Food companies - hear the sound of the oncoming train and get out of the way! - 6 May 2008
Don't rush to legislate - 21 Apr 2008
Welcome to the real world - but which one? - 21 Apr 2008
Celebrating a sustainability leader - 18 Apr 2008
Success as superior planning, or try-it-and-see dumb luck? - 15 Apr 2008
Speaking another language - 8 Apr 2008
Patagonia's product footprint - 28 Mar 2008
Dealing in responsibility - 19 Mar 2008
Danone learns how far expectations have moved - 12 Mar 2008
Ladies and gentlemen, when does communication fall short of information? - 10 Mar 2008
GM and a total crock - 25 Feb 2008
Gambling on a responsible approach - 21 Feb 2008
A snapshot of the future? - 19 Feb 2008
A faster horse, please - 17 Feb 2008
A taste of things to come - 17 Feb 2008
United, but a little clueless - 15 Feb 2008
Tomorrow's Green Marketing - 30 Jan 2008
Private equity in the spotlight - 17 Jan 2008
Impact in the Lake District - 13 Dec 2007
Focusing on skills - 6 Dec 2007

Food companies - hear the sound of the oncoming train and get out of the way!

6 May 2008

A few years ago, I remember hearing the reaction of certain food companies to the suggestion that rising levels of obesity in the population were going to be an issue for them. That reaction was abrupt, aggressive and fearful - as though the mere suggestion might bring it to pass. I fear that the same reaction might come about with the inevitable focus that will come onto them with the growing global food crisis.

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21 Apr 2008

The New York Times carried a great lesson for all those that, as soon as they see a problem with corporate behaviour (or indeed anything) believe that the way to respond is to rush into legislation without pausing to consider consequences. In this case, it is the new rules around corporate lobbying.

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21 Apr 2008

I've just had a go at playing BT's 'Better Business Choices Game'. It's a scenario planning game, to get the visitor to their society and environment website into the mindset of starting a new business, but doing so on the basis of a number of potential scenarios of how the world may turn out, and the different choices those scenarios may imply for choices over products, target customers, suppliers, energy etc.

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18 Apr 2008

I occasionally get into arguments on platforms about how, and to what extent, flying will be constrained in the future by the requirements of climate change policy. The argument is never about whether it will happen, only about how. My position is that it will be done through the price mechanism, which always attracts strong reactions from those who say that it is unfair to penalise poorer people from enjoying what has come to be seen as a staple, rather than a luxury. However, I've changed my mind about the best way to discourage people from flying.

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15 Apr 2008

I just did a 2000 word essay on the Business Case for CSR for Ethical Corporation, and I was trying to find a quote about how decisions really get made in business. I looked high, I looked low, and just couldn't turn it up. Then wouldn't you know it, right after I've submitted the piece, there it is. So I thought I should at least put it here.

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8 Apr 2008

Some of the arguments for corporate social responsibility only make sense within a specific cultural context. In other cases, some would have you believe this was the case, but it is really another flavour of denial. The trick is to tell the difference.

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28 Mar 2008

I am a great fan of the feature on Patagonia's website where they map out the headline product journey, and impact, for a number of their key products.

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19 Mar 2008

I attended the launch of the UK main opposition party's policy proposals on CSR yesterday, a press conference with party leader David Cameron as the star turn. It had at least one interesting idea that bears further consideration (so ahead of most party policy documents), and provided further insight into the wretched state of the political process generally.

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12 Mar 2008

The UK's Advertising Standards Agency has just upheld a complaint against an advert for Danone's Actimel pro-biotic drink. Interestingly, the case doesn't hinge on whether the product is proven to have a benefit - that is undisputed. Instead it is ab

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10 Mar 2008

We are all in favour of communication, aren't we? Communicating often with stakeholders, and particularly with customers, is good practice. But as ever, quality counts. I was reflecting on this again today - as I nearly always do when I travel on Lon

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25 Feb 2008

Bob Lutz, the straight talking Vice Chairman of General Motors has caused something of a stir, when he was quoted as having said at a dinner party that "global warming is a total crock of shit". Now he has followed that up by complaining on his blog

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21 Feb 2008

A compulsive gambler is suing William Hill, the bookmakers, for allowing him to burn millions of pounds that he didn't have in an orgy of ridiculously large bets. It promises to be an interesting test case of just how far the gambling firms have to t

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19 Feb 2008

Lieca have released a new digital camera, the Leica M8 which could give a glimpse of the sustainability model of the future. It comes with a perpetual update programme. It means that you can take your camera in to be updated with the latest refinemen

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17 Feb 2008

A year ago, I got satellite TV, moving from the standard UK 5 channels to, well, more than I can be bothered to count. If you'd asked me ahead of the event how this new facility would be used, I would probably have said that it would be a mix of docu

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17 Feb 2008

Anyone in the restaurant business should be paying very close attention to what's currently taking place in New York city, where new rules to require chain restaurants to give calorie counts on their menu are provoking something of a storm.

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15 Feb 2008

It was the annual conference for Business in the Community yesterday, and as I approached the conference venue was intrigued to see a giant chicken and others handing out leaflets. The BITC conferences attract demonstrations occasionally, on account

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30 Jan 2008

This morning I attended what I think was my third Tomorrow's Company event in about the space of two months - this one focused on an area of increasing interest - green marketing. It should have been real brainfood from one of the most thoughtful pro

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17 Jan 2008

I spoke at Cass Business School last night at a session entitled 'Can CSR and private equity co-exist?'. Mixed audience of businesses and students – around about 150 strong.

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13 Dec 2007

Interesting time up in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, talking with a dynamic, energetic and increasingly international training company.

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6 Dec 2007

Business in the Community held a major gathering for top business leaders this evening, with the Prime Minister in attendance, to focus on the importance of improving skills and developing talent.

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