We are #SustainablePublicAffairs, a Public Affairs, Public Relations, and Communications agency.

We represent a new way of doing PA/PR and communications and aim to set a new standard for our industry. That is why we chose the rather odd name #SustainablePublicAffairs…

Working with #SustainablePublicAffairs should have meaning that goes beyond traditional advocacy. It fits into our Zeitgeist, aims to create a positive impact, and should say something about you – either as an employee or as a client. 

I hope this letter provides more clarity on what we do and what we stand for.

Our mission statement is that #SustainablePublicAffairs wants to be the world’s most sustainable Public Affairs consultancy. We run our operations sustainably and, more importantly, only take on cases that have a positive impact on the environment. We work for sustainable frontrunners and want to make their performance the norm for the rest. We believe in market-led sustainability and advocate for regulatory conditions that optimise that.

What lobbyists choose to promote has consequences for society. Our lobbying helps to create a society that rewards sustainability. To achieve this, we always abide by three values, without which sustainability cannot exist: Positivity, Integrity and Transparency.

But what is sustainability?

It is difficult to define – and people much smarter than ourselves have not even fully figured it out – so we can only give our own interpretation, which is: 

Sustainable Public Affairs is the practice of lobbying for more ambitious environmental policies or better enforcement of the current regulations.

Those who advocate for such causes are usually the ones who already outperform current EU environmental norms – and we call them Sustainable Frontrunners. 

We are there for them and it is our mission to foster policy-driven growth for their sustainable business cases, by making their performance the market standard. 

That also means we cannot simply work for anyone. 

We discuss every new case on its merits, with our colleagues, strategic advisors, our other clients and at home with our loved ones and children. They form our “sustainability board”, our ethical compass. 

If we conclude that our lobbying would not lead to a better environment, we do not take the case. We are serious about that, and we have put this rule into practice many times. 

We respect that everyone has the right to defend their interests, but we leave the promotion of the interests of tobacco, fossil fuels, pesticides, arms and gambling to others. Also, we leave the promotion of the interests of companies that are related to regimes we do not support, to others :-).

#SustainablePublicAffairs is built out of the belief that our profession can make a significant positive contribution to the world of tomorrow, since we have the privilege of operating on the delicate intersection between business and policymaking. 

That is also why positivity is our first value. 

We work with positive energy, in favour of the cases we advocate for, but we are never against others and do not speak badly about competitors. We are inclusive and when we address anyone, we think “brother” or “sister” before we write or speak their names.

We love public affairs and believe we can create positive impact through advocacy. 

At some point in the future, I sincerely hope the need for us becomes obsolete, since all regulators will automatically tie their policies to the best and most sustainable in class. 

Until that day, let’s keep up the good work!

Willem

We lobby for climate positive impacts and we also operate climate positively.

Aiming for policy-driven growth? Get in touch!

Avenue des Arts 56 - 1000 Brussels
+32 (0)4 70 12 16 48
info@sustainablepublicaffairs.com