˼ S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y
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ICONIC
Ready for the future Europe aims to be the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The European Green Deal is leading the way for this.
The path to a climate-neutral Europe 'With the right mentality, the rest will follow naturally.
Floods in Wallonia, forest fires in southern Europe, and record temperatures in Sicily. Although we have known for a long time that our planet is approaching its limits, the problem is still often underestimated. Nele Pieters, Chief Strategy Officer at Encon, helps companies transition to a sustainable approach. “We strongly believe in intrinsic motivation.” Encon supports companies in their sustain-
emissions need to come down. However,
ability transition by assisting them from
our approach is too one-sided with just the
strategy to implementation. “Intrinsic moti-
ecological aspect being addressed while we
vation means that every company should
need to take into account so many different
make the right choices of its own accord. The
things.”
authorities may impose rules, but we need to delve deeper if we want to provide long-term
We first need to balance economics, ecology,
solutions. It should be a case of wanting to
and social aspects. After that, we can look at
and not just having to. Handing out rewards
solutions. “Giving concrete examples is diffi-
and penalties on their own won’t get us there.
cult because every company is different. By
With the right mentality, the rest will follow
making it an individual exercise, we can make
naturally.”
positive progress. Organizations need to understand that structural change is a win-
Does that mean the European Green Deal is
win situation. What is good for the world is
just the opposite of that mindset? “I am all
also good for companies,” says Ms. Pieters.
for the principle of the Green Deal. It’s just that I think the approach should be different. Something indeed has to be done; carbon
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What is ION doing? ION certainly has the right mentality. In collaboration with Encon, we defined three sustainability pillars that will benefit both our company and our planet:
