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L'impératif du développement durable

mai. 26 2021

Le Programme de développement durable à l'horizon 2030, adopté par tous les États membres des Nations unies en 2015, constitue un schéma directeur collectif pour la paix et la prospérité des populations et de la planète, pour aujourd'hui et à l'avenir. Les 17 Objectifs de développement durable (ODD), qui représentent un appel urgent à l'action de tous les pays pour contribuer à un partenariat mondial, sont au cœur de ce programme. Ils reconnaissent que l'éradication de la pauvreté et des autres privations doit aller de pair avec des stratégies visant à améliorer la santé et l'éducation, à réduire les inégalités et à stimuler la croissance économique - tout en s'attaquant au changement climatique et en œuvrant à la préservation de nos océans et de nos forêts.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries to contribute to a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

Subsequently an increasing number of governments and market industry bodies in countries across the world have set in place policies, regulations and standards that aim to drive the global sustainability agenda. Traditionally, companies adopted sustainability strategies in order to comply with regulations and avoid fines. Now leading-edge corporations are embracing the concept of sustainability in order to be a part of the conversation on environmental policy and to satisfy growing consumer demand.

Conscious Consumerism Driving Demand for Sustainability in Business

According to a 2017 McKinsey Global survey, 70 percent of survey respondents said their companies have a formal governance of sustainability in place, but is that enough?

With conscious consumerism on the rise, sustainability is no longer just  driven by legislation and regulations, nor is it a passing consumer trend. All indications are that sustainability is indeed becoming an increasingly important business imperative. Many consumers are more aware than ever of how their lifestyle impacts the planet and are looking to make meaningful changes – including choosing to spend their money with brands and businesses that align themselves to these values. In the past few years, companies across the world have become more active than ever in pursuing sustainability to align with values and engage stakeholders. To achieve lasting financial returns, integration of sustainability into core business functions is key.

As environmental, social, and governance issues are becoming ever more important influencers of stakeholder engagement, companies are increasingly formalizing the way they govern sustainability programs and are more active than ever in pursuing sustainability to align with values and engage stakeholders. The opinions of employees and consumers as well as the expectations of investors, are increasingly cited amongst the top reasons why businesses are addressing sustainability.

A growing number of companies are deploying technologies to manage and support their sustainability agendas. For example, companies have greatly increased their use of both familiar tools, such as energy-efficient equipment, and more innovative ones, such as digital platforms. Despite these advances, many organizations still struggle to capture financial value from their sustainability efforts. Integrating sustainability into one or more core business functions, for instance, is a practice that can help. The integration of sustainability into functional work doubles the likelihood that a company will report financial value from these efforts.


What Does “Sustainability” Mean In Business?

In business, sustainability refers to doing business without negatively impacting the environment, community, or society as a whole.

Sustainability in business generally addresses two main categories:

  • The effect business has on the environment
  • The effect business has on society

The goal of a sustainable business strategy is to make a positive impact on at least one of those areas. When companies fail to assume responsibility, the opposite can happen, leading to issues like environmental degradation, inequality, and social injustice. Sustainable businesses consider a wide array of environmental, economic, and social factors when making businesses decisions. These organizations monitor the impact of their operations to ensure that their short-term profits don’t turn into long-term liabilities.


The Need for Integrated  Sustainability    

Companies today must ensure that their sustainability initiatives are genuine. “Greenwashing” with empty clichés and promises will not be enough to satisfy the scrutiny of consumers, employees and investors.  If sustainability is part of your business mission, stakeholders will demand transparency of your commitment. Authenticity will drive  business success!

In an effort to set themselves apart from their competitors, mitigate risk in their business operations and ensure their own financial sustainability, discerning companies are prioritising independent, credible verification of their sustainability programs and the authenticity of their credentials in this regard, 

Bureau Veritas (BV), since its inception is 1828m has been a “Business to Business to Society” services company with a mission to shape trust between businesses, public authorities and consumers. As a world leader in audit and certification services, it supports some 400,000 clients to be more efficient, more methodical and more trustworthy in their journey towards more sustainable business and a more sustainable world. Sustainability is embedded into the BV strategy, and throughout the entire organization, which is located in 1,400 offices and laboratories around the globe, servicing customers in 140 countries. 

By accessing the BV Green Line of services & solutions dedicated to sustainability, companies can meet the challenges of safety, the environment, social responsibility and product or service quality thereby delivering their sustainability strategy, and meeting the expectations of their customers, employees and stakeholders. Companies can measurably demonstrate the impact of their ESG actions by making them traceable, visible and reliable.