Today, businesses contend with a myriad of adoption challenges when they opt for a sustainability approach. Linsey Nancarrow, creative director of sustainable innovation at Indigo Slate discusses fresh ideas that can address obstacles to adoption, and how companies are finding new ways to align financial success with environmental benefits.
Growth
Companies, combining top-tier innovation and top-tier sustainability outperform peers on operational, market metrics
Innovation
Two-thirds of the 50 most innovative companies ranked climate and sustainability a top corporate priority
People & Culture
When people feel their work is "more than just a job," rate of retention increases by 2x or more
1. How to perform effectively with sustainable, inclusive growth
Most organizations have ambitious ESG goals but far fewer believe that they can perform against these commitments. Whether the roadblock is compliance mindset, siloed organizational structures or customer pushback, the solution starts with adopting an opportunistic mindset and rescoping business priorities.
2. How to establish authenticity around ESG initiatives
Reframe ESG goals as an experience design challenge to co-create solutions. Think hackathons, with a mission to promote creative brainstorming. Invite ideas to solve questions such as, “How do we support the communities that our end users belong to?” and inspire employee engagement.
Why do companies struggle to take the leap with ESG?
A compliance mindset focused on cost savings and risk avoidance
Siloed team with little support or engagement from the broader organization
Delayed or stuck on sticky problems and falling behind on impact commitments
Experiencing resistance within your organization or customer pushback to adopt new solutions
3. The essential mindset shifts necessary for ESG to deliver results
Companies that combine top-tier innovation with top-tier sustainability, and trust outperform industry peers. However, ESG investments don’t not deliver sweeping changes in a short period of time so only organizations, which unequivocally demonstrate the ability to enforce a long-term vision reap rewards.
4. Imagining a future when ESG is fully synchronized in our culture
The future belongs to products and services that are designed to be environmentally regenerative, socially conscious and humanely produced. A consumer-focus isn’t enough, the future of design is humanity-focused – a far more comprehensive, inclusive approach that considers social and environmental impact.
