ESG event: A driver for future business development?

Photo: Groovy Graphic

Cepheus Park Randers hosted over 100 people for an event that focused on ESG as a driver for future development. An event packed with exciting presentations and a panel debate made it clear that ESG is here to stay – especially in light of the publication of the European Commission’s omnibus package.

On Thursday 27 February, the day after the European Commission’s package for the omnibus directive was published, over 100 people gathered on Viborgvej at Cepheus Park Randers – not to watch football this time, but to learn about the future of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) at an event organized by UN Global Compact Network Denmark, Business Randers, Danske Bank and Phoenix Design Aid.

The four organizers worked cooperatively to put together an extensive half-day programme that included four presentations and a panel debate, all moderated by Rune Kier Nielsen.

The event was opened with two speeches by Mayor Torben Hansen and Henrik Jørgensen, CEO of Randers FC, respectively. Sara Krüger Falk, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network Denmark, then talked about how companies can make ESG a driver in their business development, which was followed by a presentation by Trine Plambech, Principal Sustainability and Insights, Director of Digital Sustainability at the Alexandra Institute, who explained how digital technologies can be utilized for sustainability work.

Danske Bank then presented a presentation by Peter Otte von Magius, Chief Sustainability Advisor, who talked about how the bank works with sustainability and risk assessment in the value chain, and the panel discussion consisted of three panelists – Azra Mujačić (Communication Specialist at Phoenix Design Aid), Anna-Maria Espersen (Sustainability Advisor at Bent Brandt) and Peter Bogh Lindgaard (COO and Factory Director at DermaPharm) – who discussed reporting as a compliance task.

All presentations and the panel debate pointed in the same direction: The work on ESG must continue, and it is here to stay – even if there is uncertainty about the regulation.

• “At Business Randers, we are proud to have contributed to this event. We got to present Randers well via the opening speeches from Randers FC and Randers Municipality, both of which are good contributors to the sustainability agenda. And one could almost think that Sara and Trine’s presentations were timed in relation to the EU’s first omnibus package, which was presented the day before. Instead of spending unnecessary time on reporting, companies can now use resources to develop the business in a more sustainable direction through the use of digital technologies,” said Jens E. Kristensen, Director at Business Randers.

The concluding presentation by Adam Rogers, Strategic Communications Expert & Senior Advisor at the Climate Action Center of Excellence (CACE), highlighted ESG as a global force. Adam emphasized that ESG should be thought of as a mindset, and this made a particular impression on the CEO of Phoenix Design Aid.

• “Even though the legislation does not cover SME companies, many companies touch elements of E, S and G in their work both managerially, strategically and operationally, and therefore Adam’s thinking about ESG as a mindset made an impression on me, because it is precisely how ESG should be thought of in order for it to succeed and for it to become part of the companies’ daily lives,” said Dennis Lundø Nielsen, CEO of Phoenix Design Aid, adding that as an ambassador for Randers, he is proud that this type of event has been held in Randers with highly qualified speakers, each of whom contributed with their great expertise.