How can you build a culture of sustainability and social responsibility in the aerospace industry?

1 Define your purpose

The first step to building a culture of sustainability and social responsibility is to define your purpose. Why does your organization exist? What is your mission, vision, and values? How do you contribute to the society and the planet? Your purpose should be clear, compelling, and consistent across your organization. It should guide your decisions, actions, and communications. It should also reflect your stakeholders' interests and expectations, as well as the industry's best practices and standards.

2 Assess your impacts

The next step is to assess your impacts. How do your products, services, and operations affect the environment, the society, and the economy? What are the positive and negative impacts of your activities? What are the risks and opportunities for improvement? You need to measure and monitor your impacts using relevant indicators and metrics. You also need to benchmark your performance against your peers and competitors, as well as the industry's norms and goals. You should use recognized frameworks and tools, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), or the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to ensure credibility and transparency.

3 Set your goals

The third step is to set your goals. Based on your purpose and your impacts, what are the specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that you want to achieve in terms of sustainability and social responsibility? How do they align with your strategic objectives and priorities? How do they support the industry's vision and targets? Your goals should be ambitious but realistic, challenging but feasible. They should also be communicated and shared with your stakeholders, both internally and externally, to generate commitment and accountability.

4 Implement your actions

The fourth step is to implement your actions. How will you achieve your goals? What are the policies, procedures, and practices that you will adopt or change to improve your sustainability and social responsibility performance? What are the resources, capabilities, and partnerships that you will need or leverage to execute your actions? You need to plan and execute your actions in a systematic and coordinated way. You also need to track and evaluate your progress and results, using relevant data and feedback. You should use continuous improvement and innovation methods, such as the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle or the Lean Six Sigma approach, to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

6 Celebrate your achievements

The sixth and final step is to celebrate your achievements. What are the benefits and outcomes of your sustainability and social responsibility actions? How have you improved your environmental, social, and economic performance? How have you contributed to the industry's sustainability and social responsibility goals and standards? You need to recognize and reward your achievements, both internally and externally. You also need to share and showcase your achievements, using stories, testimonials, or awards, to inspire and motivate others. You should use positive and authentic messages, such as gratitude, pride, or passion, to convey your achievements.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?