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.
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| 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.
