News & insights

As calls to create a ‘just and regenerative’ future get louder, Dr Sally Uren, Chief Executive of international sustainability non-profit, Forum for the Future, explores how thinking and acting for a just and regenerative could help address inequality.

Achieving sustainable progress on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) inside an organization is challenging. Hiring employees from underrepresented groups is a critical first step, but ensuring that they develop, grow and thrive ultimately matters more.

Initiatives to cultivate diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace are no longer just nice to have—they’re business critical. Unlocking the potential of every employee sows the seeds of innovation, success and meaningful change that stretches far beyond the four walls of an organization.

There was a time when societal problems were seen as the exclusive responsibility of governments. But that’s no longer the case.

In today’s context of growing inequalities, an increasing number of companies want to leverage their procurement strategies and programs to support vulnerable groups who do not benefit from job creation or progress towards fair wages to the same extent as others.

While the world’s largest companies are becoming more valuable, powerful and concentrated, the number of people living in extreme poverty could increase to over one billion by 2030.

Inequality in income, wealth and well-being has been increasing for the past 40 years. But the economic disruption caused by the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the war in Europe, adds new urgency to the challenge.

At Arcadis, our ‘Maximizing Impact’ strategy rests on two pillars: taking care of people and our planet.

There are many ways we can talk about inequality and many lenses through which we can analyze its causes and consequences. But if companies are to step up and play the role they should in tackling inequality and building more sustainable societies, they must first double down on their efforts to do business with respect for human rights.

As more and more boardrooms have sustainability at the top of their to do lists, Peter Bakker, President and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), warns that if tackling inequality is not a key part of your plans, your sustainability efforts will fail, and your business will suffer.

A new report by the Business Commission to Tackle Inequality (BCTI), Tackling Inequality: The Urgent Need for Business Action, underlines mounting inequality as a critical systemic risk and makes the case for business to take urgent action to address it through six key areas.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and UNICEF have launched a podcast on the critical role of responsible business conduct in the fight against child labor.