Over the last few years, as reading has taken a backseat to video, a large number of awesome podcast channels have begun to spring up. Many of which offer excellent insights, or interviews, on topics of sustainability, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. The below is a list that we have put together, knowing full well that there are many others. Which we invite you to list in the comment…
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in China is a concept that over the last 20 years has changed nearly as dramatically as its economy and skylines. Something largely seen as driven by the top, or as a result of Western influence, over the last 20 years Chinese firms have moved from follower to leader. It is a trend that has grown more noticeable as Chinese companies have begun to expand ov…
This week on Ask the Collective, we answer a question about Sustainability for SMEs, and what small to medium sized businesses can do to be more sustainable. A topic I am frequently asked to address at events, and in conversations with friends, and for which there are a lot of options for engagement. #About the AsktheCollective Series: The #AskTheCollective series, is a series built entire…
With so much going on in the realm of sustainability, leadership, and innovation, and only a limited amount of bandwidth for professionals in this space, we have created this weekly news to highlight articles that we feel are (1) important, (2) relevant, and (3) interesting in the areas of business sustainability. If you have an article that you feel needs to be mentioned, please let us know in…
This week we answer a question from our newest intern, Anais. An MBA student at Jiaotong University, her questions were focused on the alignment between CSR and business, and whether or not firms in China need to have, or benefit from, China CSR Strategy that is unique to China. #About the AsktheCollective Series: The #AskTheCollective series, is a series built entirely on answering you…
This week we answer we answer a question about whether or not Chinese firms are investing in CSR (and sustainability), and if so, how are their programs different than Western MNCs #About the AsktheCollective Series: The #AskTheCollective series, is a series built entirely on answering your questions, and through that provide a different level of value to the community of those interested in…
On this episode, I answer the question "Why don't all businesses and companies integrate sustainability into their practices to ensure their long term survival and success?" It is an important question, and we hope that you will gain some insights, and inspirations, from the answer. As always, we hope you find this series engaging, and if you do, please remember to like, share, comment, and…
This week we answer the question "Is CSR Dead?" It is a question that we have been speaking frequently on lately as many firms look to overhaul their CSR programs, get away from having seperate departments, and are more generally looking to understand the ROI of CSR to the firm as a "non-business" essential. #About the AsktheCollective Series: The #AskTheCollective series, is a series buil…
Hennes & Mauritz AB or H&M, the Swedish fashion giant, is in big trouble. According to its quarterly report released on 27 March 2018, the world's second-largest clothing retailer is now sitting on $4.3 billion of unsold garments and accessories. To reduce the stockpile, the company is planning to cut prices, slow expansion in stores, and boost its e-commerce instead. It may even get unsol…
One of the largest health disparities present in China is the inequality between rural and urban healthcare. In particular, rural patients face barriers to equal resources to healthcare access. There are less than half as many medical institution beds and licensed physicians per 1,000 citizens in rural areas compared to urban areas. In even more isolated areas where there are only small township h…
For progress to be made in overcoming the obstacles to sustainability, we first must understand what those obstacles are and why they exist. Topics that I have spent a lot of time considering recently as over the last few months, we have been fortunate to be engaged on a number of what we consider to be “best in class” projects. Projects where the opportunity to help our clients change their…
In the coming years, China is facing significant challenges in the healthcare sphere and one of the most formidable will be public perception. A particularly pervasive and damaging perception in China is the distrust of physicians. Without well-established patient-physician trust, the mission of delivering quality healthcare is significantly set back. DOCTORS ARE NEEDED, BUT NOT TRUSTED Being a…
With China’s recent “plastic ban”, the recent National Geographic Magazine cover, and reports of brands banning straws, the story of plastic is one that is becoming more widely understood in China, and it is the focus this episode of AsktheCollective where I answer the questions of one viewer who would like to know more about China's recent plastic ban, what other regulations are coming, and when…
To accomplish the mission and goals that we have set for ourselves, for our clients, and for the community, we are constantly on the look out for people with the passion and tools to solve big environmental, economic, and social challenges, and this month we are specifically looking for: Business Development Director Sustainability Analyst If you seen an opening that excites you, and t…
With an exploding urban population and a rising middle-class, China is rapidly increasing material use and consumption. Alongside its burgeoning economy is a proliferation of consumer waste. While most debates are around the wastage of food or packaging materials like plastic and paper, little attention is paid to the old clothes that people clean out of their wardrobes. Chinese dump roughly 26…
