Ecwid by Lightspeed’s Post

I’m so proud to share Lightspeed Commerce’s Third Annual Sustainability Report. Returning as Lightspeed’s CEO, one of my big priorities was to keep up our focus on sustainability — when it comes to employee well-being, customers, and the community. This has been at the heart of how we do business from the beginning. By supporting SMBs, our employees, and the local communities in which we operate — and by helping to protect the environment — we’re helping build a more sustainable future. My goal is that we continue acting as a leader and example for the tech industry to follow. Here are some key highlights: - According to a 2024 DEI survey, 86% of our employees feel that they can be their authentic self at work. - Our employee base includes 9% LGBTQ+, 5% persons with disabilities, and 35% BIPOC representation. Additionally, 50% of Lightspeed’s executive officers identify as women. - Lightspeed proudly supports non-profit organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters Auckland, Summit School, and Technovation Montréal. We also partner with GiftTrees to offer Carbon Friendly Dining, which empowers our customers’ diners to offset carbon emissions associated with their meals by planting trees. To date, over 1.8M trees have been planted Our merchant cash advance program, Lightspeed Capital, is opening up more ways for independent merchants to access funds and is now available in France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Huge thanks to the passionate teams at Lightspeed that keep us pushing forward on these fronts. If you’re interested in more details, you can read our Annual Sustainability Report here: https://lnkd.in/gCdD5vMM

🌱 Embarking on a Journey of Sustainability: Unveiling the Stories Behind Four Pillars Step into a bustling marketplace, where every business vies for attention and success. Amidst this vibrant tapestry, a profound concept emerges – the four pillars of sustainability. These pillars are more than just buzzwords; they are the guiding lights illuminating a path towards transformative change. Marketplace Pillar: Imagine a company that transcends the ordinary, standing tall not just for its products but for its unwavering commitment to values. Picture a brand that radiates integrity and authenticity, capturing the hearts of consumers far and wide. Consider the tale of a small artisanal bakery that not only bakes delicious bread but also sources its ingredients from local farmers, supporting the community and promoting sustainability with every loaf sold. Environment Pillar: Close your eyes and envision a world where corporations embrace their role as stewards of the planet. See them harnessing the power of innovation and technology to combat climate change and protect precious natural resources. Picture the journey of a multinational corporation that once faced criticism for its environmental practices but, through bold investments in renewable energy and carbon offset programs, transforms into a leader in sustainability, inspiring others to follow suit. Workplace Pillar: Peer behind the curtains of any successful organisation, and you'll find a thriving ecosystem of talent and ambition. Imagine a workplace where diversity is celebrated, and inclusion is not just a buzzword but a way of life. Consider the story of a tech startup founded by a group of friends from diverse backgrounds who, through their shared passion and collaborative spirit, build a culture of innovation and belonging, attracting top talent from around the world. Community Pillar: Journey beyond the boardrooms and balance sheets, and you'll discover a world where businesses are more than just profit-makers – they are agents of positive change. Visualise companies reaching out to communities, extending a helping hand and fostering bonds of trust and solidarity. Picture the impact of a multinational retailer that partners with local NGOs to empower women artisans in developing countries, providing them with fair wages and opportunities for economic independence. In the tapestry of sustainability, these four pillars stand as beacons of hope and inspiration, guiding us towards a future where profit and purpose coexist harmoniously. As we embark on this journey together, let us heed their call and embrace the transformative potential of sustainability. 😊 Join me in spreading the word to your wider network, especially those passionate about sustainability careers. Together let's ignite a movement toward a more sustainable future.😊🌱 #SustainabilityCareers #Inspiration #SpreadTheWord 🌍💡 #SustainabilityJourney #TransformativeChange #PurposeDrivenLeadership #GlobalImpact 🌍💫

Paywalls and Sustainability: Who’s Left Out of the Conversation? A question of exclusivity/inclusivity? As sustainability becomes central to the future of fashion, much of the crucial information needed to drive meaningful change is locked behind paywalls. While large corporations can afford this access, SMEs—often the most innovative and agile players—are left out of the conversation, unable to engage with essential insights due to the high financial barriers.” Key Barriers: 1. Barriers for SMEs: Many smaller businesses can’t access the insights necessary to make meaningful changes due to the high costs of subscriptions for platforms like BoF, Vogue Business, WWD, and now even Substack newsletters. This cumulative cost is a financial burden that hinders innovation and leaves SMEs without the tools to compete . 2. Paywalls Reinforce Exclusivity: It’s ironic that in a movement pushing for transparency and inclusivity, critical sustainability knowledge remains gated behind paywalls. This reinforces the divide between larger corporations and smaller enterprises, limiting the industry’s ability to democratize innovation and drive true, widespread change . 3. Public Shaming vs. Collaboration: Advocates for transparency must reflect on their own role in gatekeeping knowledge. While brands are criticized for greenwashing, sustainability groups and periodicals often create their own barriers by monetizing essential information that could foster collaboration and real progress . 4. Consumers’ Say-Do Gap: Consumers care about sustainability, but many are not willing to pay extra for it—often due to a lack of trust in sustainability claims. The rise of greenwashing contributes to this distrust, and paywalled sustainability information prevents businesses and consumers from making informed decisions to close this gap . Greenwashing, Green Hushing, and Lack of Transparency: The greenwashing problem is exacerbated when important sustainability data is locked behind paywalls. Consumers and SMEs are left unable to verify claims or access real solutions. On the flip side, green hushing—where companies avoid talking about their sustainability efforts out of fear of backlash—compounds the issue. When companies remain silent, consumers and businesses alike are left in the dark, preventing meaningful collaboration. Both issues underscore the need for open access to accurate, transparent information . The Time for Open Access: Is it time for the sustainability industry to embrace an open-access model, where critical knowledge is shared freely? If consumers and businesses had better access to real data and actionable insights, we could build a future where sustainability is not exclusive, but a shared effort that all players—big and small—can drive forward. #SustainableFashion #PaywallProblem #SMEs #OpenAccess #Collaboration #IndustryChange #Greenwashing #GreenHushing : @BusinessofFashion @VogueBusiness @WWF @SCMP

Our article on sustainability was published in The CEO Magazine Global! 🌱 “We want to become sustainable, but we keep prioritizing short-term profits.” It's a common phrase in our work with leaders. Even if the C-suite has prioritized sustainability efforts, changing everyone’s day-to-day decision-making at scale requires a systemic change. From our experience helping dozens of companies transform, here are four ways to make this happen. ⚖️ Set expectations by making trade-offs explicit 🤑 Embed non-financial metrics into every financial conversation 🪑 Give sustainability a seat at the table 🧪 Change through expectation At Unblock, we have partnered with Ashoka Ashoka Changemaker Companies to explore embedding sustainability and societal impact into core business. Co-authored with Sarah Jefferson. #sustainability #transformation #netzero #changemanagement https://lnkd.in/eVAjxJGK

The Sustainable Global Growth and Shopper Expectations report by ESW revealed that Gen Z and millennials displayed the highest consideration for sustainability, at 94% and 93%, respectively. That means consumers will be (if they aren't already) looking to purchase from businesses that run sustainably OR are making strides to do so.  If you think you can run your business as usual and not worry about becoming more sustainable, think again! 🌍 Read more about starting your sustainability journey at https://lnkd.in/gYfhqwye.

Sustainability Squared has partnered with @Zevero to speed up business progress towards Net Zero. Zevero will be providing their AI-driven platform to make it easier for organisations to measure, reduce and report their impact on the planet. We're going to leverage data and insights to drive tangible solutions for organisations to realise their sustainability potential. Sustainability Squared, is all about growing the sustainability impact of businesses and it's exactly what this partnership is set out to achieve. @George Wade, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Zevero, expressed his excitement for the partnership: “Collaboration with organisations that share our mission is a key driver for Zevero. By combining our technology with Sustainability Squared’s strategic approach, we can make it easier for organisations to realise their sustainability potential. With only 65 months to 2030, the more we can do to decarbonise and faster, the better”. Andrew S. George Wade

 🌎 ✨ Is Your Company Future-Ready? Unleash the Strategic Advantage of CSR and Sustainability in your Marketing Campaigns In today's dynamic marketplace, cutting through the media clutter can be a challenge. Traditional marketing and digital ad spend may not be delivering the level of results needed to achieve revenue goals. The key? Transform your company into a meaningful, authentic, and impactful force that goes beyond selling products. 🌟 The Power of Authentic CSR: To truly cut through the noise, your company needs a genuine Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) model. Research suggests we're on the verge of a major shift in consumption patterns, where sustainable brands will take the lead. Here's why sustainability matters: 1️⃣ The Indispensable Role of Trust in Business Outcomes: Employees who have greater trust for their company are more motivated and productive. Trusted consumers choose your brand over competitors, buy again, and promote it. Highly trusted companies outperform others by up to 400% in market value! 2️⃣ Sustainability Builds Trust, Especially with Younger Generations: Sustainability is a powerful driver of trust. Younger consumers value positive intent and transparency. Gen Z and Millennials are 27% more likely to purchase from brands that care about people and the planet. 3️⃣ Future Purchasing Power: Millennials and Gen Z will surpass Boomers in purchasing power by 2030. Up to $68 trillion in wealth will transfer to younger generations by the end of this decade. 🚀 How to Win Trust and Customers: Highlight humanity by valuing diversity, employee well-being, and societal/environmental impact. Emphasize transparency with clear information on your brand's impact. Companies, irrespective of type, should expand sustainability efforts now to win trust and customers in the future. 🌐 The Future is Sustainable. Is Your Company Ready? #Sustainability #CorporateSocialResponsibility #FutureReady #BusinessTransformation

Digging deeper on the benefits of going paperless Sustainability continues to be an important factor for consumers in their interactions with businesses and organizations, with 66% of consumers and 80% of young Americans saying that they are willing to pay more for sustainable brands. We previously shared the benefits of going green and how a transition to digital payment processes helps meet sustainability initiatives. Further exploration reveals the critical role health plans and digitization play in creating the type of sustainability that modern healthcare consumers expect. Some of the environmental impacts associated with paper-based payments are less directly related to the healthcare industry, but they still drive up costs. These include: - Loss of trees - Gas and oil to power vehicles - Material for envelopes and postage - Water use - Human capital All of these impacts drive up costs—particularly during inflationary periods–when multiplied by thousands, or even millions, of checks. Digital payments and communications reduce waste and and can allow for a redirect of resources. https://lnkd.in/e23rFVeW

Last week we had an important event in the field Impact Day. Somehow after it I felt a lot of controversy and mixed feelings. I was thinking several days what bothered me, and the result is – all started with a slogan. I asked AI to help me formulate my thought and reply to the question, why slogan "making sustainability sexy" is not a good marketing slogan? ·      The slogan focuses on style over substance, which can trivialize the seriousness of sustainability. Sustainability is often associated with values like responsibility, stewardship, and social good. The idea of making it "sexy" can feel disconnected from these core values. ·      The term “sexy” can also feel exclusionary or inappropriate in contexts where sustainability should be framed as a universal responsibility, not a trend or fashion statement. Sustainability requires long-term commitment, and a slogan that feels too trendy might undermine that effort by focusing on temporary appeal rather than a deep, lasting message. It could attract the wrong type of attention—people interested in trends rather than meaningful change. I had several conversations to ventilate the idea and the best and sharp outcome was formulated by Mehruba H.: “Being “sexy” is often a feeling projected outward. Since it’s a projection, making sustainability “sexy” means you’re trying to make it appealing to others.  However, if sustainability is only made to appear attractive, it distorts the real agenda of sustainability. This makes the act of making sustainability “sexy” a form of greenwashing.” In that regard, one of first sessions frustrated me: Profitable Sustainability: Myth-Busting and Strategy Building by Jeremy Schwartz – there were controversial message in his speech, kind of undermining true meaning of sustainability as a general message.   Of course, there were a lot of insights and valuable sessions too. My highlights: 1. Empowering Businesses: Digital Tools for Carbon Footprint and ESG Metrics by EIS -  industry leaders showcased their tools and services; a learned a lot new tools, it’s amazing how field is developing! 2. I enjoyed session  “The Ups and Downs of Labor Market Equality” – bravo Riina Sikkut for your words and arguments! 3. Seeding Change: How Sunflower Seeds Are Powering The Sustainable Future – presentation of SUNFLY founder Dmitri Eivin – the approach to speak about you product, putting business into bigger picture and global perspective was great! Very insightful speech. 4. My new favorite topic – “Biodiversity and Business: Is it a Jungle Out There?” Session by Swedbank Estonia. I’m happy to hear that companies are going further from CO2 emissions and start thinking about #biodiversity footprint. #actforimpact #impactday Estonian Business School

What is sustainability in 2024 and where should businesses place their investments? This week. Giuseppe Stigliano and I hosted "On Purpose - A PSFK Discussion at Spring Studios" talk at the PSFK x Spring Studios Coffee Morning. I brought our EVENTMIND gen-Ai content tool to the event to record and analyze the session. Many participants highlighted the critical need for authentic sustainability in business. Discussions covered the challenges of #sustainable practices, issues with #greenwashing, economic pressures on younger generations, growth in the #resale market, and the issue of organizational congruence. The overarching message was that businesses must genuinely align their actions with sustainability claims to remain credible and relevant. Giuseppe Stigliano discussed the critical issue of corporate greenwashing and the importance of congruence between what companies proclaim and what they actually practice. Adam Pacifico emphasized that the pandemic highlighted the younger generation's sensitivity to these inconsistencies, leading to significant turnover when corporate values did not align with their actions    Jeanine Milillo talked about the younger generation’s influence on fashion, particularly their embrace of vintage clothing and clothing swaps as social events. She noted the confusion among brands trying to meet the evolving expectations of young consumers who prioritize sustainability and uniqueness. Eva Gajzer focused on the importance of integrating sustainability from the start, working with artisans and using antiques to reconnect with creativity. She noted the value of experience and guidance from older generations in supporting sustainable practices, emphasizing that sustainability isn't solely the domain of the youth. Ron Prashker discussed the younger generation's high expectations and the reality of economic constraints that make achieving these ideals challenging. He shared insights from the wine industry, where sustainability has been more readily adopted, pointing out the tangible efforts versus mere proclamations. Barbara Thau highlighted the potential of the resale market, driven by younger generations, as a significant component of the future retail landscape. She advocated for making sustainable options more scalable and affordable, moving away from lofty ideals to practical implementations. Michael Keany spoke about the need for process and community activation in achieving sustainable business goals. He underscored the importance of short-term actionable steps to engage communities in the sustainability journey. Jeremy Bergstein emphasized the necessity of community-driven reuse, recycling, and innovation in fashion, reflecting the proactive approach of younger generations in creating their sustainable solutions out of necessity. Fantastic insights that have me thinking deeply about how we can all make a more impactful and genuine commitment to sustainability in our industries.