https://climatejournal.news/ en https://climatejournal.news/news/using-tech-for-transparency-in-fashion <div class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item"><span>Using tech for transparency in fashion</span> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://climatejournal.news/news/using-tech-for-transparency-in-fashion" data-a2a-title="Using tech for transparency in fashion"><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin_hover.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"> Share </a></span> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Tags</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/fashion" hreflang="en">Fashion</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/circular-economy" hreflang="en">Circular Economy</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/technology" hreflang="en">technology</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/start-up" hreflang="en">Start-up</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Topic</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/sustainable-fashion" hreflang="en">Sustainable Fashion</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/circular-design" hreflang="en">Circular Design</a></div> </div> </div> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Business" title="Business" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/55.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Circular Economy" title="Circular Economy" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/54.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Sustainability" title="Sustainability" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/52.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img alt="Using tech for transparency in fashion" title="Using tech for transparency in fashion" class="img-responsive" src="/files/styles/news_full_main_image/public/bsp-images/news/1164.jpg?itok=ljo-3DPb" width="687" height="687" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3408 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3409 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Clothing and textiles are a fundamental part of our everyday lives and a vital sector within the global economy.</p> <p>However, our current means of making, consuming, wearing, and discarding clothing is evidently no longer working. According to Business Wire, sustainability is rated as a vital purchase criterion for 60 per cent of consumers across the globe while they are demanding transparency from brands and looking for green credentials.</p> <p>However, according to the Fashion Revolution 2022 Fashion Transparency Index, 50 per cent of the world’s biggest fashion companies disclose little or no information about their supply chain.</p> <p class="font-greentitle"><strong>Only 12 per cent of fashion brands across the globe offer information concerning their raw material suppliers.</strong></p> <p class="font-greentitle"> </p> <p>Without transparency, shoppers struggle to assess a brand’s environmental and social footprints and determine whether its statements are genuine or greenwashing.</p> <blockquote> <p>What could bridge the transparency gap between eco-conscious consumers and fashion brands?</p> <p>Can it be as simple as a QR code?</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3412 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--42-58"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3410 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>An Irish start-up, <a href="https://www.ecode.ie/" target="_blank">Ecode</a>, thought so when they came up with the idea to empower consumers through their app to scan, learn, get rewards, connect, repair, recycle, and ultimately, change fashion.</p> <p>Ecode was founded by three students, Elise Vens, Emmet Lowry and Nathan Gaborieau.</p> <p>The three met during their Master’s in Sustainability at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), where they extensively studied the fashion supply chain's detrimental social and environmental effects.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3411 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/1165.jpg" width="560" height="374" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Ecode founders Elise Vens, Emmet Lowry and Nathan Gaborieau.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3413 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>They make an international team as Elise is from The Netherlands, Nathan is from France, and Emmet is Irish.</p> <p>Elise Vens, Co-Founder of Ecode, explains how their initial idea took off: “We immediately pinpointed circularity as the driver of change and started working on a tool that would give shoppers more insight into what they're buying while empowering the consumer to be an actor of the change.</p> <blockquote> <p>We realised this greatly benefits fashion brands in determining the lifespan of their items and increasing their products’ durability.</p> </blockquote> <p>By gaining insight into these life cycles, Ecode has the power to help brands monitor their CSR improvements. Hence, our slogan became ‘enabling circularity in fashion’.”</p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3414 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>In November 2021, the Ecode team participated in Trinity’s Provost Challenge, a three-day hackathon whereby students were challenged to ideate and develop a business idea where they came second.</p> <p>Speaking on why they chose to focus on fashion specifically, Elise says: “For one of our courses, we had the opportunity to research the social and environmental impact of the fashion industry.</p> <p>We were shocked to find out that this industry is the second-largest polluter on earth after the oil industry. A few weeks later, Trinity’s Provost Challenge was announced with the theme ‘How do you combat fast fashion?’.</p> <p>We immediately realised this was our cue and submitted our idea for Ecode. Ecode can fundamentally change the fashion industry for the better, from a linear consumption towards a circular model of doing business.</p> <blockquote> <p>We’ve recognised that the barrier to transformation is frequently not a lack of will but rather a lack of accessibility and connections between actors.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3417 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--42-58"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3415 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/1166.jpg" width="588" height="392" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Ecode`s solution is based on using QR codes in fashion items to increase transparency and circularity. Image: unsplash</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3416 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Elis adds: “Ecode aims to integrate the entire landscape of actors in circularity. We connect stakeholders such as brands, consumers, recyclers, repairers, and resellers.</p> <blockquote> <p>Ecode is not only offering a QR code, but an entire ecosystem that can collectively create change by interacting with one another, bringing the option of circularity to everyone’s doorstep.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3418 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Afterwards, they decided to apply for Trinity’s LaunchBox Student Accelerator 2022 and were awarded the first prize, which provided immense validation for their project. In January of 2023, they received the Acting for the Environment Prize from Enactus France, an international social entrepreneurship project presentation competition for university students.</p> <p>Currently, their biggest challenge is developing a BETA version of their application that can be replicated and quickly implemented in different companies to kickstart their revolution towards circularity in fashion. However, the team plans to overcome this hurdle and has big hopes for the project’s application.</p> <p>Elise explains their plans further:</p> <blockquote> <p>“Our goal is for Ecode to become the first thing that pops into the mind of consumers when they have to purchase, recycle, and repair clothing.</p> </blockquote> <p>By making these processes easier for the consumer, we aim to drastically change consumer behaviour. In the next three years, we hope that everyone in Ireland and the rest of Europe will have heard of Ecode and that we will have a growing number of users.”</p> <p>The amount of textile waste in the EU has doubled over the past 20 years.</p> <p>With Ecode, the team hope to increase the number of clothes put back into circulation by up to 60 per cent in stores.</p> <p>They also wish that by informing consumers about the impact of products, they can indirectly reduce the pressure on the planet by placing more environmentally sound products in the spotlight.</p> <p> </p> <p class="text-align-right"><span style="font-size:10px">Headline image: unsplash</span></p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3476 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <hr /><p> </p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-callout paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--width--full callout-style--b" id="callout-3478"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="callout-body"> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--3477 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>This article is an extract from content originally published in the <a href="https://business-spirit.news/shop/circular-economy-in-action" target="_blank">Circular Economy in Action</a> special edition of the <a href="https://business-spirit.news/profit-with-purpose-magazine" target="_blank">Profit with Purpose Magazine</a> - you can read the full article and other features in the magazine.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-background-style field--type-list-string field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Background style</div> <div class="field--item">Light</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sponsored field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Sponsored?</div> <div class="field--item">No</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden field--item">May 2023</div> <div class="field field--name-field-collaborative-content-with field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Collaborative content with</div> <div class="field--item"> <a href="/partner/profit-with-purpose-magazine">Profit with Purpose Magazine</a> </div> </div> <div class="author-profile col-md-4"> <table> <tr> <td style="width: 60px;"> <div class="field field--name-field-author-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="Szilvia Szabó" title="Szilvia Szabó" class="img-responsive" src="/files/styles/profile_author_profile_image/public/bsp-images/author/1076.jpg?itok=He8vRoqS" width="75" height="75" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </td> <td> <p class="author"> <span class="name">Szilvia Szabó</span> <span class="dot">⬤</span> <span class="contributor">Author</span> </p> <div class="field field--name-field-author-short-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Journalist, Editor</div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Journalist, Editor</div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> Thu, 18 May 2023 13:26:02 +0000 Bronagh Loughlin 260 at https://climatejournal.news https://climatejournal.news/news/how-can-tech-startups-benefit-from-applying-ethics <div class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item"><span>How can tech startups benefit from applying ethics?</span> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://climatejournal.news/news/how-can-tech-startups-benefit-from-applying-ethics" data-a2a-title="How can tech startups benefit from applying ethics?"><a class="a2a_button_linkedin"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/linkedin_hover.svg" border="0" alt="LinkedIn" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/facebook_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Facebook" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/twitter_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Twitter" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/email_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Email" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"></a><a class="a2a_dd" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share_hover.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-hover"><img src="/libraries/bsp_social_media_icons_share/service/share.svg" border="0" alt="Share" height="18" class="social-media-links-normal"> Share </a></span> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Tags</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/startup" hreflang="en">startup</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/ethics" hreflang="en">ethics</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/technology" hreflang="en">technology</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/smes" hreflang="en">SMEs</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/guideline" hreflang="en">guideline</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/tag/innovation" hreflang="en">Innovation</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-inline"> <div class="field--label">Topic</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/technology" hreflang="en">Technology</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/innovation" hreflang="en">Innovation</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/responsible-innovation" hreflang="en">Responsible Innovation</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/topic/ethics" hreflang="en">Ethics</a></div> </div> </div> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Business" title="Business" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/55.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Collaboration" title="Collaboration" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/53.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img width="32" height="32" alt="Research" title="Research" class="img-responsive" src="/files/bsp-images/icons/243.svg" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <img alt="How can tech startups benefit from applying ethics?" title="How can tech startups benefit from applying ethics?" class="img-responsive" src="/files/styles/news_full_main_image/public/bsp-images/news/567.jpeg?itok=HpTOcU6k" width="687" height="687" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" /> <div class="field field--name-field-lead field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Innovators can access free to use tech ethics booklet to build resilience and create more value</div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1795 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1796 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>A small group of members of the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/communities/global-future-councils" target="_blank">World Economic Forum Global Future Council for Values, Ethics and Innovation</a>, designed a gap-filling practical booklet to help startups and SMEs explore hidden commercial risks and trigger better innovations through the integration of tech ethics.</p> <p>After considering that tech ethics mainly targets big business, they decided to publish the '<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fc12cea2cf09257bd6dcc01/t/60005f6715b561354c4050e5/1610637159921/WEF+Tech+Ethics+Booklet+Final+Dec+2020.pdf" target="_blank">Tech Ethics for Start-Ups and SMEs’ </a>booklet.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1799 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--25-75"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1797 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/569.jpg" width="281" height="355" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Hilary Sutcliffe, lead athour of the ‘Tech Ethics for Start-Ups and SMEs’ booklet</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1798 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>It aims to offer a quick overview of how ethics can be discussed and managed in innovative businesses without massive resources.</p> <p>This can be especially useful, where these issues can provide great opportunities if handled well, or potentially devastating risks if poorly managed.</p> <p>The lead author of this publication Hilary Sutcliffe, director of London-based not-for-profit <a href="https://societyinside.com/" target="_blank">SocietyInside</a>, shares more insights in this backstage interview.</p> <p>Hilary was recently named one of the <a href="https://100brilliantwomeninaiethics.com/" target="_blank">100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics for 2021</a> and in her work, she explores issues related to trust, ethics, values, and governance of technology - especially concerning nanotech, biotech and AI – through collaborative research.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1800 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <hr /><p>“We have designed the ‘Tech Ethics for Start-Ups and SMEs’ booklet as an easy-to-take on board advice for companies, in particular, developing or using new and emerging technologies, in all countries, across all sectors.</p> <p>I have been working on issues of company ethics since the mid-1990s and witnessed the evolution of business responsibility from being sidelined community relations and philanthropy topic to becoming a more complex core business issue that could determine success on the market.</p> <p>Our work over 20 years in ‘Responsible Research and Innovation’ suggests if companies start thinking about this early, and continue to take these issues seriously as they grow, they can head off the problems currently facing so many before they become disasters.</p> <blockquote> <p>So much of the airtime and attention on ethical business is directed at big tech companies, but big tech grows from small tech.</p> <p>We wanted to create an unassuming, accessible little booklet to be read by someone in a startup or small company.</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1801 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>With the help of other experts, we shaped the content to be easy to follow.</p> <p>Main contributors are including Prof Angie Hobbs from the University of Sheffield, UK, Pamela Mar from the Fung Academy Hong Kong, Dr Emad Yaghmaei from the Technical University of Delft and Professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.</p> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-callout paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--width--full callout-style--b" id="callout-1803"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="callout-body"> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1802 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>In tech, often they know they should be thinking about this, but don’t have much time and don’t quite know where to start and what sort of things it might practically entail.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1804 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>The publication explores the difference between values and ethics; highlights some examples and ways of working, which will help navigate ethical issues and some ideas on ethics in practice from companies in different tech areas.</p> <p>It showcases some accessible ideas of what ethics is, why it’s important now, even in these testing times, and how some companies approach ethical thinking in various tech sectors.</p> <p>Sprinkled in there are a few motivational quotes and cool ways to simply make it normal to discuss and resolve ethical dilemmas in small businesses.</p> <p>One of my favourite examples of how ethics can be translated into business strategy is the<a href="https://www.riversimple.com/" target="_blank"> Riversimple</a> company, which designs hydrogen cars.</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1807 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--42-58"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1805 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/570.jpg" width="1536" height="710" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">The Riversimple company exhibits the benefits of applying ethics in business, Image: Riversimple</div> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1806 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>They have gone far beyond their core purpose to “To pursue, systematically, the elimination of the environmental impact of personal transport”.</p> <p>The amazing way they have aligned their entire business model, supply chain, governance and business processes towards this purpose provides a valuable learning opportunity about how to turn this way of thinking into a market advantage.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1808 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>All, while disrupting the sector and making a cool car in the process.</p> <blockquote> <p>There is massive potential in putting ethics on your business agenda.</p> <p>Ethical issues are a fantastic catalyst for innovative thinking - after all, innovation in all spheres invariably comes from problems identified and new ways found to solve them!</p> </blockquote> <p>I’m not sure you really ‘apply’ ethics, so much as decide to act upon a belief that issues of right and wrong - values and morals - have a place in business, particularly in relation to the business impact on people and planet.</p> <p>One of my co-authors, Dr Emad Yaghmaei, Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at the Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, has put it this way:</p> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1811 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--66-33"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1809 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>“Ethics in my view is the integration of objective rights and subjective values into a common and contextual framework rather than only doing the right thinking in the research and innovation process and being a set of predefined rules impeding progress.</p> <p>Following this line, ethics concerns the analysis and integration of different values and norms into the design and development of research and innovation, which can trigger the execution of Responsible Innovation.”</p> <p>The five key focus areas that you will find in the booklet:</p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-image paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1810 paragraph--width--full"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="field field--name-bp-image-field field--type-image field--label-hidden field--item"> <img alt="" title="" src="/files/bsp-images/paragraph/571.jpg" width="2835" height="1890" loading="lazy" typeof="foaf:Image" class="img-responsive" /> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field--item">Dr Emad Yaghmaei, Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management at the Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1815 paragraph--width--full paragraph--style--58-42"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column1"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1812 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <ul><li>Ethics could be your biggest hidden commercial risk - so put it on your Risk Register.</li> <li>Find out what ethical issues matter to you.</li> <li>Start with values and work from there.</li> <li>Make it normal to discuss ethics and think about problems in advance.</li> <li>Be collaborative in resolving issues.</li> </ul><p>This is not the usual set of guidelines or a framework - there are plenty of those available already.</p> <p>It is designed for the step before that.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="paragraph--type--bp-columns-two-uneven__2col-column2"> <div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-callout paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--width--full callout-style--b" id="callout-1814"> <div class="paragraph__column"> <div class="callout-body"> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1813 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>We haven’t got a magic formula for every possible scenario; therefore, this booklet's focus is not on providing a long list of potential issues to scroll through, but about how organisations can find out for themselves what their relevant ethical issues are.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="classy-style--margin-bottom paragraph paragraph--type--bp-simple paragraph--view-mode--default paragraph--id--1816 paragraph--width--full" style=""> <div class="paragraph__column"> <p>Each organisation will have its own systems and processes and will need to find their way of dealing with them in the context of their sector, country, culture.</p> <p>Using the ‘<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fc12cea2cf09257bd6dcc01/t/60005f6715b561354c4050e5/1610637159921/WEF+Tech+Ethics+Booklet+Final+Dec+2020.pdf" target="_blank">Tech Ethics for Start-Ups and SMEs</a>’ booklet teams could efficiently work in a collaborative process that would help them deal with dilemmas and find solutions to ethical problems.</p> <p>This free to use publication was officially launched on 28th January 2021, ready to make its way to innovators to create better innovations that would serve everyone better.</p> <p>We would love to do more to promote the guidelines and reach out to innovators.</p> <p>We welcome opportunities to do that and of course, funding to set up more events and platforms to bring these ideas to the attention of tech companies everywhere.”</p> <p> </p> </div> </div> <div>Footer</div> Interview <div class="field field--name-field-background-style field--type-list-string field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Background style</div> <div class="field--item">Light</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-sponsored field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Sponsored?</div> <div class="field--item">No</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden field--item">February 2021</div> Mon, 01 Feb 2021 21:16:52 +0000 Szilvia Szabó 129 at https://climatejournal.news