In today’s business world, sustainability is no longer just about carbon footprints or financial disclosures—it’s about people. This was the core message of the recent webinar “People-Centered Sustainability: Cultivating Culture and Impact in Business,” featuring Nana Sbeihi and Lucas Rosenkvist from Copenhagen-based KHRS.

From Facility Services to Human Empowerment

Founded in 1981, KHRS provides hotel facility management, but its mission extends far beyond operations. With staff from 67+ nationalities, the company has made inclusion its foundation by:

• Inclusive hiring of refugees, immigrant women, and individuals facing barriers such as illiteracy or negative social control.
• Upskilling programs through KHRS Academy and its multilingual digital platform EasyLearn.
• Collaborations with municipalities and EU projects to support integration, women’s empowerment, and mental health.
• B Corp certification (2023), proof of its commitment to balancing profit and purpose.

Why It Matters

For Nana, sustainability must address real human needs—health, equality, and quality of life. “Solutions must be adapted to people’s life situations,” she explained, noting that flexibility and empathy build long-term loyalty. Lucas added that KHRS’s low absenteeism and high retention are direct results of putting people first: “It’s not just good for people, it’s good for business.”

Stories of Transformation

KHRS’s impact is seen in lives like:

• Amna, a Sudanese refugee unemployed for 17 years, who gained work, financial independence, and reunited with her children.
• Samira, from Morocco, who overcame illiteracy and restrictive social norms to thrive with new confidence and independence.

These stories show that people-centered sustainability is not abstract policy—it changes lives.

Technology as a Support

As automation grows, KHRS uses technology to relieve, not replace workers. Robotics reduce physical strain, while AI tools support scheduling and translation, enabling employees to focus on work requiring human care and attention.

Lessons and the Future

KHRS proves that people-centered sustainability doesn’t require massive investment—only time, empathy, and collaboration. By building trust, tailoring support, and working with public partners, companies everywhere can replicate this model.

Both Nana and Lucas see hope in more businesses embedding social sustainability into ESG strategies. As KHRS demonstrates, when companies invest in people, they create resilience, loyalty, and lasting impact.

Want to dive deeper? Sign up as an ESG Business Institute Member to view the full recording of this webinar and gain access to more exclusive insights.