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Mental health on the board? Vulnerability is real …

September 15, 2020

In July 2018 Australian Billionaire James Packer resigned from 24 boards in total where he held directorships. His spokesman in a statement announced that Packer was “suffering from mental health issues” and was seeking treatment for depression. Packer is not a lone case. Climate Anxiety can be a trigger to mental health challenges - for fear of the future and well-being of loved ones. Creating boards that are able to open up about doubts, challenges and concerns is like adding a booster gear to their functioning, reaching deep into an individuals motivation and passion. It also could add a whole new dimensions to professional discussions and help to ask harder, but equally necessary questions to the executives running the day-to-day business.

Biz Strategy Circularity Consumer-ism Governance Opinions

Quality vs Quantity – Or: Preparing the growth elephant for landing

September 1, 2020

There are two approaches on how we can define of what is viable and desirable for our global economy. In one, the 'soft attributes' and non-physical factors such as consumer desires, lifestyles or distribution of goods are a fixed attribute. In the other, quantifiable, physical attributes - amongst them natural resources - are fixed. The challenge of boards in this time and age: Recognising that the first - the present - is failing. And outlining the path towards the second.

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

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.

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?

Globalisation Governance Opinions

The New What?! Or: From No Gos to To Gos

May 19, 2020

The “new normal’ everyone talks about. What is it supposed to look like? As with many things: being clear about what you do NOT want is easy to describe. Explain and outline what it is that you really (really!) want, is considerably harder. Here a try – my try - at exactly that.

Book Reviews Opinions

Sustain What? The Global Pandemic and Resistant Economies

May 12, 2020

Few economists have truly the track record to justify themselves talking about systemic issues, impacts and outlooks - other than in blatantly generic truths. In his series 'Sustain What' - intermittently focused on the topic of the systemic aspects of Corona/Covid19 - renowned journalist Andrew Revkin has sought out a range of experts.

Consumer-ism Opinions

What ‘New Normal’? A personal pledge with and for ‘tiny’ actions

May 5, 2020

We have a choice. We have a choice to define, to embody, to live, how we want the ‘new normal’ to be. Because, far from perfectionism, doing, being and actioning is what makes a difference. This is why, I herewith propose a ‘Pledge of tiny actions’.

Globalisation Governance Opinions

We have the choice: The future is ours – to define, to demand, to make it happen

April 21, 2020

The world ‘at the other end’ of the Corona tunnel could never be the same as before. It could be so much better than ever – with a real opportunity to put it on the rails that will make it the place we desire it to be. Or: it could be same, but indeed worse place then ever. Where past misbehaviours is ignored at best, OK’ed at worse.

Italy sings and applauds during Corona lock down

Globalisation Governance Opinions

The Post Corona World – A Backwards Corona Forecast

April 14, 2020

When will Corona 'be over'? never. There are historical moments when the future changes direction. We call them bifurcations. Or deep crises. These times are now. Matthias Horx discusses what that means concretely.

Biz Strategy Globalisation Governance Opinions

Deep Policy Responses: Could it happen again?

April 7, 2020

It is end of March / early April 2020 as I write this. Corona (Covid19) increases its grip onto the world. Draconian, tough policy measures are being put in place limiting people's lives ... and rattling the global economy. Could it hall happen again in the future? And if so - in what way?

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.

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.

Finance Governance Opinions

Making a difference – or not?

January 14, 2016

The COP21 Climate Agreement that was reached this past December in Paris, and which comes into effect in 2020, is a milestone in global sustainability efforts. Yet - are we doing enough? What is enough?

Biz Strategy Future Tech Opinions

Future Supply Chains: Baselines, Outlook

January 27, 2014

Supply chains, as a discipline of expertise, have come out of the hiding and recognise their role in reducing corporate risk. This is notably and specifically the case in fashion and textiles. At the same time, 'design' - not just in the creation room, but in all facets where it impacts the making, delivery and use of a product or service, is increasingly recognised as relevant.

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.

Labour Opinions

Off thin air: financial maloperation on ‘planet sustainability’

September 5, 2013

Sustainability practitioners tend grow a fairly thick skin over time with regards to how their work is valued. Chances are that if you move in a field of expertise that marginally relates to CSR that you'll a surprising selection of comments, that display a lack of recognition.

Labour Opinions Supply Chain

Greenpeace’s Detox – developing the market for BlueSign, OekoTex STeP?

June 26, 2013

n the course of the last 2 years, the Greenpeace Detox campaign has repeatedly made waves. The latest such incident happened in the context of what is possibly the world’s most relevant trade fair for performance and outdoor wear ISPO in January 2014. At that point of time, Greenpeace released news that in the water repellent coatings of jackets by some renowned brands, traces of fluorin had been identified. And that said test results had been ‘hidden’ from the public.

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.

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...

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

Opinions

Mental health on the board? Vulnerability is real …

Quality vs Quantity – Or: Preparing the growth elephant for landing

The Colours of Us: Go serious – Or go home

Manifesto of a Hummingbird*

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

The New What?! Or: From No Gos to To Gos

Sustain What? The Global Pandemic and Resistant Economies

What ‘New Normal’? A personal pledge with and for ‘tiny’ actions

We have the choice: The future is ours – to define, to demand, to make it happen

The Post Corona World – A Backwards Corona Forecast

Deep Policy Responses: Could it happen again?

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

Value(s) of Personal Communication in the digital era

Making a difference – or not?

Future Supply Chains: Baselines, Outlook

A closer look at Detox Commitments

Off thin air: financial maloperation on ‘planet sustainability’

Greenpeace’s Detox – developing the market for BlueSign, OekoTex STeP?

Better business models will be circular

Responsible Attitudes In Fashion: Consumer vs. Industry

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