Explore the latest sustainability articles, podcast recommendations, and industry updates covering B Corp certification, greenwashing, storytelling, and social value.

“We’re Winning on the Fundamentals, But Still Losing the Plot” – Paul Polman on Storytelling and Resilience

Many sustainability professionals are facing fresh headwinds—questions, scrutiny, and shifting public sentiment. That’s why I found Paul Polman’s article “We’re Winning on the Fundamentals, But Still Losing the Plot” so timely and encouraging.

Polman—one of our industry's most respected leaders—calls for courage, resolve, and a renewed sense of purpose. One line stood out: “In the many stories I’ve read to my children and grandchildren, not a single one ends with: ‘...and then the hero gave up.’”

Greenwashing and Green Claims: Must-Listen Podcast Series

I regularly recommend the Can Marketing Save the Planet? podcast, and their recent four-part series on greenwashing is well worth a listen. It’s essential content for any marketing professional navigating green claims and consumer trust.

The standout episode features Cecilia Parker Aranha from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. Listen to the full mini-series here: https://canmarketingsavetheplanet.com/greenwashing-series .

B Corp Certification: New Standards for 2025

Becoming a certified B Corp is fast becoming the gold standard for businesses wanting to prove their sustainability credentials, especially in consumer-facing industries.

The long-anticipated updates to B Lab’s standards are now live. You can explore them in depth on B Lab UK’s website , or read highlights on edie and the Trellis Group .

Social Value: From Philanthropy to Public Policy

My colleagues at Cambridge Marketing College, Kiran Kapur and Victoria Hartley, recently recorded a compelling episode of the Cambridge Marketing Podcast on social value. It traces the concept from Victorian-era philanthropy to the modern-day Public Services (Social Value) Act.

It’s a great overview for marketers and business leaders alike. Listen here.

About Sustainability InSight

Sustainability InSight is my regular blog series exploring timely and relevant content across the sustainability spectrum, not just the environment and climate change, but social value, governance, and ethical business practices too.

Have something you'd recommend I feature next month? Send it my way: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelgclark/ .

About Me (Nigel Clark)

I’m a tutor at Cambridge Marketing College, where we are dedicated to delivering a wide range of resources, courses, and apprenticeships focused on sustainability and corporate responsibility.