Chris Hocknell’s Take on Eco‑Friendly Quality
“If a product or an action damages the environment, it’s not high quality,” the expert warned on The Big Question.
- All green claims need a green checkmark.
- We’re calling out eco‑blowfish.
Missing the Mark? Corporate “Green” Promises That Aren’t Really Green
Every other press release these days is a glass‑full dream: “We’re going carbon‑neutral by 2050.” It’s a tidy slogan that sounds great, but is it the real deal or just a marketing garnish?
What Chris Hocknell Finds Out
- “Big plans, no hard tools.” Chris Hocknell, director at Eight Versa, points out that companies love the idea that they can hit net‑zero or a zero‑carbon label without actually having the nuts and bolts to get there.
- He calls it the “have‑the‑cake‑and‑eat‑it‑too” problem: ambitious targets but no sustainable roadmap.
- “We’re stealing the sunrise for a future that’s still a glass of coffee—no real fuel.” He argues that the way we stack up carbon performance is actually killing science and stifling growth.
The Real Cost of Unrealistic Roadmaps
See, simply saying “we’ll be zero‑carbon” feels comforting, but the reality is that a big, vague promise with no bite can leave businesses flat‑footed. That’s exactly why some of the world’s green‑talk ends up in a minefield of empty metrics.
Why It’s Bad for Business
When a company boasts a grand strategy but hasn’t lined up the real solutions, the result? A stagnant business that can’t innovate or scale. Chris feels that the current approach to sustainability is a wall that blocks forward motion, not a bridge that helps climb higher.
“The Big Question” Discussion
Euronews’ business editor Angela Barnes sat down with Chris to talk about the pitfalls. Their chat highlights that the real issue isn’t just the fancy terms but how companies actually execute these pledges.
“An honesty deficit”
Peeling Back the “Net Zero” Curtain
Chris points out a classic loophole: the whole energy‑slanting indie has no proper audit, which means companies can shout about “cleanliness” and nobody’s there to double‑check if they’re actually telling the story.
What’s the Mix‑Up?
- Companies brag about being “green” but can’t prove it because the trail of data is buried somewhere deep.
- There’s essentially no eye‑on‑the‑flag function at all.
Apple & BP: When Words Go Awry
Both the tech titan and the oil giant are muddling words. BP’s 2050 ambition? It only covers Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions – the stuff they directly own and the energy they buy. The oils they sell? All left out.
Net Zero? Not Really
Think of the oil as liquid carbon. Even if the process seems slick, burning it turns into more CO₂, so the end product isn’t net‑zero at all.
A Quick Scope Cheat‑Sheet
- Scope 1: Direct emissions from sources owned and controlled by the organisation.
- Scope 2: Indirect emissions from purchased energy.
- Scope 3: Indirect emissions in the value chain (suppliers, customers, product use).
Why the Oil Still Rules
Chris acknowledges that oil and gas are still the lifeblood of our economy—fuel for cars, drones, coffee cups, and all that.
The key takeaway: chipping away at their own direct emissions, and being crystal‑clear about the scope of those claims, is the best move forward.
Chris Hocknell & Angela Barnes Take the Big Question Stage on Euronews
Ever wondered what happens when two media trailblazers dive head‑first into the world’s most pressing topics? Chris Hocknell and Angela Barnes stepped onto the stage of Euronews’ The Big Question to do just that—mix punchy insights, a pinch of humor, and a whole lot of gravitas.
What Prime Time Looks Like for the Dream Team
- Chris Hocknell: Seasoned journalist, wiz at turning dull data into engaging stories.
- Angela Barnes: Voice‑of‑the‑people who never lets a headline go unsaid.
- Platform: The Big Question—a show that doesn’t just ask what’s happening but why it matters.
Behind the Wall‑Paper
Unlike a coffee‑shop chat, the interview was a carefully orchestrated dance. Chris set the floor with a question that could’ve been ripped straight from a late‑night panel discussion—”What’s the Relevance of Global Trends?” And Angela? She fired back with a sassy yet sweeping narrative that reminded viewers why politics and everyday life are two sides of the same coin.
Three Takeaways (and a Dash of Humor)
- Clarity Builds Trust—Angela’s concise answers lit up the screen, proving that you don’t need a PhD to understand complex topics.
- Humor: The Secret Sauce—Chris’s light‑hearted banter had viewers laughing while absorbing the stats.
- Action‑Oriented Call to Arms—”What can you do versus what’s happening” became the crescendo of the episode.
Feel the Pulse of Europe
If you missed it, you missed a whole slice of Euronews. The live audience felt the electrifying energy and left with a sharper mind, a laughs‑faced grin, and the urge to turn on the next episode. That’s the magic of the The Big Question—where thought leaders, humor, and relatable storytelling meet in one converging event.
So next time you tune in to Euronews, watch for Chris and Angela—that dynamic duo will keep you on your toes.
Should we be suspicious of all climate pledges?
Chris on Sustainable Business: Not All Bad News
Orsted’s Green Machine
Chris points out that the world’s climate narrative isn’t just doom‑and‑gloom. He shines a light on firms that are shifting gears and actually doing the green stuff.
“Orsted is a prime example,” he says. “They’ve jumped from fossil fuels straight into green tech and grown huge. Their roadmap feels like a straight‑line shift toward the future, in theory.”
Patagonia and the Green Jungle
Then there’s Patagonia, the classic “we care about the planet” outfit. Chris raves about how they’ve turned sustainability into their DNA. They’ve cracked the code of tailoring their message—and their product lineup—to niche eco‑fans. However, Chris cautions that only a few companies can actually reinvent themselves for this very “green” slice of the market.
Reality Check: The Hard‑to‑Abate Industries
“Some sectors just can’t pretend to be net‑zero or climate‑neutral,” Chris admits. “We’re talking about the big heavy hitters: steel, glass, and other massive industries. There’s no shiny switch‑on button to slash emissions.”
- Steel — the iron giant that swears by its furnace.
- Glass — hasn’t joined the carbon‑free club yet.
- Heavy industry — the muscle that keeps the world moving.
Christ points out the elephant in the room: “We’re still in the dark about how to transition these giants. The tech we think we’ve got is just on the horizon, not in our pocket.”
Related
- ‘That would be a huge mistake’, fashion alliance fears ‘watering down’ of environmental legislation
Is there a better way for companies to approach their climate goals?
Redefining Climate Goals: A Bold Efficiency Play
Why the “Future Board” is a Myth
Chris Hocknell gets it—every board has a turnover curve. By 2040, 2045, or 2050, the current roster will have long since rotated out. Keeping the same ambitious targets for a decade‑long squad is just funny math. Instead, he proposes a fresh angle: reframe targets as efficiency objectives rather than impossible milestones.
What an Efficiency‑Float Means
- Year‑over‑Year Growth: Push progress each year while trimming the carbon footprint.
- “More with Less” Mindset: Strive for better results with fewer resources—think lean, mean climate machine.
- Regulatory Boost: Regulation should spur innovation, not box people in.
Regulations Reimagined
“We need an efficiency philosophy, not a rationing and budgetary mindset,” Chris says. He imagines policies that spark entrepreneurship, nudging boards to innovate instead of getting stuck in bureaucratic hurdles. Say goodbye to ‘limits and hurdles,’ say hello to entrepreneurial freedom.
The Bigger Picture
It’s all the serviceable question that πanels of industry leaders, like the team at Euronews Business’s The Big Question, love to scroll through. Chris’s take adds a crunch—if not speed, then at least smartness.
Explore the Full Conversation
For a deep dive into Chris’s vision, stream the full clip. He brings humor, grit, and a practical roadmap to a boardroom conversation that feels like a roadmap to a greener tomorrow.