Sustainable Edge

Sustainable Edge: Making Sustainability a Strategic Imperative – A Conversation with Pia Heidenmark Cook

Mar 14, 2024

Acclaimed sustainability leader Pia Heidenmark Cook discusses driving sustainability strategies, untapped potential of sustainability reporting, and using double materiality for competitive advantage. She shares insights from her time as CSO at IKEA and the transition of sustainability to a strategic imperative, emphasizing the importance of personal values in embedding sustainability.

22:57

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Pia Heidenmark Cook

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Quick takeaways

Shifting sustainability from a reporting issue to a strategic imperative is crucial for business success.

Integrating measurable sustainability goals into the overall business strategy enhances accountability and drives impactful change.

Deep dives

The Role of Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA

Pia Haydnmar Cook shares insights into her role as Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA, emphasizing the importance of change management and sustainability. She highlights the shift from considering sustainability as a reporting issue to a strategic imperative. Cook discusses the significance of sustainability reporting and how double materiality can drive business improvement by translating external trends and planetary boundaries into actionable strategies.

Introduction

4min

Driving Sustainability Strategies in Businesses

8min

Exploring Business Opportunities in the Circular Economy and Mainstreaming Sustainability

2min

From Sustainability to Strategic Imperative: Navigating European Legislation

6min

Exploring Sustainability as an Opportunity and Personal Motivations

3min

Pia Heidenmark Cook, acclaimed sustainability leader and former CSO at IKEA, sits down with Position Green Executive Chair Joachim Nahem in our latest episode.

Listen to one of the world’s top sustainability influencers give advice on effective change management and how to ‘interpret the outside for the inside’ in driving your company’s strategic transformation. Pia shares insights from her time as Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA and discusses the untapped potential of sustainability reporting. Can double materiality be used as a tool for building a more robust and competitive business?

About Pia Heidenmark Cook

Pia is a senior ESG and sustainability leader, executive and advisor with over 25 years of global industry experience spanning multiple sectors, including professional services, healthcare, sports retail, sustainable materials and hospitality. During her tenure as IKEA’s Chief Sustainability Officer in 2017-2021, it became one of the top three sustainability brands ranked by Globescan.

Pia is also a frequent keynote speaker at high-profile conferences and events including for the UN, World Economic Forum and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. She has been named one of the top 10 female leaders in sustainability by the WBCSD and one of the top 20 sustainability influencers on LinkedIn by the CEO Magazine.

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