Facing the Elephant in the Room: What Does Sustainability Mean?
To us, a sustainable business is one that is profitable, resilient, and delivers positive environmental and/or social impact. It's about creating a balance that benefits both business and the planet.
Now, let's dive into some key sustainability buzzwords:
The Sweet Sustainability Glossary
B Corp: A certification for businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental performance. It signifies a commitment to using business as a force for good.
ISO: The International Organization for Standardization sets international standards for various aspects of business, including environmental management. It helps ensure consistency and quality across industries.
Planet Mark: A sustainability certification that recognizes continuous progress in reducing carbon emissions and improving social impact. It supports businesses in their journey toward sustainability.
EcoVadis: A platform that rates companies on their sustainability performance. It provides insights into responsible business practices and helps companies improve their impact.
Net Zero: Achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. The goal is to minimise climate impact.
Carbon Neutral: Offsetting the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions a company produces to achieve a net output of zero. This involves reducing emissions and investing in projects that absorb carbon.
Biodiversity Net Gain: Ensuring that development projects leave biodiversity in a better state than before. This approach aims to enhance natural ecosystems alongside economic growth.
SDGs: The Sustainable Development Goals are 17 global goals established by the United Nations to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They cover various aspects of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
Tipping Points: Critical thresholds that, when crossed, can lead to significant and often irreversible changes in a system. In climate discussions, these are moments where small changes can lead to large impacts.
COP: The Conference of the Parties is an annual UN climate change conference where global leaders come together to discuss and negotiate climate action. It’s a key event for international collaboration on climate issues.
We’ve covered some important terms, but there’s always more to explore. What sustainability buzzwords would you like more clarity on? Get in touch and let us know.
