By Caroline Chamberland, M.Sc., MBA
Sustainable development scares many companies. It is often mistakenly perceived as a cost – whether monetary or in terms of time. Teams are already busy enough, so why add to their workload?
The answer lies in how we approach sustainable development. Companies that view it as a separate area of activity will see it as an additional burden. Conversely, those that integrate it into their decision-making process will find that it becomes a lever for transformation, without weighing down their daily operations.
Let's look at a concrete example.
A transformation born from a simple question
At Produits Métalliques Bussières, a manufacturing company, it all started with a few employees who dared to ask a question: can we do things differently? Their first project aimed to reduce losses resulting from the manufacturing process. This project, although complex, generated three major benefits: a reduction in waste (environmental), a simplification of work for field teams (social), and a decrease in non-quality costs (economic). All this without ever mentioning the words “sustainable development.”
These same employees continued to challenge established practices. In a notoriously difficult environment, they helped improve relations between employees and employers simply by promoting dialogue and kindness. But these advances would not have been possible without the decisive role of management, which chose to create an environment that encouraged initiative and autonomy. The employer acted as a facilitator, providing the trust, resources, and freedom necessary to experiment and innovate. The company chose to treat its employees well, not for economic reasons—although the benefits are real—but because it was the right thing to do.
An evolving corporate culture
Over the years, this company has made numerous micro-decisions in line with its values. The owner eventually decentralized decision-making, allowing employees at all levels to get involved according to their passions, while considering the impact of their choices. This mode of governance, gradually implemented starting with 40 employees, is now used by a team of 115 people. The result: tripled revenue and increased decision-making agility.
Today, Produits Métalliques Bussières is recognized for its commitment to its employees, its reduced environmental footprint, and its leadership role in the community.
Concrete actions, a coherent vision
Here are a few examples of decisions made over time:
- Installation of geothermal heating with radiant flooring in the factory
- Adding natural lighting
- Heat recovery from welding chimneys
- Reducing ambient noise with an acoustics expert
- Industrial synergies to reuse cardboard
- Low-VOC painting process
- Selecting customers based on the relevance of their products
Employees are proud to contribute to this mission. As one of the people who started this wave says:
“We want to shake up the business world. To do that, you have to love people and the planet. Profit is a consequence, not a goal. We need to put love back into our work.”
To paraphrase Simon Sinek:
“Money is like gasoline for a car. The goal is to reach a destination, not to accumulate gasoline.”
And you, where should you begin?
Produits Métalliques Bussières did not have a sustainable development strategy at the outset. It simply used common sense, step by step. The change came from within, driven by curious and committed employees.
Perhaps you already have people like them on your team. Perhaps you have the will, but not yet the path. You are not alone. At Accademia Qualitas, we are here to support you, whether for a one-off project or a structured approach. As experts in the Écoleader Fund, we can even help you obtain a grant covering up to 75% of your project.
But remember: if you don't start, you'll never get there. Take the first step, no matter how small. The important thing is to move forward.
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