Swedish Business Leaders Prospecting Sustainability – Finding the Future with Purpose, Systems Approach, Empathy & Transformation

Abstract

In this report, we are continuing the discussion on the conclusions from the article “The Inter Business Index: Developing a Tool for Measurement and Comparability of Holistic Sustainability in Businesses” that was published in May 2017 by Hallin et al (2017) and claim that there is need for a new perspective that bring sustainability to a new level – that might be more successful at solving our shared global problems. In an attempt to understand business sustainability and its journey from early day CSR initiatives – towards being a central part of business strategy, we have looked at the structures and strategies companies use to understand sustainability, via reporting and profitable models. To deeper understand the importance of leadership and mindset in regard to sustainability, we have examined how the Inter Business Principles of purpose, empathy, system approach and transformation applies to the sustainability challenges leaders are facing today. Through dialogue with business leaders in Sweden and literature on business sustainability, we have identified leadership and investors as keys for corporate sustainability to take its next step.

ALMOST INTERCONNECTED—How Sweden’s 50 Largest Companies Apply a Systems Approach to Sustainability

“…More responsibility is being placed on companies in relation to sustainability-mandatory sustainability reporting in the EU (Directive 2014/95/EU) is one important step, as well as companies being recognized as essential to solving our shared challenges by Agenda 2030 (UN, 2015). At the same time, research show that sustainability is moving up the company hierarchy, becoming ever more important for business leadership, investors and boards (Hallin et al, 2018).…”

What Purpose Does a Company Serve in the World? Swedish Students and Sustainability Professionals in Dialogue on Corporate Sustainability

“…Companies are an important part of the fabric of society-and has an important part to play in transforming operations and business models to adapt to planetary boundaries, new innovations and norms in relations to the field. In response, sustainability has travelled up the hierarchy in businesses, having moved from the communications department, into becoming an important issue for owners, boards and investors alike (Hallin et al, 2018). At the same time, several large-scale initiatives for sustainable development were born and pursued.…”

“…The corporate sustainability field is in rapid development, and the future of the field is unknown. There is widespread uncertainty amongst business leadership as to what companies should do in their core operations to move towards a sustainable future (Hallin et al, 2018). An increasingly interconnected system further complicates sustainability work and demands new takes on the field.…”