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Why diversity is good for sustainability and business
A study of 4011 video game projects published by The National Library of Medicine found that increased diversity and inclusion within the projects led to an increase in creativity. Here Greg Brotherton, Resourcing Advisor for Ovarro, a specialist in remote telemetry systems, explains how aligning environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles with recruitment for engineering roles can support creativity, product innovations and even benefit manufacturers’ bottom line.
The gaming industry study — conducted by academics from the University of Oxford and the University of Budapest — measured gaming projects on their gender diversity plus inclusivity. The results showed that teams with low inclusivity, “when there is a ‘token’ female team member highly integrated in a male network”, were less creative. Those with high inclusivity, “based on de-segregation, strong ties across genders and the incorporation of women into the core of the team”, produced more creative results.
This is a great example of how the social criteria of environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals can benefit businesses in unexpected ways. Indeed, Forbes magazine reports that diversity boosts innovation and financial results, quoting the book How Diversity Makes Us Smarter: “Diversity jolts us into cognitive action in ways that homogeneity simply does not.”
Yet, despite these creative and financial advantages, many companies overlook the significant impact of recruitment practices on their ESG goals. Let’s look more closely at the benefits.
Diversity and inclusion
First, why are ESG objectives so important? Increasingly, businesses’ ESG commitments demonstrate their conduct in relation to environmental preservation and societal welfare — which include human rights and labour practices. ESG objectives have become a big obligation for businesses, particularly for investors and socially conscious stakeholders, who are increasingly basing their investment choices on companies’ ESG performance.
Investopedia reports that “Behaving in a consistently ethical manner can lock in a solid reputation and long-term financial rewards for companies”, while a study of 366 public companies by McKinsey found those with more diverse management teams were more likely to have higher financial returns.
What steps can businesses take to promote these qualities in their workforce? Examples from our own business include Ovarro being a ‘Real Living Wage’ and ‘Disability Confident’ employer; we also are looking to build inclusive teams through various diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) projects. That includes, to paraphrase The National Library of Medicine’s report, integration diversity into the core of our teams’ networks.
For instance, Ovarro strives to see interview candidates from diverse backgrounds to encourage representation and inclusion at all levels in the organisation. We also hold regular training sessions to eliminate unconscious bias from the recruitment strategy and process.
Inspiring Gen Z
Strong ESG principles can also help attract top talent. A YouGov study found that 75% of millennials and Gen Z are open to taking a reduced salary in exchange for employment at an environmentally responsible company; while 64% would not consider working for a company lacking strong social values.
Ovarro’s partnerships with educational institutions, such as the UK’s University of Sheffield and University of Huddersfield, among others, play a crucial role in its recruitment initiatives for ESG goals. These partnerships involve collaborating with universities, colleges and schools to create programs and initiatives that promote awareness of ESG issues and prepare students for careers that align with these values.
At Ovarro, where we specialise in developing technology for monitoring and controlling water, energy and infrastructure networks, attracting candidates passionate about sustainability is paramount. However, my prior experience recruiting for a racing video game company taught me the importance of seeking candidates who not only possess passion for the sector, but also fill knowledge gaps and challenge the team.
Similarly, we prioritise candidates with a passion for sustainability while ensuring diversity in our talent pool. In fact, we have recently launched another ambitious graduate training program, which encompasses both engineering and sales opportunities. The latter is harnessing the potential of recent graduates to bolster Ovarro’s sales function through data analytics, and eventually develop a dedicated sales operations team. By investing in their education and development, the company can cultivate a pipeline of candidates who are passionate about ESG principles.
The graduates are all enthusiastic about their roles at Ovarro, eager to develop skills, collaborate and contribute to the company’s mission to help drastically reduce water leakages around the world. It is just one example of how, to quote The National Library of Medicine study, businesses can greatly enhance the future development of their own leak-detection solutions by improving “the collective intelligence and creative capacity” of teams.
Image credit: iStock.com/oakstudio22
Record year for corporate clean energy as contracts reach 100 gigawatts
Amazon, Google and Microsoft are among companies that bought 21.7 gigawatts of solar, wind, nuclear and geothermal power in 2024.
The post Record year for corporate clean energy as contracts reach 100 gigawatts appeared first on Trellis.
9 Industry Insiders on What Sustainable Luxury Fashion Really Means
This week, the Institute of Positive Fashion Forum will seek to push the industry closer to circularity and net-zero targets through a range of keynotes and panel sessions. But what does a better future really look like? Shailja Dubé, the Institute’s deputy director, believes stringent target setting and driving equity through the supply chain are […]
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Schneider Electric announces sustainability award winners
Schneider Electric has announced the Pacific winners of its annual Sustainability Impact Awards.
Announced at Schneider’s Innovation Summit 2025 in Sydney, the awards celebrate businesses leading the way in decarbonisation, energy efficiency and sustainable transformation.
This year’s selection criteria were said to have highlighted companies turning their ambition into action, homing in on net-zero targets, electrification and digitisation.
SA Power Networks and WaterNSW were named Pacific Customer Joint winners for their commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship, and are said to be setting a new benchmark for sustainability in the Pacific region.
With nearly 80% of SA Power Networks’ operation using renewable energies, the company was recognised for its progressive efforts to accelerate South Australia’s renewable energy transition.
Partnering with Schneider Electric to implement SF6-free switchgear and Dynamic Operating Envelopes, SA Power Networks is enhancing grid stability and sustainability.
WaterNSW was awarded for its approach to sustainable water management. The organisation boosted its water monitoring and management capabilities by implementing a suite of telemetry and AI-driven compliance tools, including drones, remote sensing and climate data modelling.
Water NSW also developed inclusive and equitable sustainability policies, including supporting First Nations’ water rights and ownership.
The top winners in the Sustainability Impact ‘Partner Awards’ category in the Pacific Zone were Datacom and UPS Power Solutions.
This award acknowledges Schneider Electric partners demonstrating sustainable leadership by helping their customers achieve decarbonisation goals. Datacom received the Australian and the International Operations Partner Awards for its sustainability commitments, including its net-zero emissions target by 2030.
Datacom has already transitioned its New Zealand data centres to 100% renewable energy, reduced work-related air travel by 40% and optimised logistics to minimise waste.
Embedding sustainability across its operations, Datacom extends this commitment to its customers, providing emissions data to help them make informed decisions.
UPS Power Solutions received the New Zealand Partner Award for its dedication to sustainability and innovation.
UPS Power Solutions is New Zealand’s provider of back-up power and protection solutions. It delivers energy-efficient, reliable power solutions to major organisations across the Pacific.
This award recognises the company’s efforts to help other businesses transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
“This year’s award winners — SA Power Networks, WaterNSW, Datacom and UPS Power Solutions — exemplify how connecting innovation and collaboration can accelerate the energy transition and contribute to raising sustainability benchmarks in the region,” said Schneider Electric’s Pacific Zone President Colette Munro.
“We’re proud to recognise and support organisations making progress on their sustainability journeys, demonstrating how the right technology and commitment can make such great positive impact.”
Image caption: Schneider Innovation Summit Sydney 2025 Awards. Image: Supplied.