Allison Robinson, Director, UPMC Environmental Initiatives and Board Chair of Sustainable Pittsburgh, has led UPMC’s participation in several Sustainable Pittsburgh programs including the Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Sustainable Business Compact. UPMC is one of the largest integrated health systems in the United States. Following is Allison’s perspective on trends driving UPMC’s sustainability initiatives.
What are some macro trends driving UPMC’s sustainability initiatives that all businesses should be watching?
Two macro trends of concern include 1) informed stakeholders influencing market competition and 2) supply chain extended accountability assessment. Prevailing issues are value stakeholders, and scope and scale of accountability.
Informed stakeholders
Service-oriented industries/organizations must align to the values of their customer base, which includes stakeholder groups such as employees, customers, board members, investors, etc. This becomes challenging when providing service across distinct generation cohorts of stakeholders because values among cohorts vary widely.
The inherent “greater good for all” aspect of sustainability resonates across generations; thus, it is difficult for a service oriented industry/organization to opt out of aligning with sustainability principles. This increasing consensus among generation cohorts affects markets by how they demonstrate their values through how they spend and invest their money, thus influencing market competition.
Supply Chain Extended Accountability
It is not enough to limit an organization’s scope of responsibility to its operations and subsequent scope and scale of impact. Dependence on products and services affects the extent to which an organization can be sustainable. If an organization strives to truly be sustainable, it should hold its suppliers accountable for assisting with the organization’s efforts. Though the request is fair, the relationship becomes uncomfortable until a dialogue starts with several simple questions:
- Do you know what sustainability is?
- If no, are you open to learning what sustainability is?
- If yes, will you work with us to maintain this relationship?
- If yes, are you trying to be sustainable?
- If yes, what products and services do you have that may assist us with being sustainable too?
- If no, are you open to learning what sustainability is?
When surveying, one may discover that many suppliers already know what sustainability is. The challenge starts with whether they can meet current expectations. Products and services are evolving but they may not be market-ready yet.
UPMC to date is the highest performer in Sustainable Pittsburgh’s SWPA Sustainable Business Compact. How has participation in this sustainable business performance program been valuable, and what’s the next step?
Participation in Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Sustainable Business Compact provided an initial, rigorous experience of a sustainability report. Three existing corporate programs addressing social equity, economic performance and environmental accountability collaboratively contributed program information in a single report with supporting evidence of action and impact. In deciding to attempt this external performance report, UPMC made a conscious decision to attempt to address all sections, qualifying UPMC to be assessed at the highest level. As part of the process, we received constructive feedback to assure the relevance and quality of the responses. We addressed as many questions as we could relative to our industry. We learned new, informative metrics and emerging regional issues. Because of its regional focus, we derived an increased awareness of the scope of impact and extent of accountability specifically in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Our next step is to attempt an international external sustainability performance report; this enables all operations and facilities to be included.
What should the aspiring Sustainability Officer know about the uptake of the profession in our region?
Employers are learning the significance of sustainability and remain committed to implementing sustainability. As part of this current state of employment opportunity, a potential candidate needs to 1) be proactive, 2) have good people and communication skills to create and open doors that may not currently exist, and 3) be resolute. If hired, the new hire should have the stamina to endure the politics and a challenge that may occur with the position => this is true experience that defines your professionalism.