Three things are important for society. Preserving the Earth—that’s why we’re active in all kinds of environmental projects. Then, how people cope with each other on the Earth—that’s why we’re active in fair trade, in microfinance. And finally the development of each individual—that’s why we’re active in culture. This also makes us different from

In one survey nearly 80 percent of chief financial officers said they would decrease spending on research and development to meet earnings targets, and just over 55 percent said they would delay a new project to meet earnings targets even if it meant a (small) sacrifice in value. In another, 59 percent of executives would delay a high net present

Everyone must breathe to live, but the purpose of living is not breathing.2 In today’s world, reimagining capitalism requires embracing the idea that while firms must be profitable if they are to thrive, their purpose must be not only to make money but also to build prosperity and freedom in the context of a livable planet and a healthy society.

But Paul stuck to his guns, later joking that he took the plunge because “they couldn’t fire me on my first day.” When Neath raised the question of sustainable palm oil with him, his immediate response was “We have to do it and we can’t do it alone: let’s socialize the problem.”

In short, Erik was able to translate his vision for improving the sustainability of the waste business into a new, highly disruptive—and highly profitable—business. The conversation around reimagining capitalism is sometimes framed in terms of a tension between profits and purpose. NG’s case illustrates why this conversation is missing the point.

But a potluck only works if everyone pitches in. Taking the trouble to cook an elaborate lasagna is like taking the trouble to make sure that your suppliers are taking care of the environment and following good labor practices. There’s always a temptation to free ride—to arrive with a packet of stale cookies. If everyone thinks that no one else is

A second option is to rely on impact investors—or on one’s employees or customers—for funding. This is a solution with many strengths, but it may be challenging to take it to scale. The third is to change the rules that govern corporations to shelter managers from investor pressure.

The brothers treated their employees as family and were famous for their reluctance to stand on ceremony and their willingness to get their hands dirty. From the beginning they invested heavily in education. All employees were required to take an introductory academic course and could then choose commercial or technical training if they wished. The

The world’s two biggest traders in agricultural commodities, for example, have more revenue between them than all four thousand agricultural cooperatives.62 The two largest American banks have more revenue between them than all fifty thousand financial cooperatives.63 But their existence suggests that customer ownership might be a crucial piece of