Fabian Pattberg



Tag Archives - sustainability business

Risk-taking in the CSR / Sustainability business – As bad as every other business sector?

We all take certain risks in our personal and business life on a daily basis. Some are minor whereas others effect us and our environment more significantly. Risk taking by companies working in the CSR / Sustainability business sector to gain market share and to increase the profitability is there fore a topic which I thought be make and interesting blog post.

Is the CSR / Sustainability business sector more responsible in taking risky business decisions? Or do you even consider risk not at all a relevant issue for this business sector? Have you ever thought about this relationship?

If not, then you need to see this interesting TED talk by Naomi Klein published last December. She makes the case, that a backup plan needs to be included into each risky decision. Especially if we jeopardize our society and planet by this addiction to risk.

This is the video:

My view
The important aspect in my view is that businesses working in the CSR / Sustainability sector have more than others the duty to raise awareness with their customers/stakeholders about the risk they are potentially taking with regards to CSR / Sustainability actions. In my experience are a lot of CSR / Sustainability decisions also in many ways very risky decisions as they will effect the company in unforeseeable ways in the short and long run. Companies advising these businesses need to be their second pair of eyes in my view when it comes to spotting decisions/actions.

What is your view and opinion about this topic? Do you have anything else to share that could help us understand the meaning and relevance of risk for companies working in the CSR / Sustainability business sector?

Sustainability Business: A different Business Sector?

I have been working in the Sustainability /CSR business for many years now. And I am increasingly coming across more and more people that are of the opinion that the Sustainability Business sector is totally different from all the other business sectors.

business Sustainability Business: A different Business Sector?So I asked myself that question. Is this business sector different to other sectors for example the chemicals business sector?

Is the Sustainability business sector different?
Can we actually say this is correct just because we as Sustainability professionals and enthusiasts, claim to have the moral high ground and possible answers on how to save our planet and all of us eventually?

The answer in my opinion is a clear “No”. I don’t think we can say that the business sector is different from any other business sector.

Why? Because no matter what you do, business, including the Sustainability related business, is being conducted between individuals that have their own personality, likes/dislikes, ambitions and education.
In my opinion any outcome / interaction of these individuals is what you call “Business”. These business basics are also valid for how business is conducted in the Sustainability business sector in my opinion. This is a very basic way of seeing business but it always helped me in the business world.

Having said that there is just one that probably is more developed in the successful business person working in the Sustainability sector then in other sectors.

What Really Counts in the Sustainability Business Sector
Being a level-headed, open and approachable person is essential and even more important in the sustainability business sector then it is in other sectors. Why? Because we can only then convince other people and organizations that we are serious about what we preach if we are seen as realists as well as enthusiasts at the same time. In other business sectors this not an absolute necessity for conducting business from what I have experienced so far. For people in the Sustainability sector this is an absolute business imperative.

This view of the Sustainability business sector always served me well but I am keen to hear what your experiences are? Do you agree or disagree?

Picture Credit: lepiaf.geo