Voices that add up: companies and the creation of new sustainable ecosystems

Although economic activity has always involved different ecosystems, it is only in recent years that this concept has begun to gain importance, and companies have intensified their work to achieve a balance between economic development, social inclusion, and environmental preservation.

In Argentina's case, this challenge is especially important because its economy is closely linked to natural resources, and the country also needs to promote more equitable and sustainable growth.

Corporate sustainability has become a strategic factor. More and more companies of all sizes are incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into their management.

These policies not only respond to growing pressure from consumers and regulators, but also generate competitive advantages, such as operational efficiency, talent attraction, and access to new markets.

The " Voices That Add Up" panel was dedicated to sustainability and how companies and organizations interact. The event featured Marcelo Tedesco, founder and director of the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Initiative ; Maximiliano Cueto, Corn Product and Crop Protection Leader for the Southern Cone at Bayer ; Belén Daghero, Manager of Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Social Responsibility at Holcim ; and Gonzalo Parga, Director of Grupo Edisur .

For investors, sustainability has long ceased to be a secondary concern. Today, investment funds—including those with a presence in Argentina—evaluate environmental, social, and governance risks before deciding where to invest their capital.

Companies that properly manage these factors are viewed as more resilient, innovative, and capable of maintaining strong financial performance over the long term. In fact, green bonds and sustainable financial instruments are gaining ground in the Argentine market, as demonstrated by the Byma (Argentine Stock Exchanges and Markets) Social, Green, and Sustainable Bonds panel.

According to the Argentine Business Council for Sustainable Development (Ceads), companies that adopt these types of policies have a greater capacity to adapt to new environmental regulations, reduce costs through energy efficiency, and improve their reputation with consumers and stakeholders —individuals, groups, or entities that constitute an interested party.

In turn, these practices strengthen corporate governance, an aspect highly valued by institutional investors and multilateral organizations.

CEADS insists that corporate sector participation is essential to contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a series of 17 global goals adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

According to the Transformation Center, a UN task force created to drive progress on the SDGs, only 16% of the total commitments made are on track to be achieved by 2030.

Piyachart (Arm) Isarabhakdee, CEO of BRANDi and Companies, emphasizes that the world is “grappling with a complex web of interconnected issues and blurred lines between economic, social, and environmental challenges” and that “navigating this complexity to meet the SDGs by the deadline will require a rethinking of the rules, roles, and relationships that govern how our society functions.”

For the consultant, redefining rules, roles, and relationships will help create "new types of ecosystems of public and private sector organizations to help drive progress toward the SDGs for all."

He emphasizes that both the public and private sectors must be involved, since businesses "have the capital to drive solutions, while governments can create enabling legislation and promote cooperative work environments."

“A more promising approach is to cultivate interconnected ecosystems where stakeholders, such as governments, businesses, and NGOs, work together toward a shared vision,” he argues. “These ecosystems prioritize long-term value creation and positive impact on society and the environment, beyond economic prosperity.”

Support. The activity is supported by Holcim, Bayer, Grupo Edisur, Grupo Sancor Seguros, Epec, Naranja X, the Córdoba Tourism Agency, and the Municipality of Córdoba.