Education

“The circular economy is a natural manifestation of where innovation is going”

Szilvia Szabó — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 16:14:28 +0000

“The circular economy is a natural manifestation of where innovation is going”

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Circular Economy

Climate Innovation

Education

Topic

Circular Business

This article is part of the 'Celebrating Circular` initiative and story collection that spotlights trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

It aims to highlight the encouraging achievements of companies that participated in the MODOS circular economy training provided by Local Authorities to local businesses and supported by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and Dublin City Council.

Expert Insight

Declan Bogan is a senior consultant driving the training pillar within Goodbody Clearstream, which provides global leadership in corporate climate affairs, ESG, and sustainability services.

Over the last 25 years, he has worked on sustainability, innovation, and strategy projects across multiple organisations. As a business consultant, he gained experience and understanding of the fundamental drivers of innovation and design thinking across product, people, portfolio, and business model proposition elements, which he uses to advance sustainability projects and developments.

His colleague and Managing Director at Goodbody Clearstream, Brian O’Kennedy, was part of the original team of trainers who created the initial content for the MODOS training programme, taking on the introduction to circular economy and supply chain management sessions.

Declan Bogan, senior sustainability consultant at Goodbody Clearstream

Circularity requires business model innovation and system-level change

Declan now hosts modules for the MODOS course to introduce the concept of circularity and its business adaptation while covering carbon management and design thinking. He highlights that integrating sustainability and circularity takes a holistic approach that goes far beyond product development, as it is more about how you manage all aspects of your business.

“Becoming truly circular requires business model innovation and system-level change within an organisation,” Declan shares, adding that this makes it hard to get companies on board since they need to put time and effort into managing change.

In his experience, the circular economy has gained ground in the business world, but it is still far from being part of the core strategy.

Highlighting practical circular solutions to shift mindsets

He adds that businesses must first see the value of adopting sustainability to shift priorities, start thinking about how this could apply to their enterprise, and explore how to benefit from these changes.

“The circular economy is a natural manifestation of where innovation is going. Embracing circularity is next for innovative businesses,”

says Declan, explaining why it is crucial to present circularity as a solution for businesses.

This is one of his focus areas while delivering the MODOS course modules, where one element is introducing design thinking to help participants uncover the practical applications of the circular economy and start shifting their mindset.

His approach is to make circularity real through case studies that shine a light on what it means to adopt it at different levels.

“I aim to open participants` minds and prepare them more for the modules coming up later so they can better apply that knowledge and connect it with their own situation,” Declan says.

Learn more about the Celebrating Circular initiative!

The 'Celebrating Circular` digital publication and online story collection spotlight trailblazer Irish businesses making strides towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy.

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Mixing different perspectives

Declan emphasises that these modules are more than lectures, as sessions take deep dives into practicality and peer-to-peer learning facilitated by world-class presenters bringing in multiple voices and a wide range of expertise.

“The richness of perspectives brought into the MODOS course through a unique selection of trainers gives participants a special advantage in fully embracing this learning opportunity.”

Since all trainers have worked in this field, they can share real-world experiences in different areas, also adding a touch of reality check on adopting change and implementing these practices.

With almost thirty years of experience in sustainability, innovation, and business, Declan is dedicated to being part of the solution and driving the transition towards a sustainable economy. He enjoys sparking change through education and sharing his expertise with more people.

Finding ways to make change happen

“What excites me the most nowadays is scaling up impact and finding ways to make change happen. I love the feeling of waking up in the morning with the question of who or what I will change now.”

The MODOS course is one of the many platforms where Declan passionately shares what he has gathered over the years and supports leaders in finding their own way of making a difference.

“I believe the energy Joanne Rourke and her team have put into developing the MODOS programme is a force for change, and it shines through the training.”

He adds that the programme definitely has the potential to grow bigger, along with its powerful vision of making businesses more sustainable and circular.

Looking into the future, Declan believes that access to finance and further support would make it even more appealing to companies to invest time in learning and upskilling in sustainability, enabling them to develop innovative services and products.

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Making water matter in Ireland

Szilvia Szabó — Thu, 16 May 2024 16:38:19 +0000

Making water matter in Ireland

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Water

Education

Topic

Nature

Water is a fundamental element in our lives, just as crucial as air, land, and other natural resources. We are interconnected and reliant on water in numerous ways, and our lives are bound to it, yet it is easy to overlook its importance.

Elaine Moynihan and Katie McShane, Co-Founders of Irish not-for-profit WiseWater, were at the forefront of this year`s UN World Water Day, celebrated on March 22nd every year.

They organised a local beach clean-up and formed a giant peace symbol made up of the collected trash and people participating to “make a stand together to preserve, protect and care for our water environment.”

Elaine Moynihan (left) and Katie McShane (right), Co-Founders of WiseWater

Elaine reveals that in just one hour, about forty participants had filled over twenty big bags with rubbish from the beach.

This eye-opening experience about plastic pollution inspired many of them to pledge to change their purchasing habits, realising the significant role their individual actions can play in avoiding plastic.

Beyond pollution, a report published in 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Ireland found that the water quality of rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal areas in the country continues to decline, with only just over half of the surface waters in satisfactory condition and able to sustain healthy ecosystems for fish, insects, and plants.

Explaining their approach to connecting people with water, Elaine shares that they believe that to make people want to care for and protect our environment, they first need to have a relationship with it.

“In Ireland, we often take water for granted, but we would like to raise awareness about the importance of behaviour change in terms of water usage and preserving our water environment”

The mission of Wise Water is to combine the vital connection between personal well-being and preserving our water environment through educational activities provided to schools, community groups and workplaces.

Elaine and Katie built on their passion for all things water as they both live by the west coast of Ireland and love to plunge in the refreshing Atlantic throughout all seasons, besides surfing and rowing from time to time.

They emphasise that water teaches invaluable lessons such as receptivity and reflecting our thoughts and actions, adding that water`s adaptability and resilience underscore the importance of social connections, and just like humanity and the planet, water is vulnerable and requires care in times of rapid change.

Young people getting involved in citizen science with WiseWater at Ballinaspittle river. Image: WiseWater

Each WiseWater workshop intertwines the crucial link between human well-being and the conservation of our water ecosystems,” Elaine explains.

One of their flagship programmes is a six-week water and wellness course designed for 5th and 6th class students where young participants engage in fun activities, experiments, and system-thinking discussions while learning about various facets of well-being.

“First, they gain insights into the many reasons why some wells are bubbling with fresh water and others are stagnant. By learning this, we then explore how we keep our own water bodies well.”

Activities include water in a sound bowl, which shows how water responds to sound and the introduction of Dr Wallace J. Nicolas' blue-mind concept, supported by extensive research showcasing water's calming effect on the mind.

By understanding the blue-mind and red-mind concept, where blue indicates feeling calm and red is feeling stress, students gain a practical tool for maintaining overall well-being as well.

Another exercise includes the `one well` approach, which helps children better conceptualise global water usage through a simple visualisation.

As part of this activity, students also work in groups, creating fictional households to calculate water usage and how they could manage it if they had to walk to bring water to cover their needs, such as showering, flushing toilets or cooking.

Elaine shares how they design these programmes to get children more involved: “Participants engage in citizen science by utilising the `kick sampling` technique to explore macroinvertebrates – small aquatic animals like insect larvae, snails, and beetles – that serve as reliable indicators of water quality.

The session begins with a biodiversity game to illustrate the interconnectedness of all life forms.

Then, we divide them into different groups and explain the sampling and how the different creatures will indicate the health of the river.

According to Elaine, the real added benefit of taking classes outside is the high level of engagement as they experience the science and the joy of the investigative process, leading them to new discoveries with this hands-on learning.

Besides working with school groups, Katie and Elaine also host `Source to Sea` programmes to connect cultural heritage with water and people.

These trips aim to support relationships and stewardship within a community for their local river, giving them an opportunity to explore the natural environment while learning about their own feelings and connections.

“Often described as the arteries of the land due to their life-giving properties, rivers are a living connection to past generations,” Elaine says.

The `Source to Sea` programmes organised by WiseWater aim to connect cultural heritage with water and people. Image: WiseWater

“Every river has a rich story that can be interpreted through different lenses, so even though we travel as a group, visiting a river source is a unique experience for everyone.”

She adds that by exploring the past through a river source, landmarks, geology, archaeological sites, folklore, songs, and much more emerge, telling unique aspects of the river's story and how it shapes not just the catchment it flows through but also the people and nature that live alongside it.

Elaine believes that in our time, rivers also reveal a story of sustainability, human influence, and a call to action to mind them for nature and future generations.

“While many view water as a commodity, at WiseWater, we advocate for a deeper connection, recognising its intrinsic value beyond mere utility.”

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Mindset is everything: How to approach systemic change to accelerate climate innovation?

Szilvia Szabó — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 10:46:26 +0000

Mindset is everything: How to approach systemic change to accelerate climate innovation?

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Topic

We often hear that `we need systemic change` to address the climate crisis, which sounds like a smart answer, but how should we actually do that?

Mike Townsend, Founder and CEO of Earthshine Group, spent more than a decade searching for the answer and working with organisations to adopt changes on a systemic level to advance sustainability initiatives.

In addition to running the Earthshine Group, Mike also serves on advisory boards and teaches courses on Sustainable Development, Sustainable Business Strategy, and The Business of Change.

He is an author and editor of various books, such as Reframing the Game or The Quiet Revolution, and a regular contributor to Huffington Post, Edie.net, The Guardian, Medium, and others.

You work a lot with universities and educational institutions. What is your impression of how the next generation is facing the climate crisis?

Since I have been working with educational institutions, I have noticed an increasing amount of anxiety among students each year over the last decade based on genuine concerns over the climate crisis and how this will affect everybody’s lives and worries over the state of national and global politics, and the rise of far-right extremism.

It really is a tough and frustrating time, especially as too many of our leaders are falling short of what we need right now.

Mike Townsend, Founder and CEO of Earthshine Group

Yet, we must re-find hope and reclaim agency to act and create a better future.

What I can see is that many students come to Copenhagen from other countries to capture learning, insights, and practical examples that they can take with them and to try to make some form of meaningful change back home.

Many of them are asking, what is my place in this crazy world? How can I make it better?

We take learnings from real-life cases, such as the renewable energy transformation of Ørsted, a Danish energy company that made most of its money from fossil fuels but changed course and became the world’s largest producer of offshore wind energy by 2019.

But we can also look at city developments, like the green neighbourhoods of Østerbro, public transit solutions, cycling infrastructure and urban planning in Copenhagen, or new circular economy business models popping up in Malmö.

Based on their learning experiences, some are getting involved in climate and political activism, while others are looking to become the next generation of business leaders to change the way things are done in commerce.

Some are looking deeply into systems change, particularly the dysfunctional aspects of capitalism, to find a better way.

All approaches are “good work” and help move the dial, particularly when joining forces with other like-minded groups. However, we need to be mindful of timing.

The best way to go is to explore the alignment between your own passions and interests, with your own specific skills and insights, and the opportunities you see to make a real difference: find your own ‘sweet spot’, get the support you need, join up with others in your space, and go for it.

We need this change to happen right now. The decisions we make today will determine the course of the next 30 years and beyond.

By working with various organisations in different cultures, have you noticed a common dominator or distinctive differences when it comes to adopting sustainability?

If we try to inject sustainability thinking into the wrong cultural context, we will not get very far.

So, it’s essential to get the right values, mindsets and behaviours in place if we are to have any chance of integrating sustainability thinking and solutions in the right way.

There are key attributes characterise a culture where sustainability can have a soft landing, in my opinion:

Honesty, coupled with the recognition of where we are. Here, we need leaders who are able to face the truth that business as usual is dead.
A mindset of transformation mixed with active curiosity - practically being open to finding new ways of doing things.
Be open to genuine collaboration in developing radical, new solutions, recognising that no single actor can develop and deliver the necessary changes we need to see.
Foster a culture of courageous leadership and being unafraid to experiment and try bold new approaches.

You designed a `model for transformation` to enable systemic change. How does that work?

We developed a model for transformation over the last 15 years based on a comprehensive theory of change. Conventional theories of change tend to be inadequate - often relying on `nudging` and bottom-up change initiatives - lacking impact, penetration and pace.

Our model is designed to help people and organisations navigate risks, opportunity and complexity in a more efficient way. We call this our ‘Star System’ – a multi-level approach to help our clients navigate transformational change, starting with recognising that we cannot become a fully sustainable enterprise in isolation.

For example, we cannot become truly ‘circular’ if we don’t engage with our customers and supply chains and develop genuine business model innovation.

We also need to engage with policymakers to develop appropriate and supportive policy architecture, as well as drive the necessary changes within our system of economy.

Everything changes! And, most likely, we’ve never experienced this level of change before. This means that we’ll also need to look at developing and enhancing our capabilities so we can deliver more successful transformations.

Capability development is, therefore, at the heart of our model.

However, not everyone is ready to engage in this holistic way, with some falling back on the false notion of “easy sustainability” based on superficial initiatives and incremental change.

What is your experience with bigger-scale projects you have worked on? What are the typical challenges, and how can you achieve tangible results?

Looking at key actors to make change happen, you will find no shortage of challenges.

Will politicians, worried about their short-term political and election cycles, fully engage when reducing consumption is hardly seen as a ‘vote winner’?

Will business leaders - often highly successful within a linear economy - adapt their business models and overcome the inertia to change?

Will banks and investors lacking real incentives reboot their expectations for financial and investment success in the twenty-first century, let alone the need for all of us citizens to recalibrate our own views on what the ‘good life’ can look like in a more sustainable world?

The starting point is all about mindset, such as shifting from being a passive consumer towards being an active citizen.

For example, our Sustainability as a Mindset programme is all about developing ‘Both+And’ thinking, which enables you to see past false binary choices such as sustainability vs. economy and look for solutions that are not exclusive - find a new `sweet spot` and developing sustainable solutions that also work commercially.

Our current definition of “success” in life has become somewhat, perversely, interwoven with our buying and consumption habits as an outward display of our status and achievement.

How can you present and embrace sustainability as a road to innovation?

On current terms, we cannot simply hope to “comply” our way out of the climate crisis.

Authentic sustainability is the route to enhanced business performance through creating new market opportunities, de-risking our business models, finding new ways of making sustainable income, and capturing eco-efficiency benefits, with less money spent on resources and waste, energy and carbon, and so on.

In this scenario, sustainability becomes the catalyst for positive innovation and business change.

In our courses, we take a deep-dive exploration into the businesses that demonstrate real insights, take an analytical approach and embark on live company visits so people can see, touch and question for themselves.

"Our embodied learning approach is ten times as effective as conventional training and leaves a longer-lasting, positive impact."

We also like to take participants through a real immersion in nature, getting out of their comfort zone and reconnecting with nature, self and others.

This embodied learning approach is ten times as effective as conventional training and leaves a longer-lasting, positive impact.

With each course we run, we aim to assist attendees in finding the solution that works for them while challenging their thinking.

We need to innovate like crazy and deliver transformational change.

For instance, in our Going Circular course, we are searching for new ways of making money through non-consumption and non-destructive ways, examining how the winners in this space are already doing it for real – and learning how this can be done, with the nuts-and-bolts of new business models.

Ultimately, despite the scale of the challenge, the pressing time frames involved, and the pushback from dark forces, we can re-find HOPE: Through engaging in these conversations with each other, we can realise the shared actions we can take forward in resolving our common challenges.

But we do need to see more courageous leadership, taking more risks, engaging in way more authentic innovations, and daring to fail, learn and try again.

With the right mindset, everything is possible!

Headline image by Freepik

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A rising tide lifts all boats - The power of business sustainability education

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:23:48 +0000

A rising tide lifts all boats - The power of business sustainability education

Tags

Business Sustainability

Sustainability

Training

Education

Topic

Business Sustainability

Fireside chat with Máire Fay, Head of Sustainability, Education & Development, Dublin Chamber

Here at Dublin Chamber, our role, first and foremost, is to represent and support businesses of all sizes from all industries. We speak and lobby on their behalf, but we also listen – meaning we can offer a wide range of services relevant to the needs of businesses today.

I research, develop and lead new sustainability projects and continually innovate on existing ones, such as the Sustainability Academy, which was established in response to these needs.

Our classes are virtual but in a live classroom, taking leaders through all the critical areas of ESG, otherwise known as Environmental, Social, and Governance factors.

Máire Fay, Head of Sustainability, Education & Development, Dublin Chamber

From workshops on sustainability 101 to carbon strategy, from carbon footprint to the circular economy and green public procurement, our courses form a pathway that participants can follow from start to finish – or pick and choose what areas they wish to focus on.

It can seem like such an enormous undertaking, but Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither is a good sustainability strategy.

We undertook extensive research, including our 2022 Sustainability Survey, conducted with Amárach Research and learned that many of our member companies wanted to take action but didn’t know where to start.

Many could see the benefit of having a roadmap but were unclear about how to do that on a practical level and where to start.

We wanted to demystify business sustainability and offer tangible support to help businesses through the process one step at a time.

That’s why we also offer one-on-one support along with the workshops, as we are keen to strip back the complexities and encourage action, not confusion.

We also see the separation of priorities as a barrier somewhat since organisations should embed sustainability into core business strategy as opposed to it being a separate policy.

All classes are held live online, allowing participants to learn from experts while discussing and brainstorming relevant issues with their teacher's assistance.

We see representation from all industries of all sizes with various motivations to take the courses, which is wonderful as it leads to diverse discussions and great idea-sharing.

One of the most valuable assets at Dublin Chamber is our network, so members can access our award-winning workshops, a robust community and various supports that will help them push forward in their efforts to be more sustainable.

A rising tide lifts all boats.

Sustainability Survey 2022 by Dublin Chamber.

It can be deliberating to find a community, a tribe of those in the same position or those who might be already on their journey. This is where the power of collaboration can never be underestimated. Especially when you are starting, it is good to know that you are not alone.

One of the biggest revelations during our course is that ‘it is doable’!

All these things will help you be honest about your sustainability journey – with yourself, your customers, employees and other stakeholders.

You can create a sustainability strategy to be as truthful and realistic as possible, making your objectives and timelines more achievable and strengthening your position towards reaching your goals.

We are delighted to see more companies choosing to upskill in this area based on market needs. This happened with Cpl, Ireland's most prominent and longest-standing recruitment agency.

They noticed a significant increase in supplier requests for sustainability criteria and were unsure where to begin answering them.

Since 2020, Cpl has made significant progress and has gone from a limited knowledge of sustainability to developing their first sustainability strategy and report, establishing baseline data and disclosing it to the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project).

While they did bring in external support to execute their plans, they gained a strong foundation of knowledge.

Looking at our progress and seeing companies going through transformational changes, I have noticed that once you are in, you are in. Once you care, you care.

It certainly has been a challenge to raise awareness of the importance of running greener businesses, but I can honestly say that it’s also been so rewarding.

Word of mouth has been so valuable to us, and it is also a great vote of confidence to know that our participants are happy to recommend their experience.

Besides, we also use various channels to communicate sustainability topics to our members, aiming to make it as easy as possible to understand the relevance and access support.

Knowledge is power. The more you know, the more informed your decisions will be.

It is a challenging landscape out there at the moment, and the recently published IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Synthesis Report offered some very sobering data.

However, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool optimist and believe we can achieve astonishing change as a global community.

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Digital business hub to drive sustainability in the CEE region

Bronagh Loughlin — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 11:14:09 +0000

Digital business hub to drive sustainability in the CEE region

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Business Sustainability

Education

Sustainability

Topic

Business Sustainability

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has launched a digital information hub for sustainable business solutions in Central and Eastern Europe to support businesses on their journey in fighting the climate crisis.

The platform is called “The Future of Business” and is freely accessible to all interested parties, including start-up innovators, elected officials, corporate leaders, and sustainability experts.

The Future of Business online information hub is powered by WWF and provides insights on sustainability and climate action. Image: WWF

“We have created “The Future of Business” with the purpose to examine what the future of our region could look like and how to shape it in favour of people and nature,” shares Peter Baráth, Regional Director of Marketing and Partnerships at WWF-CEE.

He highlights that the main objective of creating this platform is to ignite the vital conversation on the business case behind sustainability in this region.

The platform will unfold five themes: climate leadership, water and forest stewardship, finance and food systems.

It is hoped to offer the business sector actionable insights on the most recent credible sustainability practices relevant to specific industries and in the future there will be sector-based events to share more experience and knowledge.

The hub currently has three different forms of media available, such as articles, podcasts, and videos.

Peter Baráth adds:

“It is designed for passionate change-makers who want to generate a positive impact for both the business sector and the planet”.

Also available on the platform is “The Future of Business” podcast, supported by VELUX, the world’s leading manufacturer of roof windows.

In addition, a virtual library with practical guidelines and scientific reports is yet to come.

The hub was created with the vision to examine what the future could look like and how to shape it in favour of nature and people.

To begin, the platform will share knowledge on primary themes, including water and forest stewardship, climate leadership, food systems, and finance.

The first episode of the “The Future of Business” podcast explored how businesses can push for the transition to a net-zero economy, focusing on corporate climate leadership with guest speakers including Lubomila Jordanova, founder of an award-winning platform for decarbonisation called Plan A.

The WWF created this platform as they recognise that businesses have a critical role to play in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change.

Publicly listed businesses are responsible for around 40 per cent of all climate-warming emissions, and while their impact is significant, this is also an opportunity.

As one of the largest and most seasoned independent conservation organisations, the World Wildlife Fund believes the private sector can transform into a driving force for the transition to a nature-positive and net-zero economy.

Education can be a barrier to climate action for businesses, so the arrival of more informative hubs, insights, and tools is crucial in helping to make change happen.

The mission of WFF is to halt the deterioration of the planet’s natural environment and create a future in which people coexist peacefully with nature.

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Connecting theory, science and practice in business sustainability

Szilvia Szabó — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 08:48:33 +0000

Connecting theory, science and practice in business sustainability

Tags

Business Sustainability

Education

Upskill

Sustainability

Topic

Business Sustainability

Fireside chat with Dr Lucia Walsh, Lecturer and Programme Chair, Technological University Dublin

Human-induced climate change is the most pervasive threat to the environment and society we have ever experienced, and business as usual is no longer an option. Rather than seeing this as a threat, we need to view it as an opportunity to transform how we work and live, and business can play a crucial role in this.

As a programme chair of the part-time programme Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability Leadership in Business at the Technological University Dublin, I believe we can help leaders better relate to climate action and sustainability.

Dr Lucia Walsh, Lecturer and Programme Chair, Technological University Dublin

The course is designed to equip leaders with a comprehensive understanding of sustainability principles and the knowledge and skills required to apply evidence-based sustainability tools to decision-making and create a stakeholder buy-in to instigate change and implement sustainable social, environmental and financial business practices.

The students develop a systematic understanding of sustainability principles and sustainability literacy related to the UN SDGs and link them to business as part of a ‘Sustainability Principles’ module led by Dr Olivia Freeman.

Another module is ‘Leading Sustainability’ facilitated by Alacoque McAlpine, emphasising developing communication and leadership skills so the business case for sustainability coupled with the most suitable strategies can be communicated and implemented effectively.

In the second semester, I take the lead with the students to bring their knowledge and skills together as they work on a consultancy project that addresses a real business sustainability challenge in the current workplace or business or collaboration with a client.

The students also develop a pitch aimed at key stakeholders to create a buy-in for the proposed solution to the business sustainability challenge. Interestingly, programme participants come from diverse backgrounds, including fintech, construction, consulting, pharma, project management, insurance, and public and not-for-profit sectors.

There is a lot of information and misinformation about sustainability.

Many people believe it is too late to act or that climate change isn’t as bad as portrayed in the media.

Businesses often feel overwhelmed and find it difficult to know where to start and what practical yet transformative actions they can take.

Furthermore, a lack of knowledge about sustainability in general and concerning business practice: it is often seen as having something to do with the environment rather than encompassing other social and economic elements.

Another significant challenge is that while there are new career opportunities in sustainability, it is often seen as a separate function without sustainability considerations being embedded into the core of business strategy or translated into clear KPIs – this means that sustainability is still often perceived as nice to have or something that only relates to reporting.

Smaller businesses especially don’t have the capacity or financial and human resources to pause and strategise, so it is hard for them to refine their core offerings and future-proof their business.

Our role, as educators, in climate action is empowering one student at a time with sustainability knowledge, skills and mindsets.

Most business practitioners join our programme because they recognise the importance of sustainability and its role in business and want to gain the relevant knowledge, skills and tools so they can lead in embedding sustainability into practice – either directly in their current roles or by influencing key stakeholders within their organisations.

Others join because they want to change their career and work directly in sustainability-related roles.

This programme is deliberately built to provide students with many opportunities for creativity, critical thinking, reflection and peer learning. We are also keen to keep all this learning connected to the real world.

A cut-through experience was when we had Nasreen Sheik, a former child labourer, to a panel discussion. Hearing first-hand about the horrific experiences of child labourers and modern slavery was very powerful.

For instance, we do not think too much about who makes our clothes, especially the very cheap ones, and the true cost of making them.

Students learn about dirty industry practices as well, incluidng child labourers and modern slavery in supply chains. Image: Unsplash

After this, no one will think of slavery or child labour as a distant problem you have nothing to do with.

With every purchase or supply chain decision, you are making an impact and have the choice also to make a difference.

After finishing the course, students keep in touch with each other and us to exchange ideas and share achievements, which makes us very proud.

For example, one of our recent graduates, Claire Hyland working at Thinkhouse, a leading youth marketing agency in Ireland, implemented her learnings to establish the foundations of their BCorp certification journey.

Another student, Bradley Queen, from the Irish Exporters Association, established the Institute of Sustainable Trade to support the members with education, networking and professional development opportunities so they can embed sustainability into their businesses.

There are many more examples of changes our students initiated, reinforcing the importance of education about sustainability in business.

Headline image: Unsplash

This article is an extract from content originally published in the Circular Economy in Action special edition of the Profit with Purpose Magazine - you can read the full article and other features in the magazine.

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Can sustainability be funny?

Szilvia Szabó — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 13:02:26 +0000

Can sustainability be funny?

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Master students can choose to write comedy scripts on sustainability issues as part of a unique course at the Management Program of the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Dr André Martinuzzi, creator and leader of this trailblazer course, shares insights on using the power of humour to help students better understand and deal with complex sustainability topics.

Environmental protection, social responsibility, and sustainable development are often perceived as killjoys, and young people typically feel pessimistic about their future.

When we started looking for new and innovative ways to motivate students to engage with serious sustainability issues, we found that humour might be a promising method. It has the potential to help increase students’ self-motivation and awareness of current sustainability challenges, such as climate change or poverty.

Dr André Martinuzzi, Head of the Institute for Managing Sustainability Vienna University of Economics and Business

The idea sparked as I watched late-night comedy shows for quite some time and was very impressed by John Oliver’s ‘Last Week Tonight’ and Hasan Minhaj’s ‘Patriot Act’. Instead of making fun of daily life or commenting on day-to-day politics, they both explain scientifically challenging subjects in a hilarious way.

The more I watched these shows, the more I asked myself if it was possible to give students the task of developing comedy scripts instead of writing seminar papers.

On this basis, with two assistants, Florian Findler and Angelo Spörk, we designed and continuously improved a course where students use humour by working in a group, creating scripts in the style of late-night comedy. To our knowledge, no one has tried this before.

Within the scripts, humour is not used to make fun of serious issues. Instead, it is used to illustrate sustainability challenges in a scientifically sound and easily understandable way while raising awareness.

In order to do that, students have to understand the basics of humour and comedy scriptwriting, need the courage to be funny and have the freedom of creativity while dealing with serious and rather complex issues.

Many of them tell us that humour helps them communicate better about challenging topics in their peer groups and reach people who would otherwise not be interested in the subject.

Students have created scripts that cover various topics such as the Sharing Economy, E-mobility, fast fashion, greenwashing, food waste, supply chains, and smart homes.

A good punchline is surprising and reveals a more profound truth.

Therefore, developing good comedy takes expertise because humour is more than just fooling around.

Based on the experiences and evaluations of the three courses we already delivered, we learned a few lessons:

Humour is a craft and not a talent, which requires practising.
Students better understand a specific topic by writing comedy scripts than by writing standard seminar papers.
Humour can be integrated into courses that are not genuinely funny. Students reported that this approach helped them to boost their creativity and imagination.

Our experience has also shown that humour can point out grievances. At the same time, exaggerated characters can make people realise their own unsustainable behaviour or ask the question, 'Do we really want to go there?’.

We created a dedicated website to share more about our learnings so others can explore options for implementing this method.

Writing comedy scripts can help young people better engage with sustainability and social issues.. Image: Getty Images

Naturally, there are some challenges in integrating this approach into teaching.

Teachers may see the use of humour as inappropriate for academic subjects and find it beyond their abilities to support students sufficiently through empowerment and steering. The question also arises if this approach can be used on topics like extinction, climate change, or human rights, which are very serious issues and where urgency could be diluted by humour.

Of course, this approach is unsuitable for classes that aim to teach the basics as quickly as possible.

For the students, humour can also be a coping strategy to better deal with emotionally stressful issues such as biodiversity loss, human rights violations or climate change.

For example, one student said, 'if you don't laugh about it, you should cry', while another student shared, "humour helps me not to feel powerless, to gain emotional distance and to be able to talk about things that I otherwise tend to repress".

Students look forward to this course because it is entirely different from the typical classes at a business school.

The course design consists of the following elements:

Students work in groups of 5-6 on major sustainability challenges, such as land use, low-cost airlines, cruise ships, fast fashion, food waste, animal suffering, or bee mortality.
Together they carry out brief background research and co-develop a collection of materials on the recent problem, its causes and possible solutions.
Simultaneously, they take part in basic improvisation theatre training, gain insight into the building blocks of humour and learn how to develop sketches, jokes and punch lines.
Each student group develops the concept for a comedy script, containing an elaborated storyline and first humorous examples.
In several rounds of rehearsals and presentations, they receive feedback regarding scientific background, storytelling and humour.
Finally, the students give an 8-10 minute performance of their scripts in front of the classroom.

The course has already been implemented three times, received excellent feedback from the students and won the "Best of Austria Award" thanks to its innovative approach.

Headline image: Getty Images

This content is a piece of an article originally published in the "Make change happen" issue of Profit with Purpose Magazine.

The Summer 2022 edition of the magazine is focusing on making cities sustainable and inclusive, and is available here >>>

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Earth School is available online for free

Szilvia Szabó — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 16:22:46 +0000

Earth School is available online for free

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Unprecedented coalition to help students gain an understanding of the environment while considering their role within it.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and TED-Ed, o launch “Earth School,” which provides free, high-quality educational content to help students, parents and teachers around the world who are currently at home.

It takes students on a 30-day “Adventure” through the natural world with content features videos, reading materials and activities — which will be translated into 10 languages — to help students gain an understanding of the environment while considering their role within it.

The pandemic has caused health, economic, and education crisis; in the age of physical and social constraints, there is a strong need for global science literacy.

That is why UNEP and TED-Ed — in coordination with 30 collaborators, including National Geographic, WWF and UNESCO — came together to launch Earth School for children and youth ages 5-18.

The programme runs between Earth Day and World Environment Day on June 5, which this year will take place under the banner of Time for Nature

Image: Earth School launched by UNEP and TED-Ed

“These unprecedented times highlight just how important it is for young people to connect with the natural world and understand science,” said Vicki Phillips, executive vice president and chief education officer at the National Geographic Society. “We’re thrilled to join forces with trusted organizations like UNEP and TED-Ed to cultivate a spirit of exploration and build empathy for the Earth, no matter where students are the world — even if it's from inside their homes, from a window, or on a short walk in the neighborhood.”

Each Adventure has been carefully selected by a panel of expert practitioners and caters to different age groups. Each consists of a hands-on experiment and nature discovery.

In addition to TED-Ed’s own content, Earth School will feature videos from notable media organizations including National Geographic, PBS LearningMedia and the BBC with the goal of empowering participating students to be caretakers of our planet.

This is the biggest online learning initiative in UNEP’s history and is available for free on TED-Ed’s website.

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