Calendar of Events

Sustainable Innovation: A Strategic Imperative for Businesses

In today's rapidly changing business landscape, sustainability has become a critical factor in the success and longevity of companies across industries. From reducing carbon footprints to minimizing waste and promoting ethical practices, sustainable business models are essential for meeting the needs of customers, investors, and stakeholders in the 21st century.

To help businesses navigate these challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead, we propose a workshop on strategy and innovation with a focus on sustainability. This workshop will provide participants with the tools and insights needed to develop a strategic plan for integrating sustainable practices into their core business, growth areas, and exploratory initiatives.

The workshop will focus on three key areas: sustainability, positioning sustainability in a company's strategy, and developing a strategic idea for innovation and sustainability. Through presentations, discussions, and group activities, participants will learn and collaborate with their peers to identify best practices and innovative solutions.

In the first section of the workshop, participants will learn about sustainability and its importance for businesses. They will explore the challenges and opportunities of implementing sustainable practices in different industries and engage in a group activity to brainstorm ways in which businesses can become more sustainable.

In the second section, participants will explore the different ways in which sustainability can be integrated into a company's strategy. They will discuss the benefits and risks of incorporating sustainability into different areas of a company's strategy and work together to identify and discuss sustainability ambitions in core business, growth areas, and exploratory initiatives.

In the final section, participants will learn about the importance of innovation in sustainability efforts. They will discuss how companies can use innovation to drive sustainable change and develop a strategic idea for innovation and sustainability in their assigned focus areas.

The workshop will culminate in a pitch presentation, where each group will present their strategic idea for innovation and sustainability to the workshop participants. This will be followed by feedback and discussion on the different ideas presented.

We believe that this workshop will be a valuable time investment for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve in their industries and better serve their customers and stakeholders. By developing a strategic plan for sustainable innovation, companies can not only reduce their environmental impact but also enhance their brand reputation, improve their bottom line, and create a more sustainable future for all.

 

 

Agenda:

I. Introduction (15 min)

· Welcome and introduction to the workshop (with a drink)

· Overview of the topics to be covered

· Brief icebreaker activity to help participants get to know each other

II. Sustainability (20 min)

· Presentation on sustainability and its importance for businesses (butterfly diagram/circularity compass)

· Discussion on the challenges and opportunities of implementing sustainable practices in different industries

· Group activity to brainstorm ways in which businesses can become more sustainable

III. Positioning Sustainability in Company Strategy (20 minutes)

· Explore the different ways in which sustainability can be integrated into a company's strategy

· Discussion on the benefits and risks of incorporating sustainability into different areas of a company's strategy

· Group activity to identify and discuss sustainability ambitions in core business, growth areas, and exploratory initiatives. The participants will develop ideas in context of specific industries and each attendee will be able to choose its own context.

V. Developing a Strategic Idea for Innovation and Sustainability (20 minutes)

· Presentation on the importance of innovation in sustainability efforts

· Discussion on how companies can use innovation to drive sustainable change

· Group activity to develop a strategic idea for innovation and sustainability in their assigned focus areas