Podcast
Frankly Speaking - A Podcast on Responsible Business
Hosted by Frank Bold · EN
Frankly Speaking is a double award-winning podcast on responsible business by Frank Bold - discussing the latest political, legal and business developments in the field of ESG, business and human rights and corporate reporting. Host Richard Howitt is a pioneer in the field of corporate disclosure and former Member of the European Parliament. He speaks frankly and personally about what moves policy makers, business and activists to make responsible business the norm and last but not least - redefine business!
24episodes
Episodes
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#107 Finn Schufft & Emirali Karadoğan: What the German Supply Chain Act (LkSG) Shows About Due Diligence Law in Practice
Apr 800:35:20Tap to summarizeHow has Germany’s national due diligence legislation been working so far? In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Finn Schufft, Corporate Responsibility Officer at Germanwatch and Emirali Karadoğan, Researcher and Trade Union Expert for the Turkish trade union Tez-Koop-İş, that was featured in Germanwatch’s report on the main impacts so far of the German supply chain act. Together they discussed the key findings of the Germanwatch report, including the crucial challenge of enforceability of due diligence legislation. You’ll also hear about: How the German law directly helped to support the right to freedom of association in Turkey Why due diligence is so important in protecting and enforcing good labour standards, and why ILO conventions, OECD national guidelines and local labour laws are not enough The impact of the CSDDD replacing the LkSG in Germany, especially in terms of companies covered How debates on responsible business are advancing in Turkey Finn’s overarching message to Europe based on the study’s findings Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
Transcribe →#106 Alina Laszlo-Orth & Tereza Fialová: How the EU Grid Package Will Impact the Business Energy Transition
Mar 2500:35:09Tap to summarizeWhat does the proposed European Grid Package mean for the future of the energy industry? In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Alina Laszlo-Orth, Head of EU Affairs at E.ON and Tereza Fialová, lawyer at the Responsible Energy Team at Frank Bold. Together they discussed the European Commission’s EU Grid Package, and whether it goes far enough in guaranteeing the energy transition in Europe. You’ll also hear about: E.ON’s progress on expanding their use of renewables – with the company recently hitting the milestone of two million renewable assets being connected into their German grid What the EU Grid Package will mean for energy companies like E.ON Why the grid urgently needs to be modernised in order to ensure a sufficient supply of affordable, clean and secure energy Why the grid’s existing ‘first come, first served’ principle should be replaced by ‘first ready, first served,’ according to Responsible Energy’s report on how to improve the grid in Europe How reducing the cost of energy and supporting the energy transition go hand-in-hand The crucial relationship between the energy transition and greater strategic autonomy on energy for Europe Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
Transcribe →#105 Leo Donnachie & David Němeček: SFDR 2.0 - What Does it Mean for Investors & Sustainability?
Mar 1800:37:35Tap to summarizeDo the European Commission’s proposed changes to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) go far enough in resolving the weaknesses of the original legislation? In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Leo Donnachie, Senior Policy Specialist, Sustainable Finance at the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change and David Němeček, Senior Sustainable Finance Expert at Responsible Companies, Frank Bold. Together they discussed what has and hasn’t worked with the current SFDR from the institutional investor perspective, as well as why the original legislation needed improvement. You’ll also hear about: The main recommendations in Frank Bold’s legal analysis of SFDR 2.0, including on thresholds and new product categories To what extent the strengthened emphasis on exclusions in the Commission’s proposal weakens the impact of the regulation What impact Omnibus 1 has had on investors, and whether it’s created greater alignment with companies What SFDR needs to really shift the dial on sustainable finance: effective accompanying policy measures, from the Savings and Investments Union to the Clean Industrial Deal Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
Transcribe →#104 Anna Miazga: What is the New Role of the Chief Sustainability Officer?
Mar 300:31:06Tap to summarizeIn a post-Omnibus 1 European sustainability landscape, what does the new role of the Chief Sustainability Officer look like? In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Anna Miazga, Chief Sustainability Officer of mBank Poland, which is the country’s fifth largest bank in terms of assets. Together they discussed why mBank is staying steadfast to its sustainability commitments and strategies in the current climate of retrenchment from ESG issues, and why the business case for sustainability is more relevant than ever. You’ll also hear about: MBank's transition plan, including the importance of being honest about the obstacles and barriers the bank faces and how it is planning to tackle them The importance of not forgetting the ‘S’ in ESG – and the bank’s priority of improving the resilience and financial health of its customers Anna’s take on the European Commission’s proposed changes to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) Anna’s advice to new Chief Sustainability Officers coming into the job Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
Transcribe →#103 Emily Farnworth: The ‘G’ in ESG – Board Directors & Sustainability
Feb 1700:36:14Tap to summarizeOften the weaker side of current corporate sustainability practice, governance – the ‘G’ in ESG – covers everything from how decisions are made, to transparency, oversight and accountability within company boards. But as an essential component of companies' journey to net zero, how can they better integrate sustainability into the heart of their business? In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Emily Farnworth, CEO of Chapter Zero Alliance, an NGO supporting board directors across 70 countries to lead on climate and nature governance. Together they discussed Chapter Zero Alliance’s new Principles for Climate and Nature Governance in partnership with the World Economic Forum, and how they can help board directors across the world in their sustainability governance processes. You’ll also hear about: Why progress has been slow in sustainability governance, and what needs to change How companies can make sustainability an authentic part of business strategy The importance of board attitudes and mindset towards stakeholders in the new Principles How intergenerational conversations on sustainability within family-owned businesses is sparking change within corporate governance Emily’s one question to board members and senior management within companies to make effective sustainability governance a reality Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
Transcribe →#102 Benjamin Claeson & Babul Akhter: How to Undertake Worker-Centric Due DIligence
Feb 1100:35:57Tap to summarizeHow can companies better integrate worker-centred approaches to their due diligence processes? In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Benjamin Claeson, Programme Officer at the Value Chains Unit at Swedwatch and author of the report “Overdue Diligence” on worker-centred due diligence, as well as Babul Akhter, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Garments & Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF). Together they discussed why current efforts towards corporate due diligence are failing to adequately protect workers and communities globally, and how stronger engagement with worker-centred approaches can help bridge this gap. You’ll also hear about: The general position of workers in Bangladesh Examples of companies that are already imbedding worker-centred approaches in their due diligence mechanisms at different points in their supply chain The severe funding shortfall in worker-centred approaches to due diligence currently and why better financing is so important in protecting workers and communities across the world Whether the Accord following the Rana Plaza tragedy in Bangladesh succeeded, and what has followed since Benjamin and Babul’s message to European companies Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
Transcribe →#101 Patrick de Cambourg: EU Sustainability Standards – the Inside Story
Jan 2800:40:17Tap to summarizeAs the European Commission now prepares a Delegated Act for the new European Sustainability Reporting Standards, how should we reflect back on the entire simplification process conducted by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG)? In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Patrick de Cambourg, the outgoing chair of EFRAG and former president of the French accounting standard-setting public authority ANC. Together they reflected upon the early preparations for the European sustainability reporting standards, as well as the behind-the-scenes of the simplification exercise conducted last year. You’ll also hear about: Whether the Brussels effect is still alive The biggest disagreements within EFRAG during the simplification process, and how they were overcome The variation between the new ESRS and the International Sustainability Standards Board global standards Patrick’s vision for how sustainability reporting will develop in the future His parting message to EFRAG Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
Transcribe →#100 Rachel Davis, Wim Bartels & Filip Gregor: Sustainability Now – 100th Edition Special Debate
Jan 2000:57:16Tap to summarizeSustainability reporting, sustainable finance, business and human rights – where are we now in Europe and globally on these three major issues? In this special 100th edition of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Rachel Davis, Vice President and Co-Founder of the Shift Project, Wim Bartels, Senior Sustainability Partner for Europe at Deloitte and Filip Gregor, Head of Responsible Companies Section at Frank Bold. Together they debated what’s in store in this next phase of corporate sustainability in Europe and discussed what change they are each bringing to the sustainability world in their work. You’ll also hear about: To what extent sustainable finance is still on track Rachel’s verdict on the actual state of play of human rights due diligence across the world The leitmotif of US diplomacy, and what it means for Europe The progression of corporate sustainability and due diligence legislation in Asia, and its implications Rachel, Wim and Filip’s favourite Frankly Speaking podcast episodes Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
Transcribe →#99 Robert Adamczyk: What is the State of Play on Green Finance?
Jan 1300:47:16Tap to summarizeWhat progress has been made in the world of sustainable finance? In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Robert Adamczyk, Senior Environmental Adviser at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which has already fully aligned its activities with the Paris Agreement, and member of both the European Reporting Financial Advisory Group (EFRAG) and the Technical Review Group for the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).Together they discussed how international financial institutions (IFIs) have increasingly integrated social and environmental criteria into their lending, and what impact it has had so far. You’ll also hear about: How EBRD ensures that Best Available Techniques (BAT) are applied at the plant level The bank’s experience in supporting Central and Eastern European countries with their transition to a market economy, as well as their sustainability transition – and the challenges in doing both at the same time Whether IFIs are still investing too much into fossil fuels The greatest challenges facing development banks, including financing and developing feasible projects Robert’s perspective on the comparison between the European Sustainability Reporting Standards and International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
Transcribe →#98 Marianne Gros & Robert Hodgson: What’s Coming in Sustainability in 2026?
Jan 600:41:02Tap to summarizeWhat should you be looking out for in the corporate sustainability space in 2026? For this very first episode of Frankly Speaking in 2026, Richard Howitt was joined by Marianne Gros, Sustainability Reporter at Politico Europe, and Robert Hodgson, Energy, Environment and Transport Editor at Euractiv to predict what's going to happen in the sustainability field this year.Together they assessed whether the final Omnibus 1 deal agreed at the end of last year really marks the end of sustainability Omnibus debate, as well as the timeline for its transposition into national law. You’ll also hear about: The second Omnibus package from the European Commission targeting environmental rules If water will take centre stage in corporate sustainability this year, with the planned EU Ocean Act How debates around the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) may play out this year, including the response both internally in the EU and from the US The chances of the EU’s Green Claims Directive being revived in 2026 Whether the Global Plastics Treaty might be agreed this year Marianne and Robert’s main prediction for how sustainability will develop in 2026 Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
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