As the challenges of environmental, social, and economic sustainability grow more and more tangible, and calls for action growing more frequent, we would like to invite you to our March 13 event in Shanghai to learn why we see sustainability as the next trillion dollar economy. Through this event, participants will hear from entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors on their work to develop and…
In this week's AsktheCollective, we answer a question about textile recycling, and speak to the recent news that H&M and Burberry have been incinerating their textile waste. A waste stream that we have covered recently as part of our work here in China. Part of the issue, as e have found, is that the process of recycling itself is one where there is a wide range of practices. Many of whi…
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…
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…
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…
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…
In this episode I answer a question about whether or not I think corporate social responsibility (CSR) gives companies license to do bad. It is a question with roots in the recent Freakonomics Podcast Does Doing Good Give You License to Be Bad? () and the rebuttal by Chris Jarvis on the Engage for Good Podcast Does Doing Good with CSR Really Give Companies, Employees License to be Bad? As…
The unprecedented speed at which science and technology are advancing has resulted on the development of numerous household chemicals that have slowly become indispensable to people. On the long term, the unsafe use, storage, and disposal of these chemicals may pose a threat to human and animal health. In fact, places like China have seen a rising number of hospitalizations of thousands of chil…
On 9-10 June, 2018, the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF) and eight of its multinational member corporations (Ashland, BASF, Covestro, Exxon Mobil, Huntsman, Invista, Lanxess, and Solvay) came together to launch the “Together for a Sustainable Community” (TFSC) hackathon in Shanghai. Every team focused on different target markets and combined their online and offline rese…
Following the policy changes around informal vs. formal waste management systems, and the recent ban on foreign waste imports, we partnered with Green Initiatives to discuss these topics at the Green Drinks Forum: China's Waste Import Ban – Boon or Bane? At the event, Richard Brubaker (Founder of CR) provided an overview of the recent research and client work we have done with the various waste…
On November 17-18, 35 bright young students from China’s top design schools gathered at the Kohler Design Experience Center to compete in the 2017 Kohler Hackathon, where they were challenged to re-invent the bathroom experience for the Chinese elderly. The six student teams are from China’s leading design schools – China Academy of Art, Tongji University, Donghua University and Shanghai Institute…
In this episode of #AsktheCollective, I talk about where individuals can have the greatest impact as entrepreneurs or employees of NGOs, multinational companies, or as government officials. As always, we hope you find this series engaging, and if you do, please remember to like, share, comment, and SUBSCRIBE! #About the AsktheCollective Series: As a way to engage with you, our audience,…
