Integrated bottom line approach helps customers develop sustainability strategies

Businesses around the world are recognizing sustainability as a competitive advantage and are looking for sound counsel to guide their efforts in establishing sustainability strategies and practices. Increasingly, our customers across every sector are turning to Diversey for that advice. As a recognized industry leader in sustainability, we believe we have a responsibility to share our knowledge and insights to help our customers make their own operations more sustainable.

When we consult with customers about sustainability, we emphasize the power of an “integrated bottom line” approach. Rather than taking social responsibility, environmental protection and operational efficiency as three disparate facets of a strategy, the integrated bottom line recognizes the inter-relationships among the three. Top-line growth, for instance, depends on such factors as brand value, positive customer relationships, talent recruitment and retention, innovations and new business models—and it also is affected by each of those factors. Likewise, cost savings can be found in reduced operational costs associated with energy and water conservation, waste reduction, regulatory and legal compliance, positive labor relations, a healthy and safe workforce and reduced liability. Together, growth and cost savings comprise the integrated bottom line—benefiting profitability as well as people and the planet.

Some efforts have direct and obvious financial returns, while others have less tangible but no less powerful effects on the long-term viability of an enterprise. A commitment to sustainability motivates employees, drives innovation, and creates a sense of purpose within the company. Helping customers and partners seize the benefits of a sustainability strategy is central to Diversey’s own sustainability commitments.

• A large building service contracting (BSC) firm turned to Diversey for ideas on integrating sustainability into its strategy renewal process. We shared ideas with the BSC during several meetings, after which the firm decided to integrate sustainability into its own operations and into sales strategies in order to become more profitable and position itself in the growing “green cleaning” marketplace. Our collaboration with the BSC strengthened Diversey’s tie to the customer as a valued sustainability partner as well as a valued supplier.
• We provided a series of presentations and advisory meetings for The United Egg Producers (UEP), an association representing the ownership of approximately 95 percent of all egg-laying hens in the United States.
  
  Rob Kohlhagen, our area vice president for sustainability solutions, and Dan Daggett, Diversey’s manager of corporate sustainability, worked with the UEP board to help them outline a sustainability strategy that addresses profitability, environmental protection and social responsibility. While eggs are a critical part of the global food supply, producers face unique environmental, social, and political challenges. The team identified ways that sustainability can change these threats into opportunities for the egg industry to provide high protein food safely and efficiently.