The concept of sustainability needs to be sharpened. Cause: that the business community does not practice what they preach when it comes to sustainability, consider the consultant Lars Schmidt.
The concept of sustainability has been in 30 years made their way into every classroom and the boardroom. It is as simple as indispensable: to promote a development that does not endanger future resource base. But how useful is it really? How much environmental benefit has accomplished?
– the Brundtland Commission had full already 30 years ago and it is strange that the term did not receive a larger foothold for so long. The companies continue to act unethically and environmental bad, says Lars Schmidt, CEO of Do Right AB.
Lars Schmidt has a background as a journalist but is now working as a consultant and advisor to corporations. He says that sustainability industry swelled with PR departments and their consultants – but that it continues to come to light corruption and irregularities: Telia’s zero tolerance against corruption did not work in Uzbekistan. Importers of fish oil say they did not know that it came from overfishing. In Panama, the documents showed that Nordea officials planned advanced tax schemes even though it is in their sustainability reports that not to do so.
– These people are not villains but they have not thought through what they say. As simple as that. Nordea created a deposit structure that made this kind of business profitable and in this system there was a totally different morality than the boasting of outward, says Lars Schmidt.
Big business has, according to him created an image of themselves as ethical and green but because they do not do the job properly, similar cases of double standards continue. The only thing that bites would be for companies to sharpen controls and above all make them unannounced so that they make a difference in practice.
A little unexpectedly, says Lars Schmidt that it is difficult for a consultant like himself to get managers to change their mind and think in terms of sustainability. There must be something else.
– It is rather in talks with the 17-year-old daughter who might be mad at the father’s company imports bad products as something happens. As a consultant, you will reach not all the way in this regard, says Lars Schmidt.
He believes that the Government’s proposals for increased sustainability reporting in the large companies will make a difference, even if it can be mutagenic in environmental work. Laws, according to Lars Schmidt raising ambition and even if they are based to be intimidated, it’s better than nothing happening.
Niklas Skår, environmental lawyer at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, wants to abandon the concept of sustainability and returns to the Brundtland Commission meanings of sustainable development – that today’s development must not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It would benefit the perception that people in poor countries need a development that is not also devastate resources.
– The concept of sustainable development is more that it is a process rather than a fixed, absolute state. Some consider for example that ironworks are not sustainable. But if not – how do we get the steel to sustainable construction? says Niklas inserts.
He believes that the concept has been successful because of the Swedes’ strong sense of nature. Perhaps in combination with a general trend sensitivity. But he is concerned that the knowledge of what is sustainable or effectively reduced. The link to the resource management is about to disappear.
– For a couple of generations ago, many a farmer in the family and thus a clear connection to the natural resources sector. Today, knowledge is more theoretical, which means that our perception of what is good measures do not necessarily need to be based on knowledge of the environment and the cultivation of it in a sustainable way, says Niklas inserts.
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Sustainable Development
The term ” sustainable development “ launched by the American author Lester Brown in 1981. It became popular during the Brundtland report in 1987.
the former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland led a UN commission to investigate the long-term environmental strategies for sustainable development.
the Commission defines the concept: “a development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
the concept of linking organic sustainable social and economic development.
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