The New Heroes of Sustainable Business Docuseries Episode Two

This episode examines what it actually takes to drive corporate sustainability at scale, arguing that meaningful change demands bold leadership, strategic vision, and decisions grounded in data rather than good intentions alone. It grounds that argument in two very different case studies: Philip Morris International, which has invested over $12 billion since 2008 to pivot from combustible cigarettes toward smoke-free alternatives now sold in 84 markets, while managing the tension of running two value chains at once; and IFS, a software provider helping clients like Rolls-Royce cut emissions through AI-driven efficiency, while also confronting the environmental costs of its own AI and data center operations.

The episode also presents these efforts within a shifting regulatory and market landscape. New EU frameworks like the CSRD and CSDDD are pushing companies to take direct responsibility for their supply chains, with real financial penalties for falling short — and their influence is expected to ripple globally through the so-called "Brussels Effect." At the same time, the episode doesn't shy away from the growing skepticism around ESG, acknowledging critiques that the movement has over-promised and under-delivered on both environmental and market returns.

Featuring voices including Jacek Olczak, Jennifer Motles, Mark Moffat, Sophie Graham, Axel Voss, Greta Koch, Terrence Keeley, and Marjella Lecourt-Alma, the episode closes with a set of practical lessons for leaders: that sustainability and smart business are often the same discipline, that operating from within an imperfect industry can drive more change than walking away from it, and that visions succeed when they're rooted in common sense and backed by concrete evidence.