I love data and surveys! This one is a must read for anyone looking at corporate reputation and sustainability communications issues as it gauges the perceptions and/or expectations of the most influential thought leaders in the sustainability arena – NGOs, corporate peers, government representatives or academics.

This year, the findings are really interesting and worth sharing (click on the pictures to enlarge them):

• Confidence in NGOs to advance the sustainability agenda continues to erode and falls below the 50% line, while confidence in social entrepreneurs keeps increasing and is now reaching 57%. Is this trend due to a perception that innovative business models put forward by social entrepreneurs are more effective in creating positive change than NGO activism or NGO/corporate partnerships? Definitely something to keep an eye on…, while confidence in government is at an all time low. 

• Making long-term sustainability commitments, taking on bold goals and communicating about it through well-defined and branded engagement platforms is key to drive perceptions of leadership….and thus corporate reputation. The spike in Unilever’s perceived leadership since the launch of its Sustainable Living Plan is a clear exemple of this.

• Commitment to sustainability values is considered as the most important factor in determining leadership. It confirms again that sustainability has to be core to what a company stands for and needs to be deeply embedded into a company’s DNA and internal culture first and foremost. Deploying a sustainability strategy into the core business model and across the supply chain can only come after solid foundations have been established internally, starting from the top.

A new academic year has just started. ‘C’est la rentrée’ as we say in France. Summer holidays are over. I now intend to be back in full steam!

I missed all our online conversations, whether here on this blog or on Twitter. So many things have happened during these past few months (the BP spill just to mention one) and have triggered some great debates and thinking. Let’s keep it going.

There are a few draft posts in the pipeline – coming soon! Stay tuned

The adverts titled “Shan Shui Environmental Art” were developed by JWT Shanghai advertising agency for China Environment Protection Foundation (CEPF) and released in March 2009.

The concept is fairly simple (some might say it is a cliché), but I think it is pretty effective: from away, the three print advertisements – Global Warming, Industrial Pollution and Automotive Pollution – look like traditional Chinese ink paintings with mountains and rivers landscapes (referring to the art style called Shan Shui). But when getting closer, the mountains and rivers are actually made of cars, power-line towers and pollution … therefore showing the impact of human activities and economic development on the environment.

The ad posters were placed in high visibility areas and in subway stations in Shanghai, along with an animated film version played in Shanghai’s metro hub, People Square Station, definitely catching the attention of the 1.5 million passengers that go through Shanghai metro stations everyday.

The three paintings were created by well known Chinese landscape artist Yong Liang Yang (click here to enlarge pictures):

• #1: Automative Pollution

• #2: Global Warming

• #3: Industrial Pollution

Mostly refreshing because after two years living in Shanghai, with its 20 other millions inhabitants …well, for the first time I was desperately in need of a GREEN therapy! A break.

Just two pictures are enough to illustrate this point:

• Below is where my family and I moved when I was 10. Full of green and only a little more than 2,000 inhabitants!

• And here is Shanghai! Everything concrete…and grey.

The pictures (and the colors) speak for themselves! And actually, it goes far more than just images. I was amazed to being exposed to so many sustainability messages and campaigns when I was in France…when reading magazines, listening to the radio or watching TV (all ads). Even when on the beach!

It made me think a lot about the differences between developed and developing countries when it comes to sustainability, and especially sustainability consumption. When in France people are reaching the state of advanced eco-fatigue, while in China raising awareness and/or taking action is a top priority.

Now, I am happy to be back to blogging with lots of ideas in mind and posts to come – stay tuned!

Credits: the wonderful Google Maps