IS sustainability an investment or a cost? Reduction of single-use plastics, better waste management and carbon reduction have changed the landscape of industries.
Although these efforts are results of policies and compliance, sustainability can play a big
role in a business' longevity, either contributing to its bottom line or result in it going out of business.
Regulators such as Bursa Malaysia have emphasised environment, social and governance (ESG) compliance among listed companies. ESG has also been an increasing consideration for investors amid the rise of green investment and funds.
Companies should look into how sustainability could be incorporated into their business strategies by going beyond ticking checkboxes, said Michelle Lee, a co-founder of Fuller Academy.
It was set up last year as a strategic partner for businesses and provides online e-learning sustainability courses.
Fuller Academy's other founder is Wan Imran Wan Abdul Rahaman, who is the chief executive officer of Paper & Toast, a company that started in 2010 as a co-working space that encourages sharing economy through the workspace and the power of collaboration, while developing growth among members through community building and other programmes.
"In the earlier years, our focus was much more on startups but beginning 2018, we initiated programmes for corporates and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
"The feedback we received from participants showed that they needed more practical guidance to support them through their sustainability journey.
"Hence, Fuller Academy was born to bridge the gap through accessible and practical sustainability knowledge," she said.
Lee said the fast-changing needs of today's developed economies towards sustainability meant that the workforce and talent needed to adjust to new trends regularly and this prompted growing interest and needs in upskilling.
Knowledge and skills on sustainability such as ESG, internal and external marketing for sustainability, carbon emissions calculations and circular economy are vital for businesses to progress.
Fuller Academy provides businesses learning opportunities to upskill their employees, in alignment with compliance issues, such as the regulations and market demand for action, to bridge the gap on sustainability knowledge and upskilling.
"One of the courses teaches the learners how to convey the corporate sustainability message to the public, as the latter is now more concerned about how a company impacts the planet and its people beyond financial growth," said Lee.
On whether there were plans to tie up with Bursa in the future so that more Malaysian companies will join the programme, Lee said the company was open to collaborations with Bursa and other like-minded organisations to increase the accessibility of sustainability knowledge and education.
"Currently, the majority of the participants are from the United States and Europe. We hope that as the Malaysian landscape of sustainability within industries matures, the courses that we provide become more essential to local SMEs with the encouragement of the government.
"Our instructors consist of industry practitioners who are experts in their areas and, hence, together we develop courses that are practical and implementable to companies of all sizes.
"The Asean regional context is also considered when creating the courses, as we know a lot of the current sustainability knowledge is set in the context of Europe or the US," she said.
"One of the solutions for a company to look into sustainability is to hire consultants, for some, upskilling and training their employees is a more viable and long-term solution," she said.
Lee said sustainability was a matter close to her heart.
She has championed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through leading an international youth organisation to encourage youth to take action in SDG issues, helping marginalised communities, and developing impact enterprises and startups.
"For centuries, the exponential growth of industrialisation and technology has propelled the human race to unimaginable progress and wonders.
"In the chase of this development, we have, however, created irreversible impacts on our planet.
"Beyond individual responsibility, businesses and corporations have the upper hand to make a sustainable difference."
To date, more than 1,600 participants from various industries have signed up for the programmes.
In the next few months, Fuller Academy will organise a series of online courses.
In July, there will be an "Introduction to Carbon Emissions" course, to be followed up by "Introduction to ESG" in August and "Introduction to Circular Economy" in September.
The writer was a journalist with the New Straits Times before joining a Fortune Global 500 real estate company. This article is a collaboration between the New Straits Times and Tradeview, the author of 'Once Upon A Time In Bursa'.