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Why bother – with Sustainability? Start with Why

October 27, 2020

Over a decade ago, Simon Sinek pointedly demanded: Start with Why. Targeted at a then rather uninspiring marketing and branding industry, 10 years on is still as valid as ever. Just now, we need to ask businesses: Why are you bothering with investing millions, and thousands of hours into sustainability? Often the answer will be: because we have to. An answer just as uninspiring as the sales slogans Sinek was bashing a decade ago. Because when it comes to Sustainability: Know your genuine Why. Or don't bother.

Consumer-ism Opinions

Responsible Attitudes In Fashion: Consumer vs. Industry

April 2, 2013

In the 1990s, Nike was caught in a sweatshop scandal showing poor working conditions in its suppliers’ Asian factories. Not...

Circularity Globalisation Opinions

Better business models will be circular

May 4, 2013

Circular economy is the antonym of linear economy. Linear economy has been the dominant industrial model in our history and postulates production is followed by consumption that then ends up with the disposal of used products. As opposed to this, circular economy seeks to rebuild capital, whether this is financial, manufactured, human, social or natural and sees products having a longer or a never-ending life that are either re-used as new inputs to create new products or shared and co-owned by different consumers.

Biz Strategy Opinions

Are business coaches the better board directors?

June 29, 2021

Most boards are composed of former or present CEOs, CFO and other C-suite executives. People, hence, with a long track record of ‘getting stuff’ done. A board’s role however is very different from that of an executive: digging deep by asking those overly simple questions that give interesting answers, digging deep into rationales, values, hopes, expectations, shut up doubts, and personal agendas. Which is what good coaches typically do. Are coaches the better board directors?

Consumer-ism Opinions

Responsible Outdoor & Sports Equipment Purchasing: Two birds with one stone

February 12, 2020

Buying outdoor and sports material is not always an easy task – more so, if current equipment has has shared many an adventure. The following key questions are therefore intended to support you – the sports and outdoor loving shopper – when looking around for a refresh or update of your kit.

Finance Governance Opinions

COP28: An Important Step – Just Differently So

January 3, 2024

COP28 yielded mixed results, featuring some historic 'firsts' such as a fossil fuel phase-out commitment, a $700 million loss and damage fund, the recognition of nuclear energy, and (this is huge!) a pointed spotlight on food systems' role in adaption. Most of the old challenges though remain: It's all carrots and no sticks. Which shows in the continued absence of enforcement of Climate Targets or their stringency, and the eye-level conversation with Global South nations.

You too, can do: Be part of the solution, not the problem. Adding value with your skill set.

Biz Strategy Opinions

You too, can do. Or: How to be part of the solution, not the problem

June 27, 2023

More and more people call themselves 'sustainability experts'. Just -we do not need more of them. Instead we need people who are extremely good at what they do, apply their skill in a context to create change and that nourishes them for years to come. That's the Sweet Spot. How did you find your 'Sweet Spot'? And how did you transition?

Globalisation Opinions

Anger in the age of Climate Change: Fundamental change required

April 6, 2021

Anger … a strong, passionate emotion. Sometimes conducive as it gives loads of strength to fight for what we see as a ‘better world and society’. But also sometimes a shot into our own foot. In the sustainability world extemists views are common - on either side of the spectrum. Both sides advocating for fundamental change. But as it the choice of words suggests: fundamental change is only possible if we change fundamentally. All of us. Including the advocates and campaigners themselves.

Greenpeace-Detox-develops-market-for-BlueSign

Labels Opinions Supply Chain

A closer look at Detox Commitments

October 23, 2013

Detox has been a repeat topic on this blog. Most recently after my visit in May to Performance Days, but also previously. While slowly but surely more and more brands (17 at the time of writing) – and retailers – have signed a Detox Solution Commitment with Greenpeace, and hence work in some way or other with ZHDC (Road map to Zero), a key threshold was passed event most recently: With the Italian fabric mill Canepa, the first manufacturer has taken the pledge.

Biz Strategy Governance Opinions

Change: Triggered through Responsibility with a capital ‘R’

February 20, 2013

In the discussions within companies around risk management and indispensable moves towards more sustainable processes and business practises, there’s habitually unmentioned elephant in the room, namely: Where, in all what needs to be done in the corporate world, does the responsibility of the individual factor in?

Consumer-ism Opinions

How do you make it personal? The challenge of going from global goals to individual actions

January 19, 2021

Global Goals are called ‘global’ for a reason: they apply to everyone, everything. Every business, every government, every church, charity … In case there was any doubt about it: The Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Climate Agreement are global goals. In fact, probably the Global Goals par excellence. Yet, while organisations of all different types and characteristics are making progress in translating those to their different contexts, environments, business models etc. the same does not hold true when it comes to individuals. Beyond a few platitudes. A few arbitrary and personal musings on the role of the individual in achieving the goals.

Biz Strategy Governance Opinions

It starts with … Me, myself and I.
OR: a simple field manual to create (sustainability) disempowerment in organisations.

May 10, 2023

This manual was originally drafted when I was astonished by the way how ‘doublespeak’ is being used in organisations to prevent change. Any change. Including – but not limited to – sustainability related ones. It is a cynic-sarcastic-semi-realistic manual on how to be reasonably successful in disempowering an organisation. It is applicable to all areas that encompass change including innovation, sustainability, internationalisation, digitalisation and so forth.

Illustrated definition of: Joining the Bandwagon.

Biz Strategy Opinions

Scope 3 in consulting: Clear-cut KPI … and yet

September 7, 2021

Most recently I read Ed Gillespie' blog post about the 'Omerta of Consulting' - specifically aimed at sustainability consultants like myself. He makes a very valid point in what he says, and he gives a compelling example of how Scope 3 ('impact of products sold') should be be the one and only KPI that we would be measured against. He's right. At least in principle. But what about all those companies - many of which are SMEs - that are still struggling to even get on the bandwagon of understanding proper sustainability KPIs and their measurement? What is the better - for the climate and society - approach: trying to get them on the bandwagon, or just let them be?

Consumer-ism Definitions Opinions

Language Matters: Removing the gloss

April 27, 2021

Nearly a year ago I wrote about how the terminology we use abstracts from the fact that there are living and sentient human beings doing 'supply chain' work. Listening to a recent podcast it dawned on me that language can be just as useful to gloss over the seriousness and impact of scientific facts. And the resulting necessary actions. Climate Change vs Climate Emergency? Green energy vs renewable energy vs clean energy? Hence, some more thinking about the role of language.

Governance Opinions

Whose call is it anyway? Leading by Example – A value, ethics and accountability challenge

June 2, 2020

Decisions in companies, brands, and businesses are never based either on a single argument, or the consequence of a single person’s ‘way’. Rather, companies have, to an extent, their own personality. Key Question: a decision taken by this organisation – is it largely independent from, or a necessary consequence of, the decision(s) that the individuals within the organisation have taken?

Opinions

Nihilism & Helplessness vs Outrage & Optimism: Straddling the climate-future divide

April 26, 2022

Do you know these feelings? Outrage at the lack of action of friends and colleagues in the face of climate science data; fatalism when thinking about the future the next generation (and the one after); optimism in those few moments when joining up with like-minded people that do what they can do change the course of current events around; and helplessnesses when despite all efforts the bigger is just frozen. But we have a choice of which emotions to live in order to create change. Choose now!

Future Tech Opinions

Value(s) of Personal Communication in the digital era

January 5, 2019

Digital tools and IT systems are a great enabler for more data, more stringent channels of how to communicate what the different players in the chain do, and how they do it, over large distances and across operations and organizations.Yet – digital tools are more human than we think they are … because they, in the end, are representatives of the values and the world view of those that have built them.

Circularity Globalisation Opinions

Is the industry going down the drain? The stats tell a story insiders don’t want to see

December 12, 2012

ntil the late 80s, fashion retailers and brands would typically have two main collections a year: spring/summer and autumn/winter. Then, in the 90s things changed dramatically. Increased competition saw retailers incentivising customers to visit their stores more frequently.

Biz Strategy Opinions

More Air-Time: Science, scientific-methods, and the scientific discourse

September 28, 2021

"The good thing about Science is that it’s true, whether or not you believe in it." This short quote by astrophysist Neil deGrasse Tyson is fundamental to making true progress specifically in the current times in the sustainability area. Science does not mean 'claim what you want as long as you have some data to go with it'. Instead it means: An approach whereby hard data and insights, together with the methodology how you got there, are transparently and openly provided. To be scuritinzed and - important! - improved upon. A call to give the Scientific Discourse waaaay more airtime in business.

Definitions Governance Opinions

Manifesto of a Hummingbird*

June 23, 2020

The Manifesto of a Hummingbird: . 13 + 1 ways to make a stance for responsible business and leadership.

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

Opinions

Why bother – with Sustainability? Start with Why

Responsible Attitudes In Fashion: Consumer vs. Industry

Better business models will be circular

Are business coaches the better board directors?

Responsible Outdoor & Sports Equipment Purchasing: Two birds with one stone

COP28: An Important Step – Just Differently So

You too, can do. Or: How to be part of the solution, not the problem

Anger in the age of Climate Change: Fundamental change required

A closer look at Detox Commitments

How do you make it personal? The challenge of going from global goals to individual actions

It starts with … Me, myself and I.
OR: a simple field manual to create (sustainability) disempowerment in organisations.

Scope 3 in consulting: Clear-cut KPI … and yet

Language Matters: Removing the gloss

Whose call is it anyway? Leading by Example – A value, ethics and accountability challenge

Nihilism & Helplessness vs Outrage & Optimism: Straddling the climate-future divide

Value(s) of Personal Communication in the digital era

Is the industry going down the drain? The stats tell a story insiders don’t want to see

More Air-Time: Science, scientific-methods, and the scientific discourse

Manifesto of a Hummingbird*

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