are not relevant to their job or that they do not have the necessary skills or knowledge to contribute. Finally,
One way to engage them through their own initiatives is to provide them with resources and support to help them achieve their goals. This could include providing them with access to mentors, providing them with educational materials, or offering them opportunities to participate in activities that are related to their interests. Additionally, it is important to listen to their ideas and feedback and to provide them with a platform to share their ideas and experiences. Finally, it is important to recognize their efforts and celebrate their successes.
Are your employees also doubtfull about your Sustainability report?
Adopt the damtower methodology to engage from the bottom-up and accelerate the adoption of your Sustaianble strategy
The topic of sustainable development in companies has become THE main priority for all stakeholders. In parallel, a silent revolution has taken place. Companies have refocused on their core business. They outsourced a large part of their operations and the share of service providers increased by double digits in all industries in Europe and the US. From now on, companies operate as a network, managing purchasing, production and distribution in project mode. In the computation of added value, certain subcontractors, service providers or partners have become strategic. Losing one of them can have more impact than losing a few good employees.
Despite this new context, traditional HR is still too often focus on employees, those who have an employment contract. As a result, everything external escapes the HR department. However, HR itself has contributed to reducing its own scope by outsourcing payroll, accounting, IT and many other services. It is now purchasing that hand over in the relationship with third-party employees, with all that this implies.
It then becomes easy for HR to show a nice scorecard on social issues, but this is an illusion. In the company's new obligations, sustainable development encompasses three major concepts: environmental, social and governance. As social is one of the components of the whole, HR should be linked to sustainable development.
Have a look at a nice article from CB Bhattacharya , who in 2018 yet was covering the topic.
Companies that are winning the sustainability battle have created the conditions for their stakeholders to own sustainability. In these companies, sustainability is not someone else’s problem.
Contact us to know more about our methodology.
How to Make Sustainability Every Employee’s Responsibility (hbr.org)
Ask an old Amsterdam citizen what he thinks of his city by asking him in his street. He will tell you that the quays are collapsing due to lack of maintenance that the city is rotten with tourists, that everything is artificial, that the streets stink of weed.... Take this same Amsterdam man and put him in Dijon. Ask a Frenchman to ask him the same question. His answer will be, that Amsterdam is the heart of the world, a city that is easy to live in, free of car pollution, where everything is easily accessible, where there is more freedom than elsewhere.
What happened? In the first case, by transposing, it is the opinion of an employee in his company, who talks to his colleagues, in the second case it is the same employee who talks about his company to his family, friends, customers or suppliers. The goal of damtower is, through the workshop, to recreate the conditions for the recognition of the pride and belonging reflex of employees by giving them societal tools and arguments.
Another transposition. Almost all the readers of the sustainable development reports of large companies are carried by the communications department. It emerges that these reports are perceived as advertising and promotional tools, which are not necessarily very credible and even encourage greenwashing by employees. Yet the company has often invested time and money in these measures. Those who are most keen to talk about it are those who have participated in its development and have taken the initiatives.
damtower's proposal is to ensure that these initiatives are owned by as many people as possible through the workshops.
By Benoit Montet