Integrating Sustainability Into Export Strategies

1. Products: improve existing products and services, develop new ones with a focus on sustainability (carbon footprint of products);

2. Procurement: improve raw material and input supply chain management (supplier selection);

3. Process: use cleaner technologies for production (new and more efficient machines, green energy);

4. Distribution: improve logistics and distribution management (depot locations, carbon offset of transport);

5. Life cycle: offer your customers solutions for the future of products after use (second-hand, recycling, repair, etc.);

1. Marketing: enhance the perceived value of your product and processes and differentiate yourself from the competition by focusing on health, safety and sustainability (labelling, certification);

2. Pricing: set your prices ​to reflect these sustainability considerations, where appropriate by highlighting the additional cost of sustainability

3. Communication: make investments to improve your company's sustainability image, thus increasing demand and production;

4. Incentives: access public procurement and government support programmes;

5. Engagement: involve the local community in the various countries you serve;

1. Leadership: You cannot implement a sustainability programme without strong leadership. If sustainability is to be integrated, the change must be led assertively.

2. Commitment: It is also essential to get the employees on board to show that the commitment to sustainability is very important for the company and that it is doing something about it.

3. Long term: When you commit to sustainability, you have to take the long view. This is not a change you can make quickly, profit, and move on. It is about your company changing its strategy and practices, moving progressively towards the goal it wants to achieve.

4. Stakeholders: To move towards sustainability, understanding, meeting and exceeding stakeholder expectations is crucial. This starts with identifying and discussing them with stakeholders and then examining the options available to meet their expectations. And, where possible, exceeding those expectations, as differentiation is the right way forward for exporters committed to sustainability.

5. Knowledge and expertise: It is useful to consult specialists to develop knowledge and expertise when this is not readily available in-house.

6. Partnerships: Knowledge and expertise can be gained from external sources, such as UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) or governments (and their agencies) that put sustainability at the top of their agenda. You have to try to identify and then seize opportunities. Partnerships with local or international stakeholders can also help integrate sustainability into your organisation.

7. Iterate: When it comes to sustainability, you need to measure and communicate the results of your actions regularly, in a constant iteration between process and marketing, to take advantage of every step forward. You have to know what you are doing and make the effects of your actions known to your business and stakeholders.

8. Corporate culture: Sustainability must be integrated into your company's culture. This requires a different way of thinking because sustainability requires a disruptive approach.

9. Assess and recalibrate: Rome wasn't built in a day. So progress should be regularly assessed and actions recalibrated. And if that doesn't work, change and introduce new ideas. We recommend that you do not change everything at once but proceed in stages.