Pandemic, Ukraine war, inflation, Middle East conflict, climate crisis - the world is in a permanent multidimensional crisis. In such an unstable global situation, what is the state of Sustainability in society on the one hand and at REWE Group in particular? We explored this question at this year's digital dialogue forum.
Speakers at the digital dialogue forum included political economist Prof. Dr Maja Göpel and REWE Group Management Board members Dr Daniela Büchel and Lionel Souque. The event was moderated by journalist Janine Steeger.
Janine Steeger, Prof Dr Maja Göpel and Dr Daniela Büchel (from left to right)
CEO of the REWE Group Lionel Souque opened the dialogue forum on 6 November with a brief impulse on how the REWE Group lives sustainability as part of its cooperative DNA:
In her subsequent keynote speech, transformation researcher and political economist Prof. Dr Maja Göpel emphasised how we as a society can only advance Sustainability through the "we", especially in times of crisis.
Political economist Maja Göpel
"In uncertain times like these, we realise two things that are not particularly helpful in overcoming crises of any kind: Firstly, short-termism in thought and action. Secondly, focussing on the 'I'. However, we can only move forward in one way: in the 'we'."
In her view, a sustainable transformation requires one thing above all: alliances. And the necessary structural change towards a more sustainable economy and way of life must be preceded by a cultural change: "We need to think about how we talk about where we want to go and what is desirable. And whether this is a positive development, a so-called sustainability narrative or not."
The final exchange between Maja Göpel and Daniela Büchel, REWE Group Board Member for People and Sustainability, was all about attitude. Daniela Büchel emphasised: "Sustainability is not a project. Sustainability is an attitude, a way of doing business.
Daniela Büchel, Board Member for People and Sustainability
For us at REWE Group, it is the credo that guides all of our business activities." For her, there is no question that sustainable business practices ultimately make the company more successful overall: "We do not act in isolation when it comes to sustainability. We can initiate a sustainable transformation of our business activities. But we cannot shape sustainable structural change for society as a whole. At least not alone. We need strong alliances for that."
When asked what the next step for companies should be, Göpel and Büchel answered in unison: establishing sustainable financing models - as REWE Group recently did with the issuance of the first sustainability-linked bond, a bond that is linked to specific sustainability goals.