I’m all for giving Mother Earth a voice – but after reading that ‘Nature’ was recently appointed as director of a beauty brand, I couldn’t help but feel bemused.
Natural body and haircare brand Faith in Nature, which was started by founder Rivka Rose in Scotland, has become the world’s first company to officially appoint ‘Nature’ to its Board of Directors, giving the natural world a voice and a vote on the future of the business.
The decision taps into a growing global movement to assign nature legal rights, and while I wholeheartedly agree that the idea is one that’s uplifting and unique, the sceptic in me can’t help but wonder how on Mother Earth it’s actually going to work.
“The brand has worked with leading environmental and corporate lawyers to turn an idea into reality and have now officially amended their company constitution to include Nature as a director, with all the same voting rights as any other company director,” leaders at the company have said.
Apparently ‘Nature’ will be represented through a ‘proxy role’ whereby a human, who is legally bound to speak on behalf of the natural world, acts on behalf of Nature.
It all sounds great; however, I can’t imagine how Nature is going to represent itself at the next board meeting, or how it would be able to pipe up if, for example, it heard avocados and coconuts were being used up to create a new kind of nourishing shampoo.
In one sense, the idea comes across as silly. Nonetheless, the concept is one that will get people talking and I have no doubts that the heart of the firm’s founder is in the right place. Although nature can’t speak for itself, at least allotting the natural world a vote on the future of business is bound to encourage other businesses to follow suit.
In a similar story that recently captivated people across the world, the billionaire founder of outdoor clothing brand Patagonia also gave away his entire company to a charitable trust, stating ‘Earth is now our only shareholder.’
With the company valued at an estimated $3billion, it’s probably the most generous and noble donation in the history of the environmental movement – and one that almost takes your breath away once the full importance of such a move hits you.
Donating companies and shares for the public good are decisions that are not only bold and aspirational but also help to create a powerful step towards transitioning to a kinder and more sustainable future.
Purpose-driven business models are acts of moral courage, and it is no secret that employers and leaders must see the importance of purpose in business in order to succeed. Fundamentally, any business must have a purpose as a guidepost for decision making, and one that ties in with their staff members’ goals too.
A recent McKinsey & Company survey showed that 70 per cent of employees say their personal sense of purpose is defined by their work, and when that work feels meaningful, they perform better, are much more committed, and are about half as likely to go looking for a new job.
This drive for meaning is especially true of the newest generation to enter the workforce, as Gen Z workers are more inclined to choose a job that for them is values-driven, both for their career and the impact the company makes on the world.
I’ve spent many years delivering business speeches on putting purpose to work and encouraging others to consider philanthropic endeavours as part of being a responsible leader. What I’ve gathered from this is that most people have already placed having a positive societal and environmental impact in their career at the top of their priority list.
I’m sure there would be collective agreement that, so long as the act of giving something away to protect the earth and environment is authentic, then it’s one that should be applauded.
Although Faith in Nature’s recent announcement is certainly questionable, it’s worth noting that this is a powerful example of a business that’s unafraid to adopt change.
So, if Nature has anything to say, I’m sure it would be that more businesses ought to put their money where their mouth is.
Scotland’s short-term lets face one-size-fits-all law
It’s been in the works since the beginning of the year but as of this month there are new licensing laws in place for short-term lets in Scotland.
This follows many complaints around the increase of Airbnb-style short term lettings – with residents in local communities expressing concern around issues like safety and noise levels.
The new rules aim to ‘maintain standards’ across the industry. Hosts now need to apply for a license before April 2023 if they have been operating throughout the year while new lets won’t be able to begin operating or accept bookings until they have the license in place.
There are mandatory conditions that need to be adhered to and local councils will have the power to add additional conditions relevant to their community.
For many, it’s a welcome move but not everyone’s a fan of this broad-brush approach.
Edinburgh was highlighted as a problem area and it might well help there, but what about other areas? The legislation isn’t optional meaning all council areas will have to regulate short-term lettings despite potentially not having an issue in the first place.
East Ayrshire’s top legal officer, David Mitchell, has spoken out to say there’s no evidence this is a problem in East Ayrshire, as has the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers (ASSC) which argued there’s no need for such a license across Scotland.
It’s apparent there is a need for regulation in some circumstances so I do wonder whether this ‘one size fits all’ approach is fit for purpose or if it might instead have a negative effect on our tourism industry.
It Made Me Laugh
If you’re feeline like having a laugh, the story of Openreach engineer Doug Craig is sure to deliver.
A recent trip from Oban to the Isle of Coll on the Inner Hebrides to fix a broadband fault almost turned into a cat-astrophe when his neighbour’s moggy decided to sneak along for the ride.
Tia the cat clearly didn’t give a fluff about whether or not Doug’s employer permitted pets at work.
The cheeky stowaway ended up enjoying a 100mile round-trip and overnight stay with the engineer.
Luckily he still managed to get the job done and ensure broadband was restored, otherwise he might not have been quite so a-mew-sed!
It Made Me Weep
It’s a sad time when further educational establishments are having to put measures in place to ensure students are being fed and have somewhere warm to go.
As a place of education, it’s hardly the responsibility of colleges and universities.
But with winter approaching many obviously feel compelled to do help students. Some colleges have installed communal washing machines, dryers and even fridges on campus while others are introducing breakfast clubs, free lunches and even coat distribution schemes.
It’s great news for students who are struggling to afford basics and I’m sure it’s a real lifeline for some. But it’s also an incredibly sad indication of how dire the current economic situation is.
