Sao Paulo, May 23 – The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) brought together companies from various sectors of the economy this Thursday (May 23rd) for a seminar to discuss addressing corporate sustainability to promote innovation, environmental preservation, and social transformation, based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The current scenario and the strategies needed for Brazil to achieve the SDGs guided the discussions.
For Marina Grossi, president of CEBDS, the UN's agenda for promoting sustainable development will only be achieved if the entire chain is engaged. To this end, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is mapping out how each sector can contribute to achieving the goals. "Businesses are understanding their role in implementing the SDGs, and the government also needs to understand its part. It has to be a partnership. It's not just business on one side and government on the other; it's all hands on deck," said Marina.
"The SDGs change business strategy to focus on reducing negative impacts and encouraging more positive corporate action. But we won't be able to evolve if we don't work together: companies, governments, and society," agreed Luiz Carlos Xavier, Braskem's Sustainable Development Coordinator. "The private sector has a tremendous organizational capacity and a strong role in lobbying the government," added Luis Fernando Guggenberger, Head of Innovation and Sustainability at the Vedacit Institute.
Business resilience was one of the most debated topics. CEBDS argues that socially and environmentally sustainable business conduct is a factor in ensuring the safety of the domestic economy and competitiveness in the international market.
"The next ten years will be crucial for business continuity. A company that doesn't care about its social and environmental impact won't have a place on the shelves in the next decade," emphasized Denise Hills, Superintendent of Sustainability and Inclusive Business at Itaú. "One of our biggest challenges is how to work with our different partners, impacting the end user. Achieving this development at the cutting edge should be a goal," said Barbara Tufano, Marketing Manager at Ecolab.
"We companies already have established partnerships—commercial, technical, and service—why not use these partnerships to expand our reach?" suggested Cristiano Resende de Oliveira, Sustainability Consultant at Suzano. The seminar participants agreed that technological innovation and sustainability are combined factors that drive new solutions and business models with social and environmental value for society. "Science and technology are essential for us to find solutions to the challenges of how we can effectively contribute to the SDGs," said Zenaide Guerra, Director of Communications and Government Relations at DSM Latam.
