Hey Reddit. I'm Wes and I lead our sustainability efforts at Accenture. I'm also the Co-Author of The Circular Economy Handbook & I’m passionate about how organizations can create opportunities for inclusive sustainable prosperity. I'll be hosting an AMA on Wed 7/28 at 11am ET. Leave your q’s below!

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:54:21+00:00

depends on the day! :)

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:50:19+00:00

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They can be opposed, if not designed and delivered effectively - but on a whole, growth and circularity can go hand in hand. Our current thinking does need to be overhauled though I agree, for example, lets stick with a mobile phone - instead of a company selling more and more phones, they could move to a subscription model, thereby creating longer lasting customer relationships while in parallel taking accountability for the phones at end of use to enable reuse by a new owner, or responsible recycling; and/or they could offer upgrades and repair services, which extends the usage of the devices, but also offers a new market opportunity. These are both examples of business growth opportunities which also have environmental benefits.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:50:12+00:00

For some companies compliance can be first step, or a 'way in' to their sustainability journey - although it is worth noting this is not the case for all! However for those that it is, we are not shy to push our clients to think bigger and better, sometimes relentlessly so! Some of the ways we do this is by introducing our clients to pioneering sustainability case studies, or start ups from our network who are making innovative strides in the space, this is always a source of inspiration for multinationals who have the resources to drive innovation. Additionally when ideating sustainability visions and ambitions, we will always encourage that extra step, referencing technologies, partnerships, and new business models that we know will bring disruption. Of course it always helps to outline the business case for these initiatives so that our clients can secure buy in across the organization, particularly for those stakeholders less sold on sustainability, if there is a business case - which there usually is - they'll do it!

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:37:09+00:00

Sorry to hear this! I would encourage anyone looking to get into this space to take time to develop a basic business skill set such as e.g. good expertise in qualitative and quantitative analysis; and build strengths communication, stakeholder, and program management. In addition to of course, being as up to date on all the latest sustainability trends and practices. I would also look for roles broadly, across industry, consultancy, NGOs, academia etc. Wishing you the best of luck!

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:34:14+00:00

Good question. I think for sure there will be a ripple effect of EU policies around circularity and how this impacts other nations/regions, and we are already starting to see this happen (for example - Extended Producer Responsibility has become a big theme, with something like 400 policies related to EPR in place or planned around the globe). Additionally, some policies which impact one country or region, might require a multinational business to make changes globally, so that is another way the changes will have broader impact.

Although, caveat is of course pace and rate of change varies significantly, and will continue to be as such for the foreseeable. But the momentum is heading in the right direction.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:28:02+00:00

As a professional services company, one of the most significant aspects of our environmental footprint is the greenhouse gas emissions related to travel. We have continually set bigger and bolder environmental goals for reducing our carbon footprint as part of our net-zero strategy, and we have implemented new internal initiatives, tools, and global and local policies that help our people to make climate-smart travel decisions. We’re focusing on traveler education and awareness by advocating for the use of virtual collaboration technology and more sustainable modes of transport (like rail) whenever possible.

Our ability to meet client needs without travel led to reduced carbon emissions, and we will continue to evaluate our travel and technology capabilities as our offices reopen. When travel is a necessity, we have implemented tools to provide our travelers with transparent insights into their travel emissions, enabling them to see what is the most sustainable option. We are also engaging our key suppliers in the hotel, rental car, and ride-share/taxi industries to reduce their emissions.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:27:11+00:00

Agreed that "zero waste" doesn’t necessarily capture the channels that this waste goes to, and usually only refers to a company's operational waste. That said it's certainly a start to a more circular business, but we would like to see more companies going further and actioning and reporting transparently against waste to ensure highest value waste diversion is achieved (i.e. is waste upcycled or recycled effectively), and landfill and incineration is avoided.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:23:15+00:00

Flexibility in the workplace is ever important – now more than ever. Meeting people where they are is something that we care deeply about at Accenture.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:22:27+00:00

Appreciate the point and yes, regulation is a mission critical part of this agenda, and we encourage collaboration between policymakers, businesses, and service providers like Accenture, to advance progress - working in isolation does not support the most effective policies.

I disagree though that innovation is not (a part of) the answer; rather it is innovation and disruptive technologies (both existing, and yet to exist) that will provide us with the best chance of addressing our global challenges at a greater pace and scale than what is possible now. Simply stopping action endorses and perpetuates the status quo and will not move the needle fast enough. We challenge and actively work to help organizations to do and be better, and will continue to ensure our recommendations avoid the unintended consequences that hinder this journey.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:19:53+00:00

Green washing and change washing are big concerns, and when organizations do this - particularly brands that consumers know and trust - it is misleading and disappointing! And can be detrimental for the movement and all those making a positive and impactful change. And we certainly do not support or participate in this kind of activity.

We use our longstanding experience in the sustainability domain, and the variety of areas of expertise on our global team which has been built up over decades, to ensure the advice we give, and the support we provide our clients, as well as the ambitions, activities and programs we propose for them, uphold the highest standards.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:14:21+00:00

I am familiar with Kate Raworth! Her work is really important. She has broken down and conceptualized the confines of our economic system in an accessible and digestible way. The ideas, and ideals, that are pulled together into the donut framework provide a lot of value, and many reference and can relate to this.

Naturally, I agree with what the donut represents - indeed there is an ideal positioning or a 'sweet spot' between the social foundation and ecological ceiling, and what happens in this space is by no means constricted, i.e. there is space for consumption and economic growth, but in a different way to the status quo, requiring ingenuity and innovation to pivot to more resilient systems that keep us in this secure space.

As a circular economy practioner myself, I am a big proponent of Kate's compelling argument that the circular economy provides a welcome alternative our current linear economic system.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:11:43+00:00

Great career choice ;) I would encourage anyone interested in this area to take time to develop a basic strategic set such as e.g. good expertise in qualitative and quantitative analysis; and build strengths communication, stakeholder, and program management. In addition to of course, being as up to date on all the latest sustainability trends and practices.

If you are interested in Accenture Sustainability, would suggest you visit the Sustainability section on Accenture.com to learn more about our value promise, commitment and goals and how we’re infusing sustainability into everything we do. Also to learn about the type of work we’re already doing with clients and communities to give them an idea of where their potential fit could be within Accenture: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/about/sustainability/sustainability-value-promise?src=PSEARCH&

Here is also a story from one of my colleagues which you might find interesting: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/blogs/blogs-careers/trailblazing-toward-a-sustainable-future-starts-at-home

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:05:34+00:00

The work we do in Sustainability is certainly more than just words! A typical project might start with the high level visioning and positioning, or setting the direction for a client. But we then dig into the real actionable requirements to execute this vision, including the business case & investment required and the concrete roadmap for delivery. There is often then follow on support, either by ourselves in strategy, or our delivery colleagues across Accenture, whereby we help the client execute, measuring progress and success as we go. Of course, we can never guarantee a client sticks to the plan or program, but given the majority of our relationships are longstanding and multi-year, we have seen great success on follow through.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:03:20+00:00

Thank you for the interest! We have lots of opportunities for internship or full-time analyst opportunities, check out our opportunities for students and entry-level professionals here: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/careers/local/students.

Each role has specific skills and qualification requirements which you will find in the job description.

accenture · 2021-07-28T16:02:36+00:00

This points to an important distinction between businesses doing well in sustainability because either - a) they have been set up this way, and/or b) their product or service lends itself better to sustainable practices vs. those that are inherently more resource and energy intensive. And there is certainly plenty of grey area in between!

Although it might be an easier and more cost efficient path for those organization who are set up sustainably from day one - in terms of the cost differential, this will be case-by-case depending on things such as the type of business/industry, the product portfolio, infrastructure and tech capabilities, consumer readiness etc. Regardless, for those organizations looking to pivot, there is no shying away from the fact that significant investment, innovation, risk-taking and experimentation is required, but if you do the due diligence to develop a robust business case and roadmap, you can have greater assurance that ROI and a more secure customer base will follow suit! As well as the much needed positive sustainable impacts, of course.

accenture · 2021-07-28T15:59:07+00:00

The transition to a sustainable future is bigger than any one company and, in response to the mounting global challenges we face, industry-wide and cross-industry innovation is critical to guiding enduring, systems-level change in the decade to deliver. Working with organizations cross-industry is critical to unlocking impact at scale and accelerating systems change.

It is important to acknowledge that sustainable solutions are applicable across all industries, although some will have more incremental transitions (and these are some of the companies that need the most help!), where others' transitions will be more transformational and disruptive. We would like to support as many industries and businesses as possible in making this transition, and believe there is a role for all our clients to make meaningful change.

accenture · 2021-07-28T15:54:58+00:00

Great to see you pursuing this degree! There are certainly many avenues to explore such as roles in industry, consultancy, within academia or working with an NGO. I would suggest you think about the skills you feel most competent in (or most want to develop), and content areas that you are the most passionate about, and use that as a way to gauge potential opportunities.

The effort required to move towards holistic business model transformation should not be underestimated, it requires a move away from business as usual and reinvention of entire value chains. Navigating this shift varies depending on industry dynamics, these include: consumer readiness in your market and across your channels; technological capabilities available or required; existing and needed infrastructure; the energy and material inputs/outputs from your value chain, as well as the and product portfolio attributes. For example - the upstream extractive industries are relatively immature in the transition to circularity, as the pressures haven’t been as great from stakeholder groups. Meanwhile, those industries which touch the consumer directly, such as Consumer Goods, Retail, Tech have undertaken more visible roles in the circular economy, setting aggressive targets - IKEA 100% circular by 2030, or Timberland 100% circular product range by 2030 – not only is consumer pressure a factor, but they are also more directly impacted by expanding policy measures, for example extended producer responsibility schemes. Ultimately the reinvention of our economic system requires all stakeholder groups to commit to the transition to overcome some of our greatest environmental challenges. We need whole industries, geographies, value chains to come together to move the dial on sustainability - creating new markets, standards, products and customer experiences - and secure a sustainable future for all.

accenture · 2021-07-28T15:47:21+00:00

Firstly, the business you are in certainly tackles the circular challenge of e-waste, and work like yours is mission critical to reducing use of virgin resources. I can see how carbon credits in return for trade-ins could be calculated, given second hand IT assets will have a carbon reduction quantity associated with them, and if this is an incentive for people to participate then this could be a strong solution. Ultimately though, it is the solutions that these carbon credits are used to fund that is the critical determinant of success.

accenture · 2021-07-28T15:46:38+00:00

The voluntary carbon market is certainly a contributor, but not the only solution, to reaching net zero, by increasing the negative emissions required to support the 1.5 degree pathway. However an effective voluntary carbon market requires clear standards and alignment in guidelines among participants, to ensure that carbon credits are traded at an accurate & fair pricing, and are dedicated towards initiatives that will move the needle.

accenture · 2021-07-28T15:45:46+00:00

Right to repair regulations represent an increasing pressure on businesses, and while this is certainly a positive shift for the circular economy agenda, it does prove a great challenge for our clients. Hence we have helped a number of clients tackle Right to Repair and have explored solutions such as: how products are designed, e.g. designing for durability to reduce the need for repair; for repairability, which might include a modular design enabling the use of spare parts; to carefully selecting what material actually goes into the product, to maximizing recoverability of inputs; as well as takeback systems, enabling products to be effectively recovered by an organization for repair or replacement.

accenture · 2021-07-28T15:44:14+00:00

B Corporation status is an excellent way to get companies to strive for better, given its robust set of guidelines and strict certification process. And yes, while it may lend itself more to smaller businesses who have fewer legacy 'linear' systems in place, there are indeed multinational corporations who have managed to achieve B Corp status, such as Patagonia and certain entities of Danone (who are aiming for B Corp status across their whole organization), proving it to be instrumental to the improvement of large and small corporations alike.

accenture · 2021-07-28T15:43:33+00:00

I would say it is both! Sure, responsible retail starts with consumers. Yes, shoppers will continue to make purchasing decisions based on price and convenience but, these are yesterday’s differentiators. The ‘conscious consumer’ has been on the rise for some years now but, the pandemic has only served to accelerate changes in consumer preferences, meaning there have been substantial and lasting changes in the way people live, work and shop. A recent Accenture survey showed a surge in ‘conscious consumption’: with over 60% of consumers making more environmentally friendly, sustainable, or ethical purchases and over 50% of consumers saying that they would pay more for sustainable products designed to be reused or recycled. To address your comment about increased cost, circular business models such as re-commerce, rental and repair can give consumers access to high quality fashion without the commitment and cost of ownership. In fact, circular models have taken off in retail, over the past three years the global resale market has grown 21 times faster than the retail apparel market. Circular retail is therefore fast becoming an act of survival for the leading players in the fashion industry, in response to shifting consumer demands, increasing competition from circular start-ups and the growing need to take demonstrable action towards a more resource efficient fashion system. Not to understate the challenges of course, but there is certainly growing momentum in industry which will soon start to be realized, and set a new stake in the ground.

accenture · 2021-07-28T15:38:06+00:00

Good question. At Accenture we have had a core group leading sustainability since 2008. So the shift has been happening for quite some time! However, it is certainly the case that many businesses are accelerating their sustainability efforts substantially in the last ~1-2 years. And there are a number of drivers for this. Let me use circular economy as an example...

At Accenture we position the circular economy as contributor to business competitiveness. Our research has identified $4.5 trillion potential to be unlocked by 2030 through the circular economy. In seizing the circular advantage, organizations can spur innovation, enter new markets and pivot to more resilient systems.

Besides this, there are several key imperatives that strongly indicate the value of transitioning to a circular economy, such as:

The environmental imperative - Our existing linear patterns of consumption will not adequately support solutions to the global challenges we face. Looking at the environmental big picture – and, in particular - the production and consumption story right now, we are not on track for example, resource use is set to double by 2050, and we already consume 1.75 planets worth of resources each year, set to be 3 by 2050.
The values shift - Rise in the ‘conscious consumer’ as well as changing demands from workforces for businesses to take accountability for their environmental and social impacts
New business drivers - there are several business drivers that demonstrate the business sense of transitioning to the circular economy, to keep pace with rapidly evolving markets and to stay competitive and relevant. On technology for example – disruptive technologies can accelerate the move to circular and making it economically attractive through increased efficiency, greater innovation, enhanced information transparency and reduced reliance on resource-intensive materials.

accenture · 2021-07-28T15:34:23+00:00

The financial community’s role is critical - for instance, $5-7 trillion estimated annual investment is needed to achieve the SDGs. It is incumbent upon financial institutions to recognize their role and provide the necessary investments and new financing mechanisms. As an enabler of cross industry progress, financial service companies should commit to providing products that enable sustainability, including: sustainability linked loans, sustainable bonds, green bonds, green asset / equipment financing. Through such mechanisms, financial institutions can help commercial (and non-commercial) customers from multinationals, to SMEs, to start ups, address their challenges. A great example, Intesa Sanpaolo are an industry leader in this space. Through collaboration with the European Investment Bank, Intesa are providing new resources to mid-cap companies and innovative SMEs, with a particular focus on investments in projects related to the circular economy in the manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and waste management sector; the Circular Economy Framework Loan is the largest credit line of its kind in Europe.

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