The report from the Sustainable Economy Summit 2020

The substantive part of the meeting began with a speech by a Special Guest – Professor Witold Orłowski, an outstanding economist, academic teacher and journalist. The lead theme of the presentation was global challenges for modern economics. The professor emphasized the extremely large impact of technological and climate changes on the economy, and also drew attention to the changes taking place in society. The average life expectancy of a person is constantly increasing and the problem of the obligation to work for older people arises. People also change as employees, losing their enthusiasm and are moving their lives to the virtual world. The speaker also touched upon tensions, including tensions resulting from the system of economic forces in the world. The challenges of humanity in connection with the climate crisis were discussed in detail by Kamil Wyszkowski – Representative and President of the Council of Global Compact Network Poland – Initiatives of UN Secretary General. The speaker in his presentation included an analysis of the current situation and he warned of the consequences of human activities that directly affect climate change. Kamil Wyszkowski, calling for a reaction, mentioned that if we won’t react and take appropriate action, it is possible that by 2300 there will be the necessity for warm-blooded species to withdraw towards the northern part of the planet.

After the speeches, the time has come for the first discussion panel entitled “Changes climate and business”. The panel was moderated by Professor Bolesław Rok from the Department Entrepreneurship and Ethics in Business at the Kozminski University. To talk about the relationship between the climate and business, the impact of business decisions on the climate the following guests were invited: Wojciech Hann – President of the Management Board of Bank Ochrony Środowiska SA, Maciej Korbasiewicz – President of the Management Board Of BOLIX, Marek Łuczak – President of the Management Board of Syngenta Polska, Marcin Ujejski – President of the Management Board of Blue Timber and Katarzyna Zawodna-Bijoch – President of the Management Board of Skanska CDE. The main topic of the discussion were the strategies adopted by enterprises for sustainable development. The guests mentioned, among others, reduction of carbon footprint, clean production, purpose of planting a million trees and restoring the richness of plant species and financing the so-called “Green investment ”as their mission. These are huge challenges for business and financial institutions, which are burdened with high responsibility. The panelists unanimously indicated the increased people’s awareness of ecology and sustainable development. Strategies that are climate friendly are the basis for both improving the quality of the environment and human health simultaneously.

Another important element of the conference was an interview conducted by Professor Bolesław Rok with Rafał Rudziński – President of the Management Board, Robert Bosch. The conversation concerned the climate, the company’s response to the changes that occur climatically and motivations around the world to act in favor of sustainable development. The importance of zero-carbon emission reduction was re-emphasized coal, but also highlighted other important issues: improving efficiency energy, purchase of certified green energy and mechanisms compensatory was once again emphasized. “Many companies started working with each other and this is a very good sign of the times,” Rudziński mentioned.
The second and last discussion panel entitled “Circular economy” was led by Professor dr hab. Piotr Wachowiak – Rector of the Warsaw School of Economics, and the interviewees were: Robert Daniluk – Quality, Safety and Sustainable Development Director, Lyreco, Iwona Jacaszek-Pruś – Corporate Affairs Director at Kompania Piwowarska Marek Jagieła – Director of the Industrial Chemistry Sales Department and Market Development Department, BASF Polska, Tomasz Kuklo – Member of the Management Board, Director of the Agro Tire Production Plant and member of the Management Team, Michelin Polska Artur Pollak – President of the Management Board of APA Group. The subject of responsible production and conscious consumption for the planet was raised during the discussion panel. One of the most important issues of the panel was the optimization of resource consumption thanks to circular economy. Adaptations to modern requirements such as eco-innovations, giving a second life to products or the aforementioned optimizations consumption of natural resources is one of the many keys to achieving sustainable goals development. President Tomasz Kuklo emphasized the complexity of the strategies taken and mentioned circular economy and carbon neutrality as two particularly important activities towards a green planet. President Kuklo also added that “Michelin as a promoter always is trying to somehow demonstrate the product’s environmental impact.” Visibly growing public awareness and actions taken by leading enterprises international ones provide hope and inspire to fight for the future of the planet.

The second discussion panel was followed by an interview between Professor Bolesław Rok and Dorota Hryniewiecka-Firlej – President of the Management Board, Pfizer Polska and Kamil Wyszkowski – Representative and President of the Council of Global Compact Network Poland – Secretary’s Initiative UN General. The conversation concerned human rights in business, i.e. as a foundation enterprise. President Hryniewiecka-Firlej emphasized the importance of the community of values in company and points to respect as the basis of this community. She also mentioned the existing discrimination between employees and employers. Regarding violence in the workplace, Mrs. Dorota Hryniewiecka-Firlej she also mentioned: “in big steps. some EU legal regulations are coming, which are already very mature and will be systemic, global will protect employee much more than ever before”, calling to read them, as soon as they come into effect they will see the light. Questions about the threat to human rights in the face of the pandemic were also raised. Kamil Wyszkowski pointed to the possibility of employers interfering with employees’ free time, but at the same time stressed that along with the form of remote work, the trust towards the employee increases. It must be taken into consideration how human rights will be in the future, in the next generations, and take care of social competences such as empathy, which play a key role today.

After the substantive part, full of invaluable inspiring knowledge of experts, the time has come for the announcement of the nominations in the competition “Sustainable Economy Summit Awards”. Thanks to the work of the Competition Jury, the nominees were selected in nine categories. The announcement of finalists in nine categories who stand out for their efforts to achieve sustainable development and responsible business.

1. LEADER OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
Goodvalley Poland
NEW STYLE
Press Glass
Unilever Polska

2. SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION LEADER
7R
Budimex
Lafarge in Poland
Skanska Skanska office company in CEE

3. ECOLOGY LEADER IN ENERGY
Columbus Energy
ENEA
Polish Oil and Gas Mining
Schneider Electric Polska

4. TECHNOLOGY LEADER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
BASF Polska
Robert Bosch
Mondelez Poland
Samsung Poland

5. CONSULTING LEADER FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Ayming Polska
Baker McKenzie
CMS Polska
EY

6. SUSTAINABLE FINANCING LEADER
Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego
Bank Millennium
Bank for Environmental Protection
BNP Paribas Bank Polska

7. ETHICS LEADER IN BUSINESS
ERGO Hestia Insurance Company in Sopot
Kompania Piwowarska
Nordkalk
Sokołów

8. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LEADER
Bolix
Ciech
Jeronimo Martins
Orange Polska

9. VISIONARY OF RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
Markus Baltzer – Chairman of the Board, Bayer
Dorota Hryniewiecka-Firlej – President of the Management Board, Pfizer Polska
Piotr Mirosław – Chairman of the Board, Lyreco Polska
Beata Pawłowska – Managing Director for Central Europe, Oriflame Poland