What Does a Chief Sustainability Officer Do?

A corporation’s approach to environmental responsibility and minimizing its negative impact on the world’s eco-systems is the responsibility of a chief sustainability officer (CSO). It’s a popular viewpoint as the public’s awareness of global warming and environmental issues has grown. The CSO devises new ways for the company to fulfill its responsibilities as a responsible corporate citizen concerned as much about the future as it is about today’s profits.

At its core, sustainability refers to the preservation of our natural world and the desire to avoid further environmental degradation that will harm future generations. However, in the twenty-first century, the concept of sustainability has taken on a life of its own, and there does not appear to be a single definition that encompasses all applications. As the international community embraces economic globalization, the concept of sustainability is being expanded to include areas other than environmentalism, such as labor practices, social welfare, and economic development.

The trend of treating sustainability as a philosophy and a thread that runs through all aspects of corporate behavior, rather than a narrow environmental approach, has been aided by international law. Corporations are now required to determine the impact on the world of major actions they wish to take in advance, both in the European Union and in the United States, and to present a sustainability plan. The commitment to sustainability has become such an important factor in domestic and international business success that a position of chief sustainability officer has been created to oversee the process.

A company’s business processes are examined by a chief sustainability officer to identify areas where a change in approach could improve the company’s commitment to sustainability. He investigates the opportunity before presenting it to the CEO and the board of directors. The CSO oversees the transition if management decides to implement the opportunity.

The nature of this position is strategic. Choosing to change a business process to a more sustainable approach is a long-term investment that, if not properly evaluated and planned, can bankrupt a company. For example, a CSO might advocate for a coffee company’s farming practices to be changed to a more sustainable approach that is supported by leading environmental organizations. It is the CSO’s responsibility to assess the impact of this change on the company’s bottom line over time and make an informed decision about whether to proceed.

Product packaging is another example of a process change that a chief sustainability officer might spearhead. Many businesses have switched to smaller, biodegradable, and recycled containers. The evaluation and management of such a transition is the responsibility of a CSO. Furthermore, the CSO is involved in every aspect of the transition, including public relations efforts to inform customers about the benefits of the change.