IDLE THOUGHTS
CSR should be about
bottom line, not beliefs
Let Tim Nicholson’s case be a warning to all those chief executives
out there that consider sustainability issues as an annoyance; a fash-
Editor Tom Idle 020 8651 7070
tom.idle@
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ionable accessory that can be buttoned on like a cheap brooch.
Sub-editor Richard Sharpe
Production Sharon Miller 020 8651 7104
Nicholson worked as head of sustainability for one of the UK’s
Design and production manager Luana Marca
largest property companies, Grainger. But last summer, like so many
people working in the construction sector, he was laid off. He claims
Publisher Angela Himus 020 8651 7164
that his redundancy was selective; a way of getting rid of a profes-
angela.himus@fav-house.com
sional held in contempt by other senior staff because of his views on Corporate partnerships Rob Barton 020 8651 7065
climate change. In a scene that I am sure some of you may relate to,
07852 220150
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his attempts to carry out a carbon footprint of the business was
Group advertisement manager Ella Westaway
020 8651 7077
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obstructed by his bosses at every turn. The firm has a clear environ-
Subscriptions Sue Linkson 020 8651 7160
mental statement on its website and has recently published its first
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‘
Business goals
CSR report. But Nicholson says that it refused to abide by its written
Administration Clare Klos 020 8651 7121
and sustainability
code of ethics and that the chief executive, Rupert Dickinson (a man
clare.klos@fav-house.com
can be aligned –
who, having realised that he had left his BlackBerry behind on a trip
just don’t use
to Ireland, simply had one of his staff fly it over to him) showed
The editorial board
nothing but derision for what he was trying to achieve.
■ John Alker UK Green Building Council
’
the ‘s’ word A judge has now ruled that Nicholson can take Grainger to court ■ Mark Barthel Wrap
for unfair dismissal, claiming his strong environmental values are akin ■ Charlie Browne UK environment manager, Ikea
to a religious belief. “I have a strongly held philosophical belief about
■ David Crowhurst BRE Environment
climate change and the environment,” he says. “This affects how I
■ Anya Ledwith consultant, ESHCon
live my life. I encourage others to cut their carbon emissions and I
■ Liz Parkes Head of waste, Environment Agency
fear for the future of the human race.”
■ Tim Pollard head of sustainability, Wolseley
I am not for a minute saying that Nicholson deserved to be made
■ Bruno Zago UK & Ireland environmental manager,
Hewlett Packard
redundant – and any company play-acting on sustainability ought to
be shown up. But the story did raise an issue that we have long writ-
ten about in these pages: the role of sustainability in business, and the Magazine information
role of the sustainability/CSR manager.
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Why was Nicholson seen as the enemy within? Engaging staff in
Website
www.sustainablebusinessnetwork.net
cutting energy and reducing waste, and taking these things seriously
ISSN 1756-8633 © Faversham House Group
is no easy task; I have seen with my own eyes what a struggle it can
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be. And, of course, heads of business should be leading the fight. But
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isn’t it also up to sustainability and environmental managers to set
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out their case effectively. Sustainability in business is not about
“philosophical beliefs” or “dangers to the human race”. It is about
saving money, managing risk and gaining the commercial competitive
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edge. As Sainsbury’s head of CR, Jat Sahota, told me recently, “busi-
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ness goals and sustainability can be aligned – just don’t use the ‘s’
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word – just talk about saving money”.
South Croydon, Surrey CR2 8LE
TOM IDLE EDITOR
The FHG portfolio also includes
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and Sustainabilitylive!
Is your business the most sustainable?
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company’s corporate strategy and look at the ceremony at Sustainabilitylive! event on
performance within a number of strands, 20-22 April 2010 at the NEC, Birmingham.
Sustainable Business ❘ November/December 2009 5
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