Opinion

How Can Sustainable Companies Achieve a Just Transition of Their Value Chain?

The Exchange

PUBLISHED: MARCH, 2025

The Exchange: Essential dialogues on child rights

As part of The Exchange, our ongoing discussion series on the critical child rights topics of today, Global Child Forum shares a conversation packed with valuable insights, which took place between its Secretary General, Ekin Ergün Björstedt, and James Close of NatWest Group.

The dialogue was part of the recent event, Competitive Transition and Responsible Supply Chains, hosted by NatWest and the British Embassy Stockholm.

In focus was a key issue, as modern companies grapple with continuing ESG and climate-related challenges: securing a just transition of the entire value chain, while safeguarding all stakeholder groups, including children.

With pressure mounting on corporates and the financial sector to act and report sustainably and responsibly – how can businesses achieve this?

Our experts dived into this essential question and its associated topics, sharing their unique knowledge and experience.

Download The Exchange

  • Below you can find an edited version of the dialogue.

Be part of the conversation

  • Reach out to the Global Child Forum team for guidance and advice on the important topics discussed here, and find out how we can support you on your child rights journey.
  • Interested in sharing your expertise within sustainability, child rights and business? We’re looking for interesting voices to take part in future editions of The Exchange – reach out to us here.

 

Meet the participants

Our expert line-up for The Exchange

Ekin Björstedt

Secretary General

Global Child Forum

Ekin Ergün Björstedt is the Secretary General, effective August 2024. Ekin joins us from Save the Children Sweden, where she was Chief Development Officer and Director of Funding, Partnerships, and New Business Models. Her career includes impactful roles such as Head of External Relations at Stockholm University, Project Director of Sustainability at TeliaSonera, and she also served as Sweden’s Trade Commissioner to Turkey. At Save the Children, she spearheaded innovative funding streams, demonstrating her adeptness in leading change management processes. She also holds an MBA from Stockholm University. She is Chairwoman of the Centre for Child Rights and Business and a Deputy Board Member of the Ethical Trade Initiative among other appointments.
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James Close

Head of Climate Change

NatWest Group

The Exchange

What were the findings?

The participants had some fascinating input when discussing the question: How can sustainable companies achieve a just transition of their value chain?

Click below to download the conversation in full, and find a useful summary of the key takeaways.

Need some guidance?

Responsible reporting supports a just transition of the value chain

The Corporate Playbook

A practical guide to embedding children’s rights in ESRS reporting, developed with support from the LEGO Group

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Linda Ravin Lodding

Head of Communications

As the Head of Communications, Linda is responsible for bringing our work, and our message, to our stakeholders. She has a long career in communications both in the private and public sector working for UN-affiliated organisations such as The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. Her public sector work is augmented by assignments in advertising, internet consulting and brand development. She holds an Undergraduate Degree from Barnard College, Columbia University and an MBA from the Stern School of Business, New York University. Linda joined Global Child Forum in 2015.
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