HSBC
“ DON ’ T JUST SET AN AGGRESSIVE GOAL BY A CERTAIN END DATE , SET ACHIEVABLE MICRO GOALS ”
KELLY FISHER HEAD OF CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY , HSBC BANK USA
Most companies , their biggest footprint is their supply chain . So when we can apply a lens to it and pay your suppliers differently to incentivise sustainable change , that ' s a product where impact happens almost immediately .”
A great example of that is with the retail behemoth Walmart – which has introduced a finance programme that peg ’ s a supplier ’ s financing rate to its sustainability standards . It ’ s a simple yet powerful concept that sees more sustainable companies being rewarded with improved HSBC financing . It ’ s a win-win for the suppliers , for Walmart , and for the planet .
Diversity and Inclusion , Equity and Sustainability are never far from the lips of top executives globally right now , as the world emerges from the grips of the COVID- 19 pandemic into a physical and social environment very different from even 18 short months ago . Which in a way shows how hard it is to plan for the future and take steps now that will have a meaningful impact .
HSBC ' S NET ZERO MISSION STATEMENT
We want to do more than simply play our part in the transition to a more sustainable world . This pillar of our strategy outlines how we will help to lead it . We have committed to :
• Become a net-zero bank
• Support our customers to transition to a low carbon future , especially in carbon challenged industries
• Accelerate new climate solutions
• Inspire our customers to invest to support positive change
“ The next year or so is profoundly important ,” agrees Fisher . “ We all need to reenter the world without losing how important climate change and equity became to us during the pandemic . If we let go of these two things as priorities , it will have been for nothing , what we ' ve all gone through . “ I think too often companies are devalued for how profound of an impact they can have on the world . In that way , there was a great Harvard Business Review quote from years ago that said when companies share their expertise and their resources and address the spinal issues , they have a greater potential to solve those problems than governments and non-profits put together .
“ So companies can ' t just go back to the Milton Friedman way of thinking where so long as we are making a profit , that ’ s all that matters . We have to finally own the impact and the responsibility that we have .”
sustainabilitymag . com 55