SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT | 34 CAMBRIDGE SUSTAIN 8 Eight steps to sustainable, continuous business improvement As a result, they are seeing consortia building around Embracing community some of the big issues highlighted in the reports, such “We’ve become an organisation that is better able to as optimising the nutritional value of food. “We’ve welcome diverse and new perspectives on the big issues, allowed ourselves to admit some of these things are just but also to translate that into funded or co-funded really complex, and actually you need an environment actions much more quickly. But also then to connect that supports complexity, working itself out. Instead Connect your key business drivers and sustainability engagement on the of running away from it, we’re running towards it. We that community to other communities globally, and to factory floor won’t solve everything, but if over time we’re resolving recognise the role of Europe and the global food system. some of the issues then we’ll make more impact more Many organisations have clear, strong sustainability strategies and plans, but often fail to quickly and at a greater scale,” explains Andrew.“The workshops were the spark that has taken that link these to the day-to-day reality of the factory floor. Our methodology fills this gap by collaborative approach to the next level, bringing inspiring frontline sta to create improvement plans that resonate with their work and align dierent characters and dierent capabilities of dierent them with key business drivers. This alignment is crucial for the sustained success of your networks together. That’s been something we’ve driven sustainability initiatives. and built on in this last year,” says Andrew. About roadmappingAs a nod to this, EIT Food have joined the IfM’s Open Focus on success: harness the power of ‘good days’ Innovation Forum. The group aim to share best practice Roadmapping is a strategic and explore hot topics and opportunities along the food, Our method highlights the achievements and practices that drive success on the best planning technique that enables the drink and fast-moving consumer goods value streams.days in factories. This approach serves as a powerful motivational technique, increasing engagement and dedication to the project. development and communication of strategy and innovation. For Andrew has noticed that there is a crossover in membership between EIT Food and the Open Innovation more information about the Forum, which has enabled him to get wider insights into Achieve significant sustainability improvements in just 12 months approach, case studies, courses and organisations that they already know. downloadable templates, visit the The initial steps of our engagement process focus on establishing a robust data collection IfM Engage website.“We’re seeing it through the eyes of the people in plan, baselines and eective KPIs to drive improvement. Within four months, there are those businesses who are driving the open innovation improvement teams set up and working on action plans across the factory. The result is practices,” says Andrew. He has found it to be a non-that notable KPI improvements have been achieved within a year across diverse cultures and sectors. competitive environment where people are comfortable discussing their failures as well as their successes. “It’s all driven by shared experience and shared learning. That’s supported us in building new and enriching existing relationships with our community,” says Andrew. Andrew concludes: “We’ve emerged significantly “The ability to ensure that the impact on sustainable Explore how you can make stronger as an organisation, both in our sense of purpose performance is aligned to and drives standard business significant improvements in and our ability to drive change. The process has led to a performance goals is really powerful. It is also exciting to find sustainability in just 8 steps: fundamentally dierent quality of attitude and behaviour, a programme that creates highly motivated workforces while which is more open and more collaborative, where we reducing climate impacts.” want to work with organisations as peers, not just be at the end of a funding process.”Sustainability director, leading global fashion brand