Business organizations play a leading role in global economic development and have a great responsibility to the environment, which is why their objectives must go beyond generating sales or providing employment. Nowadays, more and more companies understand the importance of their role and promote sustainable practices for the social and environmental development of the community where they operate.
In Costa Rica, 57% of large companies –with more than 100 employees- are aligned with the country’s sustainable development objectives as part of their environmental commitments. This was revealed by the report “State of Social Responsibility of Costa Rica”, presented by the National Advisory Council on Social Responsibility (CCNRS).
Of these companies, 85% have emissions reduction as one of their objectives, and 75% have an energy efficiency management system.
Similarly, more and more consumers are concerned about the impact generated by the activities of the companies that offer them products and services. This makes sustainability an essential actor to be competitive and ensure permanence in the current market.
Luis Reinaldo Mastroeni, Sustainability Manager of BAC Credomatic, says that for many years the concept of sustainability has been confused and limited to only environmental actions.
That is just one of the many practices. Sustainable development is much more comprehensive and according to the 1987 Brundtland Report, it is based on how to ensure that what we are doing today, does not put at risk the needs of future generations.”
Like any process carried out within a company, corporate sustainability is achieved through:
Planning: to determine the objectives to be achieved and define times.
Monitoring: to know the advances in the activities and thus mitigate risks and optimize resources.
Measuring and analysis: to be aware of the progress and results of the proposed objectives.
It is essential to set sustainable objectives aligned with the mission and vision of the company so that they can be part of its strategic plan. However, the proposed actions must be linked to environmental, economic, and social aspects of the national and international reality.
The most important thing that any company should do when the sustainability process begins, is to focus on the issue of legality very well. It must analyze if it is really complying with everything that the law asks of that sector of the business,”
explains Mastroeni.
Next, the organization must promote the integration of its closest population. This means that their real needs must be taken into account and the impacts that are generated on them must be considered. The good use of natural resources and the implementation of practices that mitigate or eliminate negative traces are part of those efforts.
Likewise, it is vital to incorporate social responsibility policies (CSR) through projects aimed at the most vulnerable sectors, which attack problems such as poverty, malnutrition, or lack of education.
A sustainable organization is committed to the development of the country and involves all social sectors. This not only guarantees greater permanence, but also improves its image and its positioning in the market.