– Companies that engage in CSR and ESG work to improve social conditions, support local communities and care for equal access to the resources we received from our ancestors. In addition, these companies build a positive image and gain the trust of customers, investors and business partners, and their good reputation translates into greater customer loyalty and better relations with investors – this is an excerpt from a letter written by Professor Jerzy Buzek to the participants of the conference 'Transforacja czy Katastrofa: Entrepreneurship in times of ESG and sustainable development’, which took place on 17 June at the Piast Castle in Racibórz. Prof. Jerzy Buzek held honorary patronage of the event.
The event brought together entrepreneurs, politicians, local government officials and academics to debate the impact of sustainability regulations on business and society. Participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences and insights in this field. The organisers of the conference were Joanna Kruszewska, owner of the training company G2K and vice-president of the Sustainable Development Foundation, and Aleksandra Dik, CEO of the Business Support Institute and owner of the PR agency Adventure Media. The event was co-organised by the City of Racibórz and the Racibórz Poviat.
The conference provided a platform to discuss the impact of EU sustainability regulations on the operations of SME companies in Poland. Key issues raised included effective management of ESG factors (environment, society, corporate governance), counting the carbon footprint, using communication to build strategies based on corporate social responsibility, and how to meet the challenges and use them to build market advantage.
Letter of Intent
A significant highlight of the event was the signing of a letter of intent, on the establishment of a Parliamentary Communication and Cooperation Team for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship. This initiative is a response to business concerns about the lack of regulatory clarity, the cost of implementing ESG standards and operational and financial risks.
The establishment of the team aims to raise awareness among entrepreneurs on ESG factors and sustainability, to facilitate access to factual information from different areas, and thus to promote economic development and cross-sectoral dialogue. The originator of the letter and its author was Aleksandra Dik. The document was handed over to Gabriela Lenartowicz MP, who will submit it to the Sejm.
– Supporting initiatives such as the conference on ESG factors is an important aspect of the county’s activities. The speakers and debates effectively demonstrated that the topic of sustainability is present and needs to be looked at closely. We are delighted that the conference was held at the Piast Castle, which itself has recently undergone its own transformation. – said Ewa Lewandowska, deputy mayor of the Racibórz district. – The presence of people from business, science and politics shows that ESG regulations are linked to many areas of life and entrepreneurship.
– The topic of ESG can cause concern among businesses, which is why organising such conferences is essential. The impact of these factors on business is inevitable, and such events help to broaden awareness and provide an opportunity to gain valuable information. – said Marlena Miąsko, Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice. – The turnout, as well as the experts who attended the conference, clearly show how necessary such initiatives are. A space to exchange knowledge is needed and I am glad that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice could be a part of this event – added Marlena Miąsko.
– ESG factors, means that modern companies take into account environmental, social and managerial aspects. These measures make it possible to assess whether a company is moving towards a change not only in energy, but also in civilisation. Regulated companies are moving towards increasing climate neutrality and a closed loop economy. The future of business depends on decisions taken today – said MEP Gabriela Lenartowicz.
– It is about using as few non-renewable resources as possible. Moreover, such companies are not only working for the environment, but also for their immediate surroundings and society as a whole. Of course, these are not easy topics, but we try to talk about them in a clear and understandable way so that the average consumer can understand them. We realise that the way ESG factors are reported can seem complicated. However, thanks to such conferences, you can learn both the technical information and the communication information related to operating in accordance with ESG regulations – added G. Lenartowicz.
Dr. Paweł Strózik, Rector of the Academy of Applied Sciences in Racibórz, emphasised the importance of cooperation between business and academia and the fact that the Racibórz academy has been implementing a programme taking into account the principles of sustainable development for many years.
Marta Marczuk, ambassador of the European Climate Pact, acknowledged that although sustainability is being talked about more and more, there is still much to be done in this area.
Challenges and space for discussion
– The conference was extremely inspiring, but we realise how much work still lies ahead. Implementing ESG is not just a new set of regulations, but a fundamental change in the way we think about doing business. It is a big challenge because it requires businesses to re-evaluate their existing strategies and operations. We need to talk openly about these challenges because the future of our businesses and communities depends on our approach to these issues. – said Joanna Kruszewska (G2K/Sustainable Development Foundation), co-organiser of the conference
– The key objective of our conference was to provide knowledge that lays the foundation for informed decision-making by entrepreneurs. What I am most pleased about is that we were able to create a space for substantive discussions both during the official panels and behind the scenes. It is clear that entrepreneurs want change, but need clear guidelines and practical guidance. Our aim was to facilitate this process through education and knowledge exchange – said Aleksandra Dik (Instytut Wspierania Biznesu/Adventure Media), co-organiser of the conference.
Lectures and presentations
The introductory lecture entitled: 'Energy transition. Facts and Myths” was given by Prof. Marcin Lutyski of the Silesian University of Technology. He drew attention to various aspects relating to climate, energy and also the funding of scientific research.
Wiktoria Dziaduła, a doctoral student at the Silesian University of Technology, presented the result of her scientific work in the form of a start-up that will be the first in the world to test volcanic microalgae for air purification on the International Space Station in her paper 'Space Technologies for Sustainable Development’. She talked about innovative architectural solutions that can be applied in extreme environments such as space, deserts and underwater environments.
Kamila Luft from the Research Network Łukasiewicz Non-ferrous Metals Institute presented to the audience the possibilities of obtaining funding from the Horizon Europe Funds for sustainable development.
An attraction available to all participants was the display of 3 Toyota electric and hybrid car models set up in the castle courtyard. Those wishing could arrange a test drive.
Dynamic debates with audience participation
Two expert debates were held during the meeting. The first concerned technical issues such as emissions, carbon footprint, energy charges, fuels of the future, resource recovery. It was chaired by Joanna Kruszewska. The debate was attended by Izabela Garus, Toyota Czajka Key Account Specialist, Wiktor Krawczyk, President of the Management Board of GHG Professional, Prof. Marcin Lutyski, Professor at the Silesian University of Technology, and Rafał Dojka, Production Director of Odlewnia Rafamet.
The second debate concerned issues related to ESG communication, management strategies, greenwashing, but also legal, financial and technological challenges related to the implementation of ESG factors. It was chaired by Aleksandra Dik. The following took part in the debate as experts: Gabriela Lenartowicz, MP; Katarzyna Hiller, legal counsel, representing RIG Katowice and the chamber’s ESG Compliance department; Maciej Borkowski, CEO of Fornax Polska SA; and Przemysław Rakoczy, CEO of the Sustainable Development Foundation and ambassador for Poland of the European Climate Pact.
The audience also actively participated in both debates, vigorously discussing with the experts and sharing their insights and comments. Their involvement enriched the discussions, bringing practical perspectives and valuable experience. Admission to the conference was free of charge.
Patrons and coorganisers
The event was held under the honorary patronage of prof. Jerzy Buzek, Ministry of Development and Technology, MEP Gabriela Lenartowicz, MEP Łukasz Kohut, European Climate Pact, Racibórz District Starost Grzegorz Swoboda, Mayor of Racibórz Jacek Wojciechowicz, Mayor of Rybnik Paweł Kuczera, Regional Chamber of Commerce in Katowice, Racibórz Chamber of Commerce, Rybnik Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Western Sub-region Companies Forum, Silesian University of Technology, Academy of Applied Sciences in Racibórz, Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals and Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas.
Organisers: Aleksandra Dik (Instytut Wspierania Biznesu/Adventure Media PR agency), Joanna Kruszewska (G2K – Training Group, Sustainable Development Foundation).
Co-organisers: Racibórz Poviat Starosty, City of Racibórz.