Sustainalize Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Sustainalize
Through the years we've gained some knowledge and experience whilst guiding ourselves and our clients through the "jungle" of sustainability challenges in all its different shapes and forms.
As passionate and determined as we are in moving forward to a sustainable future together, we present to you our Sustainalize Podcasts! Dive with us into the practicalities of various corporate sustainability topics, while we share experiences, ideas, dilemmas, and pitfalls with interesting and inspiring guests, giving you an insight into the ‘what’, ‘how’, and ‘why’ of corporate sustainability.
All good things come to an end. That's how Nick de Ruiter, our host, often ends his podcast, and is very applicable for this episode. Our 28th episode marks the finale of our podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability. After two years, 2 seasons and 28 episodes, Nick passes the reins to the next generation. In 2023, we will start a new podcast series called Next Gen on sustainability, where our young consultants rotate as hosts and explore a sustainability challenge in their own episode. For now, Olivier Benz, senior consultant and co-founder of Next Gen on sustainability, looks back on an eventful podcast with Nick. What are Nick's highlights of Walk the Talk? What was his goal, and did he reach it? But also, what are his expectations of our next generation? You can hear it all in our podcast finale.
Excited to hear more? Stay tuned, for our podcast series ‘Next Gen on sustainability’ is coming soon - already in the beginning of 2023! We offer the microphone to our young consultants, so they can get to the bottom of emerging sustainability topics. You can expect inspiring guests from different fields, fresh perspectives and practical, useful solutions to the challenges of tomorrow.
In this episode of our Walk the Talk podcast series, we take a look at the road NN Bank has taken to set up their sustainability strategy. Our host, Nick, speaks with Patricia Plass (Head of ESG Office Nationale-Nederlanden Bank & CEO Woonnu) and our senior strategy expert Nick Reijnen. NN Bank started working on integrating sustainability in their company strategy in 2021. Why and how did they start with their approach? What was their focus? And what makes their strategy unique from others? Gain insight into NN Bank's sustainability strategy, and the road they have taken to get there, by listening to this podcast.
*Due to some technical issues, the quality of the sound is not as good as you are used to from us. We're sorry for any inconvenience.
This year, the Nationaal Sustainability Congres takes place on November 17. The 21st edition of this event is organized in Congrescentrum 1931, Den Bosch, where many professionals will come together to get inspired on new ways to improve their sustainability journey. Nick welcomes Jeroen Smit (Nationaal Sustainability Congres host, research journalist, and bestselling author) and Gert van de Donk (co-founder of Nationaal Sustainability Congres) to offer a sneak peek at this year's congress. What speakers are there to get excited about? And what have we seen in previous editions? Get your first 'look' at the event by listening to this episode of our Walk the Talk on sustainability podcast.
Human Rights is an important topic to incorporate within your company. In this episode of our Walk the Talk on sustainability podcast series, we dive into the meaning and importance of Human Rights and social performance. Our experts Marina D'Engelbronner (Partner Human Rights & Social Performance, ERM) and Morganne Kroon (Consultant, Sustainalize) are welcomed by Nick in this Walk the Talk podcast episode. They share developments, best practices and insights into Human Rights and its impact. Listen to our podcast and get filled in on how to incorporate Human Rights and social performance within a company and learn from past experiences.
In this episode of our Walk the Talk on sustainability podcast series, we dive into the topic of Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace. Nick interviews our own Diversity, Equity & Inclusion ambassador Melina Busch (Sustainalize Consultant), and Creative Strategist, Writer & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Trainer Nadine Ridder. What does DE&I mean exactly and what role does it play in today's business landscape? How has the importance of D&I evolved in recent years? And what benefits does DE&I have, both on (working) lives of people as well as the advantages it has for companies? Last but not least: what are actionable steps we can take to more diverse, equal and inclusive workplace? Hear all about it in this podcast.
VP Capital is the first (family) investor in the Benelux, and one of the first in Europe, to obtain approved validation from the Science Based Targets initiative for its ambitious climate goals. Sustainalize supported the company by clarifying the requirements to comply with SBT and partially calculating the CO2 footprint of their portfolio. So why set an SBT as a financial and what to look out for? What are the developments in climate ambitions in the finance sector and the role of SBTi? And what does VP Capital’s sustainability approach look like? Learn all about it in this podcast with Mark Schravesande (Projectmanager of VP Capital), Misha (our expert on climate change target-setting), and Nick as our host.
Want to know more about VP Capital's road to Paris? Read the press release 'VP Capital first investor in Benelux to obtain validation from SBTi'.
In this episode of our Walk the Talk podcast series, we dive into the EU's extensive and essential Fit for 55 package. Sustainalize experts Zena and Lot will walk you through what this package is about, which initiatives the package entails, for which sectors it is particularly relevant, and address the next steps. Stay tuned, as we will publish an in-depth blog on Fit for 55 topic next week!
View the European Green Deal and Fit for 55's timeline here.
Over the years, Sustainalize has grown from an unknown small-scale interrupter to a strong market leader in the field of sustainability advice. Something we would never have achieved without the lasting commitment and the continuing expansion of our team. What is it that makes our consultancy a rewarding and interesting place to (continue to) work and thrive? Nick interviews colleagues Jessica, Marleen, and Emile on what it's like to work for Sustainalize, what it is that makes our company unique, and discusses tips and tops for enhancing the Sustainalize / ERM work environment for employees, as well as for people who are looking for an exciting role.
Does the Sustainalize / ERM spirit resonate with you? Check out our vacancies!
In this episode of our Walk the Talk podcast series, we dive into the world of sustainable packaging. With Sustainalize partner Nick as our host and packaging expert Susan van Kruijsbergen, we invited Patricia Surendonk (CEO) and Caroline Nannes (Marketing Manager Vinegar) of Burg Group, the world's most sustainable manufacturer of natural vinegar and tasty syrups. What does Burg’s sustainability approach look like, and why focus on packaging? What targets are pursued, and how does the sustainability strategy translate into the packaging strategy? Gain insight into Burg Group's valuable tips and tops and some recent developments in sustainable packaging.
Although we are already being impacted by the climate crisis, younger generations will inevitably face the worst. How do young sustainability consultants view the future with today's knowledge? High time to put some of Sustainalize's young talents on the spot. Olivier asks Hugo, Marc and Morganne about their motivation to make sustainability their job, their opinion on the current sustainability challenges, and the level of involvement of peers. And finally: do they still have hope for the future? Gain some fresh perspectives in this episode of our podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability.
Would you like to hear more ? Stay tuned, for our mini-podcast series 'Next Gen on sustainability' is coming soon, in which ten young Sustainalize consultants explore their sustainability dilemma in each of their own podcasts. Expect guest speakers from different fields, critical questions and answers to the challenges of tomorrow.
Really exciting new podcast with one of Sustainalize's longest business relations: Booking.com! In this episode of our Sustainalize podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability, Booking.com's Sustainable Supply Lead Thomas Loughlin is joined by our Sustainalize colleagues Misha Elkerbout (senior consultant) and Quinten Geleijnse (consultant), to talk about Booking.com's brand-new Travel Sustainable badge. Now live on the website for everyone to see, the Travel Sustainable badge identifies more sustainable accommodations and makes it easier for guests to book sustainable stays. Why was this impact model introduced and how does it fit into the company's mission and vision on sustainable travel? What challenges did Booking.com face regarding the methodology and the impact calculations? What are the next steps for the Travel Sustainable badge? Gain insight into Booking.com's next milestone in the pursuit of making travel sustainable around the world.
Want to know more about the methodology behind the Travel Sustainable badge? Take a look at our case: 'Booking.com - Making sustainable travel easier for everyone'.
*Please note: this podcast was recorded remotely via video call due to the COVID lockdown. Therefore, the sound quality is poorer than usual.
In this episode of our Sustainalize podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability, our Sustainalize colleagues Olivier Benz (operating in Germany), Johanna Haerens (working in Belgium), and Daniek Ehrismann (active in the Netherlands) share their experience on how the approach and maturity of sustainability management differ in the BeNeGe context. What is the level of sustainability when it comes to these regions? What can we learn from each other and what developments can we expect in the future? Gain insight into the sustainability developments from 10 years of Sustainalize’s presence in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
In this episode of our Walk the Talk podcast series, Nick interviews our reporting expert Helen on the developments of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. How does the CSRD fit into the EU Green Deal and how does it align with other reporting developments such as GRI, SASB, IIRC, IFRS Foundation? What can we expect the coming months/years out of Europe regarding the CSRD and how can companies best prepare themselves? Learn all about it in this episode of our Walk the Talk on sustainability series.
For more significant reporting updates and information on how they will affect you, take a look at our Revised GRI Universal Standards (sustainalize.com) blog.
In this episode of our Walk the Talk podcast series, Nick interviews Lot and Daniek as the hosts of our brand new quarterly client event, 'The Round About.' The three dive deeper into the topic of The Round About's first edition: Employee Engagement. What's the value of an event such as The Round About, and why choose the topic of Employee Engagement for the first edition? What are some key trends, challenges, and takeaways for organizations to engage their employees on sustainability? Let Lot and Daniek introduce you to this relevant and exciting topic.
Stay tuned, as we will release a blog soon on the challenge of continuous employee engagement.
Join The Round About Every 3 to 4 months, Lot and Daniek will host our brand-new client event. What about? You decide! Are there any sustainability challenges you would like to address and discuss with peers? Do not hesitate to let us know by suggesting a topic.
Curious about first-hand experiences of organizations on employee engagement? See what our clients said during The Round About on this topic.
On the morning of the 20th National Sustainability Congress, Global Compact Network Netherlands and Sustainalize organized the CEO breakfast. During this event a group of leading CEOs announced that their companies have joined the UN Race to Zero, which is the UN-backed global campaign rallying non-state actors across the global economy to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier and fairer zero carbon world in time. The pledge was made during the CEO breakfast session chaired by business leader and changemaker, Mr. Paul Polman. One of the companies signing the statement was NS, who commit to having ambitious interim science-based targets aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C and/or to reach net-zero global emissions by 2050 at the latest. Nick spoke with Sacha Goddeke (Director QHSE and Sustainability at NS) and Marco Swan (Program Manager at Global Compact Network Netherlands) about the wishes, expectations and challenges regarding this ambitious target.
Read more about the CEO breakfast and the companies who made the commitment.
In this episode of our Walk the Talk podcast series, we are live from the 26th World Climate Conference together with Keryn James (CEO ERM), Sabine Hoefnagel (Global Director Services, Brand and Communications), and Linden Edgell (Global Sustainability Director at ERM). With Keryn even present in the Blue Zone, we dive into the achievements of week 1 of the COP related to deforestation, methane and the updated trajectory towards 1.5 degrees. Nick, Keryn, Sabine and Linden discuss the hurdles amongst non-state and state actors and what ERM is doing to overcome this. We also learn what week 2 of the COP will bring us related to the energy transition and more specifically hydrogen and we hear first-hand if Keryn, Sabine and Linden are still positive on the potential outcomes.
The ‘COP26’ is seen as “the worlds best last chance” to get the climate emergency under control; to ensure temperature change remains “well below” the 2 degrees Celsius agreed to by UN signatories in the Paris Agreement, countries need to act fast and double down on commitments to reach net-zero emissions. As the largest global pure-play sustainability consultancy, our colleagues from ERM will be running, sponsoring and speaking at several COP events on topics related to the low carbon economy transition.
Listen to part one of this series: 'COP26: What to expect' or read more about ERM at COP26.
In this episode of our Walk the Talk podcast series, we kick off the 26th World Climate Conference together with Linden Edgell (Global Sustainability Director at ERM), who will be present during the summit, on what to expect. The 'COP26' is seen as "the worlds best last chance" to get the climate emergency under control; to ensure temperature change remains “well below” the 2 degrees Celsius agreed to by UN signatories in the Paris Agreement, countries need to act fast and double down on commitments to reach net-zero emissions. As the largest global pure-play sustainability consultancy, our colleagues from ERM will be running, sponsoring and speaking at several COP events on topics related to the low carbon economy transition.
In this podcast, Nick and Linden elaborate on the main decision points for this COP, the potential outcomes and the part ERM plays during this summit.
Stay tuned, for there is more: Monday, the 8th of November, Nick interviews Keryn James (Group Chief Executive at ERM), Sabine Hoefnagel (Global Director at ERM) & Linden Edgell who will give you a live update from Glasgow on the latest developments!
Nice read: ERM at COP26.
In this second part of the sequel on the EU Sustainability Legislation, our partner Nick and our very own Taxonomy expert Cedric walk you through the latest developments in EU legislation and the EU Taxonomy. What was the goal of the Taxonomy again, and how does it fit in the larger scheme of things? What should companies do to prepare themselves the upcoming years? What activities are included in the Taxonomy and what is the difference between eligibility and alignment? Should the Taxonomy data be assured? Learn all about it in the eleventh episode of our podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability.
Listen to part 1 of the sequel ‘A bird’s eye view of EU Sustainability Legislation’.
In this episode of our Sustainalize podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability, our partner Nick and our ESG expert Tijn speak with Marie-Claire Franzen-Aerts (Head of Sustainability Strategy & Climate Program) and Harmen Haan (ESG advisor IR&RA) of Rabobank about the value and process of ESG Ratings. Together we explore the landscape of different ratings and the latest developments, how Rabobank prepares itself for external ratings and how they utilize the end result. How do you get the most out of a given ESG rating? And how are ESG ratings used by investors and what is the added value for using ESG ratings for non-listed organizations? For answers to these and more relevant questions on the topic, this podcast is a must-listen.
On Earth Day 2021, ERM announced its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions across its operations by 2025. An ambitious target, that ERM underpins by strengthening its existing science-based target for emissions reductions to a 1.5 degrees Celsius aligned target. But how is ERM going to reach this target? And how did the process of setting this target go? What learnings do our ERM colleagues have to share? Sustainalize Partner Nick asks our ERM colleagues Sabine Hoefnagel (Global Director of Services, Brand and Communications) and Linden Edgell (Global Sustainability Director) all about it.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): what are they? How can companies use them? How do they relate to strategy, reporting, reporting guidelines, and EU developments? How far are we from reaching the SDGs and what do we need to do to make it happen? Our Sustainalize partner Nick and our strategy expert Lot provide answers to these and many more questions in our podcast 'The SDGs, counting down to 2030'.
Would you like to know more about what the SDGs can mean for your company? Take a look at our business case 'Croda Crop Care: Making a real difference by determining the SDGs for your company'.
In this episode of our Sustainalize podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability, our partner Nick and our colleagues at ERM Lars Kurznack (Partner and Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Lead at ERM Benelux and Southern Europe) and Alex Cox (Partner and EMEA Head of Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Services), speak about how sustainability developments differ from geography to geography. What is the level of sustainability when it comes to The Netherlands versus the rest of Europe? Where do The Netherlands and other regions excel in, and what about the several governments, legislation versus companies? Gain insight into sustainability developments from an international perspective and what to expect from Sustainalize in the near and far future, as part of ERM.
In this episode of our Sustainalize podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability, our partner Nick and our sustainable finance guru Marleen walk you through the recent developments in EU legislation and the Green Deal. Providing you not only with an overview of all the abbreviations and terms (such as EU Taxonomy, SFDR, and CSRD), but also its corresponding goals, deadlines & milestones, and an answer to the main question: in what way will this impact our clients?
Stay tuned, as we dive deeper into the world of sustainable finance in part 2 of this podcast.
Read our blog (including a one-pager as an overview) on the latest developments of the new EU ESG regulation 'Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation: An overview of the new EU ESG regulation'.
In this episode of our Sustainalize podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability, our partner Nick and our materiality expert Daniek dive into the why, how and what behind a materiality analysis. In 20 minutes, you are introduced to the topic, navigated through the purpose and connection to stakeholder engagement, and presented with the concept of double and dynamic materiality.
Learn more about the potential of materiality and double and dynamic materiality in our blogs ‘The potential of materiality': Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4, and ‘Emerging perspectives: Double and dynamic materiality’.
In this episode of our Sustainalize podcast series Walk the Talk on sustainability, our partner Nick and our impact expert Misha go into detail about a Science-Based Target (SBT) and more specifically a 'net-zero' target. Our colleagues navigate us through the Carbon target landscape and discuss the process and pitfalls for organisations in setting an SBT. Looking into the next step in carbon target setting? This podcast is definitely for you.
Learn more about carbon offsetting and Science-based Targets in our blogs 'To offset or not to offset, that’s the question' and 'Are Science-Based Targets useful for Dutch companies?'
In this episode of our Sustainalize podcast series Walk the Talk (on sustainability), our partner Nick and our reporting & KPN specialist Julian Markus are joined by Brechtje Spoorenberg (Head of CSR) and Michiel de Jonge (Investor Relations Officer) of KPN to discuss the company's reporting journey. Together they talk about the progress that KPN has made on their Integrated Annual Report (IAR) in the last couple of years, the lessons learned, the role of the IAR in relation to investor requests, the developments in the reporting landscape, and the way that KPN is handling this. Join in and gain insight into the do's and don'ts while producing a strong Integrated Report.
In this episode of our Sustainalize podcast series Walk the Talk (on sustainability), our partner Nick de Ruiter enters into dialogue with our colleagues Lena Hülsmann (Managing Director of Sustainalize Germany) and Olivier Benz (Consultant and internal EcoVadis expert) on how to get the most out of your EcoVadis assessment. The three touch upon various topics around EcoVadis and provide you with advice and tips on the assessment itself, including some best practice examples to check out. Dive into depth on the role our consulting and training partner takes in the world of sustainability.
Want to know more about EcoVadis? Read our blog 'EcoVadis in a nutshell: Answers on most frequently asked questions'.
In this Sustainalize podcast of Walk the Talk, our partner Nick de Ruiter and our human rights specialist Pieter van 't Hoff are joined by Sustainability Reporting Specialist of ABN AMRO Herma van der Laarse, discussing the newly published ABN AMRO Human Rights report. Together they plunge into depth on the value the report brings to ABN AMRO and its stakeholders, how to start reporting on human rights, the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles, and how to perform a human rights salience analysis. After listening to this episode you will be able to start working on your human rights reporting as well.
Read the full Human Rights report of ABN AMRO.
Traditionally, ESG data has focused on the output of an organization, for example the amount of water used, CO2 emitted, or money given to charities. But what does this actual mean in the context of the issues these indicators are contributing to? Impact assessment attempts to answer this question by converting output data into more meaningful numbers that allow us to better understand the true outcomes or impact of an organization’s activities. In this episode we are joined by Marlot Kiveron, the Sustainability Manager from Dutch eyewear brand Ace&Tate, to share with us her experience in undertaking an in depth impact assessment of their operations and supply chain and how they have used the results to drive change.
Key Performance Indicators are an essential element of any company strategy, as they help to identify the gap between where a company is now and where they want to be in the future. Therefore, one of the most important steps is actually making sure the right indicators and measurements are selected. Which is be easier said than done. This can be particularly challenging for multi-national organizations who need to select KPIs that are both globally and locally relevant. In this episode we are joined by Jaap Petraeus, who was instrumental in the development of the international Dairy Sustainability Framework, to talk us through how they approached this.
Businesses today are faced with increasing stakeholder pressure to act upon large environmental and social issues such as climate change and human rights. These stakeholders are demanding not only retrospective metrics to measure performance, but also forward-looking strategies that deliver shared value to the business as well as society. In this episode we are joined by Marlou Leenders, the Global Sustainability Manager at Randstad Global, to share with us her insights into setting and implementing an integrated sustainability strategy.
For those of us who have been working in sustainability for some time, it is exciting to see that ESG data is now being used by a broad range of stakeholders to in the number of benchmarks and ratings developed to systematically evaluate and compare the sustainability performance of companies. One company that has consistently performed well in a number of these in the Coca-Cola Helenic Bottling Company who were recognized by the DJSI in 2019 as Europe’s most sustainable beverage company for the sixth time in seven years. They have upheld a CDP A score for Climate in the last 4 years, AAA at MSCI ESG for 5th consecutive years and highest in beverage industry score at FTSE100 ESG. In this episode we are joined Galya Tsonkova the Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Hellenic to talk us through their experiences with various benchmarks and ratings.
Corporate sustainability reporting has come a long way over the past 30 years and is now considered a basic requirement of any successful organisation. However, one downside has been the increasing volume of data that companies are now required to disclose. As a result, companies are now faced with the dilemma of how to strike a balance between comprehensive disclosures and readability. One approach to overcome this challenge is core and more reporting. To explain this in more detail we are joined by Tjeerd Krumpelman, the Global head of Business Advisory, Reporting & Engagement at ABN AMRO.
Today more than ever companies are expected to measure and report on their environmental, social and governance performance. This data is increasingly being used to inform important business and investment decisions, and as such there is more scrutiny being placed on the accuracy of this data. Obtaining external assurance or validation of the data can help companies to improve their internal processes and provide confidence to their stakeholders regarding the robustness of the data and the decisions based on it. In this episode we will speak with Jose Villalon, Corporate Sustainability Director from Nutreco about the ins and outs of undergoing external validation and assurance to provide a succinct overview of the processes and outcomes from both options.