The Good Growth Circle is a community for those tackling the twin challenges of sustainability and commercial reality. Join Justin and Nick as they share experiences from working with some of the world’s biggest businesses and brands.
Working in sustainability means constantly pushing against the natural flow of the business – overworked, under-resourced, challenging the status quo. But those who take the path less trodden are also shaping a more sustainable future for all of us. As Steve Jobs said: it’s better to be a pirate than join the navy.
Our inboxes are awash with sustainability ‘sound bite stats’ – but how much of it is actually useful? Nick Pye examines why so much consumer sustainability data distorts reality, and why the say-do gap is the issue brands really need to be tackling.
The world of sustainability is blurry, connected and complex – but most companies tackling it are not. Nick Pye examines why rigid silo structures are the enemy of effective sustainability strategy, and why connecting the dots between E and S is where the real opportunity lies.
Driving sustainability in big companies requires courage – but not just the bold, headline-grabbing kind. Nick Pye raises a glass to the front-line sustainability practitioners whose acts of ‘little c’ courage are quietly propelling progress every single day.
Not all sustainability activities are born equal – some drive real impact, others make for a great brand story, and a precious few do both. Nick Pye explains how to prioritise your sustainability initiatives when resources are under pressure.
In the race to recruit sustainability talent, ambitious middle managers are signing up for short courses and immediately rebranding themselves as experts. Nick Pye explains why genuine sustainability expertise is born of on-the-job experience – and why confusing the two can be disastrous.
Across many sectors, we’re seeing a shift from sustainability start-up to scale-up – and it comes with new challenges. Nick Pye reflects on the growing pains of scaling sustainability, and the three interventions that are helping businesses navigate the transition.
Bolt Threads has paused its mycelium leather. Beyond Meat is down 92%. Oatly has lost 90% of its valuation. Nick Pye asks why sustainable substitutes are struggling to cross the chasm from early adopters to the mainstream – and what it will take to change that.
Sustainability creates specific and difficult tensions for manufacturing and industrial businesses. Nick Pye shares five key pressures Mangrove is seeing on the front line, from short-term commitment versus long-term investment to the performance gap that’s holding back real impact.
How much time do we spend chasing carbon reduction whilst ignoring everything else? Carbon Tunnel Vision is a timely reminder that carbon, whilst critically important, is only one dimension of the sustainability challenge.
More and more businesses are commissioning separate growth strategies and sustainability strategies. Nick Pye argues this makes no sense – and that a single, connected view of strategy is the only way to stop financial urgency crowding out sustainability progress.
