The politics of sustainability
During my last post I asked the question “how do you start the transformation of a company, that’s been around in various forms for over a hundred years, to a truly sustainable enterprise?”. My answer was “I don’t have the foggiest of a notion”.
Well, we’re almost 6 months down the road from my last post, and I have to say the outlook is a little less foggy, but it’s still pretty hazy out there. The good news is, is that we now have a team. It’s a small team, but now I have one colleague in the US and one in Europe to keep me company. And I have a new boss. A very senior long serving VP has been moved from a business role to head up the sustainability effort.
That’s great I hear you say! Yes, you’re right. It is a positive confirmation that the company is taking the transition seriously. Right?
If only life was straight forward and black and white. Well, just in case you weren’t aware, life is convoluted and many many shades of grey.
So, why the title politics of sustainability? Well, one overriding question is, did my new boss ask to walk away from a half billion dollar division to oversee 3 people with no P&L?
Let’s just say, my new boss and I have a quite different view of what it means to be sustainable. To him this is a purely commercial venture. It’s a way to gain market share and earn revenue. Now, let’s be clear, I have progressed through my career and business education bowing to the gods of neo-liberalism and I also believe sustainability will help my company grow and make money. But, I like many, have come to realise that profit for profits sake is no longer a laudable or viable philosophy.
I really do detest politics in the work place, but I have come to the realization that in order to move our agenda forward, we, as sustainability practitioners (yes that’s what i call myself now), must play the game even when we are doing what the corporation tells us it wants us to do.
For example, 12 months ago I started an energy program to begin to switch >40 of our factories to renewables. My new boss told me never to mention this to him again, as there’s no money in it (even though there is) and nobody cares (even though many do). So, I passed this project onto a colleague from operations who is taking it forward.
Do I feel a little resentful? Yes, a little. Am I being a little self-serving wanting to own this project and be showered with accolades? Yes, a little. Am I trying to be the bigger man and say, “it doesn’t matter who takes the project to completion, as long as it gets done and we make a positive impact?”
It still stings a little though.
