Kika Buhrmann

Great first sessions in NOW Partners ATÖLYE Future Economy Forum #Regenerative Track yesterday with ground breaking insights. Today in the Keurzaal Room at B For Good Leaders #BFGL2024 we continue: at 12:00 Whole systems solutions for a regenerative business. at 14:00 Regenerative Innovation Practice: Exercise your muscle to co-create whole systems business solutions A couple of highlights from yesterday's interactive learning sessions we hosted: Harald Tepper of Philips "There is this myth that sustainability always costs more money. While we see that the sustainable solution actually create more value for the company." and "We can't expect any farmer to solve to large scale problems themselves. Therefore we are talking and working with them as Danone." Chris Adamo of Danone and "If you don't try you will not innovate. Innovation is key." Dick Velings of Eneco

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💡🌿 What an inspirational 2 days at the Sustainable Foods Summit by Ecovia Intelligence last week in Amsterdam! Very passionate speakers sharing their knowledge and experiences on how the food industry can create a better future for all. Each shining a light from a different angle. Just to name a few: Marta Messa from Slow Food on how we can help the consumer to have a relevant positive impact on our future. Incredibly knowledgeable and driven. David Bryngelsson from CarbonCloud who has an amazing ability to simplify the complex academic topic: measuring and reporting carbon emission. Dorothy Shaver from Unilever with a passionate drive to introduce us to new tastes and promote diversification. An incredible motivational speaker! Karin Müller, who - with Ashoka - inspires and enables thousands of social entrepreneurs all over the world. She shared a.o. inspirational success stories such as Herenboeren Nederland en Sea Ranger Service. Julian Baggini, a writer and philosopher who is effortless capable to create and present a holistic model for the food industry to become sustainable. Enabling all in the industry to take a step back and evaluate their current strategy and way of working. Bibianne Roetert from Tony's Chocolonely and Andrew Hunt from Aduna Superfoods who shared incredible personal stories to demonstrate the importance and power of purpose driven entrepreneurship. A sincere thanks to these and all other speakers and I'll be sharing some of my key takeaways in the coming weeks. #sustainable #sustainablefood #diversification ##biological #regenerative

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Fun Friday & belated #earthday2024 post; came across this ingenious new-ish deposit system for bottles and cans in the Netherlands. €0.15 is added to the cost when you buy a drink, which when you return gets reimbursed. This is not a new system, and is designed to reduce waste and encourage recycling. The problem is, not everyone is willing to carry around an empty bottle until they reach a deposit-reclaim point. It seems wasteful to trash these, and even more so when you're essentially throwing real cash into the trash can along with it. Placing your bottle / can in the "donation rings" (doneerringen) makes it much easier for people in need to gather these unwanted items and collect the deposit. You don't have to carry around an unwanted bottle; the bottle is more likely to actually get recycled; and someone who could really use the money gets to pocket it. These days, societies struggle for a win. In Amsterdam, this simple invention has created a win-win-win. Ingenious. #recycling #engineeringingenuity

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Sustainability, profitability and wellbeing belong in the same sentence… Noone knows this better than Jasper Steinhausen, today's podcast guest. Jasper is the founder and CEO of Business With Impact whose specialty is making sustainability profitable for small and medium sized companies. Not only that, he is the author of the Amazon Bestseller Making Sustainability Profitable – a Leader's guide to growing a thriving business that makes the world a better place.. Here’s what we uncover in this episode: ✅ How to turn  sustainability into a business magnet. ✅ROI on Sustainability ✅5 mindset shifts needed for a greener business ✅How to get everyone on the sustainability bus ✅The role of leadership for a future ready business ✅Timeless Advice Does the future of your business have sustainability at the heart? Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/dwyY9kMw This is a must listen for anyone who cares about sustainability and profit (which is hopefully every business leader). #sustainability #profit #leadership #thriveintheworkplace #becomeaforceforgood #workplacewellbeing #podcast

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Interesting read.

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As we host Jon Miller, in the studio today author of The Activist Leader: A New Mindset for Doing Business, it's a fitting time to spotlight a prime example of business activism and education led by Albert Heijn the Netherlands' largest supermarket chain. Albert Heijn has made waves with a revolutionary pricing strategy underscoring its commitment to environmental activism. ☕ In a recent coffee-to-go pilot, customers encountered two prices: the standard price and the "true price," which accounted for CO2 emissions, water use, resource consumption, and labour conditions. 💰For instance, a double espresso was EUR 2.25, while its true price was EUR 2.33. Notably, cow milk 🥛 added EUR 0.36, compared to oat milk's 🌾 EUR 0.11, reflecting its smaller environmental footprint. Partnering with True Price Albert Heijn directed the extra revenue to a Rainforest Alliance reforestation project in East Africa. The pilot revealed that while 44% of customers were aware of true pricing, only 15% opted to pay it. However, 31% of plant-based milk buyers chose the true price, highlighting their eco-conscious behavior. 🌍Albert Heijn’s initiative is a powerful example of business activism, using its influence to educate consumers on the real cost of their choices and drive sustainable change. They plan to expand this initiative, solidifying their role as a leader in corporate environmental responsibility. Reflecting on last week's events and conversations from London Climate Action Week, Reset Connect and Groundswell Agriculture it’s evident that educating on the true cost of food and drink is crucial. Could this kind of approach help push against the growing tide of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and encourage more support for Regen AG by putting more of a value on both planetary and human health?... What do you think? Louise Stevens Mia H. Andy Stephens Andy Young - Sustainability Expert Ali Morpeth (RNutr) Sam Hamrebtan Gavin Lendon Maria Soleil ☀️ Seb Royce FRSA Ece Eyisoy Emma Victor-Smith Stefanie Sahmel Caitlin Hicks 🧜🏻‍♀️James Nediyathu Audrey Y. Sarah Turner Check out link for more detailed blog #Truepriceiniative #Citizenbrands #Beaforceforgood #Activistleader 

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Thanks in a large part to Menno Lammers , I have been more involved about #Regenerative Practices. There are a huge number of people who are developing businesses based on #regenerativeprinciples and considering the notion of #economicgrowth differently, according to Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL). If you’re not familiar with #doughnuteconomics then please allow yourself to follow the LinkedIn rabbit hole for a bit because it makes so much sense and reminds us to stay curious and question “the norm” ie where does the infinite growth model come from? If you want to be surrounded by these fabulous thinkers then follow Victor Vorski, Jenny Andersson and/or Menno Lammers who runs an amazing cross-pollination chat. Or for something more immersive then check this out - https://lnkd.in/eGWRe9nC

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Did you see a lot of innovation at PLMA last week in Amsterdam? This question came up several times during the inspiring meetings we had with some of our clients and other ambitious entrepreneurs. Actually, we had similar thoughts... To be honest, the answer is no, not really. We didn't see much innovation, let alone groundbreaking ones. Is that a negative thing? Maybe not. What we do know is that PLMA is still a great trade show to network! Cibus Nexum #PLMA #privatelabel #comanufacturing #foodinnovation #foodtechnology #ingredients

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Yesterday the Tech Tour Europe Event in Gent kicked off. Besides great networking, Stuart Askew from Procter & Gamble , Frank Heessels from SABIC Ventures B.V., Marc Leduc from BASF Venture Capital GmbH, Mridul Pareek from European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) and Peter van Gelderen from Icon Capital AS shared their recommendations from an investors perspective for entrepreneurs during a panel discussion.   To all founders or those who want to become one – check it out: 💪🏻 Solve real problems and ensure the clarity in your business model. Understand your value chains and identify suitable partners early to deliver your solutions effectively. 🧠 Focus on the development of disruptive technology and ensure its protection to stay ahead in the market. At any point in time have your intellectual property protected to safeguard innovations and maintain the competitive edge. 👭🏼 Build a diverse management team that is capable of thinking outside the box and adapting to changing environments. 💸 Plan your capital journey upfront. Instead of focusing on solely one investment round, have a clear understanding how much capital you need to grow your business until Exit – that’s what VCs are looking for, too. 🤝 Engage with investors early and build a relationship that is built on trust for further growth and funding rounds. #SharingIsCaring #Founder #Entrepreneurship

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👇Another top session with top speakers coming up! Registrations open! Navigating Crisis: Strategies for NEDs in Uncharted Waters by Peter Blauwhoff, Dick Benschop en Simon Henry Date: Monday, May 27 2024 – 15:00 - 16:00 CET, 21:00 - 22:00 pm SGP, 08:00 - 09:00 am HOU   Content: Being a NED is most of the time a reasonably predictable activity as quarterly and other scheduled meetings generally set the agenda. However, abnormal events and crises can change this pattern completely and lead to a high workload and stress for the NED. In this webinar we will discuss the spectrum of crises and their impact, the pivotal role of the NED in these situations, and essential Do’ and Don’ts to navigate crises effectively.   Key takeaways: - Crises can develop in various ways that might require a different response - Handling crises is time-consuming - Legal support is a must have to limit liabilities The Session is part of the Webinars organised by the Non-Executive Director Network, which is lead by Peter Blauwhoff, Emma FitzGerald, Marie-Claire Junge and Matthias Bichsel. It convenes monthly on the 3rd Monday of each month, providing invaluable insights and discussions. How to join: The Session is for Shell Alumni Members. They can register for free on the event page: https://lnkd.in/dBQc7Mtf Thrilled to see so many people already registered: Rutger Beelaerts Willem Bloem Christian Bukovics Cris Buningh Jo Coleman OBE Mat Langley Richard M Oblath PhD CEng FIMMM FEI Frank Numann John Rhind, PGeol Paulus Steenkamp Luc Van Dijck and many more! #CorporateGovernance hashtag #ShareholderRelations hashtag #BoardOfDirectors hashtag #Webinar hashtag #NEDNetwork hashtag #NonExecutive

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The Netherlands is famous for its problem-solving. One great example is their innovative garbage cans, which feature a built-in beverage caddy (see in the pic below). From my perspective, this unique and creative garbage can solves multiple problems at once. Why? The Netherlands has introduced a new deposit system for bottles and cans, where an additional €0.15 is charged at purchase and can be refunded later when returning the vessel. This system is implemented in many European countries and the United States. It is designed to reduce waste and encourage recycling for a better environment. The system's only problem is that not everyone is willing to carry around an empty bottle until they reach a deposit-reclaim point. "Donation rings" (doneerringen) make it much easier for those in need to collect these discarded items and redeem their deposit. This means you don’t have to carry around an unwanted bottle, and the bottle is more likely to be recycled. Nowadays, finding solutions that benefit everyone can be challenging. This small yet inspiring innovation has demonstrated how, in a well-functioning society, a smartly executed idea can creatively overcome both minor and major issues - at least for me. What do you think about this? What others say: https://lnkd.in/g47B33Vr Follow me: https://lnkd.in/gJQQj-9B Ring my bell: https://lnkd.in/gAan7SsM #innovation #amsterdam #doneerringen #problemsolving

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Ever wondered about the circular economy? Want to learn more? Join our CEO Daniel Kurzrock and a lineup of innovators at Food Matters Live | Sustainable Food as they discuss creating a circular economy for food. Tune in to unlock the value of upcycled ingredients and reshape the future of food! What's your burning question about learning more about the circular economy? #EatUp #UpcycledFoods #Circularity #SustainableSourcing #FoodWaste #ZeroWaste #ESG #FoodInnovation #CircularEconomy #Sustainability

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For Dutch and international companies aiming to launch CPG brands in the US, the key to success is a dual approach. By strategically reshaping your portfolio and enhancing performance, you can position your brand for success in the competitive US market. Focus on targeted growth through M&A and divestitures and leverage digital transformation to boost productivity. The US market presents unique challenges, from consumer fragmentation to cost volatility.  For more insights, read the full article by McKinsey: https://lnkd.in/gZ9Sc9aE Gel specializes in guiding Dutch companies through these complexities, ensuring a successful market entry through strategic brand positioning, sales development, and management for CPG ventures. https://lnkd.in/g7yEaAN6

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From Moats to Ecosystems. The traditional strategy of 'moats'—defensive barriers designed to protect market share—is rapidly being replaced by dynamic, collaborative business ecosystems. 🎥 In a compelling video, our Co-founder, Paul Oudenhoven, explains why ecosystems are becoming the strategy of choice for driving sustainable growth and innovation. 🌐 Connect with us at Zynergio to see how our ecosystem solutions can take your business to the next level. #Zynergio #BusinessEcosystem #Innovation #Ecosystem

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What an amazing two days at B For Good Leaders. A lot of discussions about finance, creating collaborations for change and also the human side to all of this. Some interesting points picked up in the hallways (my favourite place to have meaningful conversations in between sessions): 1. Talking is easy. Doing is hard. We must accept that this massive change that we need is hárd. We are tired of blabla and inspiration, and ready to form actionable coalitions. 2. Next year we need to bring our children to the event, to feel uplifted by all that is already moving in the right direction. 3. Human connection is key. Always. 4. And my favourite, let trust arrive not by foot and leave by horse. Trust should arrive by horse and (not) leave by foot, if at all. The only way forward is together, together, together. I am grateful I got to share the story of how Paper / on the Rocks | B corp is disrupting the paper industry by creating tree-free notebooks and stationery - thereby creating a diverse and future proof paper industry. Also in that work: only together can we do this. Please send me a DM if your organisation uses paper products in the office, or in the retail collection. Only together.

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WEEKEND® DRINKS raises 1.5 Million Euros, to fuel its growth 🍸 Back in 2016, Victor (my brother), Dimi (my cousin) and I came up with the idea of a cocktail on tap business at a local festival in our hometown of Ghent. While queuing at the cocktail bar, we observed the beer queue moving much faster, simply because it was poured from a tap. It left us wondering if cocktails could also be served the same way without compromising quality. Fast-forward a year, and the very same festival - also our first client - ordered 100 liters of Mojitos, which sold out in just two hours the first evening. Our “proof of concept” was proven: the festival owner was enjoying more sales while keeping bar costs low, and the festival-goer was saved from the dreaded long queues while enjoying great cocktails. Time to quit our jobs and school, and jump into the entrepreneurial adventure. We’ve come a long way since then, struggling through COVID-19 as a 100% B2B focussed business, rolling into a broader horizon ever since. Today we’re immensely proud to see our award-winning cocktails available at over 1000 bars, restaurants, and shops across Belgium, The Netherlands, Ireland, and The Baltics. Let’s face it: it’s extremely challenging to start a new beverage brand in a very competitive spirits industry. Having faced numerous unforeseen challenges daily, we've already experienced our fair share of stressful long days. Thanks to the work of our phenomenal team, we’ve now been able to raise funds from a group of private investors, PMV, and Belfius. To everyone involved in this process - thank you very much. It truly means a lot to us. With this funding, we’re able to expand the sales team, and build our “cocktail brewery” - a place for adventurous new flavours. Let’s shake it up. Link to the article in newspaper De Tijd in first comment ⬇️

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🚆🌟 Curious to know what a week in the life of CX Unraveled looks like? This was what my week looked like last week 🌟🚜 I led some inspiring and impactful sessions with some of the coolest brands out there. ✨ Kicking off with an inspiration session for 40 conductors and service employees at Dutch Railways/Nederlandse Spoorwegen, I shared insights on how to excel in customer service. The energy in the room was amazing, and it was great to see so many engaged and motivated participants! 🌱 Next, I inspired the Management Team Netherlands of Eurofins Agro & Horti NL, diving deep into the intricacies of customer experience. I also facilitated their first journey mapping session, setting the stage for ongoing improvements and innovations. 🚜 The week wrapped up with a trip to Groningen and Heerenveen, where I interviewed farmers and had insightful conversations with the Lely center team. These discussions are crucial as we work to enhance the customer journey for Lely International's automated feeding machinery. At CX Unraveled, we are passionate about partnering with exceptional brands to elevate their customer experiences. If you’re looking to enhance your customer journey, we’d love to help! And if you like this post, follow us on CX Unraveled for more. #CustomerExperience #JourneyMapping #ServiceExcellence #CXUnraveled #DutchRailways #EurofinsAgro #LelyInternational #Innovation #CustomerJourney

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Did you know about the first speculative bubble that occurred? Dive into the exquisite history of finance! Explore this article for information about the Tulip Crash. Do consider to like,share and follow for more such exciting articles! #tulipmania #bubble #Marketcrash

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Final panel on #ESRS support w Maaike Fleur, Erik Breen, Laurence Rivat, Filip Gregor - the first challenge is educating leadership. Building the necessary capacity to understand what it means to call a sustainability matter material under CSRD - there are "cowboys" out there promising a silver bullet to solve these challenges. Check the credentials of your advisors - Auditors' perspective, 3 main challenges: 1. ensuring that CSRD is implemented not just as a compliance exercise, but as an opportunity to trigger strategic planning to transform unsustainable business models; 2. poor translations and obscure language in the ESRS does not help. Practical Q&A guidance is essential, as well as sector specific standards clarifying material issues material in each sector; 3. getting ready for assurance - auditors are investing in training their professionals. Some countries (France) require specific credentials to be an assurance provider for CSRD. - EFRAG is underfunded. It needs adequate resources to meet its ambitious goals

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