Anyone thinking about the climate can quickly start thinking 'doom and gloom'. But that was definitely not the mood at MVO Netherlands' annual meeting. For the first time, Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs hosted the largest, annual, business sustainability festival in the Netherlands.
At the beginning of June, the Expo Hall and the Beatrix Theatre were buzzing with entrepreneurial spirit. Hundreds of do-ers gathered to get new ideas on how to make even more impact as a government or business for a sustainable future of nature and society. People who in their working lives are responsible for sustainability policies, diversity and inclusion, corporate social responsibility. Yes, things are not moving fast enough, many participants feel. But every step in the right direction is one.
Networking and inspiring each other was certainly what was happening in Jaarbeurs's conference venues. "You are so busy with each other that you did not even see that I came up," joked Flemish artist and chairman of the day Lucas de Man towards the audience. He knows how to loosen up the audience well. The day is meant to make more impact professionally on sustainability, but he is also keen to know what people will do themselves. Hopping tiles in the backyard, changing banks, volunteering, buying only organic wine, it all comes along. "In the mirror, you say: good job! But when you walk outside, you don't see the results." His main message: you are allowed to show vulnerability. Being truly sustainable as an organisation is a quest and it is okay to show that, he believes.
Help in that quest will be plentiful during the event. In the Expo Hall, there will be every opportunity for networking at special exhibitions and at the various sustainable coffee bars. A number of 'domes' have also been set up in the hall. Workshops take place in them, where companies share their lessons and best practices. It works great, participants think. Jaarbeurs itself is also hosting a session. Marloes van den Berg, Chief Sustainability Officer: "At Jaarbeurs, we have set ourselves the goal of becoming the most sustainable event venue in Europe. That is a big challenge, not only operationally, but also in terms of content. Partly because of the latter, we would like to host the most important fairs, events and conferences in the field of sustainability. And this Day for Thoughtful Thinkers naturally fits in seamlessly with that."
So what does Jaarbeurs itself see as the most important lesson? Marloes: "That sustainability is always a positive business case. And that for success you have to start with a top-down approach. It is also clear that we really need to do this together with our suppliers. They often have the data, on the basis of which we can better steer sustainability objectives. The new Guidelines for Annual Reporting, which will apply from 2025, are also really going to challenge us as a business to report well. And thus really make a difference. Yes, I see more and more companies moving in the field of sustainability, but I also think it is not going fast enough yet. We will have to do more together to really make a difference and combat climate change."
That things need to speed up is also shown by MVO Nederland's New Economy Index, the figure the network assigns annually to Dutch businesses and the Dutch economy. The counter now stands at 16.5% and should be at least 20% by 2025. Especially in the areas of attention to biodiversity and 'new wealth', successes need to be made. In the new economy, companies strive for values such as health, well-being, satisfaction and harmony with the environment, according to MVO Nederland. Positive social impact in balance with financial growth. A positive business case, in other words.
"If we do not dare to talk about values, we will not move forward," said Lucas De Man. The day ends with an 'HR manager' explaining how implanting chips in the heads of employees can lead to better business results. Is it real or acted? In any case, the presentation is based on what is technically possible. "If we don't keep thinking ourselves about what we really care about, this is a future scenario," says De Man. And then it is not all about thinking, but also about doing. About doing-thinkers, who are well-charged at Jaarbeurs to get plenty going. Every little bit helps.
