How business leaders can continue sustainability efforts that were kick-started by the pandemic

by Bill Wagner

When the pandemic hit, many organizations switched to full-time remote work and almost immediately there were some unexpected benefits seen around the globe. The lack of commute meant fewer cars on the road, and almost zero business travel meant fewer airplanes in the skies, resulting in cleaner air and far fewer emissions in our atmosphere. As a result, many of us, myself included, started to think more about how we could make not just sweeping changes within our organization to maintain a greener world, but also small yet impactful changes at our homes during our time in quarantine. Looking at our wall of K-Cups, we made the decision as a family to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and explore other ways to minimize our environmental footprint.  

Although the initial impact of COVID-19 meant that organizations had to focus on business continuity, employee welfare, and productivity, I predict that we will start to see the pandemic and its lasting impact accelerate sustainability efforts in the same way it has remote work. As we look toward the "next normal," we can expect to see more global corporations, investors, and business leaders intensifying their sustainability efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and promote greater sustainability in a meaningful and measurable way.

Read the entire article on Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/business-leaders-continue-pandemic-sustainability-efforts-2021-5