What goes around, comes around Is the future economy circular?

Sales, purchasing, finance and external suppliers need to work together for companies to successfully switch to circularity.

What building blocks are needed to create a more sustainable built environment? And who will provide them?

Capital goods manufacture uses 6 billion tonnes of raw materials every year. How can it become more circular?

The world has woken up to the threat posed by plastics. Here is a six-step guide to dealing with the plastics problem.

Circularity has only recently hit the headlines. But its philosophical roots could go back to ancient Greece or even before.

All large corporates now have sustainability officers. But what do they do? And how might their role change as the circular economy grows?

We need to do more to minimise waste, whether that’s recycling, reusing or remaking stuff from things that already exist. Let’s go circular!

Do you know the five circular business models? Test your knowledge with this quiz.

After decades dominated by globalisation, trade is being reconfigured as a result of geopolitical, technological and other changes. Sustainability could be a big winner from this process.

It’s more than three years since the Paris Agreement committed the world to keeping average global temperatures to well below 2° above pre-industrial levels. So, how is it going?

With surplus renewable-generated power and the necessary pipeline infrastructure, the Netherlands could be a vital testing ground for sustainable hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

New technologies such as blockchain can be used to give consumers the information they need about food provenance to make sustainable choices. 

For young people with good health, occasional workers and those with unique talents, the gig economy has much to offer. Surprisingly, it is those outside it who could end up worse off.

Artificial intelligence is already changing the way we live and work. But the tech behind Siri and Alexa also has the potential to deliver big wins for society and the environment.

Sustainability doesn’t just happen on its own. Companies must lay the foundations and nurture it if they are serious about integrating environmental and social issues into business-as-usual. 

Professor Niki Harré teaches in the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. The author of The Infinite Game: How to Live Well Together and Psychology for a Better World talks to ING about how individuals and companies can make sustainability a reality.

Innovation drives the global economy and is changing the way we live at a dizzying pace. Could it overcome our sustainability challenges? 

Explorer and documentary maker Bernice Notenboom explains why she takes corporate and financial sector leaders to see the impact of climate change.

Blockchain’s characteristics could make it a good fit for addressing sustainability as these examples demonstrate.

Marine shipping pollution is set to fall in the coming years as new initiatives and financing make an impact.

We’d like to act more sustainably, but find it difficult because of how our brains work. So how can we be persuaded to do the right thing?

ING will steer its portfolio towards meeting the Paris Agreement’s below ‘two-degree’ goal to help combat climate change.

Sustainability requires investment and inventiveness by financial institutions. Here are some clever ways that finance is using its know-how.

Enhancing the environmental credentials of our homes is critical to lowering energy consumption. A new survey by ING reveals our attitudes to sustainability – and our willingness to pay for it.

To address climate change, we all need to amend our behaviour. Given its huge impact on the environment, one way we can do this is by reducing our consumption of meat.

It’s difficult to persuade people to make sustainable choices. The subtle, unconscious influencing of behaviour, also called nudging, can push people in the right direction. There are three nudge methods that have proven useful.

Adopting a more sustainable way of operating can deliver benefits to companies’ reputations, business plans and finances.

The circular economy works on paper, but implementation seems far off. Business models need to evolve and value chain partners must collaborate.

Companies need to move to a system that regenerates natural systems, says Casper Jorna at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

As sustainability becomes more important to both corporates and investors, there is a need for accurate, reliable information and ratings.

Cocoa supplier Barry Callebaut has embarked on a new sustainability initiative that will transform the lives of the farmers it works with.

By focusing on environmental, social and governance issues, investors can prompt changes in corporates’ approach to sustainability.

A prerequisite for a more sustainable economy is that we produce things using less energy and fewer raw materials. Nature is the best teacher of this new design approach.

Subscription will grow significantly, according to a new ING report, creating more sustainable business models for many companies.

Growing opposition to nuclear power and increasing concern about climate change is bringing renewable energy into the mainstream in Asia.

Electric vehicles are transforming the auto market. China will be a crucial market for the technology and could produce future global leaders.

The Global Goals on decent work and economic growth and responsible consumption and production are ING’s priorities.

Working with communities is critical to corporates’ sustainability strategy. These ideas will help ensure that everyone involved benefits.

Change is sweeping finance and banking. These innovations could revolutionise how we access financial information and services.

Better, faster, stronger? Platform companies have the edge when it comes to growth, efficiency and innovation. 

Working with partners is critical but customers’ needs must drive banks’ changes, says ING’s chief innovation officer Ignacio Vilar.

Disruption is nothing new for companies. These inspiring stories show why there’s always a way back from the brink.

Addressing the competitive threats of new business models and technology requires incumbent companies to be braver. 

TomTom hasn’t been afraid of changing direction. Its business initiatives continue to be driven by a culture of flexible entrepreneurialism.

New technology and business models mean that companies can go global from day one and use their small scale to compete in the big league.

3D printing could be as significant as the internet but there are uncertainties about the speed of change, according to a new ING report.

How are platform companies’ workforces organised? And will their way of working successfully transfer to the rest of the corporate world?

Europe’s energy sector is being transformed. What business models are companies adopting to thrive in this new environment?

Germany, one of Europe’s largest power markets, is at the forefront of sector changes. What can its experience tell the rest of Europe?

Cooperation helps both fintechs and banks, notes a study by CMS, Deloitte, and ING with FINANCE-Research and Barkow Consulting.

Changing demographics, such as an ageing population and a shrinking workforce, will affect the economy. It should prompt a reassessment of how we measure its performance.

Many aspects of our lives are about to change beyond recognition. The View’s infographic puts things in perspective.

Despite some worrying trends, jobs could become more rewarding and stimulating as companies compete to attract and retain talented workers.

Changing demographics will require companies to rethink their workforces but also create opportunities for nimble firms.

Health services and pharmaceutical companies are playing an ever larger part in our lives as a result of changing demographics.

Technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) companies must invest significantly to keep up with consumers’ increasing demand for connectivity.

Innovative technology and changing demographics mean that what, where, how and when we learn should evolve.

Concerns are growing about the gap between rich and poor. Demographics, robotics and the sharing economy will widen the rift.

Agri-business split between meeting growing demand from consumers and their preference for food they can trust.

GE Digital exploits a fundamental change in how machines and people interact. Find out how the global industrial company does it.

The Robots are coming! ING DiBa research says planning to address the social implications of technology must start now.

Will technology democratise decision-making? 11 business leaders debate the future in an ING Wholesale Banking roundtable.

AGC Glass Europe is at the forefront of innovation in the glass industry thanks to a smart organisational model that encourages a start-up mindset.

A basic income for all may become essential if automation and digitisation gather pace, according to acclaimed author Martin Ford.

We’re no longer amazed when we hear of new developments. But which technologies are really set to change the rules of the game in the boardroom in the next 10 years?

The business environment is tougher than ever and recent history is littered with examples of companies that have failed to adapt. To succeed in an era of technological disruption, successful corporates must embrace change.

Just as human capabilities evolved when homo sapiens made the leap from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to farming, they will adapt to a new world in which technology looks after the mundane elements of work and frees us up to explore our real potential.

A new report by the ING Economics Department on the human resources agency sector in the Netherlands suggests that humans will continue to have the edge over machines in many areas for the foreseeable future.

Salesforce’s cloud-based technology is helping companies deliver a truly personalised customer experience that drives loyal, meaningful and profitable relationships. Companies that are able to leverage the power of next generation technology are likely to be the winners in the coming years.

Ankommen, an app for new migrants to Germany, has taken an innovative approach to providing support and creating opportunities. It could provide some valuable lessons for corporates planning their app strategy.

Wearable devices are set to transform the healthcare world in the near future by delivering connected care. By monitoring health 24 hours a day, seven days a week, new technology should dramatically improve patient outcomes and convenience and shrink costs.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence will decimate the current jobs market, says Martin Ford, author of Rise of the Robots. But if we take the opportunity to fundamentally rethink society, it could eventually result in a kind of utopia.

Experts believe that our lives are set to change dramatically in the coming decades as we interact with technology in new ways.

The pace of innovation may be accelerating, but our ability to adapt to the latest technologies remains undeterred, according to guest columnist Steve Gullans, managing director of Excel Venture Management.

Acceptance of low growth is complacent and risky, according to Mark Cliffe, chief economist at ING. Beneath the surface there is profound instability that must be addressed if consumers and companies are to regain confidence.

Economic uncertainty and increased market volatility are a fact of business life. But by building up buffers and hedging against risks, companies can weather turbulent conditions.

It has become a cliché to say that we live in turbulent times with great changes. But to what extent are things actually changing, what are the implications and how should we deal with them? These three thought-provoking books offer completely different perspectives on this…

Smartphones and tablets are almost ubiquitous and we consider Internet access a basic human right. Read how economic uncertainty and financial instability have affected the TMT sector.

We live in an increasingly volatile world, with a range of megatrends such as climate change, resource scarcity, migration and urbanisation acting individually and together to make the world a more unpredictable place for consumers, companies and investors.

The post-crisis decline of commodity prices typifies the current economic uncertainty and financial instability. The reality is more complex.

Over 90% of world trade is carried by sea and shipping capacity has expanded from offshoring to China’s massive expansion. Read how the global decline has hit China’s economy.

The health of the energy sector is closely linked to GDP growth. The low growth environment of the post-crisis period is no exception. Read about the sector’s structural changes.

Avantium’s ambition and commitment to innovation have enabled it to produce a sustainable plastic that could revolutionise food and drink packaging and benefit the environment.

Making the economy and the companies within it more sustainable requires specific skills, that must be both taught at school and learnt on the job. It also requires a change of mindset.

Better farming techniques, greater mechanisation, improved storage and logistics and changing consumption patterns are necessary if the world is to feed its growing urban population.

The musician and activist speaks to ING about the importance of social change in today’s hyper-connected world.

The fall back in the growth of world trade is bottoming out. In the coming years, trade growth will accelerate and start to outpace global economic growth, though there will be no return to the halcyon days of the 15 years prior to the financial crisis.

Most banking executives avoid disruption in their market, but Pieter Puijpe welcomes it. “I joined the bank a long time ago and I don’t have the typical banker mindset”

Ten multinational business leaders share their views on three developments impacting global trade today. Are hubs, intra-regional trade and reshoring forming the new global business model? Watch the videos to learn more.

If you want to conquer markets at home or abroad you have to go out there to get people who don’t know you on board. While that is as true today as it ever was, it is fair to say that the internet and open borders act as a catalyst for today’s pioneers.

Is a dynamic mix of reshoring, intra-regional trade and hubonomics the global business model of today? Adam Burns asked ten multinational business leaders for the truth behind today’s trade trends.

As companies continue to expand their operations overseas in search for new growth markets or cost efficiencies, treasury technology and liquidity structures are evolving too. What does next generation global cash management look like and where will the march towards international business take us next?

Intraregional commerce pacts are nearly ubiquitous now, but other forces can be more potent drivers of growth