Better business, better world
What kind of business do we want to be? And what kind of world do we want to live in?
This is a time of changing values. After the events of the last 18 months, we’re emerging into a more socially conscious, environmentally focused, and purpose-led world. Rarely in human history has there been greater urgency for us to be at our best and make positive changes for our communities and our planet.
This turbulent time, rife with uncertainty and change, has impacted every one of us. It has also asked big questions of businesses. How do we recover and build back better? How do we support our people and our communities? What do we do to protect our planet? In short, how do we move beyond growth and make a positive impact for the communities, and world, in which we operate?
Our obsession with growth
For the past half-century, we’ve often seen businesses become separated from the communities they aim to serve. The relentless pursuit of profit has contributed to a set of enormous challenges that threaten peoples’ health, wealth, and the natural world.
This human obsession with growth is literally destroying our planet. In his book, A Life on our Planet, David Attenborough talks about moving beyond growth. He says we’ve arrived at this moment of desperation as a result of our desire for perpetual growth in the world economy.
But in a finite world, nothing can increase forever. All components of the living world grow for a period of time, but then they mature. And when they mature, they thrive. Things can thrive without necessarily getting bigger.
But humans seem to have one goal – an ever-increasing growth in each nation, judged by the crude measure of GDP. Everything requires GDP to climb ever upwards. Acceleration is the product of this fixation, and the great decline of the living world is its consequence. For, on a finite planet, the only way to achieve perpetual growth is to take more from elsewhere.
“What felt like a miracle of the modern age was just stealing.”
We have taken everything we have from the living world, and we have done this while ignoring the damage we have been doing.
So it's time to rethink growth. This involves leading on purpose, focusing on sustainability, and delivering on impact. The need to do this is unavoidable and urgent. And it’s no longer optional.
Take action: Join the Better Business Act
One way to take action is to join the Better Business Act.
Recently, Skylark joined this important coalition of like-minded businesses to help transform the way we do business, so that every company in the UK, whether big or small, takes ownership of its social and environmental impact.
Behind the Better Business Act is a growing coalition of businesses including household names like John Lewis, Ben and Jerry’s, Innocent and The Body Shop as well as hundreds of other businesses of all shapes and sizes from across the UK.
Together, we’re taking a straightforward ask to government: change Section 172 of the Companies Act to ensure that company directors are responsible for advancing the interests of shareholders alongside those of wider society and the environment.
The Covid crisis, the climate emergency and social inequality are profound and pressing problems that can only be solved if we harness the enormous potential of entrepreneurs, innovation and enterprise. We know that UK voters and consumers want businesses to do better. Research shows that 75% of the public think businesses should have a legal responsibility to protect the environment and the majority favour brands that do good in the world. Put simply, the world needs every business at its best – creating good jobs, helping to fix pressing problems and adding value to society.
We believe that the Better Business Act is a unique opportunity to demonstrate UK leadership on the global stage – creating a competitive advantage, driving innovation, accelerating progress to net zero, and aligning with the government’s ambition to build back better.
This is why we have joined the campaign and it’s why we’re inviting you to sign up too. The Better Business Act is business-led, driven by leaders who recognise that the law has fallen behind business culture and who have proven that this approach to business works for everyone. I urge you to visit betterbusinssact.org to get the full details, sign up and spread the word to encourage other businesses to join this important campaign.
How Skylark can help
Of course, joining the Better Business Act is just one of many important steps in taking responsibility for helping to solve our planet’s most pressing problems. It’s time for all businesses to adapt and thrive. And it’s possible to deliver for people and planet alongside profit.
Skylark supports businesses and HNWIs to put purpose at their core and increase their social and environmental impact, working together to deliver sustainable growth. Do get in touch to see how we could help you take the next step.