Positive Impact Through Meaningful Partnering

In a fast-changing world with increasing internal and external risk, companies need to find smart solutions to achieve their sustainability objectives. Building strong partnerships with external stakeholders can help companies increase their positive impact as well as gaining a competitive advantage. This article sheds light on the partnership between Accor and the food waste reduction start-up Too Good To Go, highlighting both organizations’ objectives and partnership’s benefits.

Reverse Logistics: Sustainability's Next Frontier?

With the rise of sustainability, reverse logistics is one of the next frontiers for retailers and manufacturers around the globe. In a 100% circular economy, the return flow is equal to the volume of the original transaction. According to Optoro, a UPS-backed service provider focused on eliminating waste from returns, the retail industry is far from achieving such circularity. In its Retailer Sustainability Research on 128 prominent U.S. and global retailers, the company found that less than 1/4 of the retailers analyzed were implementing programs and adopting initiatives to advance the circular economy and only 30% of retailers implemented product take-back or recycling programs for consumers.

The Key to Executing Change is Collaboration

As the launch of the new Loop partnership at the 2019 World Economic Forum suggests, today’s biggest sustainability challenges require collaborative solutions. That is why the Sustainable Development Goals include SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals. However, the number of sustainability partnerships has remained low due to fierce competition between companies for recognition of their sustainability performance. By forging and maintaining partnerships companies can make a bigger sustainability impact while also gaining the competitive advantage they seek.

World Resources Forum 2019: Closing Loops

The next edition of the World Resources Forum is taking place in the heart of Antwerp, Belgium from 24-27 February 2019 in collaboration with the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM). This time, business leaders, policy-makers, NGOs, researchers, entrepreneurs, the media, and students will share solutions and practices undertaken to move from a linear and fossil to a circular and low carbon economy.

The Chemical Industry Has No Time to Waste

In response to the global threat imposed by resource scarcity and climate change, circular economy is highly regarded as a way to secure a sustainable future and to enable businesses and society to thrive.

Corporate Accelerators Spark Sustainable Innovation

Instead of innovating in isolation, multinationals are opening their doors and partner with startups to design solutions for their most pressing challenges. Coca-Cola, Google and Disney are only a few of the companies that have captured value of initiating these corporate accelerators. These accelerators increasingly focus on sustainability issues. One of the latest companies entering the stage is Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev). The global beer company has announced its 100+ Accelerator, aiming to address global challenges in line with the group’s 2025 Sustainability Goals.

Will Animal Protein Still Be on the Menu in 2050?

The world population is projected to rise to 9 billion people in 2050. In order to be able to feed the world by then, food production will need to increase intensely. However, this intensification needs to be carefully balanced since environmental impacts are major. The livestock sector in particular is under scrutiny, since it is the world’s largest user of natural resources with 80% of all agricultural land accounts for grazing or animal feed production, and 8% for global water use. With the introduction of different future scenarios to fulfil future protein need such as alternative diets, insects as a protein source and stem cell grown meat, the livestock value chain has to get serious about its sustainability approach.

Kraftwerk: SDG Solutions for Today’s Biggest Challenges

On Friday October 6th 2017, Kraftwerk Zürich opened its doors. The building, which formerly belonged to the Swiss energy provider ewz, has been transformed into an inspiring place for innovation and collaboration. By offering spaces for meetings, workshops and events, Kraftwerk aims to unleash collaboration between a broad range of unlikely allies. In changing times, teaming up with others often proves to be the best way to create the highest mutual impact.

Circular Economy Training in Barcelona in Review

On 11 October, Finch & Beak hosted the first Accelerating Your Circular Economy Game Plan executive training in Barcelona. Participants included representatives from a wide range of industries across Europe, including food, energy and chemicals. Using established business tools, and a real-life case from circular frontrunner Interface, participants were challenged to develop business cases for the circular economy.

Empowering Smallholder Farmers within the Value Chain

What do the Rana Plaza clothing factory disaster and the Chinese food safety scandal that, according to Reuters, caused a 4.2 percent share price decrease for Yum Brands have on common? They are two of the many examples of the costs and risks that companies can incur when a sustainable and integrated supply chain management is not in place. On the other hand, responsible management comes with many benefits, including greater access to capital and new markets, reducing the cost of material input, energy and transportation, and spurring innovation in order to meet evolving customer and business partner requirements. The business case is clear.