Spring has finally sprung and with it comes one celebration that gets more and more attention each year: Earth Day.
What began 52 years ago as a movement to bring awareness to environmental issues has become a global call-to-action to help combat climate change. And whether you celebrate Earth Day or Earth Week—or if you bypass the celebration altogether—there’s no denying that the green movement is here to stay and is having an impact on businesses big and small.
In fact, a recent study from MIT found that nearly 90% of companies in the S&P 500 index published sustainability reports detailing their economic, environmental and social impact in 2019—up from just 20% ten years previously.
Knowing that sustainable business practices are at the forefront of what investors are looking for means that the role of The Council is to raise awareness of the integral role diversity, equity and inclusion plays in sustainability. Because without bringing diverse groups to the table when building sustainable business models, we are leaving out the unique perspectives of social and economic groups who are most impacted by climate change.
Sustainability and DEI go hand-in-hand. Which is why The Council is committed to helping eco-friendly businesses thrive and we’re proud to say there are several certified-MBEs within our network that have dedicated themselves to sustainability and environmental services. We’ve highlighted these businesses below – and we look forward to more eco-friendly businesses joining our mission so that we may continue to grow this vital ingredient in economic development.
Sincerely,
Terrence Clark