In today's world, sustainability is not just an option but a necessity. As India sets ambitious goals to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and to be net zero by 2070, the concept of "
symbiotic sustainability
" emerges as a critical guiding principle for businesses. Embracing sustainable practices aligns
economic growth
with environmental preservation, transforming sustainability into a strategic imperative for businesses to thrive in the future.
The environmental impact of a company’s operations must be assessed in a trustworthy manner and be devoid of deceitful
greenwashing
gimmicks.
Environmentally sustainable goals have long been recognised as an economic model that works for people and the planet, while being profitable for businesses. India's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) preparedness is improving. However, some challenges remain. A Deloitte survey found that only 27 percent of Indian businesses feel confident about their preparedness to meet
ESG requirements
and a mere 15 per cent believe their suppliers are prepared to comply with their organisations’ ESG mandates.
Forge strategic alliances
Greenwashed themes are no longer cutting it among astute consumers and their business partners. It emphasises the need to use data-driven strategies and execution plans. Partnering with organisations committed to sustainability is paramount. Aligning with partners who share similar values and goals amplifies sustainability efforts through shared knowledge, collaborative projects and joint initiatives.
Innovate sustainable solutions together
Collaborative innovation is key to developing cutting-edge sustainable solutions. Engage with partners to co-create products and technologies that address environmental challenges, optimising resource use and reducing environmental impact.
Share best practices and knowledge
Use the partner ecosystem as a platform for sharing best practices and knowledge. Foster a culture of collaboration to accelerate progress towards sustainability goals through the exchange of ideas, success stories and lessons learned.
Champion sustainability advocates from the top down
Leverage the partner ecosystem to advocate for policy changes supporting sustainability. Collaborate with industry associations and governmental bodies to drive reforms and regulations. Moving beyond compliance-driven strategies, make the business case for sustainable operations, emphasising potential benefits, such as energy cost savings and streamlined operations.
Quantify and share impact stories
Measure and communicate the collective impact of sustainability efforts within the partner ecosystem. Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and share success stories and impact reports to inspire others and demonstrate the value of collaboration in achieving sustainability goals.
Collaborate to innovate
Bring together diverse expertise to enable companies to co-create innovative products and services. These partnerships enable forward-thinking enterprises to symbiotically support and develop sustainable solutions, optimising resource use and reducing carbon emissions.
Work with the C-suite
Address the awareness gap in the C-suite regarding the importance of data centre modernisation for sustainability goals. Elevate visibility in the C-suite, leveraging their lead-by-example approach to influence company culture positively.
Transforming sustainability into a core business tenet fosters lasting change. A recent global survey by us found that CEOs are at the vanguard of sustainability programmes, underlining sustainability as a business imperative. In such companies, 62 per cent of CEOs are directly responsible for sustainability KPIs, vs. just under half (49 per cent) in others, where CEOs are more likely to play an indirect role.
Our survey also revealed a growing global trend in regulatory pressures urging companies to curtail carbon emissions and mitigate global warming. Establishing symbiotic sustainability within partner ecosystems necessitates a comprehensive strategy centred on collaboration. These approaches not only create a positive environmental footprint but also bolster brand reputation, stakeholder engagement and long-term prosperity. By adopting tangible measures, businesses can play a substantial role in advancing the global sustainability agenda, catalysing a ripple effect of positive change throughout the industry.
By: Kimberly King, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partners & Alliances, Hitachi Vantara.
English (US) ·