Why short-term growth mindset can put business at risk

In this episode of the Sustainability Matters podcast, host Nadia Woodhouse from the EY New Economy Unit explores the notion of the extractivist economy. As companies work to meet sustainability goals, a critical question emerges: is our focus on short-term extraction quietly undermining long-term resilience?  

Nadia is joined by economist and writer Professor Tim Jackson and Kiara Konti, Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader for Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants SA (EY Greece). Together, they reveal how overusing natural resources and ignoring systemic degradation may directly threaten global supply chains and day-to-day business stability.  

The conversation confronts major structural challenges — from prioritizing short-term investor returns and overlooking unpriced environmental costs, to an over-reliance on the current metrics of economic growth. Tim and Kiara explain why simply "doing less harm" through superficial sustainability isn't enough, warning that ignoring core dependencies on nature creates severe systemic risks. 

However, they also highlight practical solutions for businesses, such as rethinking value chains around circular models, net-positive impacts and choosing "care over growth," to safeguard both society and long-term business viability.  

Read more about the EY New Economy Unit and their research here.