When McKinsey research pointed out that nearly 80% of Fortune 500 companies have incorporate sustainable development into their core strategies, the debate on ‘which comes first, environmental conservation or economic development’ has come to an end. Under the current market conditions, companies, especially those in public-facing marketing industry, should not stop at basic requirements such as ‘carbon offsetting’, but should incorporate sustainability into their business practices.
Nowadays, as the criteria for major customers to choose partners have changed fundamentally, whether the products and services can adequately reflect the response to issues such as climate change, and even how to transform the green economy into business value and long-term benefits, should become the core considerations of all parties.
For instance, the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Azerbaijan, as the top event highlighting the international focus on sustainable economy, the organisers had to lead by example and demonstrate green elements in all aspects of the event. As the main official contractor for the COP29 Blue Zone Pavilion, Pico has leveraged its expertise in design, construction and decoration, not only activated the 200,000-square-metre venue, but also blended green technology with architectural aesthetics to create a solar glass entrance, which enhances the experience of the audience while saving energy and reducing emissions to respond the COP29's green initiatives. The project is not only the largest temporary facility in the history of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, but also the first event to receive ISO20121 (Event Sustainability Management System) certification.
COP29 has received positive feedback from various sectors, as the Hong Kong Government has also explored the promotion of green fintech development and taken active measures to respond to the goal of sustainable development. For example, the recently launched Eco-Village project in Tseung Kwan O, which is based on the concept of ‘Waste-to-Energy’ and utilises energy and material technologies to create a base for environmental education on landfills, to build an environmentally friendly community.
The sustainable economy has clearly become a mainstream marketplace, with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals covering a wide range of areas. Companies should first set clear environmental objectives, assess their core business conditions and adopt appropriate green technologies to leverage their sustainable brand values in a progressive manner.
