ARCADIS
about long-term shared value only undermines the conversation,” Mark says.“ Those claims need proof points you can embed in operations.”
Creating the‘ aha’ moment in project teams For Mark, some of the most satisfying results of the ARC framework have been cultural rather than purely technical. He describes the experience of sitting in project meetings with subject matter experts and clients, where sustainability is discussed with the same clarity as finance.“ The biggest success has been having really easy, data-driven, neutral discussions on sustainability,” Mark reflects.
After more than two decades in the field, he has seen how emotional and subjective sustainability conversations can become.“ The easier it is to have an objective discussion, the closer we get to how it’ s supposed to be,” Mark says.“ It’ s a huge‘ aha’ moment.” Feedback from project teams suggests those moments are becoming more frequent as ARC and Arcadis Future IMPACT + ™ are embedded across the business. Internally, the framework also helps engage stakeholders who may not be deeply invested in sustainability.“ It’ s irrefutable,” Mark says.“ Whether or not people believe in it or really care, the data still shows what’ s important and where progress is needed.”
That, he argues, frees up time and energy to focus on solutions rather than arguing the case for sustainability.“ As soon as the data is clear and linked to the balance sheet, the fundamentals of the discussion don’ t really change,” he adds.
For Mark, this is the essence of the shift he is driving at Arcadis.“ We want to spend less time debating whether sustainability matters,” Mark says,“ and more time delivering outcomes that are tangible, irrefutable and genuinely impactful.”
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