Corporate Global Action for Sustainability: Lessons From Business Ethics Guest Lecture at ITB
By Fairuuz Fawwas Alfarizi Tantuayo - Mahasiswa Kewirausahaan, 2024
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – In a guest lecture on Business Ethics Law and Sustainability held at Amphitheater 1, MBA ITB Building, on Friday (11/10/2024), Christophe Piganiol, President Director of PT Anugerah Pharmindo Lestari (APL), and Jalal, Chair of the Advisory Board of Social Investment Indonesia, shared their insights on the importance of sustainability in the business world. The event highlighted how sustainability can be integrated into business strategies and how its impact on the environment and society can be measured.
Piganiol emphasized that sustainability starts with personal actions. "Sustainability begins in our hearts, with ourselves. Don't wait for others to act first. Just do it, even if it's a small action like separating organic and inorganic waste," he stated.
According to him, these small steps play a crucial role in accelerating waste decomposition and preserving the environment. Piganiol also revealed that APL has integrated sustainability principles into their corporate strategy, focusing on improving public health, fostering talent development through education, and committing to environmental conservation by using solar panels and electric vehicles.
Piganiol further highlighted the challenges often faced by companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, in adopting sustainability. "Many companies want to move toward sustainability but don't know where to start. Sometimes, they feel it's only for developed countries or large corporations. This is one of the reasons they delay taking action," he said.
In the same session, Jalal provided insights into the distinction between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainability. According to Jalal, sustainability focuses on a company's impact on the environment and society, while ESG examines how companies manage these issues to ensure they do not affect financial performance. He also explained that ESG has become a critical framework in sustainable finance, particularly in the financial sector. "ESG integration can help companies manage risks more effectively," he noted.
Jalal also highlighted the importance of measurement tools like Social Return on Investment (SROI) to assess a company's social impact. SROI allows companies to measure their positive impact on society and communities in a more structured and transparent manner.
Referring to KPMG's 2020 report on best practices for integrating ESG into business, Jalal noted that materiality assessment, good governance, appropriate strategies, and transparent performance reporting and measurement are essential steps for companies to achieve comprehensive sustainability that positively impacts both business and the environment.
This guest lecture provided valuable insights into how companies can begin sustainability efforts on both individual and corporate scales, as well as the importance of measuring the positive impacts of these actions.
Reporter: Fairuuz Fawwas Alfarizi Tantuayo (Entrepreneurship '24)
Translator: Anggi Nurdiani (Management '24)
Editor: Ariq Ramadhan Teruna (Chemical Engineering '21)