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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.

Resources

Richard Blundell

Tom Fox

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SBR - Authors' Podcast

SBR Author’s Podcast – Jim Massey: Trust in Action

Welcome to the Sunday Book Review, the Authors Podcast! Don’t miss out on this episode of SBR-Author’s Podcast, where Tom Fox sits down with Jim Massey to discuss his new book, Trust in Action. Massey brings a unique perspective as a behavioralist with a professional background in compliance and sustainability. The discussion touches on the societal loss of trust in government and education while the business remains the most trusted entity. Massey believes that companies can prioritize profits and still do the right thing for their employees, supply chain, and customers, making them a force for good.

The conversation discusses how leadership and involvement are essential in addressing society’s challenges and how every individual has the potential to be a leader. Listen in as Massey shares the Can Care to Do trust model for sparking action, focusing on three building blocks of trust: can, care, and do. He also discusses their experience of being perceived as an “ugly American” when working abroad and how they focus on building relationships. This podcast episode will teach you that good leaders are not tied to the past and are open to new ideas and solutions. Take advantage of this insightful conversation highlighting the power of trust, collaboration, and adaptability in leadership, especially in times of crisis.

Key Highlights Include:

  • The Importance of Trust in Business
  • The Role of Business in Systemic Change
  • Importance of Trust for Effective Leadership
  • Overcoming Obesity Bias in Global Health Leadership
  • Learning Agility and Humility in Leadership
  • Navigating societal and business risks
  • The Art of Writing with a Busy Schedule
  • Benefits of Mindfulness

Notable Quotes:

“Trust is the basis of any human interaction.”

“We cause the problem; therefore, I believe we can be the solution.”

“Leaders must be able to assess the situation be about 10000 feet above the details to see the whole picture and what’s going on.”

“The model of trust for me, Tom, sits at the self, team, & assist.”

Resources

Jim Massey on LinkedIn

Trust in Action

Tom Fox

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Sustainability

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.

Resources:

Richard Blundell

Tom Fox

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Sustainability

Sustainability: The Business Opportunity of the 21st Century – Purpose Driven Business: A Winning Strategy

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 co-hosts Tom Fox and Richard Blundell as they explore the business opportunity of the 21st century in their podcast, sustainability. In this episode, the hosts dive into net zero emissions and how businesses can utilize nature as a carbon sink to combat global warming. They discuss the importance of regenerating natural ecosystems and the role of Environmental, Social, and Governance frameworks in measuring and improving companies’ environmental footprint.

Tom and Richard also highlight the impressive accomplishments of a company that achieved net zero emissions by mimicking nature, reducing costs, improving competitiveness, and increasing customer goodwill. The episode concludes with a discussion on attracting and retaining the best talent by focusing on delivering improved societal and environmental outcomes alongside economic outcomes. Tune in for more intriguing insights on how sustainability can drive business success!

Key Highlights:

  • Net 0 and removing carbon dioxide
  • Sustainability practices for business efficiency and benefits
  • Creating a Net Zero Company
  • Importance of Sustainability in Talent Acquisition
  • The Importance of Purpose for Business Success

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.

Resources

Richard Blundell

Tom Fox

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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.

Resources

Richard Blundell

Tom Fox

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Daily Compliance News

April 11, 2023 – The 10,000 Companies Edition

Welcome to the Daily Compliance News. Each day, Tom Fox, the Voice of Compliance, brings you compliance-related stories to start your day. Sit back, enjoy a cup of morning coffee, and listen to the Daily Compliance News. All from the Compliance Podcast Network. Each day we consider four stories from the business world, compliance, ethics, risk management, leadership, or general interest for the compliance professional.

Stories we are following in today’s edition of Daily Compliance News:

  • EU sustainability rules to hit 10K companies. (WSJ)
  • The Travel Act and state corruption. (Valley Central)
  • What’s next for banks? (NYT)
  • Do you use all of your vacation days? (Bloomberg)
Categories
Compliance Into the Weeds

COSO Framework for Sustainability Controls and Reporting

The award winning, Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast which takes a deep dive into a compliance related topic, literally going into the weeds to more fully explore a subject. In this episode, join Tom and Matt as they discuss a new sustainability framework that companies can use to improve their sustainability efforts. The document emphasizes the importance of data governance and using a recognized control framework for effective financial reporting, similar to COSO. The hosts explore the challenges of collecting and managing sustainability data, while highlighting the need for organizations to have a Chief Data Governance Officer and an in-house data committee. They discuss the importance of competent leadership, effective communication, and the role of vendors offering sustainability supporting solutions. Tune in to discover how the right oversight mechanisms can save organizations money by streamlining IT vendors and why sustainability data reporting is the new challenge of achieving Sarbanes Oxley compliance in the 2000s.

 Key Highlights

·      COSO Internal Control Framework for Sustainability Disclosures

·      Comparing Sustainability and Ethics/Compliance Frameworks

·      Challenges in Sustainability Data Collection

·      Importance of Data Governance in Large Enterprises

 Notable Quotes

1.     “ESG and sustainable business information, on the other hand, tends to be longer term and more qualitative.”

2.     Revenue numbers are in dollar returns and carbon emissions are not.

3.    Radically different sorts of disclosures and data there, but you have to think through.

4.    You’re going to have to make sure that the data governance mechanisms you have? Do you have a Chief Data Governance Officer? Some organizations do. Do you have an in house data committee to think about are we collecting all of this data?

 Resources

Matt  on LinkedIn

Matt on Radical Compliance

Tom

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Daily Compliance News

March 23, 2023 – The No Chickens Edition

Welcome to the Daily Compliance News. Each day, Tom Fox, the Voice of Compliance, brings you compliance-related stories to start your day. Sit back, enjoy a cup of morning coffee, and listen to the Daily Compliance News. All from the Compliance Podcast Network. Each day we consider four stories from the business world, compliance, ethics, risk management, leadership, or general interest for the compliance professional.

Stories we are following in today’s edition of Daily Compliance News:

  • Don’t want no chickens. (Reuters)
  • End of Swiss exceptionalism. (Bloomberg)
  • Banks botching risk management. (WSJ)
  • Companies are looking at another year of shareholder sustainability proposals. (WSJ)
Categories
The ESG Report

Why Sustainability is the Business Opportunity with Richard Blundell

*This episode first aired as episode 182 of the ESG Report.*

 

Tom’s guest on this week’s episode of the ESG Report, 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 their 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’ 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

 

Resources 

Richard Blundell | LinkedIn

Categories
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

 

Resources 

Richard Blundell | LinkedIn