The Ethical Business Blog
Sarah Duncan
I am a Sustainable Business Advisor, Ethical Marketing Consultant, Trainer, and Author of The Ethical Business Book and The Sustainable Business Book (out March 2023).
Through training, consultancy and guest speaking, I help businesses understand the commercial and moral benefits of sustainable and ethical business practice (or ESG – Environmental, Social, Governance).
But this is not an eco-war on commerce. Making a profit is not in itself a bad thing, it’s how you make it and what you do with it that matters. I advise on how to make sustainability a genuine part of your business culture and day-to-day practice, not just a tick-box exercise (or race to be the ‘least bad’).
I try and simplify this highly complex area and help companies make sustainability work for them, in a long-term, authentic and holistic way. Email me: sarah@sleepinglion.co.uk
The Ethical Business Book
The Ethical Business Book is a practical, non-preachy guide to business sustainability (shortlisted and Highly Commended at the 2020 Business Book Awards).
The word ‘ethical’ here is used as an overarching term that covers better, more thoughtful corporate behaviour. Much of the content promotes best practices, not (yet) legal requirements. But as governments start taking their responsibilities more seriously, we are likely to see companies penalised for poor corporate behaviour and incentivised for good behaviour.
In recent years, the spotlight has been very much on environmental issues, driven by the climate crisis. The term ‘sustainability’ has been used more and more – which aligns the ability for the planet to survive with long-term business survival.
Now in 2022, we are hearing more of the societal side of the debate. The importance of not just saving the planet (after all the planet will go on long after us), but saving a world that is safe and equitable for all of us to thrive on.
Whether you choose to use the word ethical or sustainable (or ESG), the important point is that when you review your corporate actions you consider your impact on all stakeholders – people and our planet.
A great book to inspire individuals to find ways to do well, by doing good
It would unethical for any business serious about ethics not to read this book
This is a serious book for anyone who wants to better understand how to profit from treating the Earth’s resources responsibly.
As essential read for any business leader who is looking for a path to build a more sustainable business.
This book helps turn good intentions about ethical business into action. Brilliant.
Adopting the philosophy of it starts here, this book demystifies ethical changes, with the emphasis on the practical.
This book is the next iteration of what responsibility looks like in business.
The Ethical Business Book is a valuable and pragmatic guide to creating businesses that both contribute to society and grow profit.
This book is zen-like in style; Scandi-like in its uncluttered foucs; and a clear guide to taking simple, effective action.
Recent Posts
Posts include one page summaries of over 25 relevant ethical and business sustainability books, content from The Ethical Business Book, more of my own articles and other useful resources.
SUSTAINABILITY – IS IT TIME FOR MARKETING TO GROW A CONSCIENCE
Here's me talking recently on 'Sustainability: Is it time for marketing to grow a conscience' - Chartered Institute of [...]
CONSCIOUS LEADERSHIP
Conscious Leadership - Mackey, McIntosh, Phipp The one sentence summary: Conscious leaders can operate in a way that is beneficial [...]
CISL – LEADING WITH A SUSTAINABLE PURPOSE
This is a recent report from Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership - Leader's insights (from Unilever, Ikea and Interface) [...]
A LIFE ON OUR PLANET
A Life On Our Planet - David Attenborough The one sentence summary: A revolution in sustainability, a drive to rewild the [...]
GREENING YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN (2021 updated book content)
Scrutinising your supply chain is a critical part of reducing your environmental footprint, but embedding new behaviours into the [...]
A SIMPLE GUIDE TO THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY (2021 updated book content)
The circular economy model is inspired by natural living systems, and promotes the fact that there is 'no [...]
REDUCING YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT (2021 updated book content)
This is a major priority for business in terms of tackling the climate crisis. It is a complex area [...]
GOING UNDER THE ETHICAL SPOTLIGHT (2021 updated book content)
This ethical business questionnaire is designed primarily for SMEs who are struggling to adopt a more ethical and sustainable approach [...]
SERVING SOCIETY AND PRESERVING THE PLANET (2021 updated book content)
Financial reporting has internationally recognized frameworks. Non-financial reporting is less established and therefore less clearly and consistently measured. So [...]
PEOPLE, PLANET, PROFITS (2021 updated book content)
The Triple Bottom Line = People, Planet and Profit. This is a term first coined by sustainability thought leader [...]
WHAT’S YOUR MORAL PURPOSE? (2021 updated book content)
There is much talk about purpose in business these days, but what does it mean? In short, your moral [...]