Journal

Peter Byck and the Soil Carbon Cowboys

John Elkington · 29 March 2014 · 1 Comment

Great day, talking and walking around Barnes, with Peter Byck. If you haven’t seen his short film Soil Carbon Cowboys, it’s highly recommended. I love the way he engages right-wing people in their own terms, but on our issues. Earlier this week, Volans partnered with Soil Capital, A Very Good Company, Savory Institute and Net Impact London, as part of our Breakthrough Capitalism program, to bring to London a unique event exploring how business leaders and farmers can lead a paradigm shift towards more sustainable agriculture. Peter was one of the speakers.

Peter Byck at the Barnes Wetland Centre, seeming to have a crush on otters

The inadequacy of current agroindustrial systems to address food security issues has become increasingly clear. Regenerative agriculture has emerged in this context to regroup a number of farming practices that increase the natural fertility of the land instead of depleting it. This type of agriculture relies more on the knowledge and experience of land managers than conventional agriculture, which depends more on petrochemical inputs. A number of individuals stand out as experts in their own fields, with solid track records in realising value for their farm and communities through regenerative agriculture.

I chaired a panel session including the following speakers:

Daniela Howell, Savory Institute (USA)
Dr Dwayne Beck, Dakota Lakes Research Farm (USA)
Stephen Briggs, Abacus Organic (UK)
Dr Ademir Calegari, Paraná Agronomic Institute (Brazil)
Perrine Hervé-Gruyer, Bec-Hellouin Permacultural farm (France)

The evening, hosted by Deloitte, was great fun, and I met a host of people from very different necks of the woods. This is a subject I haven’t been involved in for around three decades, but it’s one I see as critically important, and would love to do more on.

Coelacanth and PE International in Stuttgart

John Elkington · 11 March 2014 · Leave a Comment

I spoke at a PE International conference on the theme of ‘From Sustainability Compliance to Breakthrough’ in Stuttgart today, in an extraordinary structure that used to be used for displaying horses. The presentation was filmed and can be viewed here.

PE International interview

Interviewed on stage by PE’s Chief Sustainability Strategist, Jim Fava

A coelacanth attends the reception in the evening

Interface

John Elkington · 22 November 2013 · Leave a Comment

Deep dive into Mission Zero

Carpet spectrum Bobbins I’m squatter in tanker reflection Into the Awarehouse Welcomed Reflected in the Net Effect ceiling Shadowed Natural inspiration Doors

Amy (Birchall) and I flew across to Amsterdam on Wednesday evening, walking to the Mercure hotel in Amersfoort in pouring rain and a considerable wind, to spend a couple of days with Interface at their Scherpenzeel site. Fascinating interviews, from C-Suite to shopfloor, for a project we’re doing for the company on which more anon. Key focus on progress with Mission Zero. Then a delayed flight back to Heathrow.

It’s a sign – and Amy Door covered with Lapland moss/lichen, which is alive Filmed by Ben and Paul of Limehouse

A Day of Justice and Zero Tolerance

John Elkington · 19 November 2013 · Leave a Comment

New blitz to slow death toll among London cyclists

I finally got my day in court today, when the motorist who left me unconscious after knocking me off my cycle in Berwick Street in March came to trial at the Magistrates’ Court in Queen Victoria Street.

Interesting that the case coincided with the beginning of which might just be a new era in the up-and-down story of London cycling. I picked up this evening’s Evening Standard because of the front page, with its blaring headline: ‘POLICE BLITZ TO COMBAT CYCLE CARNAGE.’ This after six cyclists were killed in less that two weeks this month. The police are promising “zero tolerance” in their crack-down on dangerous road users, including cyclists.

One unexpected delight today was to meet the young woman who had been the only English witness of my head-over-heeling, and had turned up to give evidence – even though her sister had just given birth this morning. She turned out to be involved in the world of social entrepreneurship, too, which meant we had much to talk about beyond road safety.

The end result was that the motorist was found guilty on all charges, was fined and had six points put on his licence, which means that he will be banned until he does his driving test again. In the circumstances, I thought that was a fair outcome. He lied repeatedly under oath, which undermined any sympathy I might have felt for my erstwhile nemesis, though I confess that thoughts of restorative justice had nagged at me as the Magistrates retired to consider their verdict.

Then back to the office to work on speeches for our Breakthrough sessions in Berlin and Pottsdam next week – and a smart grids session in Belgium the following week. But first, tomorrow, its off to Holland for a couple of days with carpet-makers Interface, interviewing many of the people who have been involved in their Mission Zero.

Monday, Monday

John Elkington · 18 November 2013 · Leave a Comment

London Stock Exchange and then Sustainable Brands

Before opening the Exchange: Toby Heaps, photographer, Mark Makepeace, Paul Avery

Went first thing to the London Stock Exchange, for launch of CK Capital’s latest benchmarking survey of stock exchanges in relation to corporate sustainability disclosures. Corporate Knights co-founder and President Toby Heaps was joined by Mark Makepeace (Chief Executive of the FTSE Group) and Paul Avery (Head of Investments, Aviva Investors).

The actual opening of the Exchange was a little less dramatic than I had expected, with a photographer taking lots of photograps of the guests clapping on a balcony overlooking a large blue ball representing the trading. Felt slightly weird, but it may have been symbolic in some wider way.

Then on to Sustainable Brands conference to do a plenary session with Marie-Claire Daveu of Kering, on sustainability as a driver of brand innovation. Then back to Bloomsbury Place to begin the working day.

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