SUSTAINABILITY
have been very bleak indeed . It says something for those organisations involved that they were able to ignore the noise and create a vaccine as part of a ‘ quiet revolution ’ — with the fanfare only beginning with the roll out . Indeed , while the bravery of international healthcare professionals cannot be underestimated , it is unlikely that people would line the streets and applaud the companies responsible for the vaccine . And , yet , without this beacon to sustainability thousands of people every week would still be perishing — panic would reign on the streets of our communities , businesses would disintegrate and life as we know it would grind to a halt interminably .
It crystallises a truth that dare not speak its name – that continuity is a joined up approach . Sustainability is not a flag flown exclusively by public organisations , but a cohesive enterprise and an established culture born out of the pragmatism of the public sector and the future-proofing pyrotechnics of its private sector allies . This requires a narrative shift , which fully appreciates the role of tech , energy , healthcare , construction , fashion and food companies in the bigger sustainability picture . In this regard , it is as much about solidarity as distinction .
The evidence of joint-working or partnership could not have been more compelling than in the last few months . Throughout Europe , the development of the vaccine has gone from private laboratories and manufacturers , to being administered by public sector healthcare staff . It has demonstrated quite profoundly that initiative and innovation , even under the most extreme circumstances , can be a global force for good , while also igniting our passion for sustainability .
130 July 2021