Tag: Richard Blundell

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Sustainability

Sustainability: The Business Opportunity of The 21st Century – The Rebuilding of Ukraine

Are you ready to take on the business opportunity of the 21st century? We are at a moment of enormous global change and even greater business opportunity. Climate change is the single biggest commercial opportunity of our time. In this podcast, Tom Fox and sustainability guru Richard Blundell explore the opportunities open to businesses that embrace sustainability from a business perspective. Find out why sustainability is the greatest opportunity of the 21st century and how you can prepare your business to take advantage of this unprecedented global opportunity.

Ukraine’s transition to renewable energy and its focus on cybersecurity is a fascinating topic, as the country is uniquely positioned to rebuild its energy infrastructure in a sustainable way and become a pioneer in green reconstruction. Tom Fox, with his emphasis on the potential of decentralization and distributed energy systems, sees Ukraine’s transition as an opportunity for the country to address its environmental and energy challenges while also positioning itself as a leader in sustainability. Richard Blundell, on the other hand, highlights the importance of learning from past failures and sees Ukraine’s commitment to a 2030 target of 50% renewables and 50% nuclear energy as crucial for national security and climate resilience. Both experts believe that Ukraine’s focus on cybersecurity education can position the country as a leader in providing cyber-related services. Join Tom Fox and Richard Blundell on this episode of Sustainability: The Business Opportunity of the 21st Century as they delve deeper into Ukraine’s transition to renewable energy and its focus on cybersecurity.

Key Highlights:

  • Transitioning to Rooftop Solar Panels for Improved Air Quality
  • Reimagining Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure for Sustainability
  • Building a Green and Prosperous Future
  • Ukraine’s Sustainable Future: Zelensky’s Anti-Corruption Leadership
  • The Evolving Role of Cybersecurity in Future Conflicts

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Sustainability: The Business Opportunity of the 21st Century: Sustainability as a Constitutional Right – The Held Decision from Montana

Are you ready to take on the business opportunity of the 21st century? We are at a moment of enormous global change and even greater business opportunity. Climate change is the single biggest commercial opportunity of our time. In this podcast, Sustainability guru Richard Blundell and I explore the opportunities open to businesses that embrace sustainability from the business perspective. Find out why sustainability is the greatest opportunity of the 21st century, and you can prepare your business to take advantage of the unprecedented global opportunity.

In this episode of the “Sustainability: The Business Opportunity of the 21st Century” podcast, Richard and I deeply dive into the groundbreaking ruling in the case of Held v. State of Montana. This landmark ruling acknowledges climate change as a result of human activity, particularly CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels, and challenges the constitutionality of fossil fuel provisions that ignore greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in environmental reviews.

My view of this ruling is a significant acknowledgment of climate change and emphasizes the importance of embracing sustainability from a business perspective. Conversely, Richard sees this as a momentous ruling that sets a precedent, affirming the reality of climate change and its connection to human activity. Our extensive experience and knowledge in the field of sustainability shape our perspectives. Join us on this episode of the Sustainability podcast as we delve deeper into this landmark ruling and its implications for the future.

Key Highlights:

  • Climate Change Ruling Sparks Sustainable Business
  • Montana’s Landmark Ruling for Future Environmental Protection
  • Groundbreaking Ruling with Climate Change Roadmap
  • Montana’s Urgent Climate Change Mitigation Efforts
  • The Detrimental Effects of Climate Change on Children

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Sustainability

Sustainability: The Business Opportunity of the 21st Century: Sustainability Leadership

Are you ready to take on the business opportunity of the 21st century? We are at a moment of enormous global change and even greater business opportunity. Climate change is the single, biggest commercial opportunity of our time. In this podcast Tom Fox and Sustainability guru Richard Blundell explore the opportunities open to businesses which embrace sustainability from the business perspective. Find out why sustainability is the greatest opportunity of the 21st century and you can prepare your business to take advantage of the unprecedented global opportunity.

This podcast episode dives deep into the concepts of sustainability leadership, transformation, communication, and materiality analysis – all of which are essential to creating a more sustainable future. We explore the importance of viewing sustainability as an opportunity and committing to action to leave the business in better shape than when it arrived. Additionally, we touch on the need for a shift in mindset and the importance of communicating a message about sustainability to an audience. Finally, it delves into materiality analysis, a process that helps companies to prioritize sustainability activities and understand the impact of their decisions. This episode provides valuable insight into the principles of sustainability and how to best approach it in practice.

 Key Highlights

·      Sustainability Leadership

·      Sustainable Transformation

·      Sustainability Communication

·      Materiality Analysis

Listen to the full episode to gain insights and practical tips for incorporating sustainability into business practices. Richard’s enthusiasm and practicality will leave you inspired to explore sustainability as a business opportunity.

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Sustainability Leadership

Sustainability leadership is an important concept that has become increasingly relevant in recent years. Companies have realized the importance of sustainability and have embraced it as an opportunity to increase profitability. I recently discussed the success stories of companies like Nike, Interface, and Unilever, who have implemented sustainability leadership strategies and have seen increased profitability as a result, for our podcast series Sustainability: the Business Opportunity of the 21st Century.

Part of successful sustainability leadership is understanding the concept of materiality. Materiality is a measure of the importance of strategic decisions and their impact on the business and its stakeholders. By analyzing materiality, companies can set priorities around sustainability activities. To do this, companies need to get feedback from stakeholders to determine the importance of issues and the impacts on its stakeholders and the communities they serve. This feedback can be collected through reading reports, getting studies, direct interviews, and other methods.

Richard Blundell, in his article for the Rotman School of Management, highlighted the importance of passion, vision, and purpose for successful sustainability leadership. Ray Anderson, the founder of Interface, created a consulting arm called Rays to help other companies transition to a lower carbon world. In a meeting, the executive present was being very disruptive and obstructive. However, he was struck by the passion and message Ray had created and generated for the purpose of their journey, which he called Mount Sustainability. Anderson created an image of a mountain with seven or eight steps to reach the goal. Paul Pullman said that if you work for an organization with a greater purpose, you get more energy out of the organization.

In 2019, the Business Roundtable released the Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, which stated that corporations should answer to stakeholders, not just shareholders. It is an imperative to move the discussion to the stakeholders identified by the Business Roundtable.

Sustainability is a mindset first and foremost, and great leaders in this space have viewed it as an opportunity. Transitioning to sustainability can lead to increased profitability and outperforming the market. Companies should strive to leave the business in better shape than when they arrived in the morning. Passion, vision, and purpose are essential for successful sustainability leadership. Communication should be simple, clear, and consistent.

Fossil-based energy companies can extend the life of their fuels by diversifying their fuel base. Climate change is a major factor in the need for sustainability, and CO2 is one of the biggest culprits. Dong Ltd. a Danish based company has transitioned from a 90% fossil fuel-based energy generation business to a 90% offshore wind business in a very short period of time. Neste, a Finnish oil company, is now the largest renewable fuels company. Oil and gas companies have the skills to transition to renewable energy sources. The CEO of Dong was proudest of the transition without losing jobs, upskilling the workforce instead.

Incremental change is very predictable and does not deliver competitive advantage over time. Large transitions, large transformations, and bold strategies are necessary for successful change. Leaders must be passionate about their visions, their people, their customers, and their stakeholders. Tone at the top is essential for successful sustainability leadership. Interface is an example of a company that has successfully implemented sustainability leadership.

Sustainability is a journey, not a destination, and companies like Nike, Interface, and Unilever have viewed it that way. Leaders must commit to action in an environment that is constantly changing. Companies should strive to leave the business in better shape than when they arrived in the morning. Passion, vision, and purpose are essential for successful sustainability leadership.

In conclusion, sustainability leadership is an important concept that has become increasingly relevant in recent years. Companies need to go through a process of analyzing materiality to determine how to set priorities around sustainability activities. Passion, vision, and purpose are essential for successful sustainability leadership, as well as the need for bold strategies and communication to ensure success. Companies should strive to leave the business in better shape than when they arrived in the morning. Transitioning to sustainability can lead to increased profitability and outperforming the market. Interface is an example of a company that has successfully implemented sustainability leadership.

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Sustainability

Sustainability: The Business Opportunity of the 21st Century – Achieving Net Zero Emissions: Approaches and Opportunities

Are you ready to take on the business opportunity of the 21st century? We are at a moment of enormous global change and even greater business opportunity. Climate change is the single, biggest commercial opportunity of our time. In this podcast Tom Fox and Sustainability guru Richard Blundell explore the opportunities open to businesses which embrace sustainability from the business perspective. Find out why sustainability is the greatest opportunity of the 21st century and you can prepare your business to take advantage of the unprecedented global opportunity.

In this episode, they delve into three methods, including sustainability as a source of innovation to drive circular growth and influencing customer behavior, which is essential to achieve net 0 emissions. They also talk about the role of banks and asset managers in transition towards a net zero outcome and the importance of embedding sustainability in everyone’s performance measurement. Learn about the importance of frontline employees in improving sustainability practices and the shift towards safety culture in the energy industry. Discover how even those in an office setting should be mindful of safety hazards and see sustainability as another aspect of this culture. The episode ends with praise for companies that are implementing net zero journey throughout the supply chain, and the hosts express excitement for future episodes. Tune in and be inspired to take actionable steps towards a sustainable future!

 Key Highlights

·      Approaches to Achieving Net Zero Emissions

·      Asset Managers’ Role in a Net-Zero Future

·      Bringing Sustainability Decisions to Frontline Business

·      Changing Safety Culture and Sustainability Practices

·      Net Zero Companies and Upcoming Episodes

Listen to the full episode to gain insights and practical tips for incorporating sustainability into business practices. Richard’s enthusiasm and practicality will leave you inspired to explore sustainability as a business opportunity.

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Sustainability: The Business Opportunity of the 21st Century – Canadian Wildfires and CleanTech

Are you ready to take on the business opportunity of the 21st century? We are at a moment of enormous global change and even greater business opportunity. Climate change is the single biggest commercial opportunity of our time. In this podcast, Tom Fox and Sustainability guru Richard Blundell explore the opportunities open to businesses that embrace sustainability from the business perspective. Find out why sustainability is the greatest opportunity of the 21st century, and you can prepare your business to take advantage of the unprecedented global opportunity.

Join Sustainability hosts Tom Fox and Richard Blundell as they dive into the importance of achieving net zero and preventing catastrophic environmental disasters. From discussing the effects of climate change on air quality and ecosystems to exploring innovative business opportunities like a robot that plants seagrass and coral to restore natural barriers along the coastline, this podcast is filled with valuable insights and practical solutions. The speakers also tackle the challenges of funding early-stage pilots and the need for market-based incentives like tax breaks and investment frameworks. Take advantage of this informative and thought-provoking discussion about sustainability. Check out their website now!

Key Highlights:

  • Canadian Wildfires and Texas Hurricanes
  • Global impact of climate change
  • Impacts of Human Activities on Ecosystems & Tipping Points
  • Robotic Seagrass planting for Gulf of Mexico stability
  • Thriving in CleanTech with Reduced Barriers
  • Shifting to Market-Based Outcomes and Electrification of Transport
  • Removing Barriers to Sustainability Action

Listen to the full episode for insights and practical tips for incorporating sustainability into business practices. Richard’s enthusiasm and practicality will inspire you to explore sustainability as a business opportunity.

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Sustainability

Sustainability: The Business Opportunity of the 21st Century – Episode 1, Introduction

We are at a defining moment in human history, a moment for change, in which climate is the single biggest commercial opportunity of our time.  In this podcast, Tom Fox and Sustainability guru Richard Blundell explore the opportunities open to businesses that embrace sustainability from the business perspective. Find out why sustainability is the greatest opportunity of the 21st century, and you can prepare your business to take advantage of the unprecedented global opportunity.

In this inaugural episode of the Sustainability podcast, Tom Fox and Richard Blundell, a Sustainability guru and maven, discuss how his unwavering passion for sustainability led him to see it as a business opportunity. Richard shares his journey from being counseled against pursuing geology to starting a business with little industry knowledge. His company morphed into an environmental services provider and expanded into cleaning sewers and recycling oil.

Richard’s passion for sustainability is evident, as he sees it not only as an environmental issue but also as a financial opportunity. His vision is for businesses to shift towards sustainable practices to reduce costs while contributing to environmental preservation. “I think the big opportunity we’ve got here is by working sustainably, and we can create a better world than we have today. But we can do that in a way where the business case makes sense,” says Richard.

For businesses looking to implement sustainability practices, here are three tips from the podcast episode:

1. Identify areas where sustainability can reduce costs and enhance efficiency

2. Approach sustainability as a long-term investment instead of a short-term expense

3. Collaborate with stakeholders to create a sustainable ecosystem.

Listen to the full episode for insights and practical tips for incorporating sustainability into business practices. Richard’s enthusiasm and practicality will inspire you to explore sustainability as a business opportunity.

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Innovation in Compliance

Why Sustainability is the Business Opportunity with Richard Blundell

Tom’s guest on this week’s episode of Innovation in Compliance, Richard Blundell, discusses the risks and opportunities associated with growth in the insurance industry. They talk about how to finance a company’s growth by understanding its risks. Business financing is trending towards sustainability, and Tom and Richard explore how companies can access capital by implementing sustainable practices and strategies.

A global environmental services and technology consultant with over 35 years of experience, Richard Blundell has extensive experience in senior executive management and consulting. Mergers and acquisitions, corporate and market development, and operations management are among his areas of expertise. His experience includes launching new businesses and managing growth-stage businesses around the world. He is also an advisor to the Prince of Wales Accounting for Sustainability charity.

 

Here are some key points Tom and Richard talk about: 

  • Richard talks about his professional background and current role as an advisor on sustainability.
  • Richard believes that sustainability in business leads to lower costs, less waste, more resource efficiency, better quality jobs, better employee engagement, and more access to capital.
  • In addition to improving access to capital, sustainability can also improve performance in public markets, lower capital costs, and lower debt costs.
  • Richard highlights that materiality is a way for companies to determine priorities and goals for sustainability, decarbonization, and ESG by considering what is important for both the corporation and its stakeholders
  • Quoting Paul Wellman, Richard tells Tom that working toward social, environmental, and economic outcomes can invigorate and energize an organization.
  • Sustainability can be a life insurance policy for the planet.
  • Companies without decarbonization plans may not have access to financing from banks and other financial institutions as they do not understand the risks associated with growth and may not be seen as providing a benefit to society, Richard tells Tom.
  • Richard believes that the circular economy aims to eliminate waste by keeping inputs and outputs at their highest utility throughout their life cycle.
  • Companies like Interface and Nike are committed to sustainability and continue to innovate and stretch their targets as they learn more about driving efficiency and process in the decarbonization journey.

 

KEY QUOTE:

“If I am going to finance a company’s growth, I want to finance a company that’s in the insurance industry as well. I want to finance the company’s growth by understanding the risks associated with that growth.” – Richard Blundell

 

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Richard Blundell | LinkedIn