One of the world’s foremost experts on sustainability will take the stage at the UMAMI Leadership Conference on March 19. John Elkington is called the ‘Godfather of Sustainability’ and is a pioneer in sustainability and sustainable transformation.
How leaders can meet future challenges and opportunities
In an era of rapid changes and global challenges, it is more important than ever for leaders to understand and implement sustainable solutions. Elkington is known for having introduced the term ‘triple bottom line’, and his expertise has been instrumental in shaping corporate strategies around social and environmental responsibility. During the UMAMI Leadership Conference, he will examine how industry leaders can meet the major challenges and share his insights on the opportunities that lie in the sustainable business models of the future.
Sustainability as a driver for change
For over 50 years, Elkington has been helping companies to understand and adapt to the global challenges related to sustainability. Today, there is a more open landscape for sustainability, but he reminds that it is not about forcing leaders to change. Instead, he encourages leaders to ask the right questions and identify weak signals of emerging challenges and opportunities.
Transformation is key
A key lesson from Elkington’s work is that change is not just a gradual process, but a transformation. He believes we live in a time where human influence on the planet has reached levels even greater than geological forces – a phenomenon he refers to as the Anthropocene. For leaders in the food and beverage industry, catering and hospitality, it is critical to understand that sustainability is not just about minor adjustments, but about system changes that need to be made across all business models.
Regenerative capitalism: A solution to global challenges
In his book Green Swans: The Coming Boom in Regenerative Capitalism, Elkington explores how regenerative capitalism can be the answer to many of the challenges facing the world. Rather than just tackling sustainability, regeneration is about restoring the health of economic, social and environmental systems. This includes, among other things, regenerative agricultural practices that can help revitalise soils and reduce carbon emissions.
For the food and beverage industry, catering and hospitality, this means that it is not only important to minimise negative impact, but to actively contribute to improving the systems of which one is a part.
Sustainable reporting and new EU rules
Volans, Elkington’s think tank, has been a driving force for the promotion of sustainability reporting in collaboration with the UN. Today, sustainable reporting is more important than ever, especially with the new EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) coming into force. This provides companies with a framework for reporting on their sustainability initiatives, but Elkington emphasises that there are still challenges associated with how to use this information to create market intelligence and sustainable outcomes.
Opportunities instead of challenges
For leaders feeling the pressure of rapidly changing demands for sustainability, Elkington sees the upcoming transformation as an opportunity rather than a threat. He draws parallels to the automotive industry where companies that have not adapted to the transition to electric vehicles now see themselves being overtaken by new players such as BYD and Tesla. The same principle is applicable for the food and catering industry: those who are able to understand the new consumer demands and environmental trends will be able to position themselves for future growth.
Exciting future: UMAMI Leadership Conference 2025
John Elkington, one of the world’s foremost experts on sustainability and sustainable transformation, will share his insights at the UMAMI Leadership Conference on March 19, 2025, during UMAMI Arena. The conference is for industry leaders who want to take the next step into the future for their business.
UMAMI Leadership Conference is our new venture for key and top leaders. The main topic of the conference is how to navigate in uncertainty, with focus on how to address the role and composition of the board and how to develop new markets for the future.
Wednesday 19, 2025 at NOVA Spektrum in Lillestrøm
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