One year after the accident: findings on health & sustainability

A personal contribution about health & sustainability from Sigrid Koloo, Managing Director of Koloo Projects. A year ago today, an accident changed my life. Physically and mentally, I was abruptly torn from my everyday life. The months that followed were characterized by intensive work on my health – a time of healing, but also of reflection. Now, a year later, I am proud to be fully operational again. But this process has shown me more […]

What are science based targets and what is the added value for my company?

Science Based Targets (SBTs) are measurable, actionable, and time-bound targets based on the best science available. They enable actors to align with planetary boundaries and the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. This standard is considered one of the strictest in the world due to the high requirements a company must meet to reduce emissions on a large scale. Background of the Science Based Targets Four environmental organizations – CDP, WWF, UN Global Compact, and […]

Waste management concept

This article is about the waste management concept, which companies have to create a waste management concept, when it has to be created and what it should contain. In addition, we describe how a waste management concept helps to improve operational waste management. Waste is generated in every company. However, it is often difficult to keep track of exactly what and how much is generated and, more importantly, how to manage it effectively. A waste […]

Calculate carbon footprint with CO2 calculators for small and micro businesses

Greenhouse gas emissions, CO2 equivalents, carbon footprint, CO2 calculator and footprints. You’ll find in this article why these terms should be familiar to your company. Besides that, the article deals with the carbon footprint and the link to a climate balance. So, what exactly is a carbon footprint? The carbon footprint is the result of a carbon accounting, or climate balance. Essentially, it measures the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. In particular it measures carbon […]

Alternative economies: an overview

In the course of time, various alternative economic forms have emerged that differ from the currently prevailing economic systems. These forms are grouped under the terms “alternative economic systems” or also “solidarity economy” or “alternative economies”. Characteristics of alternative economies Alternative economies share certain characteristics that distinguish them from other economic systems. Selected values form the core of the system in some forms. These values serve as a guide for alternative economic systems, although there […]

Circular economy: sustainable management and efficient use of resources

Circular economy as part of the Green Deal Since 2020, the circular economy has become a prominent topic in the European Union (EU). The Circular Economy Action Plan is part of the European Union’s Green Deal. It is a policy instrument designed to facilitate the transition from a linear to a circular economy in EU member states. As a part of the EU environmental legislation, the package includes on the one hand measures to reduce […]

Waste management

The circular economy and its relation to waste management have become hot topics in recent times. One can read about the meaning of a circular economy and how companies can integrate it into their operations in this article. Today we want to take a step back and take a closer look at waste management itself. We all produce waste and dispose of it every day. However, there is so much more to waste management than […]

2 days ActJust Int. Policy Hackathon by Südwind

On February 19th and 20th, 2023, 120 individuals from seven countries came together at the ActJust Int. Policy Hackathon, organized by Südwind, at the Uno City in Vienna. Witnessing so many passionate young individuals working together on the urgent issue of climate justice was truly inspiring. Throughout the course of two days, 14 teams worked diligently to tackle challenges in mobility, energy, food, migration, and climate education, with the aim of developing sustainable solutions in […]

Impact Thinking: being commercially successful with purpose and impact

The focus on meaning and impact in the company makes a significant contribution to the successful implementation of projects and to placing the company on a sustainable foundation. As part of the Treffpunkt.Tomorrow series of events, Sigrid Koloo contributed an impulse on the topic of “Impact Thinking – being economically successful with meaning and impact”. Afterwards, we tried out the implementation in our own business practice with practical tasks. The exchange of ideas provided a […]

Mobility & sufficiency: how mobility can be made sufficiency-oriented and sustainable

Mobility & sufficiency in combination brings numerous advantages for companies, humans and the environment. The keyword here is mobility sufficiency. This is a sustainability strategy that leads to reduced environmental damage through individually frugal mobility consumption. This is achieved with reduced resource and energy consumption.  Sufficiency also has something to do with behavioural change. Individual behavioural changes There are three possible strategies for changing mobility behaviour. The absolute reduction of mobility behaviour is about reducing […]

Saving energy in your company: with immediately applicable tips

Saving energy is in demand like never before The sharp rise in energy prices in recent months affects us all. The increase in the price of natural gas, electricity and petroleum products does not only affect individual households, but is just as noticeable for companies. In addition, growing environmental awareness is also a driver for reducing energy costs and resource consumption in the company. Therefore, energy saving measures are needed. Saving energy in three areas: […]

Sufficiency: What is it and why do we need it? How does sufficiency succeed?

This article is about sufficiency. We as humans, our well-being and our economy are dependent on the earth’s resources. However, resources are limited, just like the earth’s absorption capacity. Ecological boundaries are permanently overextended. Currently prevailing production and consumption patterns do not pursue sustainable strategies. Quite the contrary – according to the motto “more, faster and shorter-lived” – our energy and resource consumption is increasing immeasurably. Efficiency and sufficiency One approach to counter this phenomenon is […]

Greenhouse gas emissions: Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3 – What is it?

Greenhouse gas emissions: Introduction to the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions to measure, record and reduce greenhouse gas emissions   Greenhouse gas emissions: compact introduction to reporting In the efforts to decarbonize in order to reduce climate change, it is highly relevant to efficiently measure, record and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that occur. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) as a standard for the accounting of greenhouse gas emissions, GHG for short, provides a basis for the recording […]

Sustainability Report – CSRD

Extension of the reporting obligation on sustainability The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) expands the scope of affected companies that have to prepare a sustainability report. You will learn briefly about what the CSRD is, who is affected by the directive and what it includes. In addition to the economic responsibility that companies have with their business activities, social relevance is getting more important. Because it is known that a company’s actions have consequences for […]

What opportunities do the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have for SMEs?

The SDGs are formulated at the political level. Many companies we’ve talked to find it difficult to transfer the SDGs directly into the corporate level. There is a missing link between the Global Goals on the one hand and the companies’ universe on the other. Our approach is to build bridges to realize the SDG within the corporate world: what have the SDGs, which address the major and current challenges of the world, in common […]

What impact does your company achieve? About sustainability reports and the evaluation of the common good

Many companies are committed to their employees, create as pleasant and motivating working conditions as possible, pay attention to the health of their colleagues and offer flexible working models. Appreciating corporate cultures that focus on the well-being of employees enable a framework for healthy and motivated employees. Some are innovative at all, reduce hierarchical levels or abolish them altogether and follow the principle of self-management and participation within the company. Still other pioneer companies let […]

Entrepreneurial Mindset – nature or nurture?

written for and first published by the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines (TCCIMA). Starting a company and living a life as entrepreneur is more and more attractive, as it offers unique opportunities of independency and creating the profession one is passionate about. There are almost no limits in regard of different business ideas. Entrepreneurship has an economic impact and politics as well as investors are paying more attention to entrepreneurship, like green and social […]