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Sustainable Business

A collaborative platform for boundary-stretching research supporting sustainable and circularity-focused organisations.

The INSEAD Sustainable Business Initiative (SBI) was founded to develop novel solutions for business challenges at the interface between social and environmental responsibility. INSEAD faculty in SBI actively collaborate with academic institutions and businesses, as well as support organisational sustainability transformation. 

Besides research and teaching, SBI also develop frameworks and tools to help business leaders integrate sustainability into core business functions and innovate business models to create value for companies and society. SBI aspires to be a collaborative platform for sustainability- and circularity-focused organisations to share best practices and ideas, and form partnerships. 

A collaborative platform for boundary-stretching research supporting sustainable and circularity-focused organisations.

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Operations

The Life of Giants: A Life-Cycle View of Wind Turbines

S. Aflaki, A Atasu, L Van Wassenhove

As enthusiasm to harness offshore wind energy hits a high, here’s the lowdown on what affects its long-term viability.
1 comment

Marketing

INSEAD Explains Sustainability: Nutrition and Health

Pierre Chandon

This episode spotlights the influential role of the food industry, and food marketing in particular, on consumer health and well-being.
1 comment

Operations

INSEAD Explains Sustainability: Circular Economy

Atalay Atasu

This episode highlights where circularity can begin and how it can end – when not done right.

Responsibility

Paris 2024: A Model for Greener Games

A. Atasu, L. Van Wassenhove

With a bold ambition to halve greenhouse gas emissions, the Paris Olympics and Paralympics are raising the bar for future international events.
1 comment

Responsibility

Accounting for Sustainability

Luk Van Wassenhove

Can accountants and auditors become agents for real social change and make businesses more sustainable?

Responsibility

When Being Responsive is a Responsibility

A. Atasu, M. Altman, A. Reichel

How Kenvue embraced responsibility to its customers by making its supply chain more responsive to demand.

Responsibility

Business Case for Sustainability: The Stakeholder Perspective

Atalay Atasu

If the environment were the new business stakeholder, could we still afford to ignore it?

Operations

Circularity in Practice: Case of a Zero-Waste Island

A. Atasu, I. Gill

Implementing sustainable solutions has everything to do with influencing behaviour, as shown in the Just Go Zero project on the Greek island of Tilos.

Operations

Stakeholder Perspectives on Right-to-Repair Laws

E. Gulserliler, A. Atasu, L. Van Wassenhove

Laws to protect consumers and the environment could be a game-changer for businesses and prompt change in business models.

Responsibility

GHG Emissions Reduction: Scientific Rigour and Stakeholder Engagement

A. Atasu, A. Cselotei

How a step-by-step approach to sustainability helped INSEAD ensure meaningful results.
1 comment

Responsibility

Building Momentum in the Energy Transition: Key Insights from Davos and Beyond

Atalay Atasu

If the nascent energy transformation is to take off, business and government must work together to promote circular systems.

Operations

Unfinished Business: Co-Creating Solutions With Beneficiaries

Atalay Atasu

Under severe budget constraints, how can NPOs manage the trade-offs between offering variety versus serving more beneficiaries?

Operations

Designing a Circular Business Strategy That Works

Luk Van Wassenhove

To avoid costly mistakes due to overly optimistic assumptions, a good understanding of the market and the product is needed.

Responsibility

The Devil Is in the Details When Assessing Circular Solutions

A. Atasu, V. Agrawal, S. Ülkü

Identifying the right blend of circular economy strategies is vital for economic and environmental returns.

Responsibility

The Hidden Cost of Solar Energy

A. Atasu, S. Duran, L. Van Wassenhove

The current recycling capacity for solar panels can’t cope with an influx of customers prematurely discarding their existing panels for cheaper, more efficient models.
1 comment

Responsibility

The Circular Economy: From Enthusiasm to Realism

A. Atasu, L. Van Wassenhove

Circularity for circularity’s sake is not the goal – sustainability is.
1 comment

Responsibility

All Hands on Deck for the Circular Economy

B. Kessler, L. Van Wassenhove

The key to achieving zero-waste is a systems approach where all stakeholders – including academics – work together to the same ends.

Operations

How the SDGs Can Change Your Organisation, From the Inside Out

A Atasu, M Sosa, L Van Wassenhove

Put the framework at the heart of your sustainability strategy. Start by using it to audit your internal resources.
2 comments

Operations

Supply Chain Solutions for Healthcare Inequality

Atalay Atasu

Hospitals in developed countries have more supplies than they need; those in less fortunate countries lack the basics. Academic research can help close the gap.

Operations

Avoiding an E-Waste Emergency

Luk Van Wassenhove

“Where there’s muck there’s brass”. Letting market players make money out of e-waste is key to avoiding rapidly expanding landfill. But with so many interests at stake it’s not as simple as it sounds. The recently recast Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive attempts to address the changing environment. But is it flexible enough?
2 comments