The Adventure of Sustainable Performance : Beyond ESG Compliance to Leadership in the New Era

The Adventure of Sustainable Performance will help leaders reset their ambitions for sustainability and organisational performance. This book helps to reconsider the challenges of ESG compliance, the drive to net-zero and circular business models and a more just and inclusive capitalism as a huge opportunity for value creation in a new emerging era. Stuart McLachlan and Dean Sanders show how a compliance only approach to ESG will be insufficient for organisations to make the transition from business-as-usual models, based on maximisation of shareholder value, to the detriment of other stakeholders and natural resources. Includes practical case studies and illustrates how organisations need to build “total value systems” for all stakeholders and to ensure the transition of value creating assets into the economy of the future. Having interviewed dozens of C-Suite officers in different industries and based on decades of experience as consultants to leaders and pioneers around the world, the authors press the need and pave the way. An inspirational and practical guidebook from pioneers who work with leaders across all business including large multi-national organisations, the public sector and start-ups. Reading this book sets out an exciting invitation to remind us that the real spirit of enterprise is creativity, courage and vision. “Finally! The Adventure of Sustainable Performance is the ESG guide and an invaluable resource for CEOs, CFOs and any enterprise striving to meet stakeholder expectations. The authors remind us that we must go beyond environmental responsibility and fulfil our corporate social and governance obligations. Embarking on an ESG journey is no longer a nice-to-have; it is a business imperative.” Gina Mastantuono, Chief Financial Officer, ServiceNow “In The Adventure of Sustainable Performance, Stuart McLachlan and Dean Sanders remind us of the power of leadership in steering our enterprises and economies towards a decarbonised and regenerative f A guidebook for leaders to create value from sustainability and organisational performance. The Adventure of Sustainable Performance seeks out bold pioneers or forgotten pioneers who need reinvigorating and to be inspired with renewed purpose. Leaders who want more than just modest incremental efficiency gains, who want to create value, to deliver positive impact and meaningful change, should welcome this book. In a time of disruption like never before, boundaries will need revisiting, systems need reimagining, and assets need repurposing through wise stewardship. The authors share their many years of experience serving clients and driving performance as the world transitions to a net zero carbon future. A future that uses resources sustainably and that seeks social justice. Through storytelling and interviews from many international leaders in business and sustainability, and by anchoring practical advice with evidence and truth, you will find: The avalanche of new regulations and changes to the compliance landscape The opportunity for value creation beyond compliance box ticking Inspirational stories on how ambitions can be reset A destination that supports ongoing prosperity for humanity from sustainable performance models How purpose driven brands generate superior value The role of 'Total Value Systems' as we move from shareholder to stakeholder capitalism models. The relationship between sustainability, talent and customer attraction How digital will play an increasingly important role as the world pivots in response to the climate crisis Be in no doubt, The Adventure of Sustainable Performance describes an adventurous journey, uncomfortable at times, where a new and cold reality is dawning. But, in a period when the world will continue to play at denial or talk more of ruins, this book helps leaders to instead see foundations. Foundations upon which the new era will be built, and new systems of value will be realised. Perfect for executives, managers, directors, and other business leaders, The Adventure of Sustainable Performance is an actionable guidebook for the implementation of value-add sustainability programmes. "Activating Net Zero looks at the need for systems level thinking in the boardroom, provides practical guidance on how sustainability programmes should be implemented for value creation, provides numerous case studies from some of the world's largest companies and leading brands. This is a book that presents sustainable performance' as the goal: the zone that sits between sustainability and commercial performance. The need for productivity and resilience within this changing landscape, and the value creation drivers are clear and yet the failure rate is high. Climate change and the unsustainable use of resources will require a shift from incremental to transformational change. The window is short as the world pivots towards a decarbonised economy. We are the first generation to have all the unequivocal facts at our fingertips and the last generation to be able to do anything about it. This is the decisive decade. What happens over the next 10 years will determine what happens over the next 1000s of years. Business is increasingly looking like the only institution that is powerful and agile enough to navigate this change and trusted by the public to do so. Governments and cities will regulate and narrate much of the change, but business will deliver. They will be driven by customers moving to purpose driven brands, talent migrating to values-based cultures and capital flowing according to impact across environmental, social and economic criteria. Superior returns will be achieved by those companies that create value through purpose. Leadership in this paradigm will be different and digital will be a critical enabler in the transformation"-- Provided by publisher