Journal

In October, I am due to visit Bucharest and Romania for the first time. I will be hosted by the Ambasada Sustenabilității în România, who are organizing the 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐀 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐔𝐌 on October 9th, a hybrid event, aimed at the leaders of the largest companies in Romania, but also at “visionary entrepreneurs.”

With Prof. Wayne Visser, I will explain the sustainability agenda for business – and explain the evolution of more sustainable business models. We will also provide examples of best practice from companies that are successfully balancing profitability with responsibility for people and planet.

Says Oana Grosanu, the executive director of the Sustainability Embassy in Bucharest, “We’ve been beating your brains out thinking on how to promote this event in the most creative and impactful way possible. I think we have chosen a rather unexpected approach for a business conference: powerful messages, aimed to company leaders from the young generation, today’s children and tomorrow’s adults.”

She goes on to explain: “One of the kids is my 10-year-old boy. Seeing him on the visual is a very strong motivation because it reminds me what we ‘fight’ for at the Sustainability Embassy in Romania every day, being 100% convinced that only sustainability can offer Romanian people a prosperous economy, a healthy environment, a fair society and a safer tomorrow.”

What a joy to be involved! Tickets for the event are available on this link, with special early bird fees until July 25.

A Must Read from the Godfather of Sustainability

Volans and Fast Company Press are proud to announce the release of Tickling Sharks: How We Sold Business on Sustainability, the 21st book by John Elkington, aka the “Godfather of Sustainability.” It offers a candid and comprehensive look at the evolution of the sustainability agenda over the past 50 years, offering unparalleled insights from the man who coined the term “triple bottom line”—People, Planet, and Profit.

John Elkington has been at the forefront of the sustainability movement since it began, advising some of the world’s most influential companies and business leaders. In Tickling Sharks, he shares an insider’s perspective on the trials, triumphs, and transformations that have shaped the journey towards sustainable business practices.

The book’s central message is that the next 15 years will see more change than the past 50 years—but that it will drive us towards systemic breakdowns as well as breakthroughs. The quality of leadership will be even more critical than in normal, less disrupted times. 

Tickling Sharks is a call to action for business leaders, policymakers, and sustainability advocates. Whether you read it on a plane, on the beach or back in the office, this is a must-read for anyone committed to driving positive, systemic change.

If you would like John to talk about Tickling Sharks to your organisation, please contact Natalie Jude. 

Reviews

“John is a legend. Throughout my 30-year career in sustainability leadership, he has been a source of insight and inspiration. By extension he has influenced the thinking of thousands of senior executives on our programmes.” Dame Polly Courtice, founding director, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership 

“Thank you, John, for being our godfather, soothsayer, advocate, provocateur, and—ultimately—inspiration.” Hannah Jones, CEO, The Earthshot Prize 

“By coaching the enlightened—and confronting the laggards—John has helped put the issues and opportunities firmly on the top tables of some of the world’s largest and most impactful businesses.” Sir Dave Lewis, former CEO, Tesco PLC; chair, WWF-UK 

“John has seen farther, sooner, and better than anyone how commerce could reimagine the world and has done so with modesty, eloquence, and kindness.” Paul Hawken, environmentalist, entrepreneur, author of The Ecology of Commerce, Drawdown, and Regeneration 

“With his patented mixture of humor and ardor, the father of the triple bottom line distils the most important lessons learned during a long career spent at the bleeding edge of ESG.” Denis Hayes, organizer of the first Earth Day in 1970; former head, Solar Energy Research Institute; president, Bullitt Foundation 

“John Elkington is unusual in that he has ridden—and helped shape—so many waves of change. But perhaps his central contribution has been in helping to ensure that the tremendous opportunities offered by responsible and sustainable business models are increasingly understood by CEOs and boards.” Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever, campaigner, and co-author of Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take 

NOTES

Availability: Tickling Sharks is now available at major bookstores and online retailers in hardback, paperback, Kindle and audio versions. 

Media Inquiries: For more information, please visit Fast Company Press’s website or contact Natalie Jude at +44 (0)7788212915 or natalie@volans.com. She can also help with review copies, interviews, and other media requests.

Click here to listen.

A bit of a whistlestop week. Started with Peter Byck and his family coming to lunch on Sunday – and continued with the premiere of his docuseries, Roots So Deep, held in Soho on Monday evening.

Then on Tuesday I was up horribly early to do an opening plenary at RESET Connect, held at the ExCel Centre in London’s Docklands. Part of London Climate Action Week (LCAW). Capacity audience. First time on the Elizabeth Line, which I loved. Then back for a meeting with Harry Wright of Bright Tide and a presentation of the new Volans Brand Book by LEAP. On Tuesday evening we had the Volans Salon on corporate climate advocacy, held in the Exchange area of Somerset House. Great turnout of companies and stakeholders.

On Wednesday, Diana Verde Nieto came across for coffee in the morning. Then, in the evening, I went into town for the Volans Book Club, where Louise interviewed me on Tickling Sharks – and then I raced across to Goals House for a Google dinner marking LCAW. Made some fascinating connections.

On Thursday afternoon I went across to Holborn Viaduct for an event celebrating the second Pineapple Day. Did an opening fireside chat with Pineapple Partnerships founder Andy Dewis. Then over the next day or two whipped up my latest Substack post on the subject of pineapples. Rather liked the image I conjured for the purpose using Artiphoria (see below).

Then on Friday I did an advisory board meeting for GIST Impact, followed by a podcast recording on Tickling Sharks with Lawrence Jones for the Edison Electric Institute.

And now, on Sunday, am preparing to take to the Eurostar to Brussels in a couple of hours for an advisory board meeting for UBQ Materials, to include a visit to their new manufacturing site. Then to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport to fly to Lisbon to keynote a BCSD conference – before flying back late on Wednesday evening. If all goes well.

Up very early, for me at least, especially after a late night yesterday at Peter Byck’s premiere for his 4-part docuseries Roots So Deep (that you can see the Devil down there) on regenerative farming, to catch the 7.46 train from Barnes Bridge to Waterloo. Then on by, among other things, the new Elizabeth Line. First experience of it – and was duly impressed. Then on to Custom House station and the Excel Centre for RESET Connect, a major sustainability event that is part of London Climate Action Week.

Did a panel session with Kate Norgrove of WWF and Lucy Siegle. Thinking we would be scratching around for an audience, having been in the exhibition area up to that point, we went through a curtain to find out speaking area seething – packed seating and scores of people standing.

Our theme was how to make business sense of the rapidly evolving nature and biodiversity agenda. Great session – and was energetically engaged, on that issues and others, by a nice young man on the return Elizabeth Line train.

Afterwards, talked to a number of participants, including two people from Brazil – who showed me yet another online network in their country that features me – though first I have heard to it – with something like 8,000 members. Amazing how one’s work can take on a life of its own.

Then back to Somerset House for a session with Jenny Poulter and Harry Wright of Bright Tide. Then a briefing for the team on the new Volans branding, which was very encouraging.

And then we all – except Harriet, who had damaged her foot and been raced off to hospital – went downstairs to the Somerset House Exchange to host our Corporate Climate Advocacy salon as part of London Climate Action Week. Great turnout, with a very engaged audience participating in a modified format discussion period – and excellent framing and moderation by Richard and Louise.