Support by the amazing INSEAD community shows we can be a transformative force for societal progress and a force for good in the world
In January 2020, INSEAD, in collaboration with the Hoffmann Global Institute for Business and Society and the INSEAD Alumni Association (IAA), conducted the INSEAD Community Impact Challenge. This first alumni-led global challenge called on our community to reduce or eliminate single-use plastic items for 28 days.
The Challenge aimed to bring together members of the INSEAD community for a positive global impact by tackling three of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – SDG12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG14: Life Below Water – issues that are becoming increasingly more pressing given the current global instability the world is facing.
The results are in and they are excellent
The Challenge garnered significant enthusiasm and engagement, with 2,340 INSEAD participants from more than 90 countries taking part. Together, they reduced their annual consumption of plastics and that of their network by 4,500kg per year, or 3.7kg per person. Weight reduction was largely in three categories – plastic bags, plastic bottles and wrappers.
Participating in the Challenge also created a noticeable shift in mindset and behaviours, with 73% of people more aware of ecological issues and a whopping 98% making lasting changes to their habits. A total of 93% of the participants have indicated their interest to participate in the next challenge.
Through their network, the INSEAD community reached an additional 180,000 people on average. Extending the Challenge to just a fifth of all INSEAD alumni would reach an estimated 787,000 people.
Katell Le Goulven, Executive Director of the Hoffman Institute, said, “This first Challenge showed the powerful force for good that the INSEAD Community can be when we come together and act with purpose towards stated goals. Keeping plastics out of our oceans is critical to safeguard the natural resources that underpin healthy economies and healthy societies. I look forward to working with the community on our next big Challenge and to involving more people for more impact.”
INSEAD Community Impact Challenge co-founder and INSEAD alumnus Paolo Senes MBA’01J was encouraged by the results, adding, “This started as conversation between two people and grew through a core team of volunteers. It scaled through the tireless efforts of each new recruit engaging a few others from their class or country, one at a time. Dozens became hundreds and hundreds became thousands. This is the power of our INSEAD community. We did it once. We can do it again.”
Thank you to everyone for being a part of this incredible journey.
See the full report here, courtesy of Boston Consulting Group.
Great initiative by INSEAD and great success.
I hope we can create and foster new projects like this and help to build a better world.
Thank you all and keep going!!!