Sustainability has always been integral to Transport Capital and we find it to be a key contributor to our long-term success. At the helm of our sustainability agenda is Joshua Politis, Deputy Managing Partner, who also leads the Transport Capital Green Committee. Here’s what he has to share on how small-medium shipping companies can put ESG at the core of their business and why it’s essential to get started.
Q: Everything begins with a purpose. What was the defining moment that led the company to publish its very first sustainability report?
Joshua Politis (JP): We have always valued diversity in our team, efficiency in our operations and a high regard for ethics in all our practices, as this is what we believed was the best way for our business to thrive. The process of publishing our first report led us to formalise and document many of the actions we were inherently doing, as well as to benchmark ourselves against some of our much larger peers, learn and address any gaps we had.
Q: A change of mindset is required for change to happen. What is the mindset that decision-makers need to adopt when it comes to driving change within the company?
JP: The first step is to create awareness, educate stakeholders on the consequences of not changing and on the positive impact we can make within our industry. Without this understanding, change cannot happen.
As to ‘why change’? We need to get the key decision-makers on board. A sustainability report can add value in many ways – one of them being education and awareness.
Q: Any wise words for the naysayers?
JP: This is not a fad that is going away. Same as the energy transition – if you don’t get on board, you risk not having a business at some point in the future. Plus, early movers have an advantage in setting the playing field.
Q: What do you think is a key challenge for small-medium companies that are starting out their ESG journey? How can they overcome this?
JP: There is a cost in terms of time and effort, as well as monetary expenses to doing it right. However, taking a long-term view is not an expense but an investment into your business’ future and viability. I firmly believe not doing anything will result in the biggest cost of all.
Q: In the past few years, what would you say was the biggest takeaway/learning when it comes to Transport Capital’s own sustainability journey?
JP: Doing things right is not easy. We make mistakes and set ourselves ambitious goals that we may not reach right away. The key is being open and transparent, both to ourselves and the outside world. In the end, this is a transition. As long as we are working in the right direction, we are making a meaningful contribution.
Q: How do you see the company moving forward with its ESG agenda?
JP: Always trying to improve, and continuously embedding ESG in the business will lead to new opportunities for the business to grow.
Q: How do you think the industry can accelerate to meet its decarbonisation goals?
JP: Taking a long-term view as well as strong collaboration is key. Decarbonisation does not happen from one day to the next and requires many stakeholders to join forces: governments, policy makers, customers, and all others.
All of us need to jointly shape the solutions that the future needs and transform the business. This means you will stay relevant and likely thrive as an early mover.
