Sustainability Bites

It's our 30th Anniversary! To celebrate, we're catching our colleagues across our impact areas for a quick catchup. This time, take the chance to hear about the work of our Life Sciences and Healthy Living team with Rob Henst and Iris Gombert. Interviewed by their very own colleague, Jack Templeton, the team give an insight into the background and important work we do in the health field...

Welcome to a new year of Sustainability Bites! In the light of the 30 years anniversary of parent company Schuttelaar & Partners, we are starting the year with a special on the Young Professionals Network (YPN). Hosts Jack and Felix explain what YPN stands for and give you an insight on their backgrounds. This episode is part of a mini-series on the YPN. Find out more about YPN here: https://w...

This week, Jack is joined by Chris Bruntlett, International Relations Manager at the Dutch Cycling Embassy, for an in-depth conversation to unpack just what makes the Netherlands a global leader in cycling and urban infrastructure. They explore the evolution of Dutch cycling culture, its worldwide influence, and the concept of "bycitecture" - aka cycling and architecture. Chris delves in...

In this episode, Jack sits down with Erik Ruiz from Healthcare Without Harm to talk to about the growing threat of antibiotic resistance and pharmaceutical pollution. With the significant breakthroughs in biomedicine in the past century also comes significant challenges, including the waste generated by the health and pharma industries which is further exacerbating the rise of antibiotic resistanc...

In this episode, Jack sits down with Oskar Bonte from Vlaamse Jeugdraad (the Flemish Youth Council) to discuss the priorities of young people, the routes of action, and what's coming next. Covering climate change, active transport like cycling, and mental health, Oskar sheds a light on how youth politics works in Belgium, the influence on politics nationally, and the need for international so...

This episode is part of a series on the Belgian Presidency of the EU. In this episode of Sustainability Bites, we talk with GMO-expert Mathias de Mesmaeker from the Presidency about the ongoing discussions on new genomic techniques, also known as NGTs. Next to this, we discussed also about the importance of involving and cooperating with stakeholders in the creation of new legislation. Learn more...

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Flaminia Marchetti from ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association) to discuss queerness and queer people in sport. With discrimination still a significant reason why many people don't participate in sport, Flaminia walks us through what she thinks could bring about a positive change outside of and inside the political machinery of the E...

Health is a key part of our life and accordingly, healthcare is a key component of our society. Our healthcare systems in the West are suffering: healthcare staff burns out or quits before they can, public health in general is no longer making significant improvements, chronic diseases are on the rise, and our governments agree that we won’t be able to finance our healthcare system as is for much...

This episode is part of a series on the Belgian Presidency of the EU. In this episode of Sustainability Bites, we discuss the priorities of the Presidency surrounding plant-based and novelty foods with Karolien Byttebier from Bond Beter Leefmilieu, an expert in food and nutrition.  How can we put plant-based foods higher on the EU agenda?  Check out Bond Beter Leefmilieu's projects here: http...

Deze aflevering maakt onderdeel uit van een serie afleveringen over het Belgisch voorzitterschap van de Raad van de Europese Unie. In deze aflevering praten we over innovatie in de  landbouwsector met Jurgen Vangeyte, Wetenschappelijk Directeur Agrotechniek bij ILVO en een expert in landbouwinnovatie. Hoe zorg je ervoor dat agrarische technologische innovatie gestimuleerd wordt, maar ook toegankel...

This episode is part of a series on the Belgian Presidency of the EU. In this episode of Sustainability Bites, we discuss the environment and agriculture with Bénédicte Heinrichs of the SPW (Government of Wallonia). 

More and more attention is being brought to intersectionality, but what are words worth without the concrete actions that follow. How, where, and why we should start caring and more are discussed in this episode!

This episode is part of a series on the Belgian Presidency of the EU. In this episode of Sustainability Bites, we discuss the priorities of the Presidency surrounding food sustainability with Tessa Avermaete from KU Leuven and SFERE, who is known for her research in sustainable food systems and diets.  How can we achieve more ecological production and make more sustainable and healthier food choic...

Happy holidays! This is a time of joy and cheers, and often cheers comes with a clink of glasses. In this episode, Jack Templeton and Margaux Plurien bring together our health and Agrifood team to discuss the EU Beating Cancer Plan, Irish warning labelling and the impact of alcoholic beverages on overall health. 

Onderzoek toont aan dat vleesvervangers vaak gezonder zijn dan echt vlees, een bemoedigend feit voor productontwikkelaars. Tegelijkertijd wordt het argument aangevoerd dat deze vervangers de vleeseetgewoonte in stand houden, vergelijkbaar met hoe vapen het roken in stand houdt. Desondanks pleit Ad voor een pragmatische 'én én' benadering voor het verduurzamen van het voedingssysteem, waa...

Dat het voedselsysteem tegen zijn grenzen aanloopt en dus zal moeten veranderen, kan iedereen wel zien. Die veranderingen gaan vaak over een stapje terug doen, zoals minder vlees, minder verpakking. Suzanne ziet al veel goede voorbeelden van bedrijven die die stap al, maar die krijgen niet altijd de aandacht die ze verdienen. Zonde, want wat je aandacht geeft, groeit vanzelf.

On the 21st of April 2021, the EU Commission announced the adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in line with the commitment made under the European Green Deal. The CSRD will amend the existing Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) and will substantially increase reporting requirements on the companies falling within its scope in its efforts to expand the sustainab...

In the past decade, the popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets has skyrocketed. In this interview, we invite Isabel Boerdam, a pioneer in the Netherlands. Best known for her blog "The Trendy Vegetarian", she has successfully launched and sustained a national campaign funded by a wide range of food producers and retailers: "Week Zonder Vlees". Strong of its success, the campai...

On July 1, 2023, Spain takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It will do so for a six-month period, until December 31, 2023. In this episode, our Public Affairs expert Arturo Esclarin Ortiz provides us with a concise review of the Spanish Presidency priorities, the impact of the national elections and the future European parliamentary elections. 

The Green Claims Directive was published on 22 March by the European Commission. It aims at combatting “greenwashing” and enabling consumers to contribute to accelerating the green transition by making informed purchasing decisions based on credible environmental claims and labels.  In a nutshell, it will impose stricter requirements for companies to back up the claims and environmental labelling...

Did you know that more diverse teams are more profitable and have overall better performance? As we celebrate Pride Month, our colleague Jack Templeton shares with us insights on the impact of a good Diversity, Equality and Inclusion strategy along with actionable recommendations to implement more inclusive communication.  Climate change impacts more women and minorities - by striving to become a...

Op 1 juni vieren we Wereldmelkdag! Een initiatief van de FAO dat in het leven is geroepen om het belang van zuivel extra onder de aandacht te brengen. Het zuivelteam van Schuttelaar & Partners gaat daarom met elkaar in gesprek over de toekomst van de sector. Collega’s Ynske van Zundert, Milou Peperkamp en Joëlle de Pee delen hun gedachten over de toekomst van de melkkoe in een tijd waar thema’...

In this episode, managing partner Tijmen de Vries, a sustainability reporting expert, dives into the importance of stakeholder management. When it comes to the upcoming EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, stakeholder management becomes even more critical. The directive emphasizes the need for companies to engage with a broad range of stakeholders to understand their perspectives, gath...

In this episode, Senior Consultant Arturo Esclarin Ortiz provides us with a quick update on the SUR - the Regulation on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides.  With other 6 years of experience at the heart of agricultural policy in Brussels, Arturo has unique insights on the makeup of the regulation and its potential impact on farmers. 

In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the rising obesity rates in the Netherlands and the EU, and the negative impact of unhealthy diets on public health. With the upcoming revision of rules on information provided to consumers planned by the Farm to Fork strategy, we see a growing interest in nutritional front-of-pack labels at the EU level.  Nutri-Score, a system developed in F...