Talent Management in the current climate Brewing up ... - Ashridge

“For an increasing
number of us – whether
from the private, public
or not-for-profit sector,
making products or
offering services –
intelligent business
growth that decouples
consumption as we
know it from economic
activity is the
inescapable challenge
– and opportunity –
of our time.”
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Local solutions
The option chosen is determined according
to local circumstances. Ecological impact,
cultural acceptability and, just as important,
the practicalities of getting things done in an
infrastructure set up for the disposal rather than
reuse of material are all considered.
“ReEntry TM
could mean repurposing, recycling
or generating energy from waste. Which option
we choose varies from country to country
across Europe, and comes down to ecology,
the economics and cultural acceptability.”
Karin Laljani, Senior Vice President, Market
Strategy and Sustainability, InterfaceFLOR
“Initially ReEntry TM
was repurposing, but now it’s
about recycling and creating technical cycles.
We not only take back our own product, we’ll
happily take someone else’s too.”
Nigel Stansfield, Senior Director, Product Design
and Innovation, InterfaceFLOR
Sustainability and you
The rejection of even the idea of waste has
resulted in substantial business benefits for
Interface. Cumulative avoided costs from waste
elimination activities since 1995 are calculated
to be more than USD $372 million, but much
of the value for the company has come
from positioning itself for a future ever more
constrained in available material resource and
in building a reputation as innovative, forwardlooking
and trustworthy. (The thinking amongst
many customers and stakeholders seems to be:
If you’re careful and responsible in the way you
look after the environment, you’re more likely to
look after me too. † ) There’s a great deal more
to say about both the tangible and intangible
benefits, but to many this all sounds like a better
way to do business. And there’s no flight of fancy
here, it’s happening now.
If you’ve found these examples and the ideas behind them intriguing, let us know. We are working with
organisations with such questions as:
• How could your organisation go beyond improving efficiency to start to design with ecology
in mind – to eliminate waste, ensure emissions are food for nature or at least benign, and
preferentially use renewable energy?
• If you were to recast your business as one that provides services in closed-loop systems rather
than a provider of products, what would that look like? What would the costs and benefits
be? What would be the process for exploring this with some seriousness and who should be
involved?
• How could you use your good intentions, commitments and demonstrable progress as a basis
for conversations and building trust with key stakeholders?
For an increasing number of us – whether from the private, public or not-for-profit sector,
making products or offering services – intelligent business growth that decouples consumption as
we know it from economic activity is the inescapable challenge – and opportunity – of our time.
As well as consulting with organisations on strategy and change, we’re offering intensive twoday
executive workshops or simply the opportunity to join a community of interested organisations
who want to learn from each other.
Participate in one of our senior executive workshops... Ashridge InterfaceRAISE is offering a
series of introductory two-day workshops employing an action-oriented, strategic approach to
becoming sustainable in business. For more information on forthcoming programmes visit:
www.ashridge.org.uk/bos
Or join a community of practice… Together we’ll explore approaches to sustainable
business practice and look to identify those that offer the greatest chance of success. Bringing
Ashridge’s expertise in inquiry-based culture change and strategy, and experience in sustainability
and corporate responsibility, we’ll use an action research approach to share learning and
collaboratively develop a body of evidence that ultimately could be published. Contact Adam
Faruk, email: adam.faruk@ashridge.org.uk, if you’d like to become involved.
* See for example the Globescan Survey of Sustainability Experts 2006 www.globescan.com/sose_overview.htm
† See www.interfacesustainability.com/metrics for more information.