In this episode of ESG Business Model Innovation, we present ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) as sustainability concept and why it is worth integrating it into business strategies. We introduce an understanding of ESG as opportunity for differentiation and growth. Innovative managers and entrepreneurs see the sustainability trend as a chance to add value to people and the planet, while simultaneously generating a competitive advantage for their businesses and organizations in increasingly ESG-aligned markets.

In this episode of ESG Business Model Innovation, we introduce other sustainability concepts and explain how they are related to ESG. You will discover good practice examples and concepts how first movers successfully integrated the sustainability trend into their business models and strategies. Risks related to ESG, or not to integrate it into a business model, are outlined. For the next generation of managers, integrating the ESG opportunity in their personal and corporate visions goes without saying.

In this episode of ESG Business Model Innovation, we introduce you into basic strategy concepts like the extended value chain and stakeholder analysis, necessary for leveraging ESG as an opportunity. A coffee shop best practice case in Mannheim, Germany, demonstrates how a personalized value chain supports community building and becomes a factor of differentiation (www.agata-kaffee.de). There are different levels of ESG integration into a business model which an organization can achieve on its evolution towards ESG excellence.

In this episode of ESG Business Model Innovation, we introduce the sustainability concept of double materiality, the ESG Opportunity Landscape and the 3D Business Model Approach. This business model framework, including the context and interpersonal relationships dimensions, sets the scene for ESG Business Model Innovation processes and can guide an organization’s journey towards ESG excellence. For instance, the transformation towards circularity requires the right set of values and corporate culture, which in the 3D Business Model Approach can be visualized and managed as key success factor for a deeply rooted and successful business model innovation process. 

This episode leads into the fascinating story and good practice case of Gerard & Suus, an organic bakery in the Netherlands with outlets in Wijk en Aalburg (⁠www.gerardensuus.nl⁠). With this interview with the founder and owner, Gerard Hardeman, a values-based, highly ESG-aligned business model can be discovered. It is based on high intrinsic motivation and a corporate vision of adding value to society and the next generations through entrepreneurship. Local suppliers and vertical integration of the value chain increase product quality. Community building, organic by principle and environmental care as lifestyle are among the best practice features of this business model, which can inspire ESG Business Model Innovation processes. “Start with what you can influence” and “Innovation is part of our life” are appealing messages by the founder and co-creator of this ESG-advanced business model. 

This episode explores an appealing best-practice case of ESG business model innovation especially in the social and governance aspects. The optometrist practice, Paul Connolly Opticians, is a small family business, operating in Cavan, Ireland (www.paulconnollyopticians.ie). It is in the process of succession to the 4th generation. The interview with Paul Connolly, entrepreneur of the third generation introduces an inspiring values-based ESG concept. The guiding principle regarding customers “to treat them as family members” motivates him to spend with each of them the time necessary. It is the basis for the high quality of service, his business offers. For more than 40 years Paul is dedicated “to serve the local community”, which he feels is his core mission. As important social innovation of his business, he found a way to expand his service mission to a local community in Burkina Faso, helping to develop a farm school, including it as new stakeholder and connecting it to the community around his business. He outlines the importance of trust as a guiding leadership principle enriching the Governance aspect of ESG with an important key corporate value. “If trust is initiated, then the rest flows, kind of, pretty well”, says Paul sharing a deep insight after so many years of successful entrepreneurship, inspired by the Economy of Communion (EoC) network. 

This episode explores a values-based best-practice case of ESG business model innovation, especially in the social and governance aspects. Our guest is Marieke Lanting. She founded and managestogether with her husband the food supplement business Midra in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands (www.midra.nl). The ESG Business Model Innovation concept of this company stands on two main pillars.  

Customer health, part of the social aspect of ESG is one of them. Midra is operating mainly in the B2B segment as private label supplier for distributers of food supplements. Even though not entering into direct contact with the final consumer, their highest priority is product quality to ensure consumer benefit. Own research and in part integration of the upstream value chain guarantee the desired quality level. In this respect the business sets new standards and transforms the market of food supplements.  

The second aspect relates to the governance aspect of ESG. “We enjoy and love what we do”, is Marieke’s guiding principle for leadership. Midra is “a family-like business”, as she summarizes it. This expresses Midra’s leadership approach and community building priority within the team and partners. The values-based approach to ESG by Midra is inspired by the Economy of Communion (EoC)network. It is a solid foundation for the company’s business model innovation journey towards ESG excellence.

This podcast episode the inspiring and encouraging evaluation of the circular potential of our economic system by one of the leading experts of Circular Economy in Austria. Our guest in this episode is Karin Huber-Heim, for many years sustainability consultant, now Circular Economy transition leader, president of Circular Economy Austria and professor at the University of Applied Sciences BFI,Vienna, where the ESG Business Model Innovation method was successfully applied with master students. 

Karin explains, why business models need to become circular and gives ideas of how to start, as for instance, through mapping an organization’s impact along the whole extended value chain from cradle to grave of a product. She outlines that traditional CSR is no longer sufficient.  A systemic change is required to regenerate the life supporting systems of our planet. The change needs people who ask for it and who execute it. A change of mindset, values and culture is important to come to a circular way of thinking, overcoming a mentality of “having” and coming to one of “using” instead. “Nothing on this planet goes away!”, is a basic discovery on this journey towards circular thinking.  A shift from “ego-centric” to “eco-centric” is required to come to circular business models.