Earth Day 2023 – Putting sustainability at the heart of business strategy
Work is underway to mark Earth Day 2023. On Saturday 22 April, the largest secular observance in the world will bring together more than a billion people to focus minds on addressing the climate crisis. With the compelling theme of Invest in Our Planet, this year’s event calls on all stakeholders to join forces in the fight against climate change. For business, this offers an ideal opportunity to build a green economy and embrace the power of the triple bottom line.
Now in its 53rd year, Earth Day has become an annual focal point for climate action. Its organiser, EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the global environmental movement and works with more than 150,000 partners in 192 countries to build environmental democracy.
EARTHDAY.ORG President Kathleen Rogers said: “In 2023 we must come together again in partnership for the planet. Businesses, governments, and civil society are equally responsible for taking action against the climate crisis and lighting the spark to accelerate change towards a green, prosperous, and equitable future. We must come together in our fight for the green revolution, and for the health of future generations.”
Earth Day is a rallying call for business to Invest in Our Planet to meet the needs of people, profit and planet. That means turning our back on fossil fuel and creating a 21st century economy that restores the health of our planet, protects our species, and provides opportunities for all.
We have never faced a greater threat to natural global systems. Be it greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss or pollution, human activities are having a devastating impact on our precious ecosystems and breaching the planetary boundaries. The commercial world relies on natural capital and if companies are to manage risk and build resilience, business as usual is no longer an option.
At Wylde Connections we support businesses at every step of their sustainability journey and see first-hand how transformative it can be. Events like Earth Day help focus minds and highlight the benefits of engaging with the green agenda to reduce environmental impact and embrace restorative and regenerative business practices. That not only builds operational resilience but helps drive efficiencies, open new revenue streams and secure a competitive edge.
As Investors in the Environment, EARTHDAY.ORG encourages businesses to:
• Adopt an Environmental or Sustainability Policy.
• Recruit a team from across the organisation who will help to introduce or improve environmental management systems.
• Review your environmental aspects and impacts – which resources are your business using and what is the environmental impact of using them?
• Gather baseline data which measures the use of those resources to get actual consumption figures rather than estimates.
• Create action plans, including both quick wins and longer term aims.
• Monitor your progress and adjust plans to make sure you hit your targets.
• Encourage staff wide engagement through activities that can be undertaken by all – these could include arranging a company tree planting session, litter picking day, or CPD sessions offering tips on eco-working practices.
• Communicate your progress to staff and wider stakeholders; gaining a respected third-party evaluation of your organisation’s performance lends credence to your claims and avoids greenwashing.
These tips are aligned with Wylde’s sustainability offer and our Five-Step Model of ASSESS, DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, ENGAGE and TRANSFORM. We are experts in helping companies transform their operations by developing a robust Sustainability Strategy.
Wylde’s unique blend of services includes self-directed masterclasses and workshops, tutor-led training programmes, and sustainability planning consultancy, development and implementation. Use Earth Day 2023 as an inspiration to get on board and let Wylde help you take the next step on your sustainability journey.
Learn more about Earth Day at: www.earthday.org