Page 21 - MiNDSPACE Issue 2 2022 - Old Mutual Corporate

The 19% who have implemented four or more changes are, perhaps not surprisingly, also most concerned about climate change. They are also more optimistic about achieving net zero and less likely to see cost as an obstacle. They also have a clearer understanding of the business opportunities and benefits to their bottom line that come with being more sustainable.
SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANIES’ POSITION
‘My experience of working in business in Kenya and now with the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, is that sustainability works,’ says Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact.
Her view is very positive: ‘I believe sustainability is helping to fire up the best new business ideas in Africa. It is fostering innovation and is addressing some of our most pressing needs, such as the fight against climate change.
One of South Africa’s leading retailers of consumer products is Clicks and its CEO, Bertina Engelbrecht, says sustainability has been a strategic focus for more than a decade.
‘Driving greater sustainability is Africa’s most significant growth opportunity. Meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development
‘The work we’ve done around water scarcity, for example, was years ahead of the current trend. We also saw the benefits of being more energy-efficient and optimising delivery routes to reduce our carbon footprint. Sustainability is therefore already integrated into our way of working, and our 18 000 employees have become advocates of sustainable practices,’ she explains.
changeSPACE agenda
include developing new climate-friendly products or services; or requiring specific suppliers and business partners to meet specific criteria for sustainability.
Goals (SDG) by 2030 means, among other things, connecting 570 million Africans who currently lack electricity. It means making sure that farm produce reaches markets in good condition. When you consider the opportunities for delivering sustainable cities and for managing Africa’s vast natural resources sustainably, it
is estimated that achieving the SDGs would unlock an economic prize of at least $1.1 trillion and create 85 million new jobs.’
South African business leaders polled by Deloitte were among those most affected by and concerned about climate change. Other countries at the top of this list are Australia, Brazil,
India and Mexico. This particularly applies to the following industries: automotive, technology, transportation/hospitality and consumer products.
In addition, the Clicks Group is always exploring product innovations. A good example is the work they are doing to phase out plastic microbeads from all Clicks Private Label products, introducing eco-conscious cotton buds made from 100% organic cotton tips with paper stems, and making use of 25% of PhoenixPET, a recycled PET resin produced in South Africa, in its bottled water packaging.
A COLLECTIVE BUT INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE
‘Climate change and environmental sustainability isn’t a personal conversation,’ says Kapapula. ‘No matter your age, gender or class, this conversation affects everyone. Beginning with the family unit, leaders from all walks of life and government need to start having informed conversations that initiate some insight into the prevailing issues around climate change.’
Old Mutual CEO Iain Williamson echoes Kapapula’s words in the group’s latest climate report when he says, ‘The Covid-19 pandemic taught us valuable lessons regarding how the collaboration of key players in society can strengthen responses during a crisis. The urgency with which government, business, civil society, academia and other players have come together to respond to the pandemic must be extended to the climate crisis.’
In March, Old Mutual Investment Group became the second South African investment firm to become a signatory to the global Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, a group of international asset managers working to achieve net zero by 2050.
Small and medium-sized businesses might find it daunting to implement sustainable practices when they have several other daily struggles, but everyone has a role to play and each of us can make a difference, points out Kapapula.
‘The challenge with big problems is people always feel they need to solve them with big solutions, but the problem with
this line of thinking is that big solutions take time and effort to resolve and put into practice,’ he says. ‘My philosophy is that big problems need many small solutions and when everyone takes responsibility and ownership of the small role they need to play, they can make a difference to the bigger picture.’ M
oldmutual.co.za/corporate | 19
Samantha Page is a freelance writer and editor whose work
has appeared in Daily Maverick. She is a former editor-in-chief of O,
The Oprah Magazine, in South Africa.