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Businesses in a
changing
world
Businesses across the
world are recognising the need to address the environmental and social
impacts of their activities which, together with profits are popularly
known as the ‘triple bottom line’ issues of Sustainable Development (SD).
Investors are also showing growing concern not only on eco-efficiency, but
in business ethics, corporate social responsibility and human rights, all
integral to the SD agenda.
Thus, the
sustainable business debate is shifting from public relations to questions
of competitive advantage and corporate governance. New and emerging
definitions of business opportunity and financial risks are forcing
Corporate Boards to address issues such as environmental quality, social
justice and economic efficiency.
Challenges and Opportunities
More and more businesses want to manage their
sustainability agenda as an integral part of their competitive strategy
and to get their various stakeholder groups onto the same platform.
Businesses are learning to meet these challenges proactively using tools
such as self-regulatory initiatives, voluntary standards etc., to remain
globally competitive.
However, over the next decade, we can expect a major shift in
responsibility for sustainability from self regulation to public
regulation. This shift will need new technology, ‘soft innovation’
focusing on new forms of strategic thinking, new styles of networked
commerce, and radically new triple bottom line management systems.
Accountancy procedures, reporting and communication processes will need to
evolve accordingly.
This is the context in which the “Centre for Sustainability Management
in Businesses” was established. The centre benefits from the research,
design, development, training and implementation activities established by
its parent, Development Alternatives, over the past two decades.
Mission
To assist businesses and concerned
stakeholders in establishing and managing systems to steer environmental,
social and economic sustainability on a continuous basis.
Strategy
The
Centre facilitates internalization of sustainability management for
corporations and SMEs by building confidence and trust among their
stakeholders through participatory Planning and Management,
Capacity Building, Research and Outreach.
Functions
In order to engage businesses and stakeholders
in sustainability management, the Centre facilitates primarily the
following services:
Planning and Management Services
A systematic analysis of the gaps in the
existing policies, procedures, practices and stakeholder engagement along
with identification of future strategies to address the sustainability
issues of the businesses is the focus of this service.
The Centre has provided strategic planning and management services to
power, mining, chemicals, infrastructure, financial, renewable energies,
urban local bodies, SMEs and service sectors in the areas of:
-
Sustainable Community Development and
Natural Resource Management
-
Environmental and Social Policies,
Procedures &
Management Systems
-
Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Integrated
Area Development
-
Energy and Environment Performance
Benchmarking
-
Climate Change Mitigation
-
Cleaner Production in SMEs
Responding to the needs of the businesses, the
Centre facilitates customised planning and management services using the
following tools and techniques:
-
Energy, Environment and Social Audits
-
Energy and Environmental Performance
Benchmarking
-
Cleaner Production/Pollution Prevention
-
Environment Management Systems ISO 14000
-
Occupational Health and Safety ISO 18000
-
Social Accountability SA 8000
-
Account Ability AA 1000
-
Life cycle Assessments
-
Greening the Supply Chain Management
-
Sustainability Reporting
-
Public Consultations
-
GIS Applications
Capacity Building
Recognizing the fact that capacity building is
the key to managing sustainability issues, the Centre assists businesses
in identifying these needs and focuses on building capacities through
training courses and workshops.
Capacity building initiatives of the Centre in various sectors including
metal finishing, fertilizer, mining, chemicals and hospitality, etc., have
assisted the businesses in enhancing their competitive edge. They also
build their ability to reach out to their stakeholders, especially the
local communities, NGOs and regulatory authorities.
To strengthen the sustainability management skills of business leaders and
stakeholders including media, investors, regulators and communities, the
Centre provides the capacity building services in the following areas:
1.
Strategic
planning and management
2.
Conflict
resolution through NGO-Business and other stakeholder
partnership
building
3.
Application of
various tools &
techniques for socio-economic and environmental management
4.
Information
management systems and dissemination strategies
5.
Institutional
systems design
Research
Responding to the challenges faced by the
businesses on sustainable resource management, livelihood creation,
national and international statutory compliance, etc., the Centre has
evolved promising and innovative technologies, tools and options.
Several corporates and small businesses including the building material,
textile, paper, domestic and industrial energy, water and waste water
management and hospitality sectors have benefited by adopting alternate
and sustainable technologies and practices developed by the Centre. Other
areas of research services include: sector specific sustainability
indicators and reporting systems; options and strategies for resettlement
and rehabilitation (R&R); policies for sustainable industrial development
in SMEs, sustainable water use policies and climate change etc.
The key research services offered by the Centre include:
· Innovation
and demonstration of new technologies, tools and techniques for
sustainability management
· Building
of strategic networks, partnerships and multi-stakeholder consultations
through global and regional forums
· Critical
review and advocacy on existing policies and implementation strategies
· Advice
on national and international negotiations, protocols and conventions on
various issues including trade barriers, south-south technology transfer
Outreach
The ever increasing demand for information
exchange, best practice dissemination and networking needs of the SMEs,
corporates and the stakeholder groups is the basis for the outreach
function of the Centre.
Development of strategic networks, organising focused briefing meets and
conferences in the areas of climate change, environmental and social
management and reporting systems, R&R issues and performance Benchmarking,
etc., by the Centre have been very effective in promoting sustainability
management of the businesses. The Centre facilitates the following
services:
· Creating
forums for the stakeholder interaction and consultation
· Organising
events for moderated information exchange and debates
· ICT
services for preparing newsletters, web portals and other media products.
Clients and Partners
Businesses and Business Associations
Powergrid, Jubilant Organosys (Vam Organics),
Tata Chemicals, Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative, Shriram
Industrial Enterprise, Tata Iron and Steel, Rio Tinto, Hotel Hyatt
Regency, The Orchid Hotel, Hotel Best Western, Met-Chem Inc, Godrej &
Boyce, IL&FS, TNUIFSL, IDBI, ICICI, Indian Hotel and Restaurant
Association, Electroplaters Association, FICCI, CII.
International Developmental Agencies
Swiss Agency for Development Corporation,
United States Agency for International Development, , World Conservation
Union (IUCN), United Nations Environment Programme, Department for
International Development, The Asia Foundation, United States Asia
Environment Partnership, Ford Foundation, World Bank.
Civil Societies
National:
CARE, Tata Energy Research Institute, Centre for Science and Environment,
Shristi, International Resources for Fairer Trade, Business for Community
Foundation, Partners in Change, Participatory Research in Asia, Rajiv
Gandhi Foundation, EFFICOR.
International:
RING,
Stockholm Environment Institute, World Business Council for Sustainable
Development, World Resources Institute, Winrock International.
Government
Ministry of Environment and Forest, Department
of Science and Technology, Central and State Pollution Control Boards,
Council for Advancement and Promotion of Rural Technology.
Consultants
Tetra Tech India, Louis Berger, MITCON, Hagler
Bailly, Price WaterhouseCoopers, Ion Exchange, Network for Preventive
Environmental Management.
Academic and Research Institutes
Indian:
Administrative Staff College of India, Indira Gandhi Institute for
Development Research, Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of
Science, Indian Institute of Management, School of Planning and
Architecture.
International:
International Institute for Sustainable Development, International
Institute for Environment and Development.
For further information, please contact:
The Co-ordinator
Centre for Sustainability Management in Businesses
Environment Systems Branch
Development Alternatives
B-32 TARA Crescent
Qutab Institutional Area
New Delhi – 110 016
Phone: +91 11 696 7938/ 685 1158
Fax: +91 11 686 6031
E-mail:
triplebottomline@tarahaat.com
URL - http:\\www.devalt.org |
