Here I am, doing my bit to make a difference in the world we have on loan for the next generation, and hopefully for many more generations to come.

This is only temporary though, I can’t hold this tree up forever, and one day it will fall. (I also had to quickly rush off as I was trying to achieve a new Park Run personal best!)

My question is simply this…

Are our Sustainable Practices Really Sustainable?

Over the past decade, we have experienced a huge uplift in efforts focusing on sustainable outcomes.

Why? It’s simple, really; we cannot keep going on the way we are – it’s not sustainable. Historically, has our sustainability always been sustainable solutions?

Let’s take offsetting, for example. We’ve all heard of Carbon Offsetting. So, I’ll create 10 tons of CO₂ and in return, make a donation to plant some trees which will take me to net ZERO. Offsetting, in my opinion for what it is worth, is the last resort, if a resort at all!
Why? Simply because if we were to offset all the CO₂ across the globe, we’d have to plant enough trees to cover the world several times over, which is impossible. No matter how much we offset, we have still caused irreparable damage!

It’s not a new subject, though. Philanthropy, CSR, EDI, Sustainability, Triple Bottom Line and Social Value to name a few, have all been hot topics over the years, but where are we heading next?

I believe that we are experiencing further evolution in the ways in which businesses can impact society.

Making our sustainability efforts, more sustainable

For me, this starts with creating a business model which simultaneously creates company and community benefit.

This must:

• Comprise an eco-system of regeneration
• Be accessible, with no barriers to entry, and limitless opportunities for contribution
• Create all-inclusive opportunity and benefit for everyone.

As a Values-based and Purpose Driven organisation, this is exactly what Local Supply Chain delivers.

We are not just another software company: we are personable and approachable, and we thrive to deliver and sustain the right solutions to contribute towards the efforts of the greater good.

Here’s my reflection inspired by that tree:

This is only temporary, I can’t hold this tree up forever, and one day it will fall.

With the best efforts and will in the world, what I’m trying to achieve will soon overcome me.

My priority was not where it should have been, my personal gain should have come second to making a difference.

So in a business context, it’s about leveraging technology to do more with less, connecting people and resources efficiently to build mindfully – prioritising sustainability from the ground up.