inadequate business environment is an obstacle in sustainability

 

February 19, 2010 - More than a third of managers of big companies admit that immediate financial goals are a higher priority. This comes from the new research of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and Enel. The outcomes of the research were presented on February 8th in Rome, at an event on the Day of sustainability. The topic was Business, as we (don’t) know it. Beata Hlavčáková, executive director of the Business Leaders Forum and program director at the Pontis Foundation represented Slovakia at the event.

The research was realized among companies with a revenue of at least 500 million US dollars and respondents to the survey were top managers and executives working in the area of sustainability, corporate social responsibility, environment, finances and financial reporting in North America, Europe, Asia and on developing markets.

In general, managers see more possibilities than risks in sustainability. 87% of the interviewed claim, that the importance of sustainability will increase in the next three years. It is often a part of the relations in the supplier net (29%), in increasing energetic effectiveness (38%) and in employee education (32%). Despite this, a third of the interviewed admits that immediate financial results are often a higher priority. As the conclusion of the research indicates this is the result of an inadequate business environment.

With the support of the company Enel, the EIU team which belongs to the publishing house of the renowned magazine The Economist, published these findings on February 8th in Rome at an event organized on the occasion of the historical first Day of Sustainability. The topic of the event was Business as we (don’t) know it.

This is a new initiative for Enel, supporting the so called culture of the common interest that aims to change the way of thinking and enforce the best practice in realizing corporate social responsibility on a global level. The Slovak association – Business Leaders Forum took up this agenda also as its priority, mainly focusing on climate change. As of December 2009 Paolo Ruzzini, General Director and chairman of the board of Slovenské elektrárne, presides the Forum.