*Dr Sustainability’s Recommended Read*
My Recommended Read is ‘Tickling Sharks: How We Sold Business on Sustainability’ authored by John Elkington!
The publication was released March this year and quite timely with the pace of Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence and Disclosure around the world.
The book:
Is available through a number of sources and more sustainable mediums such as Audible and Kindle.
Is split into three Parts covering ten chapters to outline how John and others sold businesses on sustainability.
Uses creativity, refering to sharks and even Dolphins to enable you to picture the timeline of events, organisations, characters, traits and change.
Has a cover page image of a feather under the shark fin, which not only is playful but also provides a deep meaning.
Through the book, I very much enjoyed the insight into John’s life, born at the wake of the second world war, when times were very different….caning still existed then!
For anyone new to the scene, John Elkington is the Godfather of Sustainability, a man now in his 70s, who has led a life of adventure and persistence to mainstream sustainability.
John was born into a RAF family who moved around frequently, 9 times in 9 years.
His early life and his curiousity shaped the rest of his life.
He shares vulnerable insight of a time he nearly gave up writing papers after countless rejections but then one finally got accepted!
The book demonstrates John’s life and contribution is one of persistence, perservance and dedication to the cause.
Though chapters you to meet some profound business strategists such as Michael Porter, hear inside conversations from Davos meetings and even fallouts.
The book outlines how sustainability has moved from a throwaway topic to one of the most important agendas in the world, and centres the role businesses must play.
John offers honesty and even frustration, along with some very attention grabbing, fly on the the wall moments.
Major brands such as Heinz, Nestle and VW are discussed; outlining their journey, experiences, mistakes, change and transformation.
Green growth, regeneration, the whole system approach, how nice people/organisations can change with power, greenwashing, green consumers, value chains and responsibility as a core belief were covered.
John highlights:
The importance to sometimes work within/with organisations to make improvements than fight or ostracise organisations.
Education is a powerful weapon to change the world.
We must really talk to one another if we wish to address the climate and biodiversity crisis.
Sustainability as an opportunity and not a treat. An opportunity to do business better.
I also took away, there is a new horizon and options for a better future. A future that firmly lay in all of our hands, within roles we play, when we go out to the world of work and business.
Happy Reading Folks!
