WALKING THE TALK -
While the majority of companies recognize that social impact is valuable, few have managed to successfully integrate it into one of the most mission-critical
activities: their sales strategy.
WALKING THE TALK -
We know that we can buy less, use less, work from home, drive less, collaborate more; and have business, society and government move faster — because we just did all of that. How can we respond as powerfully and courageously to other super-critical threats?
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
Dole Packaged Foods’ new sustainability commitment is based on a Japanese philosophy called 'sampo yochi' — in which business operates for the good of the seller, the buyer and society.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
UNESCO’s new campaign asks us to question our ideas about what is normal, suggesting that we have accepted the unacceptable when it comes to our
environment, economies, public health and societies for far too long.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
COVID-19 accelerated a shift from “me” to “we”; and a new trend called "caremongering" not only characterizes people's behavior towards each other, but what they look for in the companies they support. At Fjord, we believe those companies designing with the benefit of all life in mind will thrive now and in the decade ahead.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Fare, a new food-delivery app, is building a more equitable model — one that fosters enhanced community cohesion and shared benefits, and doesn’t include restaurant-crippling fees.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
A new range of initiatives from Visa aims to further support small business recovery from COVID, and equip them to keep up with increasing demand for e-commerce and digital payments; with $100k in grants earmarked for US-based, Black women-owned small businesses.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
At the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s recent Big Food Workshop, a variety of experts from throughout the food space spoke on the need to radically redesign for circularity and regionalism, to help us heal our broken global food system.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
As impact communicators and advisors, it’s our responsibility to remind those we work with and those we meet along the way that businesses that lead with purpose and credible, authentic values are those that will stand the test of time.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
With health concerns momentarily outweighing mindful consumption, global efforts to wean the world off of single-use plastics have ground to a halt — and
suddenly, in the race to protect citizens, plastic is everywhere. Thankfully, lockdown has also triggered radical, sustainable innovation and ingenuity.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The travel industry has done a poor job integrating the SDGs into business operations and reporting on them. But the Goals offer guidance on how to develop destinations that can appropriately manage tourism’s footprint and minimize environmental impact while benefiting local communities.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
New ‘Pandemic Ranking’ from $20T investor network warns that, with over 70% of animal agriculture firms at ‘high risk’ of creating future pandemics, COVID-19 could be the “straw that breaks the meat industry’s back.”
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Day 2 of the SB Leadership Summit saw a host of intimate discussions on the power of teamwork to drive change toward a better future — as seen in the
relationships between top brands’ CMOs and CSOs, the many brand partners fueling SB’s Brands for Good initiative, and making “what people need” a core brand
focus.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Myriad opportunities exist to create a new “business as usual,” post-pandemic: People won’t need to be shamed into being more thoughtful or responsible if
sustainable practices become the default in society and in business.
BUSINESS CASE -
This pandemic throws a spotlight on the interdependencies between business, nature and society. It may be tempting right now, when it is hard to see beyond the next few weeks, to dismiss the SDGs as a distraction. But they have been described as a “crowd-sourced purchase order from the future” precisely
because they offer a tremendous business opportunity.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
Both Canada and the European Union have unveiled plans to rebuild their post-pandemic recovery plans that put sustainability front and center. Will other governments follow suit?
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis, a new report from Forum for the Future highlights the critical role of regenerative agricultural practices in delivering future food system resilience.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
“We’re seeing a bit of utopian glimmer coming through, and natural selection chooses what works over and over. So, when we get back to normal, we get this
glorious choice to put back in our lives only what is best, only what we found made life worth living.” — Janine Benyus
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
As the crisis continues to unfold, ESG topics will continue to grow in importance. Companies will be judged by their ability to withstand financial shocks, but also by how they’ve treated their employees, clients and communities.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
It is my belief that remote work is part of the solution to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Worldwide coordination, and making even the smallest changes, can make significant differences for planetary health.