Luk Van Wassenhove

Emeritus Professor of Technology and Operations Management
Email [email protected]
Find out more about the author

Dilmah: Committed to Taste, Goodness and Purpose

By  Amitava Chattopadhyay,  Ravi Fernando,  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Anne-Marie Carrick,  Anne Yang
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The case describes the story of Sri Lanka-based Dilmah Ceylon Tea. Founded in 1988 by the current CEO’s father, the company pioneered the concept of ‘single-origin tea picked, perfected and packed’ in Sri Lanka, with a brand based on taste, goodness and purpose. Present in over 105 countries, it is one of the most well-known Sri Lankan brands worldwide.

    Published 06 Dec 2021

    Reference 6685

    Topic Marketing

    Industry Food and Beverages Production

    Region Global

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    Dilmah: Committed to Taste, Goodness and Purpose

    Add to cart new
    The case describes the story of Sri Lanka-based Dilmah Ceylon Tea. Founded in 1988 by the current CEO’s father, the company pioneered the concept of ‘single-origin tea picked, perfected and packed’ in Sri Lanka, with a brand based on taste, goodness and purpose. Present in over 105 countries, it is one of the most well-known Sri Lankan brands worldwide.
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      Closed Loop PET Recycling in Malta: The Economics of Circularity

      By  Atalay Atasu,  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Lisa Duke
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      What does it take to build the infrastructure to recycle plastic bottles that is economically viable? The case looks at the economics of the circular economy, focusing on the development of a business case for a beverage producer to create a closed-loop PET bottle recycling facility on the island of Malta.

        Published 06 Jul 2021

        Reference 6673

        Topic Responsibility

        Industry Retail

        Region Europe

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        Closed Loop PET Recycling in Malta: The Economics of Circularity

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        What does it take to build the infrastructure to recycle plastic bottles that is economically viable? The case looks at the economics of the circular economy, focusing on the development of a business case for a beverage producer to create a closed-loop PET bottle recycling facility on the island of Malta.
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          Tony's Chocolonely: The Road to 100% Slave-Free Chocolate?

          By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Viktor Pot
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          As late as 2020, the supply chain of the global chocolate industry was characterized by modern slavery and child labour, poverty, dire living conditions and deforestation. While players in the cocoa industry had launched certification and in-house sustainability programmes, experts claimed that these have had limited impact.

            Published 07 Jun 2021

            Reference 6616

            Topic Responsibility

            Region Global

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            Tony's Chocolonely: The Road to 100% Slave-Free Chocolate?

            Add to cart new extra
            As late as 2020, the supply chain of the global chocolate industry was characterized by modern slavery and child labour, poverty, dire living conditions and deforestation. While players in the cocoa industry had launched certification and in-house sustainability programmes, experts claimed that these have had limited impact.
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              Are Chocolate Eaters Really SDG Smart?

              By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Viktor Pot,  Sarah Dewilde,  Thomas Breugem
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              Since its inception in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has provided a blueprint for shared prosperity in a sustainable world — a world where all people live productive, vibrant, and peaceful lives on a healthy planet. With less than a decade to go, we need to ask if we are laying the right foundation to achieve the SDGs. How “SDG-smart” are we?

                Published 27 May 2021

                Reference 6604

                Topic Responsibility

                Industry Consumer Goods,  Food and Beverages Production

                Region Global

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                Are Chocolate Eaters Really SDG Smart?

                Add to cart new extra
                Since its inception in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has provided a blueprint for shared prosperity in a sustainable world — a world where all people live productive, vibrant, and peaceful lives on a healthy planet. With less than a decade to go, we need to ask if we are laying the right foundation to achieve the SDGs. How “SDG-smart” are we?
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                  Against All Odds: The World Food Programme’s Use of Amphibious Vehicles in Humanitarian Logistics Operations

                  By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Boas Meijer,  Paul Dettmer
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                  In 2017, the World Food Programme decided to procure six amphibious all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) as a way to achieve ‘last-mile’ delivery to the most remote or disaster-hit areas on the planet. After two successful pilots, it is looking to incorporate ATVs into its disaster response operations as well as its ongoing development operations.

                    Published 20 May 2021

                    Reference 6581

                    Topic Operations

                    Industry Logistics and Supply Chain

                    Region Global

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                    Against All Odds: The World Food Programme’s Use of Amphibious Vehicles in Humanitarian Logistics Operations

                    Add to cart new Free Case
                    In 2017, the World Food Programme decided to procure six amphibious all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) as a way to achieve ‘last-mile’ delivery to the most remote or disaster-hit areas on the planet. After two successful pilots, it is looking to incorporate ATVs into its disaster response operations as well as its ongoing development operations.
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                      Banking on EIB to Lead Sustainable Finance to Impact the Climate Emergency

                      By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Ravi Fernando
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                      The 2015 Paris Agreement, signed by all 195 UN signatory nations, put a global focus on the impending climate emergency, with a mandate to achieve nationally determined commitments (NDCs) to exit fossil fuels and accelerate financing of global sustainability projects.

                        Published 23 Apr 2021

                        Reference 6632

                        Topic Responsibility

                        Industry Financial Services,  Banking

                        Region Europe

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                        Banking on EIB to Lead Sustainable Finance to Impact the Climate Emergency

                        Add to cart new
                        The 2015 Paris Agreement, signed by all 195 UN signatory nations, put a global focus on the impending climate emergency, with a mandate to achieve nationally determined commitments (NDCs) to exit fossil fuels and accelerate financing of global sustainability projects.
                          View case

                          Praesens Care’s Mobile Laboratories: An Innovative Service for Diagnostic Testing in Africa

                          By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Boas Meijer
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                          Praesens Care, a start-up based in Belgium, has developed a mobile laboratory with the aim of safely testing people for a wide range of killer diseases. Its mobile laboratories enable monitoring of infectious diseases and improve diagnostic capabilities in remote areas in Africa.

                            Published 23 Mar 2021

                            Reference 6598

                            Topic Operations

                            Industry Biotechnology

                            Region Global

                            View case

                            Praesens Care’s Mobile Laboratories: An Innovative Service for Diagnostic Testing in Africa

                            Add to cart new
                            Praesens Care, a start-up based in Belgium, has developed a mobile laboratory with the aim of safely testing people for a wide range of killer diseases. Its mobile laboratories enable monitoring of infectious diseases and improve diagnostic capabilities in remote areas in Africa.
                              View case

                              EMMA Safety Footwear (A): Designing a Circular Shoe

                              By  Andre Calmon,  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Anne-Marie Carrick,  Anne Nai-tien Huang
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                              Tom Hermans, CEO of EMMA Safety Footwear, is excited about the idea of developing the world’s first circular safety shoe – one that adheres to the cradle-to-cradle design principles. This could be a transformational strategy, differentiating EMMA from the crowded safety shoe market in Europe and extending a long tradition of social responsibility since its establishment in 1931.

                                Published 09 Mar 2021

                                Reference 6501

                                Topic Responsibility

                                Region Europe

                                View case

                                EMMA Safety Footwear (A): Designing a Circular Shoe

                                Add to cart new extra
                                Tom Hermans, CEO of EMMA Safety Footwear, is excited about the idea of developing the world’s first circular safety shoe – one that adheres to the cradle-to-cradle design principles. This could be a transformational strategy, differentiating EMMA from the crowded safety shoe market in Europe and extending a long tradition of social responsibility since its establishment in 1931.
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                                  EMMA Safety Footwear (B): Implementing the Circular Business

                                  By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Anne Nai-Tien Huang
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                                  This case is the continuation of EMMA Safety Shoes (A): Designing a Circular Shoe. EMMA reached 100% circularity in shoe design at the end of 2019, but this impressive achievement did not mean its journey to the circular economy was over.

                                    Published 09 Mar 2021

                                    Reference 6501

                                    Topic Responsibility

                                    Region Europe

                                    View case

                                    EMMA Safety Footwear (B): Implementing the Circular Business

                                    Add to cart new
                                    This case is the continuation of EMMA Safety Shoes (A): Designing a Circular Shoe. EMMA reached 100% circularity in shoe design at the end of 2019, but this impressive achievement did not mean its journey to the circular economy was over.
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                                      EcoVadis: A Sustainability Rating Company Goes Global

                                      By  Andre Calmon,  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Anne Nai-Tien Huang
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                                      Corporations are increasingly held responsible for the products they source and the sustainability of their supply chains. It was to meet this need that EcoVadis, a sustainability rating agency, was founded in 2007 by Pierre-François Thaler (INSEAD MBA, 1999) and Frédéric Trinel to bridge the information gap between corporate buyers and their suppliers.

                                        Published 20 Jan 2020

                                        Reference 6535

                                        Topic Responsibility

                                        Region Global

                                        View case

                                        EcoVadis: A Sustainability Rating Company Goes Global

                                        Add to cart
                                        Corporations are increasingly held responsible for the products they source and the sustainability of their supply chains. It was to meet this need that EcoVadis, a sustainability rating agency, was founded in 2007 by Pierre-François Thaler (INSEAD MBA, 1999) and Frédéric Trinel to bridge the information gap between corporate buyers and their suppliers.
                                          View case

                                          Tony's Chocolonely: The Road to 100% Slave-Free Chocolate?

                                          By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Viktor Pot
                                          Add to cart new extra
                                          As late as 2020, the supply chain of the global chocolate industry was characterized by modern slavery and child labour, poverty, dire living conditions and deforestation. While players in the cocoa industry had launched certification and in-house sustainability programmes, experts claimed that these have had limited impact.

                                            Published 07 Jun 2021

                                            Reference 6616

                                            Topic Responsibility

                                            Region Global

                                            View case

                                            Tony's Chocolonely: The Road to 100% Slave-Free Chocolate?

                                            Add to cart new extra
                                            As late as 2020, the supply chain of the global chocolate industry was characterized by modern slavery and child labour, poverty, dire living conditions and deforestation. While players in the cocoa industry had launched certification and in-house sustainability programmes, experts claimed that these have had limited impact.
                                              View case

                                              Are Chocolate Eaters Really SDG Smart?

                                              By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Viktor Pot,  Sarah Dewilde,  Thomas Breugem
                                              Add to cart new extra
                                              Since its inception in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has provided a blueprint for shared prosperity in a sustainable world — a world where all people live productive, vibrant, and peaceful lives on a healthy planet. With less than a decade to go, we need to ask if we are laying the right foundation to achieve the SDGs. How “SDG-smart” are we?

                                                Published 27 May 2021

                                                Reference 6604

                                                Topic Responsibility

                                                Industry Consumer Goods,  Food and Beverages Production

                                                Region Global

                                                View case

                                                Are Chocolate Eaters Really SDG Smart?

                                                Add to cart new extra
                                                Since its inception in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has provided a blueprint for shared prosperity in a sustainable world — a world where all people live productive, vibrant, and peaceful lives on a healthy planet. With less than a decade to go, we need to ask if we are laying the right foundation to achieve the SDGs. How “SDG-smart” are we?
                                                  View case

                                                  EMMA Safety Footwear (A): Designing a Circular Shoe

                                                  By  Andre Calmon,  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Anne-Marie Carrick,  Anne Nai-tien Huang
                                                  Add to cart new extra
                                                  Tom Hermans, CEO of EMMA Safety Footwear, is excited about the idea of developing the world’s first circular safety shoe – one that adheres to the cradle-to-cradle design principles. This could be a transformational strategy, differentiating EMMA from the crowded safety shoe market in Europe and extending a long tradition of social responsibility since its establishment in 1931.

                                                    Published 09 Mar 2021

                                                    Reference 6501

                                                    Topic Responsibility

                                                    Region Europe

                                                    View case

                                                    EMMA Safety Footwear (A): Designing a Circular Shoe

                                                    Add to cart new extra
                                                    Tom Hermans, CEO of EMMA Safety Footwear, is excited about the idea of developing the world’s first circular safety shoe – one that adheres to the cradle-to-cradle design principles. This could be a transformational strategy, differentiating EMMA from the crowded safety shoe market in Europe and extending a long tradition of social responsibility since its establishment in 1931.
                                                      View case

                                                      Humanitarian Agility in Action (A): The 2015 Yemen Crisis

                                                      By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Charles Delagarde,  Joachim Mikalsen
                                                      Add to cart popular extra
                                                      Agility is often mentioned but seldom defined or clearly illustrated. This case discusses UNICEF’s response to the sudden disruption of its aid supply chain to Yemen after the bombing started in 2015. It illustrates how a forwarding hub was quickly established in Djibouti and dhow vessels were used to reach small Yemeni ports from there.

                                                        Published 15 Dec 2017

                                                        Reference 6315

                                                        Topic Operations

                                                        Industry Facilities Services,  Hospital & Health Care,  Logistics and Supply Chain

                                                        Region Middle-East

                                                        View case

                                                        Humanitarian Agility in Action (A): The 2015 Yemen Crisis

                                                        Add to cart popular extra
                                                        Agility is often mentioned but seldom defined or clearly illustrated. This case discusses UNICEF’s response to the sudden disruption of its aid supply chain to Yemen after the bombing started in 2015. It illustrates how a forwarding hub was quickly established in Djibouti and dhow vessels were used to reach small Yemeni ports from there.
                                                          View case

                                                          Max Foundation (A): Saving Children’s Lives Through Business Model Innovation

                                                          By  Martijn Thierry,  Luk Van Wassenhove
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                                                          Case A describes how a couple who lost a child create a social venture - the Max Foundation - by applying sound business principles to maximize the impact per-euro-spent. Case B discusses the growth challenges facing the organisation today.

                                                            Published 31 Aug 2011

                                                            Reference 5788

                                                            Topic Responsibility

                                                            Industry Education Management

                                                            Region Asia

                                                            View case

                                                            Max Foundation (A): Saving Children’s Lives Through Business Model Innovation

                                                            Add to cart extra
                                                            Case A describes how a couple who lost a child create a social venture - the Max Foundation - by applying sound business principles to maximize the impact per-euro-spent. Case B discusses the growth challenges facing the organisation today.
                                                              View case

                                                              Safety in Numbers: Reducing Road Risk with Danida’s Multi-sector Partnership

                                                              By  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Aline Gatignon
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                                                              The Fleet Safety project was developed in response to the needs of the members of the Fleet Forum, an informal collaborating body and independent knowledge centre for fleet management in the humanitarian sector.

                                                                Published 27 Mar 2009

                                                                Reference 5589

                                                                Topic Operations

                                                                Region Global

                                                                View case

                                                                Safety in Numbers: Reducing Road Risk with Danida’s Multi-sector Partnership

                                                                Add to cart award extra
                                                                The Fleet Safety project was developed in response to the needs of the members of the Fleet Forum, an informal collaborating body and independent knowledge centre for fleet management in the humanitarian sector.
                                                                  View case

                                                                  Moving the World: The TPG-WFP Partnership - Looking for a Partner

                                                                  By  Rolando Tomasini,  Luk Van Wassenhove,  Ramina Samii
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                                                                  The case narrates the internal processes of choosing and implementing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. It illustrates the process of choosing a cause, selecting partners, creating a working plan, and finally getting the company's executive board's commitment.

                                                                    Published 06 Jan 2004

                                                                    Reference 5187

                                                                    Topic Responsibility

                                                                    Industry Logistics and Supply Chain,  Transportation/Trucking/Railroad

                                                                    Region Global

                                                                    View case

                                                                    Moving the World: The TPG-WFP Partnership - Looking for a Partner

                                                                    Add to cart award extra
                                                                    The case narrates the internal processes of choosing and implementing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. It illustrates the process of choosing a cause, selecting partners, creating a working plan, and finally getting the company's executive board's commitment.
                                                                      View case
                                                                      Supply Chain Management