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Plenary session presents opportunities for a sustainable business development
Mediated by journalist and COO of Agência Dinheiro Vivo, Luís Nassif, the speakers, Fernando Almeida, CEO of the Brazilian Business Board for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), and Guilherme Peirão Leal, co-president of the Natura Supervisory Board, discussed the theme “How social responsibility can contribute for a sustainable development.” In the opening of the meeting, Nassif brought up the importance of the event and the importance of discussing business social responsibility, emphasizing “how Brazilian companies have to change their behavior and to recognize the social perception as a major leverage for financial profitability.” According to him, “the modern vision privileges more and more the social integration.” Paths and opportunities The first speaker, Fernando Almeida, emphasized the importance of the “communion between individuals and companies in their action towards the preservation of the environment.” He presented the guests several initiatives and paths adopted by foreign companies regarding both this communion and the quest of a production system more aware of the environmental cause. Fernando highlighted the companies shall be aware of the effect of their actions in the environment, and gave the soy issue as an example. “Today, we transform soil in grain (soy) to serve foreign markets, and on the other hand we destroy part of Amazonia.” The CEO of CEBDS also brought up the disbelief the companies have with respect to the role of the Government as a mediator in the discussion of social and environmental issues: “We cannot blame the Government alone. There is a disbelief in individual ethics,” he stated. Alternatives for small businesses were also part of his words. He closed his speech informing that “CEBDS renewed its contract with Sebrae to create 18 centers of eco-efficiency transfer, which will help these companies to have a cleaner production.” An aware vision of a passionate Guilherme Leal, the second speaker of the morning, stated that the main value of Natura is its environmental awareness. “We export a global vision, not only products of the Brazilian biodiversity,” he said, emphasizing that the initiative of his company is “to attract partner clients to build a better world.” An ardent champion for the cause in discussion, Leal spoke even more about the necessity of the individual participation—“The environment is the sole cause of the human being; we cannot act as mere audience,”—and of a change in the behavior of the companies in face of a significant amount of problems which threatens the human race: “Financial sustainability does not exist without social responsability.” By Rafael Costa Ethos |
In
the morning of June 8th, 2005, it was held the first plenary meeting
of the 2005 International Conference – Business and Social
Responsibility. The event – organized by Ethos Institute
together with the United Nations Development Programme (PNUD)
in Hotel Transamérica, São Paulo – privileges
the discussion about the importance of the social responsibility
integrated with business management.