On track for a cleaner world

Brands’ CSR strategies are a crucial point of difference in today’s fast-moving retail market. And sustainability is one area where brands can make a real difference to the world and society at large. It’s not just about installing super-efficient LED light bulbs in stores.

With this in mind, MJ Rabbit had the privilege to attend a key event centred on sustainability – specifically clean energy. During the event, Prince Albert unveiled a new award for sustainability with the Nobel Sustainability Trust and a new Global Green Investment Bank, which will seed-fund tech start-up companies.

Mungo Park, the dynamic Chairman of Innovator Capital, which organised the Monaco event, presented Prince Albert with a 2018 CleanEquity Monaco Award. The green sculpture, designed by American artist Darren Bader, complemented the Prince’s green tie perfectly.

Prince Albert and the CleanEquity Monaco 2018 award winners (Picture: CleanEquity Monaco)

A cleaner, safer and more sustainable future

Referring to CleanEquity Monaco, which he co-founded with Mungo Park in 2007, the Prince said he was proud that the conference had become an important part of the sustainability landscape. He noted that some 300 companies had presented their business plans to more than 1,600 invitation-only attendees.

“These companies have gone on to raise nearly US$2bn, friendships have been forged, and greater strides have been made towards a cleaner, safer and more sustainable future,” the Prince told the audience.

The Prince wants the Principality of Monaco to be a country that respects the environment and aims to be carbon neutral by 2050.

Prince Albert presented three CleanEquity awards: Superdielectrics for Excellence in the Field of Environmental Technology Research; NanoSpun Technologies for Excellence in the Field of Environmental Technology Development; and BBOXX for Excellence in the Field of Environmental Technology Commercialisation. (BBOXX is a wonderful UK-based company that brings electricity to poor rural communities.)

Event highlights

During the two-day event, 27 companies presented their business plans to investors. Here are MJ Rabbit’s speaker highlights:

Katsuhiko Hirose: This Toyota executive, now a Professional Partner, was part of the team that launched the hybrid-electric Toyota Prius. He is betting on hydrogen technology – not batteries – for the new generation of Toyota cars. His aim is to add value to hydrogen, just like the Swiss do when they turn milk into “precious cheese”. A marvellous and charismatic speaker.

John Rhee: A Korean-American former investment banker who spoke passionately about the need for everyone to work together to leave the planet a better place for generations to come. Rhee, now resident in Hong Kong, founded Stratis Impact, an impact investment firm. A company to watch.

Miriam Maes: This dynamic executive is Co-Chairman of the Energy Transition Forum, working to transform the Port of Rotterdam into a clean-energy facility. She said there needs to be a “radical shift” in the speed we move to fossil fuel reduction, including finding alternative ways of heating. (Note: Maes’ colleague at the Energy Transition Forum is Jean Pierre Houri, the former Chairman of IFRA, which was founded in 1973 by the fragrance industry to ensure the safety of its materials.)

In conclusion, an event that provided lots of food for thought – and excellent speakers.

Philanthropy, purpose and passion

Some of the world’s leading philanthropists gathered in Monaco for the first International Philanthropy Summit in February.

Founded by Alexey Antropov of the Antropov Foundation, the event highlighted the social responsibility of wealthy individuals and luxury brands. Speakers included the Director of the Prince Albert II Foundation, Olivier Wenden, and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannu, founder of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.

Alexey Antropov (second from right), Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannu with his award, Aya Glagoleva, Ambassador of the Antropov Foundation, and Summit organiser Vladimir Lyaporov (Picture: International Philanthropy Summit Monaco)

An emotional moment

Cypriot-born Sir Stelios spoke passionately of his work to bring food aid to struggling Greeks in Athens, where he spent his youth. He is proud to have signed up to the Giving Pledge, the global initiative that encourages high net worth individuals and their families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.

An emotional moment came from Monaco-based Luc Pettavino, founder of OnlyWatch, a charity auction of unique timepieces for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. He told delegates how his life’s mission is to bring people together for charitable endeavours. His OnlyWatch event – which tours the world with its spectacular, one-of-a-kind timepieces from the world’s top brands  –  was sparked after his teenage son died of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. “I didn’t want to get up every morning without a purpose – I wanted to look forward to each day by bringing people together for a good cause.” He has certainly achieved his goal.

Three speakers were presented with trophies, designed by Monaco-based artist Marcos Marin. The first trophy – an eye-catching silhouette of the late rock star Prince, who was a notable philanthropist – was given to Dr Rupert Graf Strachwitz. He founded the Maecenata Institute for Philanthropy and Civil Society in Berlin, whose involvement with not-profit organisations for over 30 years has earned him acclaim as one of Germany’s key philanthropists.

Philanthropy trends

Strachwitz spoke of the latest philanthropy trends, namely that philanthropists are getting younger and are starting their Foundations as their life’s work – not towards the end of their lives, as has often happened in the past. A notable example in this regard is Mrs Sung-Joo Kim, a Korean businesswoman and passionate philanthropist who supports women’s empowerment, among other issues.

The second prize was awarded to Sir Stelios, whose Foundation is committed to supporting entrepreneurship.

Daniel Gros, director of the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, also received an award. Gros, a speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, previously worked for the International Monetary Fund.