Rizing Evolution – The Future Proofed Enterprise Podcast

Episode 5 Summary: What Does it Really Mean to Invest in Sustainability?

This podcast episode brought together experts to discuss the evolving role of sustainability in business. Hosted by Bonnie D Graham, the panel featured Tom Raftery, a sustainability advocate, Sana Zaidi, an expert in environmental health and safety, and Susan Kenniston, a sustainability leader at Wipro.

The discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities in integrating sustainability practices across industries. Tom Raftery emphasized the need for tailored approaches, noting that a “one-size-fits-all” method won’t work due to differing regional and industry context. While Europe leads in setting ESG standards, other regions face unique challenges. Sana Zaidi pointed out that sustainability reporting, particularly around Scope 3 emissions, remains a difficult and often imprecise task, with some companies’ data varying widely from actual figures.

The conversation also touched on the role of individuals and communities in driving sustainability. Susan Kenniston highlighted how local efforts, such as creating net-zero homes and engaging in community-based projects, are vital for broader change. She remarked that sustainability is becoming operationalized not just in companies but also in how people live their daily lives.

Key Takeaways:

Localized Solutions: Sustainability efforts need to account for local and regional differences.

Challenges in Reporting: Accurate sustainability metrics are still difficult to achieve, especially for more complex indicators like Scope 3 emissions.

Community Involvement: Individuals and communities play a crucial role in achieving sustainability, through local projects and broader organizational shifts.

Supporting Quotes:

Tom Raftery:

You can’t impose solutions… You have to find what’s right for them.

Sana Zaidi:

The accuracy of some sustainability metrics… can be up to 10 to 50 times off of what it needs to be.

Susan Kenniston:

Sustainability is getting operationalized in businesses, in our communities, and in what we do every day.

You can also read the full episode transcript, view the episode on LinkedIn, or view all the podcast episodes.