Search Results for: ian thomson

How insincere attempts at diversity and inclusion are failing the UK’s ethnically diverse workforce

By Olivia Tomlinson Research Fellow, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Celebrate differences, and finally stop encouraging colleagues to “be more white” – because in the words of one male survey respondent, “if we keep doing the same thing we will end up with the same results”. “Essential requirement for promotion and progression: white … Continue reading “How insincere attempts at diversity and inclusion are failing the UK’s ethnically diverse workforce”

What can other ecolabels learn from the success of Fairtrade?

By Professor Ian Thomson and Dominic Bates Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Over the past 25 years, Fairtrade estimates it has helped generate an extra one billion Euros for farmers and their communities around the world by guaranteeing sustainable prices for their produce and paying an additional sum to invest in social and … Continue reading “What can other ecolabels learn from the success of Fairtrade?”

3 New Year’s resolutions your business must make to help achieve net zero

By Professor Ian Thomson Director of Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Business, University of Birmingham 2021 was an important year for climate change, with COP26, Global Citizen and the COVID-19 pandemic cementing it as a priority for governments and the public. But time is running out to reach net zero and limit global warming. … Continue reading “3 New Year’s resolutions your business must make to help achieve net zero”

Becoming label literate: the challenge of eco-labelling

By Professor Ian Thomson and Dominic Bates Director of Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business With people becoming increasingly more literate about sustainability and the range of ethical products and eco-labelling growing ever wider, conscientious consumers are likely to face even more shopping confusion in future. Trying to buy Christmas gifts that are sustainably … Continue reading “Becoming label literate: the challenge of eco-labelling”

Kicking our addiction to plastics

By Professor Ian Thomson Director of Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business The pandemic has seen plastic waste skyrocket, while corporates continue to pump out single-use plastic packaging that’s found dumped all around the world. But a new inter-disciplinary research network at the University of Birmingham is looking to tackle the problem with infinitely … Continue reading “Kicking our addiction to plastics”

UK business is failing to step up to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

By Professor Ian Thomson Director of Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business In September 2015, after the largest public consultation in history, all 193 Member States of the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These ambitious targets aim to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect our planet by … Continue reading “UK business is failing to step up to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals”

Towards accounting education that balances purpose, people, planet and profit

By Professor Ian Thomson, Professor of Accounting and Sustainability, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Centre Director Department of Accounting, University of Birmingham In a recent article for the Guardian, Dr van der Kolk correctly bemoaned the technical bias in teaching accounting in many leading business schools. However, his assertion that all business schools choose to … Continue reading “Towards accounting education that balances purpose, people, planet and profit”

Responsible business, Sustainable Development Goals and trading fairly

By Professor Ian Thomson, Professor of Accounting and Sustainability, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Centre Director Department of Accounting, University of Birmingham We need to recognise that our personal pleasure from an unfairly traded product, such as coffee or chocolate, results in increased poverty for many. The value of trading fairly is often underestimated, the … Continue reading “Responsible business, Sustainable Development Goals and trading fairly”

Responsible business, time travel and intergenerational equity

By Professor Ian Thomson, Professor of Accounting and Sustainability, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Centre Director Department of Accounting, University of Birmingham There is an implicit social contract between generations that requires businesses to consider justice across time. Businesses enable time travel; distributing costs, benefits, risks, liabilities and possibilities backwards and forwards through time and … Continue reading “Responsible business, time travel and intergenerational equity”

The Industrial Strategy, responsible business and embedding new energy solutions for Clean Growth

“There is a growing consensus that our use and abuse of energy must change. Resolving runaway climate change predictions and encouraging clean growth for all is the most urgent challenge for our generation.” By Professor Ian Thomson, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business and Marc Stone, Energy Systems Catapult Energy, and its clean and sustainable … Continue reading “The Industrial Strategy, responsible business and embedding new energy solutions for Clean Growth”