How Tim Wren Of BSI Group Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice
An Interview With Monica Sanders
Becoming more sustainable does not equal less profit. Research shows that consumers, now more than ever, have an appetite for brands that live up to their social and moral values. This is why sustainable and green initiatives are a becoming a core part of business strategy today.
According to the University of Colorado, “Those who are most affected and have the fewest resources to adapt to climate change are also the least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions — both globally and within the United States.” Promoting climate justice is an incredibly important environmental responsibility that is slowly becoming more and more recognized. In this interview series, we are talking to leaders who are helping to promote sustainability and climate justice. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Tim Wren, Chief Commercial Officer at BSI.
Tim Wren is the Chief Commercial Officer for BSI Group, responsible for strategic revenue growth, marketing and commercial excellence globally. Tim joined BSI eight years ago and has served as Global SVP Key Accounts, Americas Commercial Director and the Americas Chief Operating Officer, responsible for Certification, Training and CE mark business throughout the Americas. Prior to joining BSI, Tim held many executive and senior leadership roles in both civilian and military settings.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, but I grew up in the great state of Utah, as the oldest of nine children. I loved school and sports, specifically football and wrestling and have great parents; there was never a dull moment at home.
Everyone has a cataclysmic moment or marker in their life which propels them to take certain actions, a “why”. What is your why?
As I look back, my “why” stems from a question posed by my trigonometry teacher in high school, Mr. Sayes — “Would anyone be interested in going to West Point?” I raised my hand not fully grasping what I was getting myself into, but the answer to that question and the action I took thereafter changed the course of my life. It put me on a path of leadership development and sparked a passion for management and a desire to work for organizations that are purpose-driven, such as BSI.
You are currently leading an organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change?
BSI is a business improvement and standards company that partners with more than 77,500 clients globally across multiple sectors. Our focus is providing organizations with the confidence to grow by working with them to tackle society’s most critical issues — from climate change to building trust in AI and everything in between — to accelerate progress toward a fair society and a sustainable world.
We’ve been having a positive impact on organizations and society, building trust and enhancing lives for over a century. Today, it’s about drawing on our history to go even further in the future– working with businesses, governments and other stakeholders to enable the transition to a Net Zero economy and a truly sustainable tomorrow.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
One of the most impactful moments in my career occurred this past April. I was proud to lead BSI in awarding the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) certification of the Sustainable Events Management System Standard (BS ISO 20121). The IMF is the latest in a growing line of organizations meeting this important benchmark to help drive progress and shape a more sustainable way to host events.
For background, we’ve seen COP28, the G7, London Olympics, Tokyo Olympics and many more meet it already, by making landmark and meaningful commitments in areas such as energy consumption, food waste, water conservation, waste management and other areas. BSI was asked to audit the IMF’s plan for its Spring Meeting and after reviewing the organization’s commitment to its environmental, social and economic impacts, we determined that the organization achieved the benchmark for certification. What was particularly exciting about partnering with the IMF was the opportunity to set an example for other organizations. What starts with the IMF can continue with all events, by helping businesses meet the global challenges we face to protect the environment and our natural resources, mitigate against climate change and drive social and economic progress.
BSI publishes and certifies organizations to standards in many different areas of sustainability. For me, what is interesting about playing a leadership role at BSI is that every day we get to think about how we can help accelerate progress towards a fair society and a sustainable world — and then take action to directly impact organizations, people and the planet.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
I have had so many great mentors and coaches along the way, including my high school teacher Mr. Sayes, who I mentioned earlier. I had a tactical officer at West Point, Captain Dan Deleo, who took me aside one day and told me, “Cadet Wren, there are three things in your life that you need to balance: your job, your family and your God. I can’t tell you how you should balance them and prioritize them and no one else can either. You are the one that has to look at yourself in the mirror every day and determine if you are balancing correctly at that time.”
That conversation is one that I think of often and has helped me evaluate and adjust my efforts depending on life’s challenges and opportunities. Captain Deleo reminded me that I am in charge of my life and I can decide where to spend my time and effort.
Thank you for that. Let’s now move to the central part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition of terms so that everyone is on the same page. What does climate justice mean to you? How do we operationalize it?
Climate justice to me means the world being sustainable, in the fullest sense, in every region and for every individual, so that people and planet can thrive. It doesn’t just mean reaching net zero, it means profound change alongside practical problem-solving — on climate, quality of life, and many other areas. There’s urgency in every aspect of the drive for sustainability.
In terms of how we operationalize it, that is the core of BSI’s work. We help organizations deliver substantial environmental, economic and social benefits, ultimately designed to tackle climate change and other issues. We partner with organizations to identify and manage the impact of its operations on the environment and community, to help uncover relevant legislation and most importantly, support the efficient use of resources by implementing powerful policies.
We know we cannot achieve these objectives on our own. Instead, we create impact by getting people together: thinking, working and innovating — by partnering to effect change and drive progress.
Science is telling us that we have 7–10 years to make critical decisions about climate change. What are three things you or your organization are doing to help?
BSI produced the world’s first environmental management standard in 1992, and since then we’ve led the way in developing new standards around climate change, in areas including energy management, Sustainable Finance, Net Zero, Circular Economy and Sustainable Events Management, to name but a few.
Three specific examples highlighting how BSI is addressing the climate crisis include our work to help organizations become net zero and tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and water security.
Firstly, there was the launch of the Net Zero Guidelines at COP27. The guidelines were an output of Our 2050 World, a collaboration of international organizations and standards bodies, facilitated by BSI. In three months, more than 1,200 organizations and individuals globally convened to develop a set of universal guidelines for organizations, defining and supporting the journey to become net zero. This was a monumental achievement. A year after its launch, the guidelines were accessed over 100,000 times, supporting a myriad of organizations to create comprehensive net zero strategies.
Another key area where BSI is accelerating progress toward a sustainable world is within AMR and working to reduce environmental discharge. In 2022 we launched a new global standard for AMR, designed to promote and attest to the responsible manufacturing of antibiotics in the global supply chain to help minimize the risk of aquatic toxicity and the spread of AMR. More specifically, the standard focuses on controlling antibiotic waste discharge to not only retain the medicine’s long-term effectiveness, but to create a cleaner ecosystem. This is now a certifiable standard, and last year we were proud to announce the first set of certified companies.
Lastly, BSI has focused its efforts on water security. In the last year, we have undertaken work in partnership with the NGO Waterwise to draw attention to this underrecognized problem. While water is abundant on earth, only one to three percent is freshwater, of which only 0.5 percent is considered accessible. Furthermore, annual global water use has increased by around 1,351 square miles globally in the last century. Through BSI’s campaign, Thirst for Change, we have sought to inform individuals and organizations looking to drive progress on water stewardship. As we look ahead, we are continuing to investigate research to understand how we can partner across society to embed a water-saving culture and further drive progress.
Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you in your mission?
Ultimately, I believe building a sustainable world is about collaboration. No individual, organization or policymaker can make a difference on their own. What all these groups can do is come together and find consensus about what will make a difference. BSI’s unique position to bring together government, private sector and NGOs makes us well-placed to support that collaboration.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
Sustainability was once seen as a separate activity for businesses. Today, it has become a core part of business strategy. Overall, there is a huge amount of progress being made across the green economy, including more businesses realizing that sustainability and environmental consciousness do not impact profit. In fact, purpose-driven green businesses can be well-placed to grow because consumers have an appetite for brands that live up to its purpose. According to BSI research, younger consumers are especially attuned, with nearly three in four 18 to 24-year-olds considering purpose when making purchasing decisions. Similarly, in BSI’s recent 2024 Net Zero Barometer, 48 percent of businesses said reducing cost was the key incentive to pursuing net zero, indicating a growing understanding of the economic impact of sustainability measures.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started promoting sustainability and climate justice” and why?
- It is more than just carbon. When I first heard about sustainability it was all about carbon. As I’ve “matured” I’ve come to find Sustainability with the big “S”. The big “S” broadens the conversation to encompass the Environment, Sustainability and Governance issue. It covers a fair society and a sustainable world. That matters because everyone has a different level of passion for different elements of Sustainability — by broadening the topic, space is made for everyone to find an element they are passionate about.
- It is not about being right, it is about moving in the right direction. I have seen companies get bogged down on taking action because they do not know what the “right” thing to do is or the exact way to measure it. If I can quote Nike, “Just do it.” Start in a direction and adjust as you move forward.
- Just because you think it is a good idea, it does not mean others will agree. Within sustainability and climate justice, there is a lot of passion. Sometimes passion prevents us from working with others who share different opinions or levels of enthusiasm about the subject. When interacting with others we need to take the time to explain the issue, the potential solutions and its benefits. With that said, despite our best efforts, they may not want to join us in this mission; in that case, create a friend, not an enemy.
- Sustainability is mindset, not just a goal and metrics. This is something I’ve been working on to broaden my impact to my friends and family. My mindset impacts those areas outside of work where I can make a personal difference. Sometimes it’s as simple as turning off the TV. That may sound funny, but for someone who likes background noise when I’m doing other things, this is big change due to a mindset, and some encouragement from my amazing spouse.
- Becoming more sustainable does not equal less profit. Research shows that consumers, now more than ever, have an appetite for brands that live up to their social and moral values. This is why sustainable and green initiatives are a becoming a core part of business strategy today.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)
Condoleezza Rice is someone I have admired for years for her leadership during turbulent times and ongoing commitment to society and good. I would love for her to run for President of the United States and would love to try and influence her to do so.
I would need to also say Taylor Swift in case my daughter is reading this. Perhaps we can tag her too.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
BSI’s work is online at www.bsigroup.com and readers are welcome to follow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyswren/ where I post about the work that I and BSI are involved in.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org
