Most business leaders believe sustainability costs money. They’re wrong. The proof is sitting right under their noses, bleeding out quietly as waste, excess heat, and byproducts every day the factory runs. Danish manufacturing data shows that more than 20% of raw materials purchased by the average company never reach a finished product. In a sector where resource costs account for more than 50% of total operating expenses — compared to less than 25% for salaries — that’s not a compliance problem or a branding challenge. It’s a structural, strategic failure that most business leaders have never been trained to see. https://bwimpact.com/about-us/ spent two decades watching that failure play out across more than 100 companies in the Nordic countries. He came to sustainability not from the environmental side, but from marketing, where the core lesson was that people act on what they care about, not on what you think they should care about. When he started connecting the dots between resource-flow analysis and business strategy, the conversation changed. Leaders who tuned out every sustainability pitch suddenly leaned in when the frame was cost reduction, supply chain resilience, and competitive advantage. The “green” problem turned out to be a business problem in disguise — and a solvable one. That reframing is in his book, https://www.amazon.com/Making-Sustainability-Profitable-thriving-business/dp/1781337780. A free digital copy of the book is available at https://freebook.scoreapp.com/ — Jasper recommends starting with Chapter Three. The argument Jasper makes is structural. Today’s business leaders have been trained rigorously in managing time and money, but almost never in managing material flows, even though materials dwarf payroll in the cost structure of most manufacturing companies. The result is a generation of leaders who are leaving more than half their cost base strategically unmanaged. The narrative problem compounds the structural one. When every leader wakes up believing sustainability is a cost, a constraint, and a compromise, they never get to the question of whether it might be something else. Jasper's idea, which he posts about on LinkedIn and tests with clients ranging from small manufacturers to government advisory roles, is that the narrative is the first hurdle. The mental transformation has to precede the business transformation. Companies that clear that hurdle and start treating sustainability as an innovation platform consistently find themselves with a layer of competitive advantage their rivals haven’t even thought to open. Our conversation also covers the greenwashing trap, and how to avoid it by going around it entirely. The problem with leading on sustainability as a marketing message, Jasper argues, is that it inverts the logic. The job isn’t to convince customers to care about the planet. It’s to identify the problem they’re already trying to solve and deliver a better solution. Once that happens to be more sustainable because sustainability, done right, produces better outcomes. “Impact follows perceived value,” he says. A water company with a genuinely pure, chemical-free source doesn’t lead with environmental stewardship. It leads with safer drinking water for your kids. The sustainability isn’t hidden — it’s structural. It’s why the product delivers what it promises. Communicating it means doing what you say, saying what you do, and backing every claim with data and a visible roadmap. That’s not a compromise. That’s the only version of sustainability communication that survives contact with a skeptical market. You can learn more about Jasper’s work at https://bwimpact.com/ and connect with him on https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaspersteinhausen/. - Subscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/earth911-com-sustainability-in-your-ear/id1384301001?mt=2 - Follow Sustainability In Your Ear on https://www.spreaker.com/user/earth911, https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-Earth911com-Sustain-29715785/, or https://youtube.com/@elkcreeknotes?si=OYncOJMSzZ857f4L  

Rissho University's Fujii Seminar launches four university-industry collaboration projects for sustainable business solutions addressing local issues and food waste.

Bell Integration has officially joined the UN Global Compact initiative, reaffirming its commitment to responsible business management and sustainability.

Bell Integration has aligned its operations with the UN Global Compact, pledging to uphold responsible business practices and contribute to a sustainable future.

Energy is required at every step of the food and beverage industry supply chain, from growing grapes to bottling and delivery, making it a significant source of emissions and a prime target for climate innovation. On this episode of Earth911’s Sustainability in Your Ear, we explore how wineries and other producers are turning to clean, renewable energy to cut costs, reduce emissions, and future-proof their operations. We’re joined by James Presta, Business Development Manager at REC Solar, and Mario Trinchero of Trinchero Family Estates, a storied family-run winery in California’s Sonoma County. REC Solar and Trinchero teamed up to bring solar energy to one of the country’s largest winery operations, showing how collaboration between energy experts and agricultural producers can drive meaningful progress toward a carbon-neutral future.   James explains that a decentralized electric grid is emerging—powered by modular solar installations and guided by power purchase agreements (PPAs) that lock in long-term energy prices. When networked together, these individual installations can form a resilient web of renewable power. Solar, wind, and geothermal systems will provide flexibility and stability in a world of climate extremes—if we act quickly enough to scale them. Mario reflects on the motivations behind his family’s move to solar: sustainability is not just good business, it’s essential to preserving the land and legacy that define the brand. By using solar energy in its winemaking process, Trinchero has cut emissions and operating costs while strengthening its commitment to environmental stewardship. We also delve into the mechanics of PPAs—a modern-day version of the 1930s rural electrification initiative that brought power to American farms. But now, companies like REC Solar—not government agencies—extend the grid through private partnerships. These agreements offer fixed pricing, shared risk, and maintenance contracts, but it’s critical to understand the provider’s long-term plans. A strong PPA can unlock the potential to electrify entire supply chains, eliminate dependence on diesel generators, and drive innovations where wires have never reached. And the potential for abundant, clean power is growing. What could we build if we end up with more energy than we need? As James and Mario suggest, the answer may be anything we can imagine with the right infrastructure—without the pollution that defined the last century. Learn more about REC Solar at https://www.recsolar.com/ and about Trinchero Family Estates at https://www.tfewines.com/.

Hitachi Solutions Create has been awarded the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for their commitment to collaborative supply chain practices, enhancing partnerships in Japan.

Hiroshima's 01Booster is hosting a program aimed at fostering new business creation in the environmental sector with a two-stage support system.

The UN Global Compact has inaugurated the Country Network in Angola, fostering sustainable business practices as the nation diversifies its economy. This initiative aims to enhance investments, innovation, and growth across sectors.

The Roger Gallagher Scholarship initiative aims to empower undergraduate entrepreneurs with a focus on sustainable business practices and leadership skills.

Five subsidiaries of Shimada Group have publicly announced their alignment with the Partnership Building Declaration, aiming for sustainable business practices.

The KANTO Sustainable Business Network hosts its inaugural event to integrate sustainability in business practices, highlighting local community engagement and collaboration among stakeholders.

Dentsu Group has been awarded 4.5 stars for four consecutive years in the Nikkei Sustainable Survey, recognizing their commitment to smart work management.

The UN Global Compact Network USA has appointed Katherine Pickus from ADM and Josh Parker from NVIDIA to its Board to enhance corporate sustainability efforts.

Precoro has officially garnered its B Corporation certification, reflecting its commitment to social and environmental standards while balancing purpose and profit. Learn more!

The Boundless Futures Foundation invests $65,000 in female-led companies aimed at creating social impact. Learn about the selected grant recipients.

A groundbreaking collaboration between the Japan Sustainable Business Association and Sagamihara City aims to promote SDGs recognition for small businesses through a new certification framework.

Discover how leading companies plan to create sustainable business models at the Osaka Kansai Expo, promoting better futures for all.

TP's Colombian operations have earned the prestigious Sustainable Business Recognition from CECODES for their dedication to UN Human Rights principles.

TP, a global leader in digital business services, has been honored in Colombia with the Sustainable Business Recognition Award for its dedication to human rights.