The C2K Blog

Show entries from: 2012 returned 27 result(s).

The Whole is More than the Sum of its Parts: A New Way of Thinking about Integration

Published: 12/13/2012
Organizations recognize the importance of good integration to benefit the whole. But how is it that some organizations are more effective than others at creating the experience of the whole? How is it that they are able to integrate corporate social responsibility (CSR) into the very fibre of the organization, or to ensure that sustainability is imbedded into the organization's character and integrated throughout? And why is it that so few are able to effectively integrate human rights into their operations? All too often human rights are objectified as externalities and marginalized, displaced from the experience of the whole.

Passing the Buck on Sustainability

Published: 12/10/2012
Do the actions of one person really make a difference? When it comes to sustainable behaviour, part of the challenge is convincing people that small changes by one when combined with small changes by others can have big impact. It's one of the reasons companies like Unilever are working so hard to change consumer behaviour. One person using less water may have little impact. But get one million people to use less water and the impact is tremendous. The same applies for companies and municipalities. Every bit helps.

Why We're Departing With a 20 Year Long Family Tradition This Year

Published: 12/9/2012
Earlier this afternoon I talked to my young daughter about our family's seasonal traditions. From our list we checked off scheduling for house cleaning, decorating and the baking regimen. Then we got stuck at the business of the tree, which for us, is oddly connected to a turkey.

Is changing consumer habits the key to sustainability?

Published: 11/5/2012
Sustainability is a complex issue and one not always well-understood by consumers. When a shopper stands facing a wall of products in the supermarket, the choice of options and price points alone can be overwhelming without throwing environmental concerns into the mix. And so, for all but the most informed and diligent among us, the shopper buys based on habit (what they always buy), price (what’s on sale) or marketing (what they saw an ad for and identify as something that someone like them would use). This is a very simplistic example, of course. Consumer behaviours, like sustainability, are extremely complex. Given the multitude of factors that affect consumer choices, how can a company convince consumers to behave sustainably in both their purchases and after-market behaviours?

All Eyes on Africa - Recognizing the Unseen

Published: 10/4/2012
Optimism is running high for Africa's future prosperity. In our last post, we mentioned the tremendous potential Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has to spur significant economic growth for the African continent and its citizens. Underpinning the challenge of ensuring that the growth is sustainable though, is the very definition of citizen.

All Eyes on Africa - A Vision for a Prosperous Future

Published: 9/27/2012
The future looks bright for Africa. There is growing optimism both within the continent and outside it for a prosperous future. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), after suffering a decline in the wake of the global financial crisis, has begun to recover. Public-private partnerships in some regions are helping to improve the livelihoods of local people. But there is still a long road ahead, one that must be navigated with care and a clear vision for the future.

4 Ways to Encourage Sustainable Living

Published: 9/21/2012
Communicating to engage citizens in sustainable practices has proven a challenge to many municipalities and organizations. A lot of messaging is riddled with doom and gloom, and while sometimes necessary, it can be a turn off for many people. The issues may seem too big or too distant, both of which can lead to apathy. Even when an environmental issue hits close to home it doesn't always lead to the behaviour change that will counteract it. After some serious head shaking and vows to that will counteract it. So after some serious head shaking and vows to do things differently, most people will return to their usual habits and not make any changes in their behaviour.

Beyond Fun and Games: Why Children Matter to Sustainable Cities

Published: 8/7/2012
When we think of children in cities, the first things that come to mind are parks, playgrounds and schools. But a child's participation in a city is about much more than just fun and games. They need many of the same services as adults and can contribute an imagination and spirit that is often lacking in adults. Cities that listen to and plan for the needs of its youngest citizens become more vibrant and sustainable as a result.

Demanding a Sustainable Future: Youth Speak Up For Rio+20

Published: 5/31/2012
Today marks 20 days to Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. Twenty years after the original Earth Summit, we are still struggling with many of the same sustainability issues in a radically different world. Our world now is dominated by new media, driven by individuals not corporations, where messages travel around the world at lightning speed. The reach of social media and technology enables collaboration at unprecedented levels and gives everyone a voice.

Are you going to eat that?

Published: 5/18/2012
On consumer food waste and sustainability

We waste a lot of food. In some places, we throw away almost as much food as we eat. In developed countries, consumers waste 222 million tons of food every year. That’s the equivalent of 111 million cars or 40 million African elephants. It’s a lot of waste.

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