For climate, communities, and our kids

Having been in business for 86 years, Interflow has proven it knows a thing or two about longevity. According to Richard McCarthy, Interflow’s Executive General Manager — Southern Region, that requires an all-encompassing sustainability strategy.

“AS A BUSINESS, we are constantly thinking about the needs of the next generation,” said Richard McCarthy, Interflow’s Executive General Manager — Southern Region.

“That’s the way it has always been. This organisation has proven it will be around for generations to come.”

As one of the longest-serving private businesses in Australia, Interflow has always appreciated the necessity of shaping the business – its practices, processes, and purpose – around the needs and expectations of current and future generations.

Sometimes that forward-thinking has to do with innovation. Often it has to do with professionalism and skills. And it is always related to good commercial decision-making. But today, there’s another vital ingredient in the recipe for business success – ESG, or environmental, social and governance. For many team members, this is personal.

“I’ve got three kids, all at university age and older. Your own kids make you realise it’s not just about your time here. It’s about what you’re leaving behind,” McCarthy said.

It’s also a beautiful engineering challenge for McCarthy around how to do the work Interflow does economically and environmentally pragmatically.

“How do we navigate our way through our work so it all makes sense?” he said.

“Of course, it’s about doing things differently. But we all know that when we work sustainably, it just feels right.”

Interflow’s customers also have expectations of the contractors they bring on board. But the company doesn’t want that to be the driver of its core ESG priorities.

Looking

“We’re building an ESG strategy because it makes sense in every way as a business and community member,” McCarthy said. “We’re doing it because it’s the right thing for us to do.”

Creating Interflow’s ESG strategy

As outlined in its sustainability framework, Interflow is developing an ESG strategy around three core areas.

“Our ESG strategy is looking at what we can add next,” McCarthy said. “What can we do well that will make a real difference to the business, our customers and our community?”

Fast fact

Interflow’s ESG strategy revolves around these three areas: Our environment: encompassing climate change and environmental management. Our communities: including health and safety, and diversity and inclusion. Our business: incorporating sustainable growth and supply chain.

McCarthy pointed out that there are things around environment management that Interflow wants to perfect.

“So much of what we do is out in the environment, and when we get it right, we’re building a better environment,” he said. “There’s a focus on community engagement because we are in people’s back gardens, national parks, and roads. We’ve got to get that part right, too.”

Interflow’s partners are vital to the plan’s success

A critical factor in creating the Interflow ESG strategy, which will control. Eighty-three per cent of carbon emissions connected with Interflow’s work come from thirdparty supplier purchases.

“It can be perceived that these are outside our control, but they’re not outside our influence,” McCarthy with them to influence what they do. That’s one of the exciting things about the net-zero challenge –nobody can do it in isolation. It’s all about how we work with the organisations we work for and the organisations that work with us.”