Inspiring Change: Why Women Can Thrive In The New Economy

Kathryn Sheridan is CEO of Sustainability Consult

As a female CEO, it seemed natural for me to blog on International Women’s Day. But when I sat down to write the post, I hit a wall. I simply don’t define myself as a “woman entrepreneur”. I’m just an entrepreneur who happens to be a woman. I was lucky enough to be born in a democracy and raised to believe that I could do whatever I set my mind to, as long as I worked hard. Thanks Mum!

Why The Sharing Economy Offers A Bright Future

The sharing economy in action at The Big Swap

Charity shops and flea markets have long offered opportunities for sharing and recycling. Recently, though, an exciting new trend has crept into the mainstream. Called ‘The Sharing Economy’, new marketplaces, most of them online, encourage people to share rather than consume. 

The Sustainability Consult ‘Big Swap’ and ‘The Good Library’ are both examples of the sharing economy in action.

Sustainability Communications Lunch: Top Tips for Success

This month’s Sustainability Communications Lunch was a hotbed of discussion and advice.  The first Lunch of 2014 focused on communications challenges and what could be learned from them.  A lively group of communications professionals were keen to share their tips for success. 

Another lively Sustainability Communications Lunch

Here are just a few of them

CEO Blog: We're Thankful For Five Years Of Sustainability Consult

Blowing out the candles on
our five-year anniversary cake

On Thanksgiving 2008, I launched Sustainability Consult, creating the responsible and ethical business I dreamed of working for, where we would choose our clients carefully and influence the way sustainability is communicated. We would push our clients to be more sustainable in their actions and more credible in their communications. It was a gamble but I was certain that there was a better way of doing consultancy.

CEO Blog: Sustainability Consult Opens Woodland In Belgium

Unveiling our first 1% for the Planet project

I think the crazy happy smiles on our faces say it all.  Sunday 20 October 2013 was an amazing day for all of us at Sustainability Consult.  It was the day where we felt all our hard work over the last five years pay off. As members of 1% for the Planet, we donate 1% of our sales (yes, that’s sales not profit!) to an environmental non-profit organisation.  On that sunny Sunday in October, our first 1% for the Planet project was unveiled.

Sustainability Consult Attends 'De Nieuwe Wildernis' Film Premiere

On Tuesday evening, Kathryn Sheridan, Zoe Volioti and I were privileged to attend the premiere of Natuurpunt’s new film ‘De Nieuwe Wildernis’ at Kinepolis in Brussels.  As the name ‘The New Wilderness’ suggests, the film brings the viewer to the Oostvaardersplassen, a nature reserve in the Netherlands which is less than fifty years old but is nonetheless teeming with wildlife. 

CEO Blog: Kicking Off The New Season In Style

CEO Kathryn Sheridan

Summer holidays may feel like a distant memory but we've come back energised for a truly awesome season.  We're looking forward to connecting with you all if we haven't done so already.

September has been a very active month for us. We had the first Green Drinks Brussels of the season last week and the Sustainability Communications Lunch on Monday is on 'Crisis Communications: Lessons Learned From The Horsemeat Crisis'. We're also planning to organise The Big Swap at our office to help kickstart the sharing economy in our community.  More on that soon but in the meantime, start clearing out your cupboards and putting some things aside.

CEO Blog: The (Amazing) Week That Was

With a number of great initiatives coming to fruition around the same time, the last week has been truly amazing for us.  We have lots of news to share with our friends and clients.  Here are the highlights.

Sustainability Consult And Natuurpunt Announce 1% for the Planet Partnership

Steentjesbos in Autumn

(Source: http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/HEYL.html)

Sustainability Consult, as a 1% for the Planet member, is committed to giving 1% of its sales to an environmental non-profit.  We chose local NGO Natuurpunt as it works with nature preservation around Brussels and the Flanders region.

Five Companies Using Social Media for Sustainability

Good sustainability calls for stakeholder engagement and what better way to engage with your customers, suppliers, competitors and fans than through social media.  I was asked at a conference recently which companies are getting it right and I actually found it hard to answer.  I don’t have one clear case study in mind.  It seems like companies are doing video really well but social media still seems more challenging to get right. 

Five European 1% for the Planet Companies

Source: One Percent for the Planet  

1.    Sustainability Consult  Oh, shameful plug, but there you have it.  We are so happy to have become a member of 1% for the Planet in 2012.  We even mention it in our 2012 in Review video.  We are member no 2698.

2.    Lazer Sport  Making high-performance bike and ski helmets, this Belgian company has been in business since 1919 and became a member of 1% at the same time as us – January 2012.  Lazer is member no 2673.

3.    Green Tulip A 1% member since 2008, UK company Green Tulip makes ethical gifts. Green Tulip is member no 1150.

4.    Borea Adventures   This company is right up our street, metaphorically speaking.  They organise adventure holidays in Iceland.  Borea is member no 1829.

5.    SavetheC This very cool Finnish company is making bags from old sails.  They are member no 2792.

We’ve Joined 1% For the Planet

More than 1,400 companies around the world are donating 1% of their annual sales to environmental non-profits, contributing so far over €55 million euro ($70 million). And now Sustainability Consult is also part of the 1% for the Planet business alliance whose aim is to contribute in a responsible way to a better environment.