There's no need for adaptation intimidation.

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Hello Reader,

Often when we start talking to people about about sustainable business, the conversation drifts towards an emissions and renewable energy direction. An important conversation yes, but somewhat narrow. We're talking about sustaining a business through a changing climate, mitigating impacts (hello emissions and renewables) while adapting to that changing climate and its impacts on business. It usually prompts curiosity or confusion.

But it looks like adaptation is getting its time in the spotlight. I read an article that discusses that adaptation isn't considered 'giving up' any more, but strategic and smart. This makes perfect sense. While we hope everyone does their best to pursue mitigation strategies, the truth is that we're already feeling the impacts of climate change and to not plan to live with those impacts is negligent.

Here's a real world scenario: Coffee prices are set to surge due to a climate driven decrease in yield. Business as usual would pass on that price increase and feel the impact. An example of adaptation would be to prepare for this. The prices haven't risen yet.

Now would be the time to invest in innovation.

To develop new products to mimic the occasion or functionality of coffee consumption using alternative ingredients to replace or reduce coffee. Being ready when the price rise hits.

Are you adapting? Have you thought about how climate is or will impact your business? Have you got plans ready for when signs are pointing to your business being impacted?

Food for thought.

Adam

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Inspiring Purpose

We'll admit we've had moments of scepticism when it comes to B Corp. Mostly when a smaller, certified business is bought by a larger business that is not B Corp certified, yet maintains their certification status.

So we're happy to hear the standards will be more rigid with the coming revisions. ESG reporting and compliance should be based in continuous improvement. Of course this should apply to frameworks too.

It will be interesting to see how many businesses will take it as an opportunity to better themselves and how many will walk away from the certification.

Business As Unusual Innovation

Another example of a food ingredient that is being impacted by climate change is cocoa. This year cocoa prices have risen and consumers have felt the impacts through increased price or shrinkflation.

In response, biotech start-up Kokomodo is using cell technology and bioreactors to produce cocoa. The process has less environmental impact while supplementing threatened supply. They're at pilot scale now but are looking to grow. It's an interesting technology that may become part of supply chains across multiple ingredients.

The Sustainability Gap: Why Australia's Leading Companies Aren't Leading At All We've prepared a white paper after analysing the sustainability reports of some leading Australian companies - and highlighted where the opportunities are for SMEs ​ Download Now

Roundup

Back to coffee supply, the Australian Grown Coffee Association have released a manual for coffee growing. Australia isn't renowned as a coffee growing region but with increased demand and climate increased pricing, localised supply chain might be the best option to maintain supply for some businesses.

Polyfluroaklyl (PFAS) compounds have gained a lot of attention recently as a 'forever chemical' in water. Pilot trials at the University of Queensland are researching filtration of PFAS from drinking water and using them as a component in rechargeable batteries.

​Hungarian winegrowers may need to adapt. Rising temperatures threaten yields on the grape varieties grown, particularly in Tokaj in the east. It's being suggested that they'll need to diversify the styles they grow to survive.

Blackpool in the UK has started using a new concrete for adaptation with a dash of mitigation and waste diversion. To deal with flooding, a more porous concrete made with the addition of crushed shellfish waste has been used. It absorbs more water and slowly releases it, diminishing pooling water. The use of waste also reduces the carbon footprint of the concrete.

What We're Reading

Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds by adrienne maree brown. Part memoir, part academic, part self-help and inspired by renowned science fiction author Octavia Butler's work in exploring change, this is an intriguing deconstruction of the wisdom and patterns in nature that might give us clues as to how to build a more resilient, equitable world.

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