CREDIT: BRETT HONDOW VIA GETTY IMAGES
ESG
The foundation for Schneider Electric’ s current sustainability position was laid 25 years ago when its leadership decided to centre the business around helping customers deliver the energy transition through electrification and efficiency. This decision changed the company’ s portfolio over time, shifting focus towards technologies and services that support decarbonisation.
“ Twenty-five years ago, our CEO decided that our purpose would be to help our customers deliver the energy transition through electrification, through efficiency, and that has massively changed our portfolio of offers over the time,” explains Esther Finidori, Chief Sustainability Officer at Schneider Electric. She says the strategic direction has remained consistent across leadership changes, providing a single goal that has guided business decisions and investments.
The second element Esther identifies as central to the company’ s approach is employee engagement.“ People in Schneider strongly believe in the topic of sustainability: they understand that this will shape the world, this will transform the economy, this must transform the way we operate,” she says. This cultural element translates into practical action because employees feel empowered to change operational practices.
Esther says:“ People can get things done on the ground because they feel empowered to change the way we operate.” The combination of strategic clarity and employee empowerment creates conditions where sustainability considerations become embedded in daily operations rather than existing as a separate initiative.
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