Smart City

We systematically review business research concerning the planetary boundaries framework: A natural science framework that identifies nine Earth system boundaries that govern the safe operating space for humanity. Ten years after the introduction ...

AI in biodiversity conservation is opening new opportunities for businesses to better understand and protect nature.

Get the Five questions for executives on energy transition right to drive effective, sustainable change. A guide to speed, leadership, and partnerships.

Discover key risks in scaling AI and learn 5 essential strategies to secure industrial AI systems from cyber threats, data leaks, and adversarial attacks.

Shenzhen Power-Solution (SPS), founded in 2009 in China as an entrepreneurial venture, disrupted traditional lighting markets in African villages with its flagship product, Candles Killer. This solar lamp, priced under $5, replaces hazardous kerosene lamps and has an optimized design (9 components, water-bottle stands). The candles killer solar lamp addresses the critical need for affordable, safe and sustainable lighting for people at the bottom of the pyramid (BOP), a huge market that multinationals struggle to reach. By achieving both low cost and differentiation, SPS created a blue ocean market. The company has made remarkable progress in its mission to provide solar lighting to underserved communities: by 2023, it illuminated over 55 million people across 7.8 million households in 66 countries. Beyond social impact, SPS achieved environmental sustainability at scale, reducing cumulative carbon emissions by 6.7 million tons, the equivalent of planting 368 million evergreen trees. Candles Killer's success led SPS to expand its product line into a solar home system for phone charging and multi-bulb lighting. SPS also introduced Solar Media, a platform with pre-loaded content (medical tips, farming methods, education) to share vital knowledge in remote regions.

Global trade faces tariff risks and supply chain strain. Freight leaders from DHL and Kuehne + Nagel share insights on navigating uncertainty and shortages.

Apple’s ‘Evil Steve’ test sets the standard for digital persuasion ethics in today’s AI and data-driven world.

Sustainable corporate change is a challenging feat to pull off. Julia Binder examines the barriers and drivers of change to increase your chances of success.

The case describes Legendary Foods Africa, a food-tech company founded in 2020 in Ghana by Canadian entrepreneur Shobhita Soor. Legendary Foods Africa is focused on farming, processing and selling palm weevil larvae products for human consumption. Palm weevil larvae, a traditional local food, are rich in protein, healthy fats and essential nutrients. The company’s mission is to provide affordable, sustainable and nutritious protein to local populations of West and Central Africa. Legendary Foods Africa uses innovative vertical farming techniques to cultivate larvae year-round. This method avoids having to rely on deforestation; in this way it provides efficient production with a minimal environmental footprint. The larvae are sold fresh or frozen as a meat and fish substitute but are also processed into protein-rich products like chili sauce and cookies, offering shelf-stable options for a wider audience. Four years after launch, the company had grown into a 70-person operation and was about to become profitable. Soor was considering various expansion strategies that included growing into new African and Asian markets, broadening the product range and shifting toward a business-to-business sales model. The company would need additional capital to scale production for its expansion plans.

This study investigates whether the recent surge in corporate disclosure of environmental commitment was followed by improvements in corporate environmental performance over time. Focusing on Italian listed companies in the period 2019–2022, the s...