Many experts agree that the consequences of degrowth would be catastrophic in many respects, as it would lead to even greater disparities between people and nations.
On the other hand, the current growth desired by most political and economic leaders, investors and shareholders has become totally unreasonable in many ways. So, what can be done? Perhaps a middle way such as controlled ethical growth will be the solution. This is certainly a new term - some would say another one - for new objectives.
Controlled growth and ethics combine very well. Indeed, ethics, a word taken from the Greek meaning ‘way of life’, is concerned with the behaviour of human beings, and more precisely with the conduct of individuals in society, whereas growth is part of our genes, both physical and psychological: it is living, developing, and ultimately learning.
There is no doubt in (almost) everyone’s mind that the society in which we live in the industrialised and rapidly developing countries is no longer possible in the short term, either environmentally or economically.
The idea here is not to repeat the proposals that exist in most countries, but to highlight some aspects that can be applied in the world of the working environment and facility management with the following examples
• Sizing spaces in such a way as to optimise resources, the number of places that are necessary.
• Selecting the consumables that are necessary by reducing the range of useless items that are found everywhere.
• Optimise the recovery of waste, but above all avoid producing waste as much as possible.
• Adopt a hybrid working model by avoiding unnecessary travel or reducing the carbon footprint as much as possible.
• Improving the energy performance of premises, both in terms of insulation and technical installations.
• Investing in sustainable projects with high ethical values.
• Reduce paper consumption by processing it electronically, even if this solution also consumes paper…
• Employing suppliers who are committed to responsible controlled growth.
• Encouraging staff to actively use public transport (subsidies, locations close to communication points, etc.).
• But also, to know how to take care of others and to please with positive gestures…
Although these points are just stating the obvious, in many cases it is the implementation that is lacking.
Let’s roll up our sleeves and with our personal ethics, grow in a controlled way. Let us be indulgent up to a certain point with certain inconsistencies or incompetence, but let us stay the course in 2022, for the sake of the next generations.
Have a nice week, good reading and above all “HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022”. See you soon.