Sustainability: "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Sustainability: "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
World Commission on Environment and Development, The Brundtland Commission - 1987
Efficiency, with an emphasis on IT energy, is my primary focus in this blog. However, energy, IT or otherwise, comes under the umbrella of
You'll see variations on the definition of sustainability. Typically it's defined as some combination of social, environmental and economic factors.
All of concern to business. Long concerns of EMC.
As of July 1st, EMC's corporate commitment includes a new Senior Director for Sustainability, Kathrin Winkler.
It's a significant step that formally recognizes and organizes development of our sustainability culture. And it presents Kathrin with a very lengthy to-do-list.
Sort of "Congratulations on the new job. How much sleep do you really need?"
The idea of Sustainability isn't new. It's an essential underpinning of many cultures, typically under-appreciated wisdom.
Native American Iroquois held a "seventh generation" philosophy that directed chiefs always to consider the effects of their actions on their descendants seven generations in the future.
A Kashmiri proverb says;
"We have not inherited the world from our forefathers - we have borrowed it from our children."
And Herbert Stein, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers
during the Nixon administration said;
"Things that can't go on forever, don't."
Well, what Herb had in mind was probably a bit different from what drove the Iroquois and Kashmiri ideas. But it is as much the economics of sustainability, as the social and environmental elements, that make it increasingly integral to global corporate culture.
Responsibility mixed with self interest can be a good thing.
Long-standing EMC corporate culture carries the substance of sustainability across the business - in facilities, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering and more.
It's always been there. Formally and informally.
But Kathrin's job won't be an easy one.
Here's why.
Done right, it touches everything.
Environmental considerations will be integral to the way we think in all operations, every business strategy and each financial decision.
Reduction of energy and greenhouse gas emissions are high on the list. So are engineering investments that make our products more efficient and reduce our customer's energy consumption.
EMC has always been committed to minimizing environmental impacts. That includes helping our customers reduce theirs. An engineering Green Team meets regularly to develop ideas and set priorities for technology improvements in EMC products. We work toward the same objectives with suppliers and customers.
It is way more than the environmental impact statement posted on our web site. There are dozens of specific programs and special initiatives directed toward environmental issues. These range from reduction of greenhouse gasses to water treatment to the cross-engineering design of products that maximize energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
We have a cross-functional group called the Green Business Initiative (GBI) that focuses on the environmental elements of sustainability in every corner of EMC business. It represents critical business functions in the formation and execution of environmental priorities:
1. Environmental Health and Safety
2. Facilities
3. Product Marketing
4. Communications
5. Product Management
6. Engineering
7. Legislative Affairs
8. Global Supply Chain Management
9. Office of the CTO
10. Global Services / ICS: Steve Higgins
11. Legislative Affairs & Corporate Community Involvement
12. EMC IT
13. EMC Sales Productivity
14. Manufacturing
15. Finance
This list covers a lot of ground but is only part of the sustainability work.
Beyond environmental imperatives are the social and economic essentials like building an inclusive workforce and recruiting talent that reflects the essence of EMC business philosophy and spirit.
It runs to purchasing, packaging, printing, travel policies and use of the corporate jet. (Yes, even the big guys don't escape scrutiny.) It takes into account how we lease our space, how often we work from home and what incentives we give our staff to conserve energy, water, paper; at work and at home.
Of course it also means that the styrofoam cafeteria trays - one of Kathrin's pet peeves - are history.
Not everything is a big idea
Under the sustainability banner, EMC also has some projects with special meaning. One of the most impressive is the EMC Information Heritage Initiativethat preserves and protects unique collections of paintings, books, documents and more.
Yes, lots to do.
Recently, EMC released a document titled "EMC in the World: Building Sustainability." It profiles the whole range of company initiatives so far, and it provides an idea of things still to come.
The introduction quotes Joe Tucci and Bill Teuber:
"We remain humble about how much remains to be done, but we are proud to share with you what our people around the world have accomplished. We are especially proud of how these efforts are inspired and driven by the passion and dedication of our employees."
"We remain humble about how much remains to be done, but we are proud to share with you what our people around the world have accomplished. We are especially proud of how these efforts are inspired and driven by the passion and dedication of our employees."
Kathrin points out that what I cite as a "Kashmiri proverb" may actually be an American Indian proverb or may be a quotation from an American Environmentalist named David Brower. Another claims the idea came from Edmund Burke and another from Kahlil Gibran.
No matter. We both still like the idea the quote expresses and I'm willing to credit all of the above sources.
Posted by: Dick Sullivan | July 07, 2008 at 01:51 PM