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John Elkington

John Elkington

A world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.

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From A to B – and on to C

John Elkington · 25 February 2010 · Leave a Comment

Edie Lush with aircraft engine Edie Lush with aircraft engine Ferry Building through an Autodesk concoction Ferry Building through an Autodesk concoction Form Form Sculpture - designed on Autodesk, carved by hand Sculpture – designed on Autodesk, carved by hand Surfboard design Surfboard design Climbing axes Climbing axes Tail light Tail light Concept car Concept car Part of a motorbike Part of a motorbike 3-D print-out views another print-out, quizically 3-D print-out views another print-out, quizzically Rapid prototyping via 3-D printing of solid objects Rapid prototyping via 3-D printing of solid objects Seeing is believing - almost Seeing is believing – almost Puddle outside Puddle outside Historic slot machine, showing something a bit like the Donner party Historic slot machine, showing something a bit like the Donner Party Jolly Jack Tar, reminding me slightly of Ronald Reagan Jolly Jack Tar, reminding me slightly of Ronald Reagan WWII sub WWII sub

The day started at Autodesk, where we were completely seduced by the Gallery of objects that have been made using their software and programs. Like HP Labs and Serious Materials on the first day, Arup last night or the City Hall and Better Place teams we met today, it seems that these people use sustainability in almost every paragraph they speak. The City Hall people, thanks to the overarching vision of Mayor Gavin Newsom, who Elaine and I met some years back while tramping around a snowy Davos. 

The Better Place visit out in Palo Alto sparked a pretty fiery exchange between some of our party and the Better Place folk, but as their Aliza Peleg put it afterwards, Better Place is full of Israelis – and they are more than used to vigorous exchanges. Then on to the opening reception for the Cleantech Forum, though I headed back to the hotel earlier than most, nursing a headache. A case of future overload? Where is the Dr (Alvin Toffler) when we need him?

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Introduction

I began this blog with an entry reporting on a visit to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution on Cape Cod, on 30 September 2003. The blog element of the website has gone through several iterations since, with much of the older material still available.

Like so many things in my life, blog entries blur the boundaries between the personal and the professional. As explained on this site’s Home Page, the website and the blog are part platform for ongoing projects, part autobiography, and part accountability mechanism.

In addition, my blogs have appeared on many sites such as: Chinadialogue, CSRWire, Fast Company, GreenBiz, Guardian Sustainable Business, and the Harvard Business Review.

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About

John Elkington is a world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development. He is currently Founding Partner and Executive Chairman of Volans, a future-focused business working at the intersection of the sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation movements.

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john@johnelkington.com  |  +44 203 701 7550 | Twitter: @volansjohn

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