Random

Biz Strategy

Responsible: For what, towards whom, and who indeed is?

June 1, 2021

Corporate responsibility, business ethics, sustainability, ESG. Whatever the terminology there are three fundamental questions that underpin all decisions, actions, strategies in this regard. These questions are strategically relevant for any board of directors. Because they are the basis upon which fiduciary duty is constructed. And: they outline the framework within which the fiduciary duty of a board is bound to evolve over time.

Biz Strategy Book Reviews

Sustainability for enterprises – ideally and practically

March 23, 2010

The Sustainable Enterprise Fieldbook” presents a prism of viewpoints that discuss and suggest approaches of how corporate environments can embrace sustainability.

Biz Strategy Governance Opinions

The Colours of Us: Go serious – Or go home

July 7, 2020

This post is going to be somewhat more personal than how I usually write. Normally, I try to write and argument as factually and data driven as possible. I’m not one that feels comfortable to carry my emotions on my sleeve. And even less as some of the topics I write about are truly important to me. But: There are a couple of things that upset me in the present. They related to the #blacklivesmatter movement on the one hand, but maybe more specifically to the related discussion on #racism – globally. -> Includes a list of practical resources for corporate boards

Biz Strategy Brand Review Globalisation

What is Uniqlo’s CSR track record? Part 2: Diversity & Inclusion

September 27, 2010

Uniqlo's corporate Diversity and Inclusion policy in number. 2nd of an article series that analyses Uniqlo and why it joint forced with Bangladesh's Grameen Bank.

Biz Strategy Finance Globalisation

Energy Industry & Carbon Trajectory: A tale of two Trajectories

February 23, 2021

Carbon – together with biodiversity – is one of THE most critical dimensions among the Planetary Boundaries. Because the already existing overshoot is putting our civilisation at risk. So far nothing new under the sun. The energy sector is the by far most impactful sector: directly and indirectly our carbon footprint depends on how they fuel our civilisation. The big elephant in the room is of course: How well are badly do energy companies perform right now in terms of their carbon footprint? And: Do they have at the least commitments to work on a Paris Agreement trajectory? I look into these questions. Spoiler Alert: The results are pretty much in line with expectations. Yet: among the innovators, not everyone does perform as well as they probably should ...

Biz Strategy Circularity Globalisation

Global pandemic and resistant economies: The time is now

April 28, 2020

As I write this, it is late April. And our lessons from the last few weeks in Corona lock down and the impact of the pandemic on our communities and societies, all over the world, have thrown an even harsher light onto some of the realities we either assumed as a given, or worked hard to change for years already. And the lessons have been truly tough medicine.

Biz Strategy Book Reviews

The Third Bottom Line

March 23, 2010

“Green to Gold – How smart companies use environmental strategy to innovate, create value, and build competitive advantage” by D.C....

Biz Strategy Definitions Trade Shows

Paris Ethical Fashion Show September 2010: Conclusion – What is the make-up of successful ethical brands?

October 1, 2010

Fall 2010, Conclusion: Paris Ethical Fashion Week, the longest standing ethical fashion event. What is the make-up of a successful ethical brand?

Biz Strategy Consumer-ism Opinions

Real value is the name of the game. Differentiation was yesterday

November 21, 2012

t is fairly old news, but merits repeating nevertheless: our current economy, at the verge of collapse as it is, is egocentric, and at the same time understates costs while overstating benefits. In other words, it promotes a type of behaviour that is degeneratively competitive: the ‘me’ wants, needs, more of whatever it may be, while anything and everything else is losing out. No matter how high the cost for the bigger picture – society and the planet, that is – may be.

Biz Strategy Governance

‘Rules of Procedures’ of a Corporate Board: In the best interest of …?

May 25, 2021

One of the things usually approved at the constituent board meeting after every company AGM are the board of directors' ‘Rules of Procedure’. What looks, and is often perceived, as a formality though, at close looks carries not just formal weight, but indeed formulates – directly or between the lines – the duties of the board. What do these rules typically enshrine - and what not?

Biz Strategy Governance

Tools for boards: A few goodies, but far between

September 14, 2021

Most companies have had a brush with sustainability (or it’s finance industry lens: ESG) at the very least on an operational level. Not necessarily always voluntarily or out of conviction, mind. Looking at corporate boards however, the picture starts to change – not necessarily to the better. While boards of listed companies may have been forced to look at non-financial disclosure, it is rare that any board has a sound grasp, never mind approach, to all things ESG and sustainability. This is why I list in this post the few tools I am aware of that are specifically targetting and intended to help corporate boards start on the journey towards becoming climate and SDG savvy.

Biz Strategy Brand Review

Communications Star: Hiut Denim

August 28, 2013

After having followed Hiut Denim’s newsletter and blog for weeks now I could wait no longer to place the brand in the best practise category. Hiut Denim is an authentic brand. If it were a person, Hiut would be personable, open, honest, trustworthy, fun: maybe with black and white views and opinions but always in line with its values. Surely, a person deeply bond to its roots.

Biz Strategy Definitions

Wardrobe undressed: Why the fashion industry needs to change

March 23, 2010

The fashion industry needs to change. Why? A simple T-shirt needs 2000 litres of water 150 grams of pesticide to grow the cotton. And that's only the start!

Biz Strategy Opinions

Better brands = better world?

December 10, 2012

“Marketing used to be about creating a myth and telling it. Now it is about finding a truth and sharing it”. Better brands are those brands that will ensure their long-term existence, that will go beyond their founders and their children. How? By taking better decisions and looking at the bigger picture.

Biz Strategy Globalisation

Sustainability in industry and academic research: Heavens for barriers and ‘allotment attitudes’

December 8, 2011

Scientists, engineers, designers and creators. 3 'species' of people that neither in academia, nor in industry collaborate well. Yet, precisely the fashion and textiles industry is so trans-disciplinary that collaboration is a must.

Biz Strategy Luxury Supply Chain

Luxury Apparel – Collaboration to survive, address sourcing challenges

December 12, 2012

In the luxury segment, production focuses on highly complex garments and low order volumes that might involve just five pieces per style which makes sourcing very challenging. The approach currently pursued by European high-end apparel brands to address the problem is that of ‘High End Fashion Cluster‘.

Biz Strategy Circularity

If cities can, business can too – Downscaling the doughnut

August 11, 2020

Over the last 12 months, the Doughnut Economics Action lab developed a methodology – denominated ‘Creating City Portraits’ - , tested in three different cities of the global North. So the question is: Could the methodology work for business too? The answer: Yes in principle. But commitment is at the heart of it.

Biz Strategy Governance Opinions

What would the world lose if your company disappeared?

July 23, 2024

Our economic well-being relies on indefinite growth in a finite system, raising sustainability concerns. But, if we dared to ask: What would the world lose if your company disappeared? Companies might find themselves in a totally novel position on how to justify their existence: Through assessments of their overall impact on society and the planet, or indeed having to advocate how their business case positively contribute to all facets of life.

Biz Strategy Finance Governance

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (9) – Habemus suasiones! Recommendations we have!

October 11, 2023

After some results at the COP in Vancouver, as well as the release of the first ever Science -Based Targets for Nature (SBTN) – finally (!) the recommendations by the TNFD (Task Force for nature-based financial disclosure) have been released. So the question obviously is, how do these targets address the 5 key drivers of biodiversity erosion eventhough it is only about reporting? Are the TNDF recommendations worth their salt?

Biz Strategy Finance Future Tech

Make it Operational: Transparency, Tangibility, Relevance

May 18, 2021

How do you make ‘sustainability' tangible? The usual answer is – unsurprisingly – a ‘well, it depends’. Which it evidently does. Unfortunately, good case studies are extremely rare to come across. Hence, when I stumbled across such a gem in one of the primary Swiss news papers, I jumped at the opportunity to summarise it for this blog.

Future Fit Industries of 'Stuff': Governance, Responsibility, and the Age of Doughnut Economics

Biz Strategy

Responsible: For what, towards whom, and who indeed is?

Sustainability for enterprises – ideally and practically

The Colours of Us: Go serious – Or go home

Energy Industry & Carbon Trajectory: A tale of two Trajectories

Global pandemic and resistant economies: The time is now

The Third Bottom Line

Real value is the name of the game. Differentiation was yesterday

‘Rules of Procedures’ of a Corporate Board: In the best interest of …?

Tools for boards: A few goodies, but far between

Communications Star: Hiut Denim

Wardrobe undressed: Why the fashion industry needs to change

Better brands = better world?

Sustainability in industry and academic research: Heavens for barriers and ‘allotment attitudes’

Luxury Apparel – Collaboration to survive, address sourcing challenges

If cities can, business can too – Downscaling the doughnut

What would the world lose if your company disappeared?

The Next Wave: Biodiversity (9) – Habemus suasiones! Recommendations we have!

Make it Operational: Transparency, Tangibility, Relevance

Categories

Categories

Join the Newsletter

Join the Newsletter