Thinking about a more sustainable business — an Indicators approach

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Abstract

TXU Europe is one of the leading integrated energy companies in the UK and a fast-growing player in the deregulated energy markets of continental Europe. Its services include electricity generation, energy trading, electricity distribution, and electricity and natural gas marketing. Formerly known as Eastern Group plc, TXU Europe is the European arm of global energy company TXU, which acquired Eastern in 1998 for £4.45 billion. At TXU Europe, we believe that sustainable development is about achieving economic growth — in the form of better living standards for all — while protecting and, where possible, enhancing the environment. This approach does not exclude business development and profit, but rather guides it along a route of environmental protection and social responsibility.

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Organisational structure and responsibilities

A board-level director is responsible for the development of TXU Europe's approach to business sustainability. Cross-business councils help set the tone, style and culture of the organization. The councils are made up of representatives from TXU Europe's businesses and central support functions. They aim to provide a forum for the communication and debate of key issues across the company.

The Sustainability Council

The purpose of the Sustainability Council is to provide leadership and a forum for the communication and

What is business sustainability?

The concept of sustainable development arose from the Rio Earth Summit because of concerns about the effects of unlimited economic growth on the environment and world communities. There is a wide range of implications for business, ranging from the debate on the capacity of the atmosphere to cope with emissions to the distribution of wealth.

The most widely known definition of sustainable development is the Bruntland — ‘Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the

Our approach

Through managed dialogues with our stakeholders, we have learned about integrating balance and inclusion in our decision-making processes, as well as being accountable for our behaviour.

We are engaged in a learning process. This includes the development of sustainability principles, stakeholder dialogues to identify issues, awareness raising with employees, business engagement and action, indicators of progress and verified reporting back to stakeholders. We believe this is central to business

John Hill is an an electrical engineer by profession, trained as a student engineer with The Electricity Supply Industry and has held a succession of management positions within TXU Europe, formerly Eastern Group. He read Philosophy, Politics and Sociology, and holds an MBA from the University of East Anglia. He was appointed Environment Business Manager for Eastern Group in August 1994 and Group Sustainable Business Manager in August 1999.

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  • The Environment Council, +44 (0)20 7836 2626,...
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John Hill is an an electrical engineer by profession, trained as a student engineer with The Electricity Supply Industry and has held a succession of management positions within TXU Europe, formerly Eastern Group. He read Philosophy, Politics and Sociology, and holds an MBA from the University of East Anglia. He was appointed Environment Business Manager for Eastern Group in August 1994 and Group Sustainable Business Manager in August 1999.

Adapted from a presentation made at the Business Strategy & the Environment Conference — Leeds University, 18/19th September 2000.

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