Dublin, 25 August 2023: Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), the Irish Global Network partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), published its Sustainability Handbook.
Sustainability is the most important change management project of our time.
Transformational change is needed if we are to deliver to global commitments on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, restoring nature, and working towards a more equal society. As Tomás Sercovich, BITCI CEO puts it “for business, there is a pressing need to adapt and change fast. How business responds to the current challenges will determine their viability for years to come.”
The first step is to align on what the challenge is and how, by working collectively, we can have impact. To address this need, BITCI has published its Sustainability Handbook to develop a common understanding of the role of business in bringing about a low-carbon economy and inclusive society.
The handbook follows the Economic, Environment, Social and Governance (EESG) framework as used by the BITCI Business Working Responsibly Mark. Third-party verified by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), it is the standard for sustainability that fosters a culture of continuous improvement, ongoing accountability, and leadership.
The handbook includes best practice examples from across BITCI’s membership and questions to reflect on leadership in sustainability. It draws on existing BITCI publications, academic insights from knowledge partners, and global and national insights gained through partners such as WBCSD and CSR Europe.
This guide will be a powerful tool in supporting businesses in Ireland to understand their role as positive actors for change. Areas where the handbook can provide guidance include:
- Taking credible climate action by following a 7-step process
- Addressing how to halt and reverse nature loss
- Ensuring sustainability is core to strategic purpose
- Identifying modern slavery in the supply chain
- Discovering how sustainable practices can create a positive ripple effect, improving lives and empowering communities
- Understanding the impacts of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
- Discovering how to make external stakeholders your best allies to address sustainability and tackle your biggest challenges
This handbook has been developed by the BITCI Leader Group ‘Building Capabilities,’ which is co-chaired by Northern Trust and BT and with the support of member companies Accenture and AIB, BITCI sustainability specialists, academic partners at Maynooth University and the Centre for Business and Society (CeBaS) at University College Dublin, and a diverse advisory group.
To download your copy of the BITCI Sustainability Handbook, click here.
For further information, please contact Marian Curry at mcurry@bitc.ie.