The event brought together representatives from global companies and the UN to discuss the role of leadership in the issue
The business sector has been spearheading several innovative sustainability initiatives. Private sector leadership was the theme of the 2019 Sustainability Conference, held by the American Chamber of Commerce of Rio de Janeiro (AmCham Rio), held on Wednesday (29/5). The event brought together representatives from three global companies, in addition to the United Nations, and was moderated by CEBDS’s Director of Institutional Development, Ana Carolina Szklo.
The debate panel, with a female lead, also had the participation of Anna Paula Rezende, Director of Talent and Sustainability at White Martins, Katielle Haffner, Senior Category Brand Manager from Coca-Cola, and Sonia Favaretto, Director of Press, Sustainability, Communication and Social Investment at B3. The participants presented an overview of how sustainability has been worked on and the opportunities and challenges organizations face in implementing the agenda in their organizational structures. Through public participation, social and governmental issues, such as polarization and the growth of conservative discourse regarding the environment, were addressed in the debate.
Coca-Cola's Katielle Haffner, for example, stated that the company is consistently advancing in sustainability based on data and studies that demonstrate the importance of corporate engagement in the topic. The company presented the new campaign “Live more returnable”, which is a call for the use of bottles that do not generate waste and a less disposable life. The initiative came from provocations born within the company.
Anna Paula Resende, from White Martins, stated that governments come and go, but what remains are the practices and the role of the company in raising everyone's level of awareness. "The integration of society, companies and government is what can effectively change our reality," commented Anna Paula, who believes that sustainability needs to go beyond specific actions, and also spoke about projects and investment in human and financial resources.
Sonia Favaretto from B3 agreed with Anna Paula: “Integration is the challenge: connecting the worlds of investors and companies. The vision of investors, who are more aware and interested in sustainability, in relation to companies has been transforming the market, but it is still a beginning”, said Sonia Favaretto, who highlighted the importance of companies having a team greater to reach new investors, taking care of the approximation of language and comparability of information.
The welcome was given by Pedro Spadale, Executive Manager of AmCham Rio, and the event was led by Eduardo Kantz, Chairperson of the Sustainability Committee and Director of Sustainability and Legal Affairs at Prumo Logística. The closing lecture, given by Denise Hamú, UN Environment Representative in Brazil, became part of the debate given the integration and continuity of the theme. Immediately after the questions from the audience, Denise took the opportunity to talk about the need to integrate, join forces and work together for sustainability. Data and information about UN Environment and the work developed were also presented.
