Futerra

'What do I tell my boss/Board about the #CSRD #CSDDD rollback?' Futerrans have been asked this multiple times in the last 24 hours. ESG and Sustainability teams are confused, worried about losing headcount and/or budget, and unsure what to do next. Futerra doesn't offer reporting services, so we're being asked for our 'independent' advice on how to navigate the internal politics and resource challenges of EU Omnibus proposals. Solitaire Townsend has captured her advice in a blog post. This isn't a deep philosophical analysis of the climate implications or a diatribe on EC decision-making. Instead, she offers practical advice for internal teams, CSOs, and sustainability leaders on what to say to their boss TODAY. We hope this helps! https://lnkd.in/dTM69sAy

Lots of (deserved) noise today about the CBI report that Net Zero businesses are outgrowing the rest of the economy. But one finding should play a staring role in comms/messages - that the million people working in Net Zero earn over £5k more per year than national average. LinkedIn have also found green-skilled jobs are growing faster than others. Individuals 'career case' for net zero is as motivating as a corporate 'business case' or the overall 'scientific case'. Net zero = earning more. #GreenerTogether

Right now, cynicism and fatalism are tempting. Everything looks fucked up and working to solve problems is exhausting, thankless and even feels foolish. What's the point anyway? I get it, a sense of doom can sneak up on anyone (I'm not immune). But as we fight to hold back the worst, we HAVE to imagine the best. The vision of what we actually want matters. We should be shouting our vision for a better future from the rooftops and not let anyone muzzle our imagination...especially not ourselves. Fuck doom. A while back, Futerra published these Awesome Anthropocene Goals - an update of the #sustainabledevelopmentgoals for 2050 - setting out what we want to start, not just what we want to stop. These goals are the world I want. If not for me, then for the kids in my family. I won't capitulate to fatalism, impotent rage or self-censoring. Let's talk about what we WANT more than what we FEAR.

TUNE IN! Thursday March 6th to hear our Solitaire Townsend discuss how to drive growth through sustainable storytelling with Skills4Impact and done! This session will equip Brand Managers, CMOs and communications consultants with actionable insights to: ✅ Elevate sustainability initiatives into brand stories ✅ Drive growth through effectively communicating sustainability efforts to stakeholders and consumers ✅ Understand how businesses can lead the change in creating a sustainable future. Don't miss this opportunity and learn how to leverage sustainability into brand leadership opportunities.    ➡️ Register here: bit.ly/3QvydXL

Are you at #GreenBiz25 - join Solitaire Townsend on Tuesday for a Breakfast on Neurodivergence and Sustainability! Please share with anyone you know who’s at #GreenBiz2025 Autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, or other minority neurotype working in sustainability? Parent, ally or interested in how neurodivergence intersects with sustainability, climate and ESG action? Led by autistic and noted sustainability expert Solitaire Townsend - this gathering is for you. This will be a gentle and neurospicy-friendly breakfast gathering: sitting or standing, eye-contact optional, there will be stimming! Research has revealed how minority neurotypes are a huge part of the sustainability, climate and justice communities. From enhanced patten recognition to powerful justice motivation, neurodivergence can offer superpowers to sustainability solutions. But, adaptations are needed within this sector to welcome all neurotypes. Join us for insights, advice and connections with GreenBiz neurodivergents and allies. Tuesday Feb 11, 2025 ⋅ 7.45am – 9am Ballroom Lawn, Marriott

Acronyms suck. ‘ESG’ especially sucks as an acronym. So what shall we say instead? First, why do sustainability acronyms suck so much? 💥Acronyms are easy to weaponise against themselves. They are unfamiliar so are devoid of meaning/clairty. That means other forces can fill them with suspicion, malicious intent and danger. Right now, ESG (and worse for DEI) are being attacked by people who don’t even know their definition. 💥 Acronyms spilt us into ‘in’ groups who know it and ‘out’ groups who don’t. Sustainability is beset with this in/out group dynamics and it’s strangling us! 💥 Acronyms suck for anyone who is dyslexic. So, what do we say instead? Anything already filled with positive meaning! ‘Sustainability’ itself isn’t too bad ‘Responsibility’ works ‘Ethical business’ is an old favourite ‘Caring’ is powerful! Use words your kids would understand. What do you think we should say now? #greenertogether #Greenbiz25

For some Friday inspiration, read Solitaire Townsend's new Forbes blog on how we can all face these uncertain times for sustainability. https://lnkd.in/e7wP4TdX

Autistic, ADHD, Dyslexic? Neurodiverse, an ally of neurodivergence, parent of a neurodivergent kid or wondering if you 'might be' a different type of thinker? And attending #GreenBiz25 next week? Want to meet up? I'm plotting a gathering of Neurospicy Solutionists (and allies/parents/interested folks). We've learnt a LOT about neurodivergence and sustainability over the past year. I'd love us to share advice, spotlight resources and bring our whole selves to a gathering. Just like at all Neurospicy Solutionist sessions - we will stim, eye-contact is optional, various choices of engagement will be offered, and no forced speaking. I will closely moderate and validate different ways of being. WHO WOULD LIKE TO MEET UP? FYI - this is informal/unofficial moment at GreenBiz, but the lovely Trellis Group folks are enthusiastic and supportive of us gathering! #dyslexicthinking #GreenerTogether #GreenBiz #GreenBiz2025

Our Chief Solutionist Solitaire Townsend just gave the opening keynote at The Sustainable Retail Summit of The Consumer Goods Forum. Asking the big question: do consumers give a damn? Her answer- of course. But brands don’t help themselves with expensive ‘ego’ marketing! #SRS25

Worked in sustainability less than 10 years? I’m pushing up against 3 decades in this field. And the next few years are going to feel like the first. Back in the 90’s the ‘war on woke’ was a ‘war on political correctness’. The only difference was that we’d made far fewer wins than we have now. ‘Alternative energy’ was a sideshow, vegan was only in kooky health food stores and many companies had one mid-level Energy Manager doing everything on environment and even human rights. Then, in 2008/9 many companies slashed their CSR budgets and laid off CSR teams. The era of ‘business responsibility’ was declared over by the media as we entered the Great Recession. If you’ve been in sustainability only for a few years, you’ve ridden an unprecedented upward wave of growing interest, investment and public support. It’s been the easiest time in my career to land major action/change. So, if that’s all you’ve known. Than this backlash and uncertainty right now is likely uncomfortable at best and downright scary at worst. And yep, the stakes are higher right now with climate change really biting. But the stakes felt pretty damn high back then too. My advice? 1. DON’T PANIC - this isn’t the first backlash, recession or major hit we’ve faced. Each time before we’ve worked out asses off and continued to make progress. 2. ADAPT - we’ve renamed, restructured, pivoted and reinvented ‘doing the right thing’ over and again. It’s a great strategy to inject energy and avoid the ‘anti’ brigade. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet…so what shall we call ‘ESG’ next? 3. CONTINUE - the biggest mistake to make right now: stopping. Climate change won’t give us a time-out because a few leaders are feeling regressive. You’ve got to work harder, dig deeper, find strength in each other, listen more and be smarter in how we hit our goals. We’ve done it before, and it made us more effective. You won’t see many veterans in this movement saying ‘it’s all over’ or thinking this is a permanent downturn. Because we’ve been through this before. Positive change only stops if we do. 4. ENJOY - sustainablity can be a bit dour at the best of times. Now’s the time to LOUDLY CELEBRATE every damn win. Show we’re still here, show we’re still winning/progressing/solving in more ways than ever! Joy is an act of defiance. I’ll be right here cheering you on. And giving the occasional pep talk. And I’ll be using everything I’ve learnt to pivot AGAIN, push on AGAIN and keep making change no matter, AGAIN.