The Green Lessons Tag Learned from Attending COP28

The UN Climate Change Conference, or COP in short, takes place yearly and 2023 saw the 28th COP make its way to Dubai. There, world leaders, politicians, scientists, business leaders, activists, and so forth gather to discuss climate change and possible solutions. Also in attendance was Stefani Kopach, Tag’s EMEA sustainability specialist as the agency continues on its mission to research, create, and deliver green solutions to its suite of local and global clients. The conference proved fruitful and thought-provoking with many calling it a ‘landmark’ event as nearly 200 countries agreed on a deal to transition away from fossil fuels.

For Stefani, the conference was a chance to update and deepen her knowledge on all things green with the view of further expanding on the work the company is doing in house. LBB caught up with Stef to learn about the three main takeaways she gleaned from her time at COP28 and the implications they’re likely to have for Tag and its clients in the near future. 

Building Confidence in a Sustainable Future

Not long ago sustainability was seen as a passing trend but in recent years, and especially today, it has become an essential part of how businesses and brands operate. The experts at EY highlighted the essential role that corporations and financial institutions must play in achieving sustainability goals. “A key theme of the session was the integration of sustainability into corporate decision-making,” Stefani says. “It’s important to think about sustainability practices from the angle of risk management, reputation, and long-term profitability thereby embedding the practices into the core of the business rather than treating them as an afterthought.”

Accountability was another vital takeaway. “Robust reporting and disclosure frameworks are essential in fostering trust among stakeholders, including investors, customers, and the public. The EY session highlighted the evolution of sustainability reporting standards and the critical need for companies to provide clear, credible, and comprehensive information about their sustainability efforts,” Stefani adds. Technology and innovation such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, are enabling more effective measurement, management, and reporting of sustainability impacts, the EY session noted. 

At Tag, reporting has been key to the implementation, tracking, and reporting of greener efforts. “Tag stands at the intersection of creativity and sustainability. Our commitment to technology, innovation, and transparent reporting empowers our clients to confidently build a sustainable future. We do this by providing sustainable production solutions to start; we employ customisable reporting tools that make sustainability metrics transparent; and our innovative tech integration helps to enhance efficiency which, in turn, reduces waste,” Stefani comments. 

Green Skills Development

While the need to pivot to greener practices is very much now, something that’s not often discussed is the availability of experts in the arena who can help businesses do that. Allen Blue, the co-founder of LinkedIn, raised this point “especially in the context of sustainable supply chain management,” Stefani says. In other words, we need new tech but we also need experts to correctly deploy it. 

‘Green skills’ is a deliberately broad concept as it encompasses a range of hard and soft skills combined with a fresh outlook. “Allan elaborated on the types of skills needed in various sectors to support sustainable supply chains, such as knowledge of renewable energy technologies, sustainable procurement practices, and waste management. He stressed that these skills are becoming increasingly crucial across all levels of the workforce, from frontline workers to executives,” Stefani recalls. Besides ‘sustainability experts’, one solution to ensuring that a green mindset is embedded at all levels of business is by developing and hiring with ‘sustainability skills’ in mind from the outset. Stefani says that Allen spoke of “envisioning a world where green skills are an integral part of every job and industry. He encouraged the audience to think about the role each individual and organisation can play in this transition and the long-term benefits of a more sustainable, skilled workforce.”

For Stefani, this message resonates with the work already taking place at Tag. “Our commitment to empowering green skill development is not just a business strategy, it's a reflection of our core values. We understand that a sustainable supply chain is not just about reducing carbon footprints or minimising waste, it's about fundamentally transforming the way we think, work, and interact with our environment. Green skills – which encompass knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes needed to live in, develop, and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society – are at the heart of this transformation.”

The Path to a Sustainable Future

Customers today are more aware than ever of the environmental impact of their purchasing decisions; in many cases, the sustainability of a product will guide their purchases in the first place. “This shift is compelling businesses across sectors to rethink their practices and products to meet this growing demand,” Stefani says. “The power of consumer choice in driving business transformation.”

Businesses should be worried about real sustainability efforts and the appearance of sustainability efforts, aka ‘greenwashing’. Stefani says she took away that “businesses need to be transparent about their sustainability journey, including their successes and challenges.” Increased understanding of green issues and scrutiny from consumers means that businesses must think outside the box and consider “redesigning products for longer life cycles, adopting circular economy principles, and integrating sustainability into the core business strategy rather than treating it as an add-on.”

“Speakers also discussed various barriers, such as higher costs of sustainable materials, difficulties in changing supply chain practices, and the challenge of balancing profitability with sustainability goals. They also explored strategies to overcome these challenges, highlighting the role of government incentives, cross-industry collaborations, and investment in sustainable technologies,” she adds. 

Stefani’s role, and the ethos of Tag, is centred around sustainable practices in the realm of print management and sourcing. Tag achieves this through eco-friendly material selection, waste reduction strategies, green certifications and compliance practices, and sustainability reports. “Our approach to sustainable sourcing in print management is comprehensive and client-focused. By partnering with us, businesses not only enhance their environmental stewardship but also align themselves with a partner deeply committed to sustainability.” 

Looking Ahead

For Stefani, attending COP28 was the perfect way to understand what Tag is already doing really well, what it can improve on, and the work that will inevitably need to be done. “The future we envision at Tag is not just about our growth but about fostering a sustainable and innovative ecosystem where our clients and the industry thrive,” she explains. 

“We foresee a world where sustainability becomes the norm, not the exception, in both creative production and procurement. Where green skills and sustainable practices are integral to supply chain management, setting new benchmarks in corporate responsibility. Where print management and sourcing are synonymous with environmental stewardship, driving businesses towards more eco-conscious choices.”