What does sustainability mean for IESE? Sustainability for IESE involves the full arc of business activity, from how companies treat the world around them, to how they treat each employee. It implies a commitment to respecting the environment and contributing to the communities where companies operate. It means creating purpose-driven businesses that generate value shared by all stakeholders. And it revolves around the fundamental importance of people: that companies must improve the lives of the people within their reach.
Ideas for a world to change
The world needs new ideas: novel approaches to how we do business, and leaders who know how to make change happen. IESE is generating new ideas on a broad range of fronts:
·Spreading the word. Events, conferences and meetings dedicated to sustainability-related issues for business leaders and others, such as our 2021 Global Alumni Reunion.
Here, a few highlights of recent research, teaching and tools for executives from IESE:
We know that change begins at home. That’s why at IESE over the last decade we’ve implemented a battery of measures to increase on-campus energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption; to shift to green energy sources; to cut the use of paper, packaging and oils; and to encourage green mobility by installing charging stations for electric vehicles and expanding parking areas for bikes and electric scooters; among other measures. Our on-campus actions are focused in the following areas:
The Spanish Office for Climate Change, which reports to the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO), has awarded IESE's four campuses the "Calculo" seal for the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, and the "Calculo+Reduzco" seal for the 2021-22 academic year. These seals, which are voluntary, allow companies to reflect the degree of effort made in the fight against climate change, distinguishing between organizations that calculate their carbon footprint and are on the path to reducing their emissions, and those that already reduce and/or compensate.
Carbon emissions audit
IESE Business School has been measuring its carbon emissions footprint for several years now. The first external carbon emissions audit was run for the 18-19 academic year and we have achieved an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions per square meter from that year to 2021-22. We aim to reduce our carbon emissions even further.
This audit includes Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions following the UNE-EN ISO 14064-3:2019 standard and the GHG Protocol criteria. It conforms with the internationally recognized standards of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard from the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
We are redoubling our efforts to be as sustainable as possible. To that end, we’ve created a Plan for Environmental Sustainability which covers the years 2021 to 2035. The plan (using 2010 as its baseline year) sets out five goals for the year 2025 and additional targets for the year 2035:
Our new campus in Madrid is a model of sustainability, and has obtained LEED Gold certification, which recognizes its high environmental standards. The new campus uses 100% renewable energy, has intelligent control of the facilities and air conditioning, and consumes 40% less water than a conventional building.
Since 1958, IESE's mission has been to develop leaders who strive to have a deep, positive and lasting impact on people, companies and society through professional excellence, integrity and spirit of service. With this in mind, business ethics, including sustainability, are a core value for the institution and all programs and activities align with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Our participants are taught ethical practices as a central focus at IESE, reflecting a human-centered approach to business. Ethical practices consider decisions and actions that impact the environment, society and the economy, meaning in sustainability. At IESE, we expect our students to be able to define sustainability and identify major sustainability challenges and to reflect on the impact that their business decisions have on sustainability on a personal and professional level. These decisions affect many aspects of sustainability: the environment, the economy and society including peers, employees, suppliers, clients and other stakeholders.
By taking the mandatory course Business Ethics, all students in our degree programs achieve the following IESE institutional learning outcomes:
Understanding the mutual relationship between business and ethics in managerial decision-making
Mastering the tools and procedures to prevent, identify and resolve corporate crises with a holistic stakeholder approach
Analyzing the impact that organizational policies have on the behaviors of individuals and corporate culture
Comprehending the relationship between businesses and their stakeholders to establish lasting and constructive dialogues
Identifying the opportunities associated with responsible management and integrating them into organizational and strategic planning
Understanding the ethical and social challenges of technological disruption and the related opportunities for innovation in business
We measure the success of our sustainability commitment not only by what we do as an institution, but also by what our students and participants do as individuals. The clubs they create while at IESE. The activities they participate in. And, ultimately, the work they do once they leave IESE and begin making their mark.
Sustainability at IESE is also closely linked to our employees, their health and safety, their wellbeing at work, and their opportunities to grow personally and professionally. We strive to create a workplace that is:
·Inclusive. Through policies related to workplace equality and to teleworking, and official certification as a family-friendly company.
·Healthy. Through multiple health and safety measures, including a campus doctor and annual wellness check-ups for employees.
·Safe. Through exhaustive COVID-19 protocols and regular testing.
·Fulfilling. Through professional development plans for both academic and non-academic staff.
Governance
Governance impacts the long-term strategy of IESE, and is a part of how we ensure that IESE is managed in a way that is mindful of all its stakeholders.
Transparency. Open communication with all stakeholders, through regular all-employee meetings, smaller-scale talks, and posting of relevant information on website and employee intranet.
Oversight. Committees to ensure a safe and diverse workplace, including compensation, operations, and health and safety.
Reporting. In addition to our Annual Report, compiled a Social Impact Report detailing CSR areas.
The institutional responsibilities for sustainability at IESE are entrusted to the Sustainability Committee. The Committee is composed of four people: Jaume Armengou (secretary general) and Jaume Vidal (finance and administration director) of the Executive Committee, Mercè Jorba and Caroline Tomás.