Sustainable companies, what are they about?

“Let us be good hosts of the Earth we inherited. All of us have to share the Earth’s fragile ecosystems and precious resources and each of us has a role to play in preserving them. If we are going to keep living together on this earth, we must all be responsible for it.” Kofi Annan.

After this famous phrase by the father of corporate sustainability, let us define: what is sustainability? It is a term linked to human action in relation to its environment. Within the ecological discipline, sustainability refers to biological systems that can preserve diversity and productivity over time.

Now then, let us get back to what interests us: what does it mean for a company to be one? It means it takes into account multiple aspects ranging from the satisfaction and wellbeing of its employees, the quality of its products, the origin of its supplies, to the environmental impact of its activities, without leaving aside the effect its products and waste cause, that is, the social, political and economic impact its activity produces and its commitment to the social and economic development of a country, taking on a long-term commitment to the planet and to future generations.

Before going on with this piece, we would like to leave you some examples associations and sustainable initiatives that we love. Some are: Sistema B, PAPA, Orsted, NotCo, Natura, Kuna, Auara, WWF and Dar Sentido.

They also look for the company’s activity to be carried out in balance between the economic, the social and the environmental, creating value, but not in an altruistic or charitable sense. It is public knowledge that every business looks for and has an economic interest; if the company adopts a way of being and acts in tune with its surroundings, being conscious of resources and looking to have a direct impact on the life of society and communities, it will benefit.

In recent times, indicators such as environmental and social criteria have gained strength in guiding businesses toward responsible conduct,

where investors can better manage risk by integrating these factors, which in turn will allow them better financial health and to be “worth” more.

We must bear some considerations in mind:

Clear social objectives

A neutral or positive impact on the environment and harmonious relationships with communities are some of the objectives of a sustainable company. These objectives are quite far from the typical donations, implementation of development projects, support for NGOs or social campaigns; actions that can be catalogued more within what is a commercial campaign or a marketing strategy than a real sustainable commitment. Being a socially responsible company is part of the business itself; the return on its investment must be measurable and the objectives must be known by all members of the organization, they must be part of its DNA.

To be or not to be sustainable

One way or another, the market and its consumption trends force companies to adapt to this change in the way of doing business. Those organizations that do not adapt to this new reality will simply disappear. Sustainability is born out of globalization and the conviction that there is no future in the face of excessive consumption, pollution and damage to the environment. Companies are not isolated, they are part of an aligned ecosystem and if they do not adapt to the sustainable trend, they simply will not be able to survive.

Every day there are more and more companies that adapt their processes and services and make them harmonious with the planet. The most developed transnational organizations are in the lead and medium-sized and small ones are joining in. Turning a business into a sustainable one nowadays is an obligation if you really want to transcend; consumers are the ones obliged to steer their consumption and preference toward those companies that guarantee respect for the planet, for its resources and for current and coming generations.

Sustainability is a matter that must be passed on from person to person. We must take it upon ourselves to teach and invite people to become aware in order to generate an importance in sustainable development so that humanity does not have to give up its lifestyle to look after the environment.

At Argency, we work with B corps or companies interested in sustainability. Such as CUMA, a 100% organic wine that looks after the planet and raises awareness of a new way of producing and consuming wines. Timac Agro Argentina and Chile, industrial companies that specialize in soil conditioners, animal and plant nutrition to improve agricultural yield while respecting the environment. Seña winery, a wine driven by a sustainable philosophy that 7 years ago adopted biodynamic farming with the aim of reflecting a deep and authentic sense of origin. Alto Quillay, a real estate project located in an ecological setting where they offer Mediterranean houses set in the nature and friendly to the environment. Even our agency is built with sustainable fixtures and construction methods with which every detail was thought through to be connected to the subject and change our habits to build a more ecological and responsible world.

And you, are you ready to take on this responsibility?

Sources: Credilikeme, La Tercera, Definición