Page 16 - KZN Business Sense 9.3 Aurelia Albert eBook

BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE

David White,
CEO, DRG

t is quite
incredible
Ihow our
perception
of business
success has
changed over
the past few
decades. I
recall well
the learnings
early in my
career, where
success
was lauded
through the outcome of gained
profit, power, and influence.
These attributes of profit, power
and influence were regarded as
paramount from as early as the
1970s throughout the 1980 and
1990s, in large part courtesy of
the Friedman doctrine. At this
time in our economic history
and point in evolution, less care
and consideration were given
to societal and environmental
impacts. And the primary
purpose of a company was to
make as much profit as possible
for shareholders – while also able to hold in harmony each of a habit, to sow a habit reaps a knowledge and understanding encouraging growth and
complying with current legislative the many desirable components character, and to sow a character of sustainability best practice prosperity within the SME
and regulatory requirements. within an Environment, Society, reaps a destiny”, describes well considerations, and to encourage business sector.
Governance (ESG) framework. the importance in creating norms organisations and individuals to ■ Support the creation of new
World over, the term ESG is a business framework employment opportunities
sustainability has become a helping entrepreneurs and that support effective and ethical step forward in their endeavours
buzzword, an ideal to focus on, business leaders more thoroughly leadership. These norms help to to reduce their own negative In our personal views, as DRG
and a positive step forward for consider environmental and social create organisational cultures environmental impacts, including and GLSI, we believe this is
business, our economy, and the issues in the context of corporate that ensures the likelihood of carbon contributions in daily living. the greatest time in the history
greater good of mankind. We governance, and in relation to the an outcome of a successful and Incredibly positive is that of the world for humanity to
are, as most will agree, nowhere success and sustainability of their sustainable business, meeting most business leaders agree recognise their commonality,
near to where we would like to organisation. ESG can therefore be both operational and stakeholder that as soon as the knowledge linkage to nature, and for us to
be as nations and inhabitants used as an internal measurement measures. and understanding of, “how strive together for the safe and
of the world. However, there is tool, helping organisations better we protect our planet from the prosperous world we imagine
progress, and day by day more consider the effectiveness of their A Call to Action harm we often unknowingly is possible. Business leaders
and more people and business operations in relation to each Sustainability in itself has many create”, is shared and understood especially need to recognise
entities are aligning themselves dominant perspective detailed in interpretations, from the simple by the majority of people, we as their critical contributions in
with organisations and service the six capitals of value creation – as definition of, “the ability to be the business community will helping to create the cultural
providers that demonstrate respect defined in the integrated reporting maintained at a certain rate or have significantly reduced the norms that will lead us towards
and care for other people and the framework. level”, to the all-encompassing probability of a world unable to a caring and inclusive world,
environment itself. consideration of how humanity recover from plunder, pollution, where nobody is left behind. 
The six capitals include: financial, manages to thrive as a species,
Responsible Service Providers manufactured, intellectual, human, without destroying ourselves, our and destruction. Should you wish to be supported in
DRG and Green Lights social and relationship, and planet, and all of nature around Strive Together anyway with your ESG or sustainability
Sustainability Initiative (GLSI) natural. Capitals have the capacity us. Sustainability in the context of Business leaders in our initiatives, please contact David White
are relatively small contributors to produce flows or economically survival of our planet and all who current times have the added david@drg.co.za for any further
information.
in sustainability endeavours in desirable outputs, and as such are live here has been a central theme responsibilities of helping to
relation to many other larger essential for sustainable economic of governments and business restore balance in how we: Standard Bank, DRG, and GLSI will be
doing an ESG Convention in August 2023,
organisations, who have made development. By taking the since the early 1980s, gaining and look forward to sharing their
exceptional strides. However, six capitals into account when massive attention and momentum ■ Use raw materials knowledge with KZN entrepreneurs and
we recognise that as service reporting on performance, an since 2015. Then 190 countries ■ Help to create the opportunity business leaders. Please confirm your
providers in a fragile economy, organisation provides a fuller around the world contributed to for growth and development of seat by emailing lindiwe@drg.co.za
no matter our size, we have a picture of the way in which it the formation of the 17 United our staff and teams
responsibility to ensure that creates value. The integrated ■ Support communities and
we meet the expectations and report’s aim is to explain to Nations Sustainable Development their specific needs
hopes of our stakeholders (which providers of financial capital how Goals (SDGs), as a call to action ■ Contribute towards rewilding
include employees, customers, an organisation creates, preserves, to end poverty, protect the planet, and growing natural areas for
suppliers, government regulative or erodes value over time. and ensure that all people enjoy the prosperity of all living
authorities, communities, and the The principles of integrated peace and prosperity. creatures
environment). Further, we aim to reporting include characteristics DRG and GLSI recognised ■ Support opportunities to
meet the principles and outcomes such as: reliability, balance, that one of the largest barriers minimise the gap between
of best practice governance, which freedom from material errors, to organisations and individuals income differentials
include ethical and effective completeness, cost/benefits, supporting the outcome of coherent ■ Instil the importance of SCAN
leadership and organisational competitive advantage, and future sustainability endeavours is the values and ethics in our work
culture, optimised productivity, orientated information, which are knowledge and understanding of environments and day to day QR CODE
risk management and legitimacy. TO SEE
helpful in guiding our activities their ability to contribute. Hence, living
Today’s benchmarked and creating aligned norms. the deep drive within DRG and ■ Support enterprise and supplier VIDEO
organisations are those that are The adage, “to sow an act reaps GLSI to help to transfer the development initiatives, and

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