About the Book
Capitalism is fast approaching the tipping point into a new sustainable economy that will allow people and the planet to prosper. Pieces of a jigsaw are coming together and bringing into focus a picture of a new, vibrant, attractive and sustainable economic operating system. This quiet revolution is underway - if we could only allow it to flourish.
This Special Issue of Building Sustainable Legacies brings together key voices in business and academia that show us how to accelerate towards this tipping point by exploring the role that business in society, responsible education, leadership techniques and legal reform will have in shaping the new sustainable economy.
Including contributions from Paul Polman, Katrin Muff, Beate Sjafjell and Gabriele Zedlmayer, this outstanding collection proposes leading insights and innovative solutions to the challenge of creating new economies that work for people and the planet.
Table of Contents:
EditorialMike Townsend, EarthshineRedefining Business Purpose: Driving Societal and Systems TransformationPaul Polman, UnileverDoing Business in a Well-being EconomyIsabel Sebastian, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, AustraliaThe Role of Business Law in the Jigsaw Puzzle of SustainabilityBeate Sjafjell, University of Oslo, NorwayExploring a One Planet Mindset and its Relevance in a Transition to a Sustainable EconomySally Jeanrenaud, Inmaculada Adarves-Yorno and Nicolas Forsans, University of Exeter, UKA 2x2 to Change the WorldJill Bamburg, Pinchot University, USAChanging Directions in Business Education: Knowledge Sharing for SustainabilitySuzanne Benn, Tamsin Angus-Leppan, Melissa Edwards, Paul Brown and Stuart White, University of Technology, Sydney, AustraliaAction Research As A Transformative Force In Management Education: Introducing The CollaboratoryKatrin Muff, Business School Lausanne, SwitzerlandPurpose at the Heart of Strategy: Creating a Sustainable Business while Solving the World’s ChallengesGabriele Zedlmayer, HP
About the Author :
Mike Townsend is founder and CEO of Earthshine Solutions and passionate about promoting the benefits of sustainable business. Michael is an engineering graduate and MBA, and a business transformation leader with over twenty-five years experience in a range of sectors. Michael has developed "best in class" performance for a range of organizations, including Norwich Union (Aviva) Insurance, BAA, British Airways, Mace, The Home Office and Gazeley, among others.
Review :
Reframing the Game explores the ultimate challenge of the 21st century: how to create businesses that are sustainable — both economically and environmentally — highlighting the issues and the opportunities from perspectives of both theory and practice. [A] must-read for business leaders, scholars, government officials, and every citizen who cares about sustainability as a core societal value. - Dan Esty, Professor, Yale University; author, Green to Gold: How Smart Companies use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage
Opening up the heart of what business is really all about, this journal puts people and planet first — what greater business approach is there? - Polly Higgins, International Ecocide law advocate; Barrister; Chairwoman, Eradicating Ecocide Global Initiative; CEO, Earth Community Trust, author of Eradicating Ecocide, Earth is our Business and I Dare You to Be Great
By engaging the worlds of business, academia and policy makers Reframing the Game has the outreach to help shape our approach to future challenges. The pressures on our planet are becoming more evident and alarming, but the right responses are less evident. Reframing the Game is asking the right questions to the right people, and in so doing it is helping us move closer to the right responses. - Janez Potočnik, Co-Chair of UN International Resource Panel
I am confident that the publication of the journal will serve as a point of reference for achieving a sustainable, low carbon future. [This] journal will also help a broader audience to better understand the need for placing emphasis on finding a different model of economic growth, that is more economically, environmentally and socially responsible and considers the well-being of humankind. I believe the publication of the journal is especially meaningful as it comes at a time when an increasing number of developing and emerging countries are expressing strong commitment to transition to sustainable economies. The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), a Seoul-based international organization that I work for, supports developing and emerging nations, such as Ethiopia, to become greener by developing and implementing strategies. For instance, GGGI supports Ethiopia to develop and adopt a national policy framework aimed at growing its economy to middle income status by 2025 through environmentally sustainable economic policies. In addition, a number of developed countries are taking steps to adopt low carbon growth policies, such as Germany, whose government has committed to having 80 percent of its energy use come from renewables. - Yvo de Boer, Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute
This Sustainable Economy Special Edition of the BSL Journal is a thought-provoking collection of essays that not only provides a strong call to action, but lays a plan for businesses and societies to build long-term, sustainable value. The thoughtful discussions of regulation, business strategy, leadership mindsets and a variety of other topics - from some of today's top thinkers in these fields - comes at an important time, when more and more business leaders have come to realize that the 'box' in which our companies and societies exist is subject to change. It is incumbent on this group to make the change in a proactive and positive fashion. - Dominic Barton, Global Managing Director, McKinsey
