HomeResearch & Knowledgeback to HomeSustainabilityback to Research & KnowledgeUmicore: From laggard to sustainability championback to Sustainability

Case Study

Umicore: From laggard to sustainability champion

By Knut Bjarne Haanaes and Jules Wurlod

3 pages

May 2022

Order this case study

Reference: IMD-7-2255

At the turn of the century, Umicore was a mining company far from being sustainable – a business of extracting finite resources from the ground combined with high CO2 intensity. Today, Umicore pivoted to take the wind from behind: it became a truly innovative technology firm operating at the frontier of metallurgy, chemistry and materials science, leader in clean mobility and recycling, which together represent more than 75% of its revenue. Umicore transitioned from being a sustainability laggard, exposed and with limited long-term growth prospects to a true sustainability champion, a front-runner in the mining and materials industry paving the way to reinvent the way we use finite resources.

Learning Objective

Sustainability transformation

Keywords

Sustainability, Transformation, Technological Innovation, Clean Mobility, Recycling, Business Transformation, Industry Infrastructure, Industry Innovation, Responsible Consumption, Responsible Production, Climate Action

Settings

World/global, Belgium
Umicore, Materials, Metals and Mining
2000-2020

Type

Published Sources

Available Languages

English

IMD case studies are distributed through case clearing houses. In order to browse the collection and purchase copies please visit the links below.

The Case Centre

Cranfield University

Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]

Harvard Business School Publishing

60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]

Asia Pacific Case Center

NUCB Business School

1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]

IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

This case study is part of a series

DSM: Transforming to a sustainable business model
Umicore: From laggard to sustainability champion
Ørsted: On the path to net zero

This case study is part of a series

DSM: Transforming to a sustainable business model
Umicore: From laggard to sustainability champion
Ørsted: On the path to net zero

Keep reading

Article

Digital Persuasion Ethics - Navigating Psychological Profiling

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

Artificial Intelligence Business Transformation Digital Innovation Technology Management

in I by IMD

Article

Letting Go to Grow and Entrepreneurship: Frank’s Path to Empowered Leadership

Letting go to grow. Coaching empowered his entrepreneurship journey, transforming stress into sustainable leadership and more empowered leadership.

Business Transformation Coaching Entrepreneurship Growth Stakeholder Management Workplace Well-being

By Vincent Pieterse

in I by IMD

Case Study

The new protein buzz: Can Legendary Foods Africa feed the world with insects

Entrepreneurship Sustainability Social Innovation

By Sophie Bacq, Valerie Keller-Birrer and Ruth Shalom Kinyua

Article

Banking Digital Transformation - Architects of Change

Raiffeisen Bank International's Sabine Abfalter explores how finance leaders can drive banking digital transformation with bold vision as architects of change.

Business Transformation Digital Leadership Negotiation

in I by IMD

Article

5 Things to Know - Energy Transition - 2025

Despite policy and market headwinds, the clean energy transition is accelerating. Here are five key insights business leaders need to know in 2025.

Sustainability

By Knut Haanaes and Jad Mouawad

in I by IMD

Article

Climate Risk - CFO Horizons - Financial Imperative

CFOs must drive a financially disciplined way to manage environmental and climate risk amid growing push back against sustainability efforts.

Finance Sustainability

By Karl Schmedders

in I by IMD

Podcast

How does sustainable leadership work?

This episode takes you behind the scenes of a recent gathering led by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development together with IMD, where David Bach sat down with two sustainability leaders.

Leadership Sustainability

By David Bach and Felix Zeltner

in I by IMD

Article

China's Apparel Sector -Domestic Champions

China’s apparel sector in 2025 sees local brands rise and global players adapt amid digital, Research & Development, and innovation-led growth.

Business Transformation China Data Analytics Global Business Resilience

By Mark J. Greeven and Sophie Liu

in I by IMD

Article

Efficient Green Transition - 4 Effective Strategies

Discover four proven strategies for sustainable and efficient green transition. Split operations with ring fencing to fast-track your green goals.

Sustainability

By Salvatore Cantale and Frederikke Due Olsen

in I by IMD

Podcast

Can biodiversity credits alter the landscape for nature conservation?

Join IMD Senior Researcher Adrian Dellecker and Mariana Sarmiento of Terrasos to explore business opportunities in voluntary biodiversity credits and environmental innovation.

Business Transformation Innovation Sustainability

By Adrian Dellecker

in I by IMD

Digital Persuasion Ethics - Navigating Psychological Profiling

in I by IMD

Summary

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

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Artificial Intelligence

Business Transformation

Digital

Innovation

Technology Management

Browse all topics

Letting Go to Grow and Entrepreneurship: Frank’s Path to Empowered Leadership

By Vincent Pieterse
in I by IMD

Summary

Letting go to grow. Coaching empowered his entrepreneurship journey, transforming stress into sustainable leadership and more empowered leadership.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Business Transformation

Coaching

Entrepreneurship

Growth

Stakeholder Management

Workplace Well-being

Browse all topics

The new protein buzz: Can Legendary Foods Africa feed the world with insects

By Sophie Bacq Valerie Keller-Birrer and Ruth Shalom Kinyua
Case reference: IMD-7-2632 ©2025

Summary

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.

Reference IMD-7-2632

Organization Legendary Foods Africa

Industry Consumer Goods, Food and Beverage

Available Languages English

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Entrepreneurship

Sustainability

Social Innovation

Browse all topics

Banking Digital Transformation - Architects of Change

in I by IMD

Summary

Raiffeisen Bank International's Sabine Abfalter explores how finance leaders can drive banking digital transformation with bold vision as architects of change.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Business Transformation

Digital

Leadership

Negotiation

Browse all topics

China's Apparel Sector -Domestic Champions

By Mark J. Greeven and Sophie Liu
in I by IMD

Summary

China’s apparel sector in 2025 sees local brands rise and global players adapt amid digital, Research & Development, and innovation-led growth.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Business Transformation

China

Data Analytics

Global Business

Resilience

Browse all topics

Can biodiversity credits alter the landscape for nature conservation?

By Adrian Dellecker
in I by IMD

Summary

Join IMD Senior Researcher Adrian Dellecker and Mariana Sarmiento of Terrasos to explore business opportunities in voluntary biodiversity credits and environmental innovation.

Contact

Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Related topics

Business Transformation

Innovation

Sustainability

Browse all topics