Maxine Perella
Why Natural Capital Accounting and the SDGs Are Critical Components of Each Other’s Success
A report launched at the World Forum on Natural Capital (WFNC) in Edinburgh, Scotland last week examines the vanishing wealth of the world’s nature, and the growing systemic risk that represents to global economies and societies. ... View More
'We Haven't Even Scratched the Surface': Insights from the World Forum on Natural Capital
Factoring the value of nature into governance and corporate decision-making is not an easy task, but governments and businesses are starting to recognize the importance of natural capital accounting. According to the Natural Capital Coalition, 68 cou... View More
M&S’ Mike Barry: Balance of Science, Emotion Needed to Engage Consumers in Circular Models
For many retailers, circular thinking involves redefining products – and the raw materials contained within them – as assets that need to be kept in circulation for as long as possible. During each use phase, these assets may need to be reintrodu... View More
Dell, Philips, Timberland Working Out Kinks in Circular Plastics Strategies
Capturing littered plastic – whether in the oceans, on beaches or from city streets – and transforming it into new products has become something of a creative marketing drive, with brand owners investing in high-profile launches to demonstrate le... View More
U.S. Climate Innovators: Live in Fear or Flee to France? Filling the U.S. Federal Funding Void
French president Emmanuel Macron’s offer of refuge to U.S. climate scientists and innovators in the wake of Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement was not only a defiant policy rebuke, but a clear signal that France – like... View More
Together Towards Zero: Carlsberg Commits to Decarbonise Its Breweries by 2030
Carlsberg Group has pledged to eliminate carbon emissions and halve water usage at its breweries worldwide by 2030, as part of a new sustainability drive, launched today. The beer maker also intends to switch to 100 percent renewable electricity for ... View More
Lord of the Flies: The Insect Army Storming the Food Waste Front
How do you solve a problem like food waste? There’s no magic bullet, but realizing that discarded food attracts flies like nothing else, UK-based startup Entomics has engineered an upcycling solution that exploits the metabolic power of insects to ... View More
Can a Country Become a Sustainable Brand? Why Wales Is Up for the Challenge
“We hope that what Wales is doing today, the world will do tomorrow.” In 2015 Nikhil Seth, a leading UN representative, hailed the Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations Act as a pioneering piece of legislation, saying it captured ... View More
Consumption-Based Metrics: The Next Challenge for Zero-Waste Cities
Cities are major contributors to – and battlegrounds of – climate change. According to a report from the UN Habitat, cities pump out roughly 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions whilst just occupying just 2 percent of the Earth’s land.... View More
Efficiency Engagement: Turning Employees Into Energy Ambassadors
Installing more efficient equipment is often at the forefront of an energy manager’s mind when it comes to driving down carbon emissions, but even the most energy-efficient kit still requires human involvement. Making that link, and understanding h... View More
Consumer Goods Firms Prioritizing 'Common Principles' to Eradicate Forced Labour
There are an estimated 21 million victims of forced labour in the world today, with labour exploitation fast becoming the dominant form – in 2015, it overtook sexual exploitation for the first time in the UK. The insidious nature of forced labour, ... View More
An Ethical Footwear Force Awakens with Po-Zu and Its Better Shoes Foundation
This week, ethical shoe brand Po-Zu will unveil its Star Wars-themed footwear at the FFANY trade show in New York as part of a major collaboration with the movie franchise. It’s a highly significant launch for Po-Zu, as it will enable the UK-based ... View More
A Sustainable Life at Home: How IKEA Plans to Become Circular
IKEA has been quietly piloting various initiatives across its European stores to see how it can build circularity into its service offering for customers. It’s a bold move, given that consumer-facing circular economy business models are still relat... View More
How Becoming Future-Fit Is Helping The Body Shop in Its Quest for 'True Sustainability'
“I think we have to be challenging to each other. If we look at the state of the planet, and we look at the performance of business, there’s something not working there.” Chris Davis, The Body Shop’s international CSR and campaigns director, ... View More
Jaguar Land Rover, Novelis Target Aluminum Waste as New Circular Resource Opportunity
A key business driver for today’s vehicle manufacturers is to find cost-effective ways to reduce material impact, and weight, in the cars they build. Lighter vehicles result in less fuel consumption – and consequently, fewer emissions. ... View More
Can You Put a Price Tag on Purpose? How Patagonia Highlights Value Over Cost
In 2014, Patagonia dissolved its sustainability department – a move that the company’s VP of public engagement, Rick Ridgeway, remains proud of to this day. Overnight, the outdoor clothing brand deepened its commitment to environmental and social... View More
Durable Duds: The Disruptive Startups Looking to Wear Out Fast Fashion
As leading fashion brands continue their creative battles against textile waste — check out recent innovations by Levi Strauss, H&M and adidas — a new breed of circular clothing disruptor is starting to emerge. These purposeful startups are l... View More
Can This App Help Consumers, Retailers Redefine Our Relationship with Stuff?
Are we truly stuffed? Our obsession with ownership means we have become somewhat attracted to clutter. It is estimated that the average US home contains 300,000 items, yet this still isn’t enough for 1 in 10 Americans who have to additionally rent ... View More
The Leo Effect: In a Post-CSR World, Can Purpose Really Co-Exist with Profit?
When Leonardo DiCaprio channeled his long-awaited Oscars acceptance speech last weekend into an urgent call to climate action, it represented something of a defining moment. In just 60 seconds, he effortlessly pushed the emerging concept of ‘societ... View More
Is It Time for a New Type of CEO – the Circular Economy Officer?
As more and more companies look to adopt closed-loop business models, the question of whether to create dedicated circular economy roles internally is beginning to bite. Such roles are still thin on the ground, but it’s notable that those businesse... View More
