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John Elkington

John Elkington

A world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.

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The Stuff of Dreams

John Elkington · 21 October 2013 · Leave a Comment

Speaking at the K-Fair in Dusseldorf and Green Business Congress in Brussels

The Rhine when Celina and I walk down to the shore ahead of dinner The Rhine when Celina and I walk down to the shore ahead of dinner Richard (Northcote), Celina (Chew) and Patrick (Thomas) of Bayer MaterialScience Richard (Northcote), Celina (Chew) and Patrick (Thomas) of Bayer MaterialScience The field of battle: where I spoke for PlasticsEurope The field of battle: where I spoke for PlasticsEurope Another angle Another angle Patrick demonstrates flexible cabling Patrick demonstrates flexible cabling Graffiti-proof coatings Graffiti-proof coatings Wind turbine blade, like a giant eel Wind turbine blade, like a giant eel Robotic swimming device, like a mermaid or walrus tail Partial exoskeleton: robotic swimming device, like a mermaid or walrus tail ET-like exhibit ET-like exhibit Another angle Another angle Patrick Thomas in green tie Patrick Thomas in green tie Video of Solar Impulse landing or taking off Video of Solar Impulse landing or taking off All aboard the ICE train All aboard the ICE train

Things have been moving so fast recently that life risks turning into a bit of a blur. That said, I enjoyed my trip to the K-Fair in Dusseldorf, where I was hosted by Bayer MaterialScience–speaking both for them (see this YouTube edited highlights video) and for PlasticsEurope. I spoke in a series including such people as Joschka Fisher (who I once debated in Wiesbaden, way back in 1989), Bertrand Piccard (the motive force behind the amazing Solar Impulse aircraft) and Yoshiyuki Sankai (who works in the field of exoskeletons).The theme was dreams for the future.

Great to catch up with BMS CEO Patrick Thomas, Richard Northcote and Celina Chew, who we have been working with on Project SunRise. First worked with Patrick way back in the early 1990s, when he was with ICI Polyurethanes.

After a couple of days in Dusseldorf, it is all aboard an ICE train (not the one shown) and off to Brussels for a CEO lunch and then to speak at the Green Business Congress, whose theme this year is ‘Mission Zero.’ Appropriate since we have just agreed to do a project for Interface, whose founder the late Ray Anderson launched the original Mission Zero, and was one of the Zeronauts featured in The Zeronauts.

Then a dinner with members of the C&A team we are working with, hosted at the wonderful Belga Queen restaurant. Got the time wrong, so had to race, but was guided by my ‘Brussels angel”, Bob Starc. Then, after another night in a hotel, off to catch the Eurostar home.

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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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