What is the relationship between culture and corporate responsibility? How do various social mores and traditions influence how various countries view business and human rights? And what can different nations learn from each other on their sustainability journey?

This week on the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Akiko Sato, Business and Human Rights Project Officer at the United Nations Development Programme and Special Adviser at the NGO Pillar Two to explore the state of responsible business in Japan, from the Edo dynasty to today.

Together they discussed the Japanese government’s human rights supply chain due diligence guidelines, as well as how companies in Japan have been responding. You’ll also hear more about:

• Japan’s leadership in climate disclosure through a record number of signatories to the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

• The growing momentum across Asia on corporate accountability, with Thailand, South Korea, and Indonesia developing mandatory human rights due diligence laws

• The traditional Japanese concept of Sanpo-yoshi, meaning “good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society

• The role culture plays in shaping how Japanese companies are conducting sustainability reporting and human rights due diligence

• Why gender inequality is one of Japan’s biggest human rights challenges, with Japan ranking among the lowest in the G7 on the gender gap index

• How Japanese companies have been reacting to the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive as well as the recent Omnibus proposals

• Akiko’s insights into the lessons the world can take from Japan’s sustainability journey

Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!

Last week, the 2025 Sustainability at a Crossroads survey was released, providing key insights into the views of nearly 850 sustainability professionals across the world, and building upon the survey’s decades-long research, the first results having been published back in 1997. With sustainability at a pivotal turning point, what do experts believe is the best route forward?

This week on the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Chris Coulter, CEO of Globescan and Mark Lee, Global Director of Thought Leadership at the SustainAbility Institute by ERM, who jointly produced this year’s Global Sustainability Leadership Survey alongside the UK consultancy Volans.

Together they discussed the main findings of the survey, and what it tells us about the ESG backlash globally. You’ll also hear more about:

• How businesses across the world have been responding to the backlash against sustainability

• Whether or not the 2030 climate target has failed

• Why investors ranked their lowest ever score on their contribution to sustainable development

• The regional variability in attitudes towards sustainability, and whether it’s time to pass on the torch of global sustainability leadership to the Asia Pacific

• The high impact, high feasibility actions that survey respondents believe can be achieved in the next five years

• The opportunities that can arise out of this current crisis in sustainability, and the choice facing governments and businesses in this critical inflection point for the field

Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn!

Last year, the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), a leading alliance of trade unions, NGOS and businesses working to bring about the end of corporate human rights abuse, released its Corporate Transparency Framework detailing the reporting requirements for their company members. With the results of ETI’s member transparency assessment now out, how have companies performed against the standards?

This week on the Frankly Speaking podcast, Richard Howitt was joined by Kate Lewis, ETI’s Head of Membership and Francesca Mangano, Head of CSR and Sustainability at TFG London, a leading South African fashion retailer with a network of 570 stories across 13 countries.

Together they discussed TFG London’s experience in meeting the ETI Corporate Transparency Framework requirements, as well as the barriers they faced and lessons they learnt on the way. You’ll also hear more about:

• Why ETI champions meaningful stakeholder engagement in their fight against corporate human rights abuses, and why top-down approaches don’t work

• Practical examples of how TFG London’s work with ETI has led to improved welfare for workers across their supply chain

• How commercially beneficial implementing supply chain due diligence has been to TFG London

• Kate and Francesca’s perspective on the European Commission’s Omnibus 1 proposals on the CSRD and CSDDD, including TFG London’s disappointment in not being in scope of the legislation

• TFG London’s work with Anti-Slavery International on the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region

Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn!