It’s not often that UK plc’s biggest brains come together to discuss the future of sustainability, but from the 8th-6th September, London’s Lancaster House hosted the Start Summit – an initiative established by HRH The Prince of Wales, which, together with partner IBM, aimed to show what a sustainable future for business might look like. And most importantly: why measures have to be taken right now if future business prosperity is to be assured.

Perhaps the most important aspect of future sustainability is people - both employees and consumers. How can CEOs and managers influence behaviour and values within their organisation so that it can be made more sustainable? What do younger, Generation Y employees now expect from their employers when it comes to sustainability? How can real change actually be brought about, rather than just talked about?

MT tracked down some of these movers and shakers for their views on why sustainability matters to business, and why it’s imperative that through collaboration and innovation, Britain can step up to the challenge. First up, we spoke to Stephen Howard, CEO of Business in the Community. 

In the second of our video interviews, Kate Hofman, strategy and transformation consultant in IBM’s global business services division, spills the beans on what Generation Y expects from their employers, and why sustainability has become a necessary part of employee engagement.

 

In the third of our video interviews, Ian Cheshire, group CEO of B&Q owner Kingfisher (and chairman of the Start advisory board) explains why the company has put sustainability at the core of its business - 'I actually think it’s the key to the next level of corporate evolution' - and why leaders are critical to the success or failure of an organisation becoming more sustainable.

 

In our fourth video interview, veteran campaigner Jonathon Porritt, the founder-director of Forum for the Future, argues that the days of glib CSR speak by corporates are well and truly over. What matters now, he says, is enlightened self-interest - the positive effect of sustainability on the bottom line.

 

In our fifth and final video interview, IBM's Caroline Taylor tells MT that the corporate debate on sustainability has moved on from altruism to enlightened self-interest based on the triple line. ‘It will help you boost your business, increase your top line and therefore your bottom line, and it will help you reduce costs. Typically economically efficient actions like reducing the amount of electricity you use have an environmental benefit. But it’s going to save you money, too, which is a pretty powerful thought for most leaders.’ But leaders have to get the vision right, she insists...