Flex is a member of the U.N. Global Compact. Kyra Whitten, vice president of corporate marketing, communications and sustainability at Flex, says the Sustainable Development Goals that the Global Compact developed have been a great tool for the company to set its own goals. One of its focuses has been on education — specifically with its employees. Whitten says Flex wants its employees to be able to continue to grow and enhance their careers. It also works with its suppliers to improve so that their partnerships are long lasting and meaningful.
Jill Kolling, vice president of global sustainability at Cargill, says that it’s important for the farmers and ranchers it works with to be able to withstand the impacts of climate change. “Resiliency is important for our business as a whole,” Kolling says. “Nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way is now our purpose at Cargill.”
Avery Dennison started off at the world’s first self-adhesive label 80 years ago. While it has continued to provide analog labeling solutions, the company has also transformed into provide digital solutions. “We’re thinking about solutions and ideas that will allow us to enable a digital future for all companies and supply chains as well,” says Deon Stander, vice president and general manager of retail branding and information solutions at Avery Dennison. Stander continued to explain that in the future, every item will have a digital identity.
Mustan Lalani, global director of environmental policy at Tetra Pak, says a phrase coined by Ruben Rausing, the company’s founder, continues to guide its work. The phrase? “A package should save more than it costs.” Because we’re in climate emergency, Lalani says the phrase rings even more true than in years past, especially as Tetra Pak moves toward a low-carbon circular economy.
Eric Sprague, vice president for forest restoration at American Forests, says the threat to forests is just as important now as it was in 1875, when the organization was founded. “Climate change is really affecting our forests, degrading the ability they have to provide all the benefits that we rely on,” Sprague says. “American Forests is, again, bringing folks together to help solve some of these challenges.”
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For some industries, rising consumer demand and expectations are a clear driver. In others, there’s regulatory pressure.
2019 saw an unprecedented growth in interest in and consideration for ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues from companies, investors and now government, with the first congressional hearing on ESG issues in the United States held in July. This trend signals a growing recognition that climate change is not only detrimental to our environment, but also to our economic system, and that many issues that were once considered non-financial are now seen as financially material.
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