SAP REPORT
to behave in ways that aren ’ t so sustainable ,” he says .
“ People sitting at home ordering one thing after another to be shipped to their doorstep in a way that involves multiple journeys is not the most sustainable way to do things .”
He adds : “ The pandemic changed many things for consumer packaged goods companies and of course retailers , and the key question now is whether we are going to continue buying the products online at the same rate , or if that will change , like it was showing signs of doing prior to the pandemic .”
Outside of e-commerce , Barkman says there are other factors posing sustainability challenges .
“ Different industries are facing many different challenges these days , of which sustainability is but one thrown into the mix . The ultimate aspiration is creating resilient customer-centric and sustainable supply chains . I think different industries and sectors will take different routes and paths towards this .”
NET ZERO IS CHANGING THE WAY BUSINESSES SEE THEMSELVES Beyond the paradox of technology , there are other philosophical elements
Different industries are facing many different challenges these days , of which sustainability is but one thrown into the mix
to the global drive towards net zero , says Barkman - namely , the way sustainability is changing how companies view themselves .
“ There was a time when the only school of business thought was that companies exist for the sole and exclusive purpose of driving value for shareholders ,” he says . Economics and sustainability have usually been at odds , admits Barkman , but adds that he is now seeing a “ coming together ” on this front . He says that this most often manifests in corporate goals and mission statements coupled with real innovation that is profitable because it facilitates sustainability . Consumers and customers will expect it , and so that is how sustainability in the end leads to shareholder value .
“ Increasingly , these are not limiting what corporations are setting out to do ,” he says . “ Businesses are still taking care of stakeholders but by driving strategy that in part has a vector specifically aimed at and around sustainability . In fact ,
60 April 2022