Ashoka’s Post

Think about your most recent business decision...was the motivating factor profit or sustainability? Don't be shy to say profit. We hear it from partners and clients all the time. That sustainability is important, but at the end of the day, profit is the bigger motivator. We won't change economic systems overnight, but we can change the decision-making architecture that navigates our choices and behaviors. Jurriaan Kamer and I outline 3 areas of an organization that guide our day-to-day decisions. We can "hack" them to manage the tension between long-term sustainability and short-term profits. Read more in CEO Magazine: https://lnkd.in/eaCabSSs 1) organizational strategy 👉 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲-𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘀 2) measurements 👉 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣&𝗟 3) governance 👉 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 "𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆" 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 We can't tackle new problems with old ways of working. Ashoka Changemaker Companies × Unblock are here to support you to try it out. One of our tips: start with small experiments. #sustainability requires a new #futureofwork

𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 & 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 – 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 Our recent “Lunch and Get Energised” sessions were designed to raise awareness on building green habits amongst colleagues. These events provided valuable insights and practical tips to help us all embrace sustainability in our daily lives. 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙡𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙒𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 Our first session focused on conscious consumerism and reducing clothing waste. Colleagues participated in thought-provoking discussions and hands-on sorting activities to explore sustainable solutions like recycling and upcycling. A guest speaker from Redress shared insights on emerging eco-friendly fashion trends, inspiring us to reduce consumption and make more sustainable choices. 𝙀𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 In a second session, Guest Moderator Sui Man Karen Cheng facilitated a discussion on sustainability through the vision of an entrepreneur. We heard from two inspiring entrepreneurs from not.only.powder and Invisible Company, who shared their journeys of turning everyday ideas into sustainable business ventures. 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 Our Head of Corporate Services, Eddie Chan, connected these learnings to our own sustainability initiatives. He highlighted the Bank’s efforts on building an award-winning sustainable workplace and encouraged employees to adopt greener practices both at work and in their personal lives. #HangSengBank #SustainOurFuture #ESG #Sustainability #SustainableWorkplace #ConsciousConsumption #Entrepreneurship #GreenerFuture

My Seminar Presentation on Circular Economy Always begins saying “EPR compliance is a Path To Profitability if Adapted by Brands in true of its Nature.” Glad to Share An Article on same lines where brand speaks “How CONSUMER BRANDS TRANSLATE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO PROFITABILITY” Read more at: https://lnkd.in/dBTEh358 For More Information on How perfect Circular Economy solution Can help to achieve sustainablity and Profitability please contact us on +919004005520 #CircularEconomy #EPR #sustainability #Profit #Consumerbrands

Dear #CEO, what is your compass? 🧭Sustainability even/over profit or the other way around? Here is how to "hack" 💠 your day-to-day decisions to manage the tension between long-term sustainability and short-term profits. Written by Sarah Jefferson from Ashoka and Jurriaan Kamer from Unblock. 🙌

The Chicken and Egg Problem in Funding Sustainable Materials Navigating the challenge of securing funding for sustainable material start-ups involves a complex interplay between early investment and brand partnerships. This dilemma, often likened to the chicken and egg scenario, poses a significant hurdle. Start-ups require financial support and collaborations to expand, yet brands seek established technologies before committing. Finding solutions to this conundrum is crucial for advancing sustainable innovation in the fashion industry. Explore more on how to tackle these #StartupChallenges and drive #SustainableInnovation. 🌱👗 https://buff.ly/3xtIAFR #StartupChallenges #FashionIndustry

It’s no secret that big consultancies charge big money for big pitch decks. Yet, you don’t get fired for hiring McKinsey. Some say it’s executive insurance if the project doesn’t go well. Others claim that the only way to get your ideas through is to have McKinsey present them back. Regardless of why they are there or if they are worth it, the surprising thing to me is that all they do is make recommendations. They don’t test things. They haven’t piloted any rubbish bins in NYC to see if they will actually work. They don’t know if there is a container that a rat can’t eat through. They just talk about it. I know nothing about trash cans, but we see the same thing in the digital product world: lots of ideas that never get beyond post-its or the boardroom. There are back-and-forth opinions when it’s not hard to prototype something and decide with data. Find out if your customers even want what you are proposing by putting it in front of them. Iterate in real-time towards something that solves their problem and delivers value to the company. Build prototypes, not pitch decks.

Most companies realise that soon business won’t be ‘as usual’. With a mounting pressure for the businesses of the world to create a better future, why are we still seeing them aim for ‘less harm,’ instead of active good? Our Joint Managing Director Gareth Lewis sat down with Minutehack to outline four ways businesses can recalibrate themselves to a more regenerative state of mind, reimagine what the world could look like, and turn negative pasts into positive futures 👇 https://lnkd.in/eR7aPb58

🌿 Creating a Natural & Sustainable Brand: My Journey 🌿 Building a brand rooted in sustainability is more than a trend—it's a movement towards a better future. Here's how I am trying to do it: ✨ Define Your Purpose: Start with a clear vision. For me, it was about reducing environmental impact while offering high-quality products. ✨ Choose the Right Materials: Opt for eco-friendly options like organic cotton and recycled polyester. Ensure your suppliers meet sustainability certifications like GOTS and Fair Trade. ✨ Craft a Compelling Story: Share your journey and values. Consumers connect with brands that prioritize transparency and integrity. Innovate in Marketing: Use digital platforms to highlight your sustainability efforts. Engage with your audience through authentic storytelling. ✨ Stay Flexible: Adapt to market changes and continuously seek ways to improve your sustainability practices. Let’s make sustainability the standard, not the exception. 🌍 #SustainableBrand #EcoFriendly #Entrepreneurship #GreenBusiness #BrandBuilding #TeaCurry #BuddhaNatural #IvoryNatural #JustVedic

It's inspiring to witness the growing trend of launching brands that are not only successful but also have a positive impact on our planet! More and more individuals, including celebrities, are recognizing the importance of sustainability and incorporating it into their entrepreneurial ventures. Let's take a closer look at some remarkable examples. Launched in 2020, Alia Bhatt, took a step towards sustainability by launching her bootstrapped startup Ed-a-Mamma specializing in kids' clothing, with a strong focus on the planet. The brand aims to provide stylish and comfortable clothing while minimizing the impact on the environment. What's even more impressive is that they have expanded their offerings to include maternal clothing as well, ensuring that sustainability extends to every stage of life. Joining the ranks of environmentally-conscious celebrities, Kriti Sanon recently launched her skincare brand HYPHEN with a powerful message: no plastic footprint. The brand takes pride in being 100% vegan and places a strong emphasis on sustainable packaging. By prioritizing eco-friendly materials and practices, Kriti's brand sets an example for others to follow. It's a testament to the fact that sustainability can be integrated into all aspects of a business, from product formulation to the way it reaches the consumer. *The Shift Toward Conscious Brand Elements* With consumers becoming increasingly aware of their environmental impact, they are actively seeking out brands that align with their values. While established brands may face challenges in revamping their underlying production procedures or unique selling propositions, there is still an opportunity to make a difference. One impactful way for established brands to become more thoughtful and considerate is by embracing sustainable packaging. At ECOERA™, we believe as the demand for environmentally-friendly products and services continues to rise, brands have an opportunity to differentiate themselves by embracing sustainability. #SustainabilityMatters #EnvironmentallyFriendlyBrands #ConsciousConsumerism #sustainablepackaging