Sustainability has for a number of years been an extremely powerful concept which has unfortunately been thrown around by politicians and businesses alike, to gain easy points. Over the years, some improvement has obviously been registered in the greater scheme of things, but the ultimate goal of authentic sustainability is quite an ambitious one, and requires specialised expertise to achieve.

Exereco is a start-up that promises just that – to help businesses achieve optimal level sustainability in their practices, thereby reducing costs, and achieving greater appeal with investors while improving its standing in the society it operates in.

“Sustainability should work both ways,” clarifies Lucille Cachia, Director at Exereco. “The benefits of sustainability on the environment, and the society surrounding a business is well known. What businesses need to understand is that in the long run, it pays them to be as sustainable as possible, since this often translates into better results across the board, no less on the bottom line.”

Sustainability is the art of meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. In fact, Exereco seeks to promote this, and nurture a generation of businesses that understand the value of sustainability, as they appreciate a healthier, better environment to operate in.

Exereco defines itself as a sustainability hub, that brings together strategy, training and support solutions to assist organisations in the pursuit of sustainability. The company offers a host of services to help businesses achieve this goal, starting with a sound strategy based on expert advisory.

“The first thing we need to get right when embarking on a sustainability journey with our clients is putting a sustainability strategy in place which serves as an important benchmark for responsible business operations. This would typically encompass the three main areas of ESG, namely Environmental, Social and Governance. From the outset, this will demonstrate the organisation’s commitment to value these factors within their present and future business efforts,” Ms Cachia explains.

Exereco offers a range of services and solutions to address particular ESG areas. Taking a case-by-case approach, the advisory firm evaluates an organisation’s situation to gear it up towards the best possible strategy. With a commitment towards sustainability, Exereco specialists address various elements with a company structure. Mindful of whichever industry an organisation operates in, Exereco assists to efficiently navigate the client’s sustainability journey.

Another important element in Exereco’s arsenal of services is its training academy which further helps businesses as well as private individuals achieve the knowledge required to meet sustainability goals.

“Our courses cover a range of themes to help professionals understand, explore, and appreciate sustainability across different levels. Those taking our courses will learn how sustainability is not an issue that relates exclusively to the environment, but it involves numerous other factors such as people, work, trade, interactions, exchanges and most other things that constitute our daily lives,” Ms Cachia continues.

Moreover, Exereco uses an innovative way of promoting sustainability, through the empowerment of ambassadors to the cause. In fact, Exereco sustains Sustainability Ambassadors within organisations striving to achieve this goal, in order to encourage their fellow colleagues in joining the journey. Sustainability Ambassadors are specially trained to help others when they are faced with difficulty in their day to day, and set an example while doing it.

Moreover, Sustainability Ambassadors can share their journey towards sustainability in a safe and nurturing space, over a specially created platform, to foster collaboration as they engage in a different way of doing things. The platform bridges the gap between the need for sustainability and the results aimed for by a supportive community of like-minded people. Hence, Sustainability Ambassadors can grow together through networking events, expert-led workshops, thematic webinars, and a weekly newsletter amongst others. The journey culminates on the Annual Sustainability Awards Night where Ambassadors' efforts are celebrated and rewarded.         

“We are strong believers in group effort – working together will definitely get us there faster and more efficiently,” Ms Cachia asserts. “Experience shows us that it doesn’t take long for players to understand that liaising with peers, like-minded people and experts in the field, will always produce positive results.”

Exereco’s services are further supplemented by a host of software solutions, that assist companies achieve sustainability goals efficiently.

Commenting on the current situation among companies in Malta, and how sustainability is perceived, Ms Cachia notes how a healthy number of businesses, from a variety of sectors, have started to appreciate these values, and are actively seeking assistance to grow further in this area.

“We have seen a positive shift, as more entrepreneurs have started to approach us to learn more on how they can take their operations closer to ESG compliance. This gives us the opportunity to devise a bespoke strategy that fits the needs of the specific company, taking into consideration the various elements that constitute their operation.”

In the near future businesses are going to be required to report on their ESG efforts, as a result of EU-wide legislation which is expected to enter into effect.

“What is most refreshing is that, though legislation on the importance of sustainability has been on the cards for a while, we are seeing a genuine drive towards sustainability. This is quiet encouraging, as it puts us on the right track as a country,” Ms Cachia concludes.