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Five key insights for sustainability in action from the Arden Lecture 2026

Written by Beth Gault Wednesday 04 February 2026

How can managers and the professionals of the future put sustainability into action in their workplaces?

Sustainability is not merely theoretical – it is a practical business challenge with real-life consequences for the environment and society. But how can managers take action to embed it?

This was the topic of discussion at the latest CMI Arden Lecture, held in partnership with Arden University. Here are five things we learned during the event.

1. Sustainability is about social foundations as much as emissions

While some companies focus on emissions and carbon footprint data, there is a social aspect to sustainability that is just as important.

“Sustainability starts with providing the social foundation for people,” said Martin Baxter, deputy CEO at the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals.

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This includes access to water, food, somewhere to live, education and development, income and energy. Then, how do we provide all of that within the environmental limits we have? These limits are determined by climate, the quality of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Within this model, everything is interdependent. For example, if we cannot access water resources, then it impacts on the climate, people and communities, which then results in poorer health outcomes and lack of access to jobs. “We start to have an impact on social fabric, and if you start to do that then you start to destroy the very things on which we depend,” said Martin.

Seeing sustainability through this lens can help you see yourself as part of the environment you’re trying to protect. “Sustainability is not simply about climate; it’s about our environment, and we are part of it. The social aspect is part of that, and that means mental wellbeing, emotional wellbeing and also the way we value each other as human beings,” said Janine Campling, founder of Green United Development.

“You cannot be sustainable if you do not support diversity, or if you’re not inclusive, or you do not promote participation,” she added.

2. A systemic approach is needed

Since the factors affecting sustainability are interconnected, the subject needs to be approached in a system-wide way.

For example, if you had a recurring headache, you would not only treat the pain, but also investigate the causes. Are you stressed or dehydrated? Is your posture affecting your neck?

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“Think of a company as a living system comprising strategy, operations, supply chain, people and governance – all interconnected,” said Janine. “Systems thinking, with a sustainability lens, shifts the question of ‘How do we reduce emissions? How do we even start to become sustainable?’ to ‘How do we redesign the entire system for efficiency, resilience and responsibility?’”

She added that “most systems were never designed for long-term resilience”, but that this provides an opportunity to innovate while thinking about sustainability.

Keep reading – three more insights

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