How to future-proof your business: ‘There’s no business on a burning planet. Businesses have that awareness – but now it’s about action’

In the latest episode of Irish Tatler’s new sustainable lifestyle podcast Consciously Craving, podcast host and sustainability strategist Pat Kane (@iampatkane) is joined by the head of Davy Horizons, the sustainability advisory for business in Davy Group, Dr Dorothy Maxwell, to take a deep-dive into how businesses can future proof their model by developing sustainability policies.

With over 25 years of experience working with with businesses on sustainability in Ireland and internationally – as the director of sustainability at both the House of Fraser, SanPower Group followed by Brown Thomas Arnotts – Maxwell shares a wealth of insights to fast track sustainability credibly in business.

Topics discussed include the business case for managing sustainability risks and maximising opportunities in the green economy for large and small business; growing pressures from customers, regulators, employees and shareholders for accountability; and avoiding green-washing.

So why should businesses develop a sustainability strategy? “There’s no business on a burning planet. Businesses have that awareness, but now it’s about action. What are they doing – and is it relative to the challenges we face?” Maxwell says.

To develop such a strategy, looking at facets of a business like its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework is key, Maxwell adds:

“As a business, it’s really important to look at your value chain, map it out, and identify who exactly is in it.

“You’ve got to engage your biggest suppliers, the ones that are most critical to you, whether it’s manufacturing or producing. They could be located in certain parts of the world that make it risky around environmental and social issues.

“Take a step forward on this, be proactive, and engage with them to see what they are doing in terms of decarbonisation, the protection of human rights, and the prevention of modern slavery.”

Maxwell also lends her expertise to the need-to-know facts on climate change, working conditions and engaging suppliers, plus a step-by-step guide to actioning sustainable change within a business – starting with the grants available from Enterprise Ireland and other business development agencies.

To discover more about how businesses can contribute to a greener future, listen to the full episode below now.

Consciously Craving is an eight-episode podcast hosted by sustainability strategist Pat Kane. With a new episode launching every week, find episodes one to six now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.