Recent research shows that 90 percent of executives say sustainability is important, yet only 60 percent have a sustainability strategy. This means less than half of US companies currently take intentional steps to ensure they are ecologically viable despite claiming sustainability as a priority.
This implementation gap has a negative impact on more than just the environment. A sustainability strategy can reduce business costs substantially and affect operating profits by as much as 60 percent, according to McKinsey. It can also lead to a steep uptick in customer loyalty—up to 80 percent, by some measures.
Jamian Rush, Kogod MS in Sustainability Management ’21, is helping advance sustainability in business by inspiring his company to shift from concept to action.
As a sustainability specialist for Ergon, a global industrial and manufacturing service company focused on innovative products and service solutions, advocates for sustainable business practices daily. He acts as a bridge between customers and leadership by pitching ways to meet external needs—and optimize profit—by creating sustainable products.
“I'm an agitator, in a way; I get people to consider things they wouldn’t have otherwise,” says Rush. “But I’m also a facilitator. Once I see what customers want or get an idea, I try to mold leaderships’ vision toward that.”
Rush, who started as an intern in 2020, is already seeing his hard work pay off. Ergon is expanding its product portfolio to include renewable and recycled components and helping reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by using sustainable roadway treatments—a traditionally major source of carbon emissions.