Organizations around the world and their stakeholders are becoming increasingly aware of the need for and benefits of socially responsible behavior. Indeed, regulators and lawmakers are pushing the organizations they oversee to incorporate sustainability into strategic business objectives.
The push toward sustainability will have an impact on business continuity management, as well, even the kind of business continuity software an organization will procure.
However, organizations who take a proactive approach to integrating sustainability into their business continuity plans will have a leg up over those businesses that are being pushed kicking and screaming.
The remaining question, though, is how? And so, in this article, we offer some common-sense measures to integrate sustainability into your business continuity plan.
The growing importance of sustainability
Why sustainability?
Well, the simple answer is an organization’s performance in relation to the society in which it operates and to its impact on the environment has become a critical part of measuring that organization’s overall performance as well as its ability to continue operating effectively.
The sustainability focus itself reflects the growing recognition of the need to ensure healthy ecosystems, social equity, and good organizational governance.
Stakeholder thinking often goes that in the long run, all organizations’ activities depend on the health of the world’s ecosystems. And so, the perception and reality of an organization’s performance on social responsibility now influences:
- Competitive advantage
- Reputation
- Ability to attract and retain workers or members, customers, clients, or users
- Relationship with companies, governments, the media, suppliers, peers, customers, and the community
- Employee morale, commitment, and productivity
- Views of investors, owners, donors, sponsors, and the financial community
Principles of social responsibility
But what do these terms mean? Social responsibility is the responsibility of an organization for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, through transparent and ethical behavior that:
- Contributes to sustainable development, including the health and the welfare of society
- Takes into account the expectations of stakeholders
- Complies with applicable law and consistent with international norms of behavior
- Is integrated throughout the organization and practiced in its relationships
What’s more, the overarching objective for an organization when it comes to social responsibility is to maximize its contribution to sustainable development. Within this objective, though, there is no definitive list of principles for social responsibility.
Based international standard, ISO 26000: Social Responsibility, however, organizations should respect the seven principles outlined below:
Accountability
An organization should be accountable for its impacts on society, the economy, and the environment. This principle suggests that an organization should accept appropriate scrutiny and also accept a duty to respond to this scrutiny.
Transparency
An organization should be transparent in its decisions and activities that impact society and the environment. An organization should disclose in a clear, accurate, and complete manner, and to a reasonable and sufficient degree, the policies, decisions, and activities for which it is responsible, including known and likely impacts on society and the environment.
Ethical behavior
An organization should behave ethically. An organization's behavior should be based on the values of honesty, equity, and integrity. These values imply a concern for people, animals, and the environment, as well as a commitment to address the impact of its activities and decisions on stakeholders’ interests.
Respect for stakeholder interests
An organization should respect, consider, and respond to the interests of its stakeholders. Although an organization’s objectives may be limited to the interests of its owners, members, customers or constituents, other individuals or groups may also have rights, claims, or specific interests that should be taken into account. Collectively, these individuals or groups comprise the organization's stakeholders.
Respect for the rule of law
An organization should accept that respect for the rule of law is mandatory. In the context of social responsibility, respect for the rule of law means that an organization complies with all applicable laws and regulations. This implies that the company should take steps to be aware of applicable laws and regulations, to inform those within the organization of their obligation to observe and implement those measures.
Respect for international norms of behavior
An organization should respect international norms of behavior, while adhering to the principle of respect for the rule of law. In situations where the law or its implementation does not provide for adequate environmental or social safeguards, an organization should strive to respect, as a minimum, international norms of behavior.
Respect for human rights
An organization should respect human rights and recognize both their importance and their universality.
Common-sense measures to integrate sustainability into your business continuity plans
Given the popularization of these concepts – consider the importance of ESG ratings, for instance, organizations will often have to retool their business continuity objectives to integrate sustainability.
Indeed, a resilient business that prioritizes sustainability is better equipped to navigate disruptions while meeting stakeholder expectations.
But how should organizations go about it? Here are five common-sense measures to seamlessly incorporate sustainability into your BCPs:
1. Identify sustainability risks to your industry and market
It’s best to start by identifying the sustainability risks specific to your industry and market, by evaluating environmental factors, e.g., climate change, resource scarcity, and regulatory pressures. Only by understanding these risks can you better prepare the business to mitigate them and ensure continuity during crises.
2. Look out for ways to adopt sustainable processes
Organizations will also have to do a forensic analysis of their own operational processes, looking out for opportunities to enhance sustainability.
3. Develop protocols that prioritize transparency
As noted, transparency is a pillar of social responsibility. But it also has a pragmatic component, i.e., communication.
To that end, ensure that all stakeholders (e.g., employees, customers, and suppliers) know about your sustainability practices and how they relate to your BCP. This open communication will build trust and reinforce your commitment to sustainability.
4. Assess your supply chain for sustainability practices
The rubber often hits the road on sustainability when companies start looking at their supply chain. To mitigate risk, here, organizations should collaborate with suppliers who prioritize sustainable methods. Establishing those relationships can enhance resilience against supply disruptions while aligning operations with sustainability goals.
5. Make sure employees are aware of your sustainability efforts
Employees must be at the forefront of making sustainability-first organizations. To ensure employees are on the same page, conduct training sessions focused on sustainability and its relevance to business continuity.
Business continuity technology for monitoring and reporting
Organizations should also look to technology to track their sustainability metrics and report on progress. These tools will not only aid in compliance with regulations but also enhance an organization’s ability to adapt quickly during disruptions.
But where to turn? We recommend Noggin.
Streamlined, integrated, and automated business continuity management, Noggin enables organizations to be prepared for adverse events and disruptions and stay ahead of the sustainability curve.
And given the crucial role of communication in integrating sustainability into BCPs, Noggin can help there, too, facilitating engagement and collaboration across all stakeholders and ensuring a unified approach to resilience.
But don’t just take our word for it. Request a demonstration to see Noggin in action for yourself.