How to embed sustainability into your innovation process with Jim Fava

Jim Fava is the former Executive Director of the Anthesis Group, which supports businesses and governments in understanding and navigating the risks and opportunities they face. Renowned as the "father of modern-day life cycle assessment," Jim has provided invaluable guidance, tools, and expertise on strategies and actions that enable organizations to operate in a more environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. His efforts have contributed significantly to supporting global decision-making processes and have led the United States delegation responsible for shaping the first generation of ISO LCA standards. He is the co-founder of influential organizations such as the UNEP/SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, Five Winds International, and the Forum for Sustainability through Life Cycle Innovation (FSLCI). Alongside Neil D’Souza, Jim co-hosts Five Lifes to Fifty, a podcast that explores the intersection between society, business, environment, and technology and how to negotiate the path to sustainable products.

Jim joins us today to discuss the golden rules for embedding sustainability into the innovation process. He shares how he was inspired to conceptualize the golden rules of innovation and sustainability. He outlines the foundations of sustainable development and why those foundations need to be led by governance. He explains why sustainability officers need to be assigned directly to an innovation department. Jim also highlights why it’s important for sustainability officers to avoid “sustainability talk” and instead speak the language of their audiences.

“If you’re going to do something different, do it now. Change is part of what we have to do to make it happen.” - Jim Fava

This week on Innovation Talks:

• The Ten Golden Rules of sustainability and innovation
• The increasing awareness of sustainability’s importance
• Integrating sustainability into innovation
• The foundations of sustainable development
• Good governance and its role in sustainable development
• Recalibrating the roles of sustainability officers in an organization
• The value of speaking the language of your audience
• How innovation drives marketing and procurement
• Breaking silos and why people sustainability should be part of the innovation technology department

Related Episode:

• Golden rules for a sustainable business with Jim Fava
  
  

Connect with Jim Fava:

• Podcast: Five Lifes to Fifty
• Jim Fava on LinkedIn

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