Our End of Summer Newsletter
End of Summer, Start of Something Bigger
Summer may be coming to an end, but there has been very little slowing down for Us.
In our previous newsletter, we invited you to discover Hainan from a different perspective and explore how China and particularly the Hainan Free Trade Port is finding its place in the global sustainability conversation. (Continue watching the episodes via the youtube links below.)
This month, we continue that international perspective, while also sharing some important developments closer to home: a new milestone for ESG Academy, the continued expansion of our international expert network, preparations for the Air Cargo & Logistics Forum Shanghai, important developments for ANSPs working with GreenATM — and something much bigger happening across our businesses.
Episode Five
The Economics of Sport
In Episode 5 of Visions on the Hainan Free Trade Port, the roundtable explored how sport can become an economic driver for Hainan. From proposals for international marathons to the importance of building a strong local sports culture, the discussion looked beyond the game itself to tourism, investment, jobs, and international visibility.
Our Founder & CEO, Francine Carron, cited Sanya’s previous Formula E event as evidence that Hainan is not starting from scratch. The opportunity is to build on what already exists and use sport as another tool for sustainable tourism, economic development, and global positioning.
Episode 6
From Tomorrowland to Hainan: The Power of IP
In Episode 6 of Visions on the Hainan Free Trade Port, the roundtable explored intellectual property and how an idea can become an economic asset. IP is much more than patents and trademarks; it can be an event, an experience, a cultural identity, or even the brand of a place.
Our Founder & CEO, Francine Carron, brought the discussion back to Belgium and used Tomorrowland as an example of how a festival can grow into a globally recognized brand, creating value far beyond the event itself through tourism, employment, media and international exposure.
The question for Hainan was therefore simple: what could Hainan create that one day becomes globally recognized IP of its own?
Episode Seven
A Coconut Is Not Just a Coconut
In Episode 7 of Visions on the Hainan Free Trade Port, the roundtable turned to one of Hainan’s most recognizable symbols: the coconut.
Our Founder & CEO, Francine Carron, used the simple “economics of a coconut” to explain value creation. Sell a coconut as a raw agricultural product and it has one value. Transform it into coconut water, oil, cosmetics, or other products; use more of its by-products; add branding, sustainability, and international market access—and suddenly the same coconut represents an entire value chain.
The coconut became an analogy for Hainan itself: the opportunity is not simply to use what the island already has, but to create greater, more sustainable value from it.
Episode Eight
Why People Come to Hainan, and Why They Stay
In the final episode of Visions on the Hainan Free Trade Port, the discussion became more personal: what actually makes people choose to stay in Hainan?
Our Founder & CEO, Francine Carron, explained that policies may initially attract people and businesses, but they are not necessarily what makes them stay. Hainan offers an unusual combination: you can build an international business, study Chinese, enjoy the tropical weather, surf, meet an international community, and still develop professionally all in the same place.
For Francine, this is an important part of Hainan’s competitive advantage. Policies can attract talent, but community, opportunity, and quality of life are what turn a business destination into a place people want to call home.
From Hainan to Rwanda: Sustainability Looks Different Everywhere
Over the summer, we continued sharing perspectives on sustainability from very different parts of the world.
Our Vision of Hainan Free Trade Port series offered another look at Hainan and the transformation taking place around us in China.
But we didn’t only highlight Hainan.
Through our FranESG podcast, we traveled virtually to Rwanda to explore sustainable tourism and what sustainability looks like when environmental protection, communities, economic development, and tourism have to work together.
Different countries. Different sectors. Different realities.
But one common message:
There is no single sustainability transition.
Understanding the local context is what turns ESG from theory into something that actually works.
🎧 Listen to our Spotify Sustainable Tourism episode here or watch via YouTube.
Keep Learning: A Milestone for ESG Academy
For some, school has already started again. For others, there are still a few precious weeks of summer left.
Either way, we have one recommendation:
Keep learning.
ESG is changing too quickly for sustainability knowledge to stand still.
And this summer, we reached an important milestone of our own.
We are very proud to announce that the ESG Academy trademark has now officially been registered.
What began as an idea to make complex ESG knowledge practical and understandable has developed into a growing education business delivering training for companies, professionals and teams navigating sustainability in practice.
From European ESG regulation and sustainable procurement to aviation, carbon, reporting and international market access, ESG Academy is designed around one principle:
People should leave knowing what to do differently — not simply knowing more terminology.
Our International Expert Network Is Growing
We are also continuing to expand our international network of freelance ESG specialists.
As our projects become increasingly international and specialized, we are looking for experienced, independent professionals to join us on assignments across markets and ESG disciplines.
We are particularly interested in specialists across sustainability reporting, carbon, climate, sustainable finance, supply chains, aviation, mining, social sustainability, GHG calculators, airport carbon verifiers, ESG regulation, and related technical areas.
Freelancers must be able to work independently and invoice professionally, including holding the appropriate VAT/tax registration for their jurisdiction.
Interested in joining our international project network?
📩 Send your CV and area of expertise: esgemployment@[email protected]
From Services to a Group
Perhaps the biggest development this summer is one that has been taking shape quietly for some time.
Over the years, many of our businesses started in exactly the same way:
First as ideas. Then as services. And eventually as businesses in their own right.
To serve our clients better and make the growing range of expertise easier to navigate, we have now brought these businesses together under Carron ESG Group.
The Group creates one home for our growing ecosystem of specialist businesses, while allowing each company to retain its own focus and expertise.
For clients, the principle is simple: one group, access to a much broader sustainability ecosystem.
Whether the need is ESG advisory, specialist talent, professional education, responsible sourcing, sustainable fuels, carbon markets or international trade, we can increasingly bring the right expertise together around the same client challenge.
Next Stop: Shanghai — Air Cargo, Logistics & Sustainability
September will take us back into aviation.
We are preparing for Air Cargo & Logistics in Shanghai, where sustainability, global trade and logistics will once again come together.
Air cargo is facing some of the most interesting sustainability questions in aviation: emissions, SAF, customer expectations, supply-chain transparency, and the increasing demand for credible ESG performance.
It is also an area where our work is expanding.
If you will be in Shanghai and would like to discuss air cargo ESG, sustainability maturity, SAF, or international ESG requirements, reach out to us before the event.
📩 Meeting us in Shanghai? [email protected]
For ANSPs: Have You Seen the New GreenATM Questionnaire?
For our ANSP readers, there is another important development.
Have you already reviewed the new GreenATM questionnaire?
If you are wondering how the new questionnaire differs from the previous version — or what those changes could mean for your next assessment — speak to us.
We support ANSPs with:
- GreenATM gap analyses
- GreenATM submission preparation and support
- Evidence structuring and maturity assessments
- Progression towards higher GreenATM maturity levels
- Broader ESG frameworks for air navigation service providers
- The objective is not simply to complete another questionnaire.
It is to understand where your organization stands, to identify gaps early, and to build the evidence and governance needed for a strong submission.
Unsure what the new GreenATM requirements mean for your ANSP? We can help you work through them.
📩 Request GreenATM support: [email protected]
And If ESG Is Starting to Feel Complicated…
Between changing European regulations, customer questionnaires, EcoVadis, carbon requirements, supply-chain expectations, and sector-specific programs, organizations are understandably asking:
What actually applies to us?
That is exactly the question we like answering.
If your organization is struggling to understand the ESG market, changing regulations, buyer requirements, or where to start, reach out.
No vague sustainability language.
We explain what matters to your business, why it matters, and what you actually need to do next.
As summer draws to a close, we are looking forward to a very busy final part of 2026 — with new projects, new markets and plenty more to share.
Thank you, as always, for following our journey.
Warm Regards,
ESG Employment