Climate action on the menu of the COP 26.
Business unites for a greener future
On November 3rd, 2021 key decision-makers of the private sector gathered for a frontrunners’ dinner organized by the British Chambers of Commerce as a part of the BCC campaign ‘Chambers Unite for a Greener Future’. The international network of chambers hosted multiple events during the COP26 around global climate leadership. This year, the COP26 aimed to compare the ambitions of the Paris agreement to the current state of climate actions and carbon emissions around the world. It is in this context that the BCC invited Heineken, Clifford Chance, Unilever, and The Vegetarian Butcher amongst others, to present their current projects and ambitions, leading the path towards carbon neutrality and creating sustainable momentum for laggard companies.
On November 3rd, 2021 key decision-makers of the private sector gathered for a circular dinner organized by the British Chambers of Commerce as a part of the BCC campaign ‘Chambers Unite for a Greener Future’. The international network of chambers hosted multiple events during the COP26 around global climate leadership. This year, the COP26 aimed to compare the ambitions of the Paris agreement to the current state of climate actions and carbon emissions around the world. It is in this context that the BCC invited Heineken, Clifford Chance, Unilever, and The Vegetarian Butcher amongst others, to present their current projects and ambitions, leading the path towards carbon neutrality and creating sustainable momentum for laggard companies.
On November 3rd, 2021 key decision-makers of the private sector gathered for a circular dinner organized by the British Chambers of Commerce as a part of the BCC campaign ‘Chambers Unite for a Greener Future’. The international network of chambers hosted multiple events during the COP26 around global climate leadership. This year, the COP26 aimed to compare the ambitions of the Paris agreement to the current state of climate actions and carbon emissions around the world. It is in this context that the BCC invited Heineken, Clifford Chance, Unilever, and The Vegetarian Butcher amongst others, to present their current projects and ambitions, leading the path towards carbon neutrality and creating sustainable momentum for laggard companies.
Changing food choices.
Throughout the dinner, the guests were reminded of the choices that can limit their negative impact on the climate, as business leaders and private individuals. The menu featured the carbon footprint of each dish, giving the guests a clear idea of how educated food choices could contribute to a greener economy. Similarly, the Vegetarian Butcher took this event as an opportunity to show their commitment to sustainable actions at all levels of business decision and fuel the plant-based meat revolution. Heineken, which is currently working towards more sustainable production systems, also supplied the event with bottles that were made from 95% recycled glass and manufactured using biofuels. In isolation, these initiatives already prove that there is a lot happening in the world of sustainable innovation, but by bringing them all together, this dinner truly showed that a sustainable mindset can transform global systems like the food industry for the better.
The guests could check via a QR code the detailed calculation of the menu’s carbon footprint.
The guests could check via a QR code the detailed calculation of the menu’s carbon footprint.
The guests could check via a QR code the detailed calculation of the menu’s carbon footprint.
Businesses’ green responsibility.
Shevaun Haviland, the Director of the BCC
Shevaun Haviland, the Director of the BCC
Shevaun Haviland, the Director of the BCC
Leading real sustainable change
The dinner was a great opportunity for businesses to share their sustainable goals but also acknowledge the objectives they could not reach. This is also why the event did not focus solely on sustainable leaders and included companies that still had a long way to go before reaching carbon neutrality. In order to generate real change, these players need to invest considerably more time and resources in sustainable innovation. Thus, the frontrunners dinner aimed to show these companies why green investments matter. One way to do it was to present the work of businesses like the Vegetarian Butcher and their fight against inefficient food production, or the commitment of Clifford Chance to turning their clients into green growth leaders. Being able to discuss the business opportunities around greener food systems and sharing ideas between (sustainable) business developers can be a key accelerator of green project development.
Leading real sustainable change
The dinner was a great opportunity for businesses to share their sustainable accomplishments but also acknowledge the objectives they could not reach. This is also why the event did not focus solely on sustainable leaders and included companies that still had a long way to go before reaching carbon neutrality. In order to generate real change, these players need to invest considerably more time and resources in sustainable innovation. Thus, the frontrunners dinner aimed to show these companies why green investments matter. One way to do it was to present the work of businesses like the Vegetarian Butcher and their fight against inefficient food production, or the commitment of Clifford Chance to turning their clients into green growth leaders. Being able to discuss the business opportunities around greener food systems and sharing ideas between (sustainable) business developers can be a key accelerator of green project development.
“Climate change is everybody’s job, not someone’s job”
Cynthia Jonströmer, CEO of Brainheart Capital and guest of the frontrunner’s dinner.
Our Insights.
Showcasing green leadership
To ensure the success of the dinner, the BCC reached out to Circular Stories which planned and executed the communication campaign around the dinner, from press releases to social media toolkits and lead pages about the events. In so doing, we made sure to position the BCC as a leading business organization in the UK, not only offering their expertise to international corporations but also enabling the development of more sustainable business practices. Among the communication tools developed during the event, sponsor propositions and articles showcased the current projects and green ambitions of the guests, which they could then utilize in their own messaging strategy. Most notably, Circular Stories also developed the dinner concept, with engaging experiences and touchpoints, pushing the guests to reflect on multiple sustainable challenges.
Our Insights.
Circular Stories worked with Joris Heijnen from Greendish (on the right) on the menu’s carbon emission.
Showcasing green leadership
To ensure the success of the dinner, the BCC reached out to Circular Stories which planned and executed the communication campaign around the dinner, from press releases to social media toolkits and lead pages about the events. In so doing, we made sure to position the BCC as a leading business organization in the UK, not only offering their expertise to international corporations but also enabling the development of more sustainable business practices. Among the communication tools developed during the event, sponsor propositions and articles showcased the current projects and green ambitions of the guests, which they could then utilize in their own messaging strategy. Most notably, Circular Stories also developed the dinner concept, with engaging experiences and touchpoints, pushing the guests to reflect on multiple sustainable challenges.
Circular Stories worked with Joris Heijnen from Greendish (on the right) on the menu’s carbon emission.
Circular Stories worked with Joris Heijnen from Greendish (on the right) on the menu’s carbon emission.
So what’s next?
Track your sustainable goals!
It comes without saying that this dinner was only the first step in building momentum for climate action. The frontrunners dinner served as an amazing brainstorming exercise, getting managers to ask themselves how to lead sustainable change within their company and motivate their partners to follow their footsteps. The guests did share great ambitions when it comes to reducing the carbon footprint of their business, it is now time for them to prove their commitment! An essential step will be to regularly track the carbon emission results of all business operations and compare them to the original target. As frontrunners of the COP26, the guests have the responsibility to work with other industry leaders and governments and to get us under the 1.5 degrees global temperature increase. Let’s turn the promises of the Paris Agreement into reality!
Meet the Circular Stories Team!
Whether you want to raise awareness about your products or find creative ideas to communicate your circular ambitions, Circular Stories can help you out!
Marielle, Ellekari, and the Circular Stories team have set themselves the mission to help tell the story of your sustainable business and advise your company to become among the leaders of the circular economy!
Interested in learning more about our work and what we can do for your brand? Get in touch at hello@circularstories.org!
Whether you want to raise awareness about your products or find creative ideas to communicate your circular ambitions, Circular Stories can help you out!
Marielle, Ellekari, and the Circular Stories team have set themselves the mission to help tell the story of your sustainable business and advise your company to become among the leaders of the circular economy!
Interested in learning more about our work and what we can do for your brand? Get in touch at hello@circularstories.org!
Whether you want to raise awareness about your products or find creative ideas to communicate your circular ambitions, Circular Stories can help you out!
Marielle, Ellekari, and the Circular Stories team have set themselves the mission to help tell the story of your sustainable business and advise your company to become among the leaders of the circular economy!
Interested in learning more about our work and what we can do for your brand? Get in touch at hello@circularstories.org!
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