We must not mistake the failure of one approach for the failure of the idea itself.

The old-school approach to sustainability – companies reporting performance on KPIs measuring environmental and social impact – was a good effort. We tried. But it hasn’t worked out. And now, in my opinion, our whole approach requires a rethink.

Earlier this year, the EU began rolling back much of its existing sustainability legislation: an estimated 80 to 90 per cent of companies previously required to report are now exempt. The reasoning is that simplifying the reporting burden will boost business growth – even though there’s no solid evidence that will work.

Leading sustainable brands resisted: they warned the European Parliament that weakening the rules undermines progress. Yet here we are. For many companies, the message is now: “If we don’t need to comply with mandatory reporting, then we won’t invest in sustainability this year. Let’s take a wait-and-see approach.”

The withdrawal has injected uncertainty. But we must not mistake the failure of one approach for the failure of the idea itself. The legislated reporting approach was only one possible lever. And if the aspirational, feel-good, sustainability narratives might feel out of step today, we must find other paths forward that uphold sustainability goals and align with corporate realities.

For me, the next chapter of sustainability begins with risk, but redefined. Risk isn’t just about financial exposure or compliance; it’s about our relationship with a world that is reaching its limits. Climate shocks, water scarcity and social unrest are now interconnected realities, not distant possibilities.

Seeing sustainability through that lens changes everything. It moves from being a reportable outcome to a mindset that recognises complexity, anticipates disruption and turns awareness into resilience.

The other half of the story is futures thinking and strategic foresight: learning to look ahead, spot weak signals and imagine multiple paths forward. It’s analytical, creative and deeply human. When organisations combine foresight with risk awareness, they can make better decisions today that still hold true tomorrow.

That is what inspired me and Darina Elencheva to create ‘Futures & Sustainability’, a new event series that brings together bold thinkers from unexpected fields such as design, anthropology, advertising and economics. By learning from how these disciplines question, frame and create, we can develop new mental models and practical tools for steering sustainability in more adaptive and forward-looking ways.

To connect with Alba, you can follow The Sustainable Link & Co and connect with her on LinkedIn, or sign up to hear about upcoming Futures & Sustainability events in the Netherlands