Frankly Speaking - A Podcast on Responsible Business

Frank Bold

Frankly Speaking is a double award-winning podcast on responsible business by Frank Bold - discussing the latest political, legal and business developments in the field of ESG, business and human rights and corporate reporting. Host Richard Howitt is a pioneer in the field of corporate disclosure and former Member of the European Parliament. He speaks frankly and personally about what moves policy makers, business and activists to make responsible business the norm and last but not least - redefine business!

  1. PŘED 6 DNY

    #90 Nareeluc Pairchaiyapoom: Why the Global South Wants Mandatory Due Diligence

    Why is Thailand determined to be the first government in Asia to pass a mandatory human rights due diligence law for companies, and what are the implications for the rest of the world?  In this episode of the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Nareeluc Pairchaiyapoom, Director of the International Human Rights Division at Thailand’s Ministry of Justice.   Together they discussed how responsible business has evolved in Thailand over the past decade, including the country’s two National Actional Plans on Business and Human Rights. You’ll also hear more about:  The impact that the pushback against human rights and environmental due diligence in the US and the EU is having on progress in Thailand  Why the Thai government sees stronger corporate human rights legislation as part of its journey towards gaining OECD membership and becoming a fully developed country  How the Thailand's first and second National Action Plans (NAPs) have been received by Thai companies  Nareeluc’s greatest takeaway from her work on advancing corporate accountability  Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!

    34 min

  2. 28. 10.

    #89 Brian Hill: Should We Measure the Sustainability of Products Instead of Firms?

    What is product-level reporting, and how could it improve the quality and reliability of corporate sustainability disclosures?  In this episode of the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Brian Hill, Academic Director of the Inclusive Economy Center in Sustainability and Organisations Institute at HEC Paris, and Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research, CNRS.  Together they explored the latest study from HEC Paris on product-level disclosures, and how it could transform how companies report on their sustainability plans. You’ll also hear more about:  Why product level scorecards solve the problem of companies having to make value judgements about sustainability information by leaving these decisions to the consumer How conceptualising sustainability information in the same way as nutrional information will enhance the reliability of the data presented, according to the study What makes product-level reporting more competitive than firm-level reporting The possible roadmaps for the future of product-level reporting How product-level reporting will prevent companies from greenwashing and hiding their negative impacts, according to the study Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!

    33 min
  3. #88 Lorena Bisignano & Louis Establet: Lessons from the First Wave of CSRD Disclosures

    21. 10.

    #88 Lorena Bisignano & Louis Establet: Lessons from the First Wave of CSRD Disclosures

    Amid all the noise and confusion around the future of corporate sustainability reporting due to the Omnibus modifications, what does the research actually tell us about the effectiveness of the EU’s sustainability legislation?   The answer: the CSRD is working, and it's already driving meaningful change in practice – that's the key message from our latest report into 100 company disclosures  according to the directive.  In this episode of the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Frank Bold experts Lorena Bisignano and Louis Establet who co-authored the study “Delivering on Sustainability: Evidence from the first year of CSRD implementation.”  Together they revealed key insights from the performance record of 100 company disclosures across Western and Eastern Europe according to the CSRD and gave their advice to policymakers on how to best support companies in their sustainability reporting journey. You’ll also hear more about:  Double materiality having now become a standard analytical lens for companies   How companies are performing on climate transition plans   To what extent comparability between different company reports has improved compared to previous years   The weaknesses in companies’ approach to sustainability governance, and advice on how to improve   Which sector performed best in class, and which topic companies struggled the most to report on  Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!

    31 min

  4. 13. 10.

    #87 Julia Otten & Andreas Rasche: MEP Vote on EU Sustainability Omnibus – the Verdict

    Today, the JURI committee of the European Parliament will be voting on the Omnibus 1 proposal. What does this proposal mean for the future of corporate sustainability reporting?  In this episode of the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Julia Otten, Senior Policy Officer at Frank Bold and Andreas Rasche, Assistant Dean and Professor of Business in Society at Copenhagen Business School.  Together they broke down the implications of the Omnibus 1 text being voted on today and explained what we can expect from the upcoming trialogues and Danish Presidency of the Council. You’ll also hear more about:  How the proposal being voted on today excludes 90% of companies from the scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, representing two-thirds fewer companies than those included in the 2014 Non-Financial Reporting Directive  Why this Omnibus proposal no longer represents simplification but full-blown deregulation (as admitted by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen herself last week)  How the developments of the past week carry serious consequences not only for sustainability but also the future of democratic decision-making in the EU  Whether the objectives of the EU Green Deal are still alive   Julia and Andreas’s message to businesses at this critical moment in the Omnibus process, especially to those who will now be out of scope  Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!

    38 min

  5. 23. 9.

    #86 Bernard Gouw & Jo Chidley: Will Every Company Become a B Corp?

    What are the new B Corps standards, and what impact will they have on the future of responsible business?  In this episode of the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Bernard Gouw, Senior Social Standards Manager at B Lab Global, and founder of the natural skincare brand Beauty Kitchen, Jo Chidley.  Together they explained how the new B Corps standards differ from the previous ones, and where B Lab sits within the broader certification landscape. You’ll also hear more about:  The significant emphasis the new standards place on stakeholder governance  B Corp’s latest milestone of encompassing 10,000 companies employing over one million workers  How Beauty Kitchen developed a returnable packaging system to meet the standard’s environmental requirements against single-use, plastic packaging  How the EU’s Empowering Consumers Directive will affect B Corps, especially regarding third-party verifications or audits    The impact that big corporations becoming B-Corps has on the overall movement  Why the ESG backlash hasn’t been felt as harshly within the B Corps movement  Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!

    37 min

  6. 10. 9.

    #85 Sandra Atler & Signe Lysgaard: Your Essential Guide to the New ESRS Sustainability Standards

    Have the new revisions to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards gone too far, or not far enough?  That’s exactly what we discussed in this episode of the Frankly Speaking podcast, in which Richard Howitt was joined by EFRAG TEG members Sandra Atler, also Director of Human Rights & Business Practice at Enact Sustainable Strategies and Signe Lysgaard, also Chief Advisor on Business & Human Rights at the Danish Institute for Human Rights.  🎙 Together they unpacked the new simplified EU sustainability reporting standards (ESRS) and what they mean for companies. You’ll also hear more about:  The obsession with cutting down data points, and whether this really reduces the reporting burden   How the double materiality assessment has changed compared to the old ESRS  How closely the new standards align with global IFRS standards    The issue of adequate wages, and why it still needs to be resolved   How the new ESRS impact the ongoing Omnibus process   Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!

    42 min

  7. 27. 8.

    #84 Akiko Sato: What Can We Learn from Japan’s Sustainability Journey?

    What is the relationship between culture and corporate responsibility? How do various social mores and traditions influence how various countries view business and human rights? And what can different nations learn from each other on their sustainability journey?    This week on the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Akiko Sato, Business and Human Rights Project Officer at the United Nations Development Programme and Special Adviser at the NGO Pillar Two to explore the state of responsible business in Japan, from the Edo dynasty to today.    Together they discussed the Japanese government’s human rights supply chain due diligence guidelines, as well as how companies in Japan have been responding. You’ll also hear more about:  Japan’s leadership in climate disclosure through a record number of signatories to the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)  The growing momentum across Asia on corporate accountability, with Thailand, South Korea, and Indonesia developing mandatory human rights due diligence laws  The traditional Japanese concept of Sanpo-yoshi, meaning “good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society  The role culture plays in shaping how Japanese companies are conducting sustainability reporting and human rights due diligence   Why gender inequality is one of Japan’s biggest human rights challenges, with Japan ranking among the lowest in the G7 on the gender gap index  How Japanese companies have been reacting to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive as well as the recent Omnibus proposals   Akiko’s insights into the lessons the world can take from Japan’s sustainability journey  Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!

    40 min

  8. 23. 7.

    #83 Chris Coulter & Mark Lee: Is Sustainability Facing An Existential Threat?

    Last week, the 2025 Sustainability at a Crossroads survey was released, providing key insights into the views of nearly 850 sustainability professionals across the world, and building upon the survey’s decades-long research, the first results having been published back in 1997. With sustainability at a pivotal turning point, what do experts believe is the best route forward?  This week on the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Chris Coulter, CEO of Globescan and Mark Lee, Global Director of Thought Leadership at the SustainAbility Institute by ERM, who jointly produced this year’s Global Sustainability Leadership Survey alongside the UK consultancy Volans.  Together they discussed the main findings of the survey, and what it tells us about the ESG backlash globally. You’ll also hear more about:  How businesses across the world have been responding to the backlash against sustainability  Whether or not the 2030 climate target has failed  Why investors ranked their lowest ever score on their contribution to sustainable development  The regional variability in attitudes towards sustainability, and whether it’s time to pass on the torch of global sustainability leadership to the Asia Pacific   The high impact, high feasibility actions that survey respondents believe can be achieved in the next five years   The opportunities that can arise out of this current crisis in sustainability, and the choice facing governments and businesses in this critical inflection point for the field   Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn!

    34 min
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Informace

Frankly Speaking is a double award-winning podcast on responsible business by Frank Bold - discussing the latest political, legal and business developments in the field of ESG, business and human rights and corporate reporting. Host Richard Howitt is a pioneer in the field of corporate disclosure and former Member of the European Parliament. He speaks frankly and personally about what moves policy makers, business and activists to make responsible business the norm and last but not least - redefine business!

Informace

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