The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) and the newspaper Valor Econômico held a joint seminar for the second consecutive year to discuss topics related to sustainable development. In the edition, which took place on August 26th in São Paulo, the project Action 2020 was the guiding principle of the discussions and covered the major transformations in society over the next seven years. The backdrop for the seminar was the methodologies, actions and initiatives that are already being developed by CEBDS institutionally and in partnership with associated companies and other social actors.We are in the middle of a journey where companies are learning from their actions, but it is still difficult to measure the practical result of sustainability", stated Marina Grossi, president of the Council, at the opening of the seminar. The reasons for companies to incorporate sustainability are diverse and range from the dependence of their businesses on ecosystem services such as water, climate and soil to the growing preference of consumers for environmentally responsible businesses.
Dynamics
Divided into two panels, the topics were debated with company executives around the valuation and measurement of sustainability and questions about financing.
The first panel Redefining the Value of Sustainability for Business The aim of the meeting was to discuss and seek solutions so that corporate measurement, valuation and reporting efforts reflect integrated performance management, looking not only at short-term financial gains but also at natural and social capital. Denise Hills, Sustainability Superintendent at Itaú-Unibanco, highlighted that “With the new form of the Central Bank, we are experiencing a special moment in the financial sector. When, as a rule, the movement for sustainability becomes even more relevant". In April of this year, the Central Bank issued a Resolution that establishes guidelines that must be observed by the financial sector in relation to socio-environmental responsibility policies. This panel also included the participation of Cristiano Vilardo, Director of Policy and Institutional Strategy at Conservation International, Malu Nunes, Sustainability Manager at Grupo Boticário and Director of Fundação Grupo Boticário de Proteção à Natureza, and Gustavo Pimentel, Research & Advisory Director at SITAWI – Finanças do Bem.
The topic addressed in the second panel Financing for Sustainability: What are the challenges? sought to identify the obstacles to financial viability that prioritize sustainability in companies and discuss changes that minimize this difficulty. João Carlos Salgueiro de Souza, National Sales, Energy and Sustainability Manager at Schneider Electric, reveals that there is a need for discussions between companies and banks, as the distance between associating sustainability business with company investments is still very large. On the other hand, Carlos Nomoto, Director of Sustainable Development at Banco Santander, argues that “There is a mechanism and competence and what is missing is discussion and the will to get it off the ground.” David Canassa, General Manager of Sustainability at Votorantim Group, and José Guilherme Cardoso, head of the BNDES Environment Department also participated in the panel. The seminar was moderated by Célia Rosemblum.
