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China's reforestation efforts

My dear grandchildren, Let me begin with the hardest part: I am sorry. There is a new report from the United Nations Environment Programme, Limiting Overshoot. I have read it the way a grandfather reads: not as a policy document, but as a letter about your lives. And its first conclusion is one my generation must answer for. The world will pass the limit of 1.5 degrees of warming within a few years. Not because we did not know. We knew already when I was taking your parents to school. It simply did not go fast enough, and we did not act in time. That"not fast enough" is us. It is my generation that caused this. No one else. I do not want to use fine words to smooth that over. So: I am sorry. I am sorry that you are being handed a steep bill that we left behind.

There's a date worth putting in your diary: 27 September 2026. From that day, the EmpCo Directive (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition) becomes binding for every business that sells products or services to EU consumers regardless of where that business is based. No transition period, no grace window. From day one, claims like "sustainable," "climate neutral" or "environmentally friendly" need to be substantiated, or they simply can't be used at all.

In this series, we look at companies that are already making a positive impact today. What are they doing well? What choices are they making? And above all: what can you, as an SME, learn from this and how can you apply it yourself? In this edition, we focus on: Fairphone

Ask a fashion executive why their brand hasn't tightened its supply chain and you'll hear the usual answer: it's complicated, it takes time, audits are hard. Then look at what actually happened once Milan prosecutors got involved. Dior, Armani, Valentino and Loro Piana didn't need years. They needed months. Within months of being placed under judicial administration, each of them had overhauled supplier vetting and tightened oversight enough to have that administration lifted again. That's the real story behind the wave of Made in Italy scandals now reaching Chanel, Bulgari and Moncler: these companies could have done this all along. They just didn't, until a court made it a legal risk instead of a reputational one.

The maritime sector has been given the opportunity to work more closely together to accelerate the development of more sustainable vessels. The Dutch Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) has concluded that an initiative by Stichting Nederland Maritiem Land (NML), as part of the Maritime Masterplan, complies with applicable competition rules.The initiative focuses on improving the way companies and organisations within the maritime industry share and reuse digital data. By making knowledge and information more accessible, the collaboration aims to speed up the development, construction and operation of vessels with a lower environmental impact.The programme includes the development of innovative ship technologies, including propulsion systems based on hydrogen, methanol and LNG combined with CO₂ capture. These solutions support the transition towards cleaner shipping and contribute to national and European climate objectives.

For many SME owners, sustainability still feels complex. You hear about CO2 emissions, ESG and CSRD and assume it is mainly relevant for large corporations. In reality, sustainable progress often starts with small and practical steps. One step stands out as the most important: understanding your CO2 footprint.

In this series, we explore companies that are already creating real, measurable positive impact today. Organizations proving that sustainability can be practical, innovative, inspiring, and commercially successful. What are they doing right? Which strategic choices drive their impact? Most importantly: what can you as an SME learn from them? Today’s case: Lidl: ranked the most sustainable supermarket in the Netherlands according to the Superlist Green 2025.

In recent years, sustainability reporting has gained momentum. With the arrival of CSRD, ESRS, and other European regulations, it appears that there is primarily something for large companies. EFRAG is entering into dialogue with large companies about voluntary sustainability reporting. Read more about this in this blog.

Sustainability in 2026 is no longer about intentions alone. It’s about action, transparency and measurable results. What once felt optional has become an essential part of how you run and grow your business. With stricter regulations such as CSRD, rising expectations from customers and increasing pressure on resources, entrepreneurs are being challenged to make smarter choices. In this article, we share the key sustainability trends for 2026.

On 15 June every year, Global Wind Day is celebrated around the world. A day dedicated to the power of wind energy. But for entrepreneurs, this day is about more than renewable energy alone. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when innovation, collaboration and long-term thinking come together.

In this series, we look at companies that are already making a positive impact today. What are they doing well? What choices are they making? And above all: what can you, as an SME, learn from this and how can you apply it yourself? In this edition, we focus on a Dutch retailer known for simplicity, affordability and surprisingly effective sustainability efforts: Zeeman.