Acting rather than reacting

This is why we have decided not to wait for governments to define the framework conditions for sustainable business or for market standards to develop. We want to set the tone ourselves and help create sustainable economic and social systems – with our products and services, with our structures and processes, and with our dealings with all stakeholders. After all, even the best ideas and goals are worth nothing if they are not implemented.

Of course, we are still a long way from where we want to be. There is a long journey ahead of us. And as we see it, sustainability is not something we will have achieved in a few years but a transformational process in which we ourselves are constantly learning. Together with many others, we want to continue to develop and improve step by step.

Understanding the future better

We are therefore looking closely at the question of how the future is shaped. How do dreams and visions become reality? Which ideas prevail and for what reasons? Which technologies are only useful for the transition? And which trends will determine our future lives?

One thing is clear: in view of the numerous changes that lie ahead, we need to develop our “futures literacy”. By this we mean the ability to imagine and visualize the future better. After all, visualizations help to make the future more concrete and comprehensible to others and help us work together on these visions. Moreover, futures literacy enables each individual to better understand future developments and their effects, to assess them in terms of their own private and professional lives, and thus to prepare for upcoming changes. In view of our aspirations, we therefore consider futures literacy to be essential and want to promote it within our Group.

Rethinking our world

At the same time, we want to expand our dialog with stakeholders on future issues. On the one hand, because this gives us new insights and ideas. And on the other, because we can only solve the major challenges of our time by working together.

This applies in particular to our dialog with young people. We want to communicate much more intensively with Generation Z in particular in the future. Their expectations and attitudes differ significantly from those of previous generations and are not only highly interesting for us – both as a provider of products and services and as an employer – but also point the way ahead.

Companies are there for people. They have the task of making our lives better – by offering desirable products or attractive jobs, for example. For far too long, however, our economic system has overlooked the role that the environment plays in ensuring a healthy, peaceful, and fulfilling life for us all. We need to change this. It is high time to act.