IDGs pave the way for dual sustainability from lying flat to action oriented

        The "lying flat culture" has gradually emerged in the Asian labor market in recent years. According to a report by The New York Times, mainland China has extended "disgusting/cross outfit" from lying flat culture, which has not only become a popular online hashtag, but also accumulated billions of views on Weibo. This trend reflects the reordering of life values among young people after the epidemic, but for enterprises, the "lying flat culture" has caused low employee participation and motivation, becoming a hidden concern for the sustainability of the enterprise and even the environment.

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        Why can't companies just 'lie flat' anymore?

        Against the backdrop of globalization and intensified environmental challenges, businesses are facing unprecedented pressure on sustainability issues. include:

        1、 Climate change: According to Munich Re, the total economic losses caused by natural disasters worldwide in 2024 are estimated to be around USD 320 billion. At the beginning of this year, Los Angeles was ravaged by wildfires, resulting in at least 7 deaths, over 6000 buildings burned down, and economic losses of up to USD 57 billion.

        2、 Economic challenge: after Trump was elected, he held high the banner of petrochemical industry and the priority of the United States, which may make the soaring energy prices and supply chain disruption become normal. If enterprises are not resilient, they will face higher costs and operational risks.

        3、 Social responsibility: Consumers and investors are becoming increasingly demanding. A survey by Deloitte suggests that global ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) related investments will reach USD 50 trillion by 2025. In addition, international governments are accelerating the standardization of sustainable policies, requiring companies to disclose more climate impact data and impose taxes based on carbon emissions.

        How do IDGs lead employees from lying flat to standing up?

        The non-profit organization Inner Development Goals, based on the concept that "internal change can drive external system change," released the "Inner Development Goals (IDGs)" in 2020, providing individuals with an internal framework to practice sustainability development goals. Through five categories and 23 skills, it helps companies reshape their culture and capabilities internally and respond to external challenges. At present, IDGs have been introduced by the Swedish government, the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, as well as well-known companies such as IKEA, Nestl é, and Siemens, to enhance the Go Innovation and resilience of organizational members.

        The five major categories of IDGs are:--

        Being: Cultivating self-awareness and psychological resilience. Enterprises can use mindfulness training to help employees stay calm and focused under pressure.

        Thinking: Developing systematic thinking and innovative abilities to help teams solve complex problems from a long-term perspective.

        Relation: Promote trust and cooperation, advocate deep communication across departments and cultures.

        Collaboration: Strengthen collective action and conflict resolution, provide tools to help teams solve problems together, and form cohesion.

        Acting: Emphasize goal orientation and a sense of responsibility. Enterprises can design participatory projects for employees, such as internal green innovation challenges, to stimulate action.

        IKEA, which has been committed to sustainability development for a long time, has introduced the IDGs framework since 2023. Through mindfulness training and employee collaboration programs, it enhances internal cultural resilience. Not only does the management actively participate in the design and implementation of a recycled economy, but it also develops innovative solutions such as recycled furniture and rental services, successfully transforming 30% of its products into recycled economy products.

        Coincidentally, Nestl é has also introduced IDGs as a sustainable accelerator, launching the "Net Zero Roadmap" globally and verifying the feasibility of regenerative agriculture technology through small-scale pilot projects. Nowadays, Nestle's regenerative agriculture program has collaborated with over 500000 farmers worldwide to help build resilience against the impacts of climate change and effectively reduce environmental burdens in the supply chain.

        FE SOGO Department stores pave the way for talent development, workplace sustainability, and environmental sustainability

        At Far Eastern Group SOGO department store, we deeply understand that talent is an important core driving sustainability. In order to enable each employee to find a sense of value and achievement in their work, a series of internal training courses and activities with sustainability as the core have been specially designed, paving the way for dual sustainability for both the enterprise and the environment. In addition to various functional and internal growth courses, we also encourage the promotion of bottom-up, countercultural and sustainable education. Since 2021, ESG sustainability strategy workshops have been held for supervisors at or above the level of department head, and employees' sustainability proposals have been selected and incorporated into the company's sustainability blueprint. This has since evolved into the "Reverse Mentor" course "Cheers!" as a platform for colleagues from different generations to easily exchange growth experiences.

        We have also established the 'ESG Innovation Proposal Award' to encourage colleagues to discover possibilities for promoting sustainability in their daily work. Through these efforts, employees can become action oriented professionals in the workplace and become an important force in promoting environmental sustainability. Our diverse and continuously innovative work culture has not only gained recognition from employees, but also won the "Asia's Best Corporate Employer Award" hosted by HR Asia, an authoritative human resources publication in Asia. Our sustainable efforts from the inside out have also been recognized by over 210 sustainability awards at home and abroad, earning us the title of the "North Star" of Taiwan's retail industry's "Sustainability Development".

        Create infinite possibilities with inner strength

        In this rapidly changing era, what enterprises need is not only short-term adaptability, but also long-term internal stability. IDGs provides a clear path that combines intrinsic development with sustainable goals, allowing each employee to find their own value and become a driving force for change.

        FE SOGO Department stores have achieved it, and you can too!

        IDGs Five Categories and 23 Skills (Source: Inner Development Goals        

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