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John Elkington

John Elkington

A world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.

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Best Sustainable Business Books of 2014

John Elkington · 16 November 2014 · Leave a Comment

Just in to New York for a couple of days whizzing around – and am preparing comments for an evening hosted by my literary agent, Doris Michaels, at her home by Central Park on Tuesday. It’s virtually her swan-song, because she is handing over to Sheree Bykofsky. And in the process of thinking through what I would say, I recalled reviewing a barrowload of sustainable business books for strategy + business magazine a month or two back, the results of which process are now on their website.

It made me realise that the three books I have done with Doris – The Power of Unreasonable People (2008), The Zeronauts (2012) and The Breakthrough Challenge (2014) – have been, in effect, a trilogy. The first largely looked at people attempting the impossible outside the business mainstream, the second largely at people attempting it inside, and the third largely looks at what we now need to do to the rules of the market game to ensure that all aspects of capitalism now jump to a different level.

Science Museum’s Information Age and Rapley Climate Rap

John Elkington · 11 November 2014 · Leave a Comment

Winston Churchill greets us
Winston Churchill greets us
In the store
In store
Log drum from Bafut, Cameroon
Log drum from Bafut, Cameroon
The Rugby VLF transmitter began work in 1926, destroyed by a fire in 1943
The Rugby VLF transmitter began work in 1926, destroyed by a fire in 1943
It's amazing what we have been able to loft into space
It’s amazing what we have been able to loft into space
Tom Berners-Lee at the centre of the Web
Tim Berners-Lee at the centre of the Web
USSR and US computers, back to back, that modelled the effects of Nuclear Winter
USSR and US computers, back to back, that modelled the effects of Nuclear Winter
The IBM computer we used at ENDS
The IBM computer we used at ENDS
Pre-production version of the Apple Macintosh Gaia and Hania grew up with
Pre-production version of the Apple Macintosh Gaia and Hania grew up with
Mock cactus hides cell phone facility
Mock cactus hides cell phone facility
Geodesic shapes in the Maths section
Geodesic shapes in the Maths section

Across early to Science Museum, for a tour around their wonderful new Information Age exhibition – featuring “Six Networks That Changed Our World.” Our guide was the Curator, Tilly Blyth.

One of the most moving features was the story of how African American singer Paul Robeson, banned from travelling during the McCarthy era of anti-Communist insanity in the United States, nonetheless managed to do a concert in London via the magic of a submarine repeater cable. More on that here.

His The Canoe Song made it into my Top 16 pieces of music many moons ago. In other news, he also had an affair with actress Peggy Ashcroft, when she played Desdemona to his Othello. She was later mother-in-law to Molly March, who I grew up with in Cyprus in the 1950s.

Then back to the office for a series of meetings with people like Matt Scott of the Bank of England and a sustainability duo from Schindler Group, who make lifts and escalators. Both sessions fascinating.

Then with Elaine to 2071, a one-man climate show by Professor Chris Rapley, a former Director for the Science Museum. Sitting right behind us was Greenpeace Director John Sauven, with whom we discussed the frequent LEGO campaign, among other things. And on the way out we said a brief hello to Steve Waygood of AVIVA.

The show, mis-labelled a “play” by some, is impressive in terms of the research findings and statistics, but not the liveliest of shows. Rapley reminded me at various points of a toned down Jim Lovelock, way more temperate in his language and dispassionate in his presentation, though at times you could feel the emotion struggling to break through. Next time, though, more visuals, please.

Chris Rapley on stage 1
Chris Rapley on stage 1
Chris Rapley on stage 2
Chris Rapley on stage 2

RBS Innovation Gateway

John Elkington · 10 November 2014 · Leave a Comment

Stephen Howard in the midst of judging
Stephen Howard in the midst of judging
Signposting
Signposting
Well, here I am
Well, here I am
Media at work
Media at work

Spent the bulk of today judging the first round the Royal Bank of Scotland Innovation Gateway Awards. The other judges included Martin Chilcott of 2degrees Network, Stephen Howard of Business in the Community, Maggie Philbin of the BBC and Caroline Rainbird, RBS Director of Corporate Services. RBS don’t seem to have publicly posted the winners yet, so will retain from doing so until they do so.

Dogs and an Englishman in San Pedro de Atacama

John Elkington · 7 November 2014 · Leave a Comment

San Pedro towards sunset
San Pedro towards sunset
Letting sleeping dogs lie
Letting sleeping dogs lie
Coca product for sex
Coca product for sex, so they say …
Graveyard 1
Graveyard 1
Graveyard 2
Graveyard 2
Recycling facilities ...
Recycling facilities …
My shadow and I
My shadow and I
We: my shadow and dog's shadow
We: my shadow and dog’s shadow
Wind farm close to Calama airport
en route back to Santiago: wind farm close to Calama airport

Something of a tourist trap, but nicely managed and remarkably clean, San Pedro proved an intriguing place to wander around once the days had cooled. The dogs were remarkably well tempered. And the graveyard is nicely kept and surprisingly playful, if basic.

25 Years After Fall of Wall, Balloons Go Up

John Elkington · 7 November 2014 · Leave a Comment

logo_25-jahre-mauerfall_en

Friends in Berlin sent us this link to a stunning celebration of the Fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago. The short video is highly recommended. It’s amazing how much this world of ours can change in around a third of the Biblical lifetime.

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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.

Contact

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

John Elkington

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