News & Events

April 25,26 + May 8, Ho Chi Minh City

Apr 2025

SiD Systemic Sustainability Masterclass

This is the famous 3-day SiD fundamentals training, with certificate, that has helped hundreds of people around the world to change their world-view and understanding of sustainability. SiD founde…

Newsletter Q1 '25

Apr 2025

A transformative year in motion

Dear friends and sustainability trailblazers,

Welcome to 2025, a year in which the world is seeing massive upheaval. This is cause for concern, as well as opportunity for systemic restruct…

A Season of New Beginnings

Oct 2024

Newsletter Q3 '24

Dear friends and sustainability trailblazers,

Announcing a global transformative collaboration

Oct 2024

Partnership with Buckminster Fuller Institute Design Lab

In an exciting step towards driving global sustainability transformation, Except Integrated Sustainability is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Buckminster Fuller Institute (BFI) Desig…

Closed: Position in Utrecht, Netherlands

Oct 2024

Project Coordinator & Office Manager (Medior/Senior)

This position is now closed. It was for a Dutch & English speaking medior/senior. Applications will be open until October 30, 2024.
This vacancy is for a 4 day per week position for a susta…

A Wealth of Sustainability News

Feb 2024

Except Newsletter Q1 '24

Dear friends and sustainability trailblazers, as usual at the start of the year, we send you a newsletter packed with knowledge goodies about the frontlines of sustainable innovation and researc…

Moving Beyond B-Corp Certification

We have always believed in leading by example in the sustainability arena since we started Except Integrated Sustainability in 1999. In 2019, we joined the B Corp movement, buoyed by a shared visi…

Craft Sustainable Futures with Us in Vietnam

Dec 2023

Closed: Junior Landscape / Urban Designer Vietnam

This position is now closed.
Vacancy: Junior Landscape / Urban Designer Vietnam

New SiD workshops, articles & more

Aug 2023

Summer '23 Newsletter

Dear friends and partners,

Invest in Vietnam's first sustainability center

Apr 2023

ViCo Sustainability Center Crowdfunding

Welcome to ViCo's crowd investment round. ViCo is set to revolutionize sustainable development where it really counts, in the "factory of the world", funded by and for the community…

Trees, trends, and tech with a twist

Feb 2023

The Tomorrow Times - February '23

Welcome to this year's first edition of the Tomorrow Times and a rundown of the stories that have piqued our interest over the past few months.

A reflection on the event

Dec 2022

Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE)

Held November 28-30th 2022, Eurocham’s inaugural Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) was the first time such a broad spectrum of sustainably-driven companies, academics, and leaders had gath…

News about the future today

Oct 2022

The Tomorrow Times - October '22

This edition of the Tomorrow Times reveals insight into the latest innovations and curiosities in sustainability. Read on to learn about the practice of agrivoltaics, the need for digitalization t…

Become an integral part of our Vietnamese team

Sep 2022

[CLOSED] sustainability researcher and project assistant

Are you a Vietnamese researcher experienced in environmental engineering or any related science? Do you have a background in project management and interested in working on integrated sustainable …

Except's Summer in Review

Sep 2022

Newsletter Q3 '22: unlocking sustainable cities across Europe and Asia

Dear friends and partners,

4-week foundational course for professionals

Jul 2022

New video training course - systemic sustainability & SiD on Udemy

Building a sustainable society is our greatest and one of the most misunderstood challenges we face.
Yes, a sustainable future will require new infrastructure and smart technologies, however, …

Laang Saigon, Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City

Jun 2022

ViCo & Orchid City Investors and Partner Event

Except are gearing up to revolutionize how Vietnamese businesses connect and work toward a resilient future. On Thursday 16th June, and in collaboration with DBAV, Except and our network of 20+ pa…

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Sustainable Vietnam's interview about ViCo

Jun 2022

ViCo in the news: Innovation Community in Vietnam

Sustainable Vietnam covers the story about why we are building ViCo, our latest innovation community, in Ho Chi Minh City.

Middelburg neighborhood, Ho Chi Minh City, and an Ambassador visit

May 2022

Newsletter Q2 '22: Pathways toward change

An update from UCo, our headquarters in Utrecht, where we are enjoying time together again and can appreciate the almost summery days in our sunlit office. We've been busy these past few mont…

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Ambassador Pham Viet Anh and his team explore UCo

May 2022

Vietnam's Ambassador visits Except Integrated Sustainability

The following is an English translation of an article in The World & Vietnam Report (THẾ GIỚI Vietnam) of the Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands' visit to Except Integrated Sustaina…

News about the future, today

Feb 2022

The Tomorrow Times - February '22

This month is packed with exciting news to inspire and keep you updated on the latest events. It’s a look into a brighter future from alternative energy sources to regenerative agriculture and inn…

Inspiring window onto the wetlands to open in 2024

Feb 2022

Wadden Sea World Heritage Center development progresses

The development of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Center shows glimmering progress. A contractor has been selected and the municipality of Het Hogeland decided design plans can proceed.

Except's most recent news

Jan 2022

Newsletter Q1 '22: Sustainability in Vietnam, Japan and Roosendaal

Have you seen “Don't Look Up?”

Become part of our Research Team

Oct 2021

[CLOSED] Senior sustainability researcher

You are a researcher looking at entire systems, love the details of living things and technology, and you eat your cornflakes with a healthy portion of data. You want to put your skills to work an…

The first self-sustainable city in the world

Jun 2021

Orchid City

Press Release: Public Launch

Online Event via Zoom on June 24th, 2021 at 16:00 (CET)

Join us for the world's first sustainable city blueprint reveal

Jun 2021

Orchid City going public

If you are on our mailing list, dare to say you are one of the dreamers. Dream of a better future. Have you ever wondered if a better future is feasible for all of us? Join us on the 24th of June …

Be a part of the sustainable city blueprint of the future

Jun 2021

Orchid City Public Reveal Event

On the 24th of June we showcase the world's first self-sustaining city blueprint: Orchid City.

News about the future today

Feb 2021

the Tomorrow Times - February '21

In this edition, we celebrate our fascinating planet by looking into food systems, getting inspired by ancient wisdom and sustainable business initiatives, because 2021 is a year of change and hop…

News about the future today

Dec 2020

the Tomorrow Times - December‘20

The pandemic has forced us to stop and reflect on our lives, questioning the things most dear to us. It has made us remember that we cannot take everything for granted. The positive side is that t…

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News about the future today

Nov 2020

the Tomorrow Times - November‘20

In this edition, we talk about how sustainability can be approached with systemic frameworks. Read the latest news about transformative future scenarios, inspiring partnerships, circular initiativ…

Learn key concepts of Symbiosis in Development (SiD) in 4 weeks

Oct 2020

An Intro to Systems Thinking for Sustainability course

We want to share our secrets with you. In our care for creating the foundations of a sustainable society, we created the first open, online video course on systemic sustainability. And it's e…

After the storm

Sep 2020

Fall Newsletter 2020

Dear community and friends,

The last few months taught us to put our money where our mouth is when we talk about “planning for resilience”, and so the hard way. Like many others, at Excep…

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News about the future today

Sep 2020

the Tomorrow Times - September '20

What could an inclusive and resilient post-pandemic 21st century look like, and what system can support this vision? In this edition, we celebrate sustainable innovations, joint forces and efforts…

News about the future today

Jul 2020

The Tomorrow Times - July '20

As summer unfolds, we begin to feel a positive impulse to live life with renewed meaning, to contribute to systemic changes, and to lay the foundations for more resilient systems for people and na…

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Join forces to realize urban greening

Jul 2020

Partnership The Green City

At Except Integrated Sustainability, we work on a sustainable future with an integrated approach. That means that we look at innovative and creative ways to contribute to all life we share the pla…

Duurzame Week 2020 - Future Fit Voedselproductie

Neem 23 juni deel aan de online sessie Future-Fit Voedselproductie

Jun 2020

Except tijdens de Duurzame Week

Dit jaar vindt de vijfde editie van de Duurzame Week plaats. Van 20 tot en met 28 juni worden online verschillende activiteiten en evenementen georganiseerd die te maken hebben met duurzaamheid en…

News about the future today

May 2020

Tomorrow Times May '20

By shaking global society at its foundations, the COVID-19 crisis has brought embedded fragility to the surface of paradigms we took for granted. It changes perspectives on the structures in which…

News about the future today

May 2020

The Tomorrow Times - May '20

By shaking global society at its foundations, the COVID-19 crisis has brought embedded fragility to the surface of paradigms we took for granted. It changes perspectives on the structures in which…

Free Systemic Design webinar, March 23

Mar 2020

Life in the time of Corona - March '20

Dear community and friends,

The COVID-19 crisis clearly demonstrates the notion of fragility to us. In moments like this, we must act to build resilience. The only way we can overcome a p…

Life in the time of Corona - March '20

Dear community and friends,
The COVID-19 crisis clearly demonstrates the notion of fragility to us. In moments like this, we must act to build resilience. The only way we can overcome a period…

News about the future today

Mar 2020

The Tomorrow Times - February '20

Have you ever thought that electric cars are not sustainable in themselves? Have you heard that data will be the future of sustainable businesses, or that more and more entrepreneurs are experimen…

News about the future today

Jan 2020

The Tomorrow Times - January '20

We step into this new decade with a mashup of the latest happenings in sustainability. Stay curious, keep up to date, and get inspired, all in a quick read.

Tomorrow Times - Sustainable Resorts ' 19

News about the future today

Dec 2019

The Tomorrow Times - Sustainable Resorts - December ‘19

This last month of the year, the Tomorrow Times explores holiday resorts as closed systems with the potential to be regenerative environments. These settlements represent experiments for fully sus…

News about the future today

Nov 2019

The Tomorrow Times - Urban Metabolism & Digitalization - November ‘19

This month, the Tomorrow Times dives into urban ecosystems, and on how they process biophysical flows to their advantage. We investigate how envisioning cities like living beings can help us enhan…

Newsletter October '19

Oct 2019

Sailing onwards

Dear Exceptional friends & partners,

What a month September was: after gathering with the international systems thinking community in London, on Friday the 20th we celebrated 20 years …

the Tomorrow Times - Climate Action & Participation - Oct '19-Web

News about the future today

Oct 2019

the Tomorrow Times - Climate Action and Participation - October ‘19

The growing momentum of climate activism is driving massive global awareness on the urgency for fundamental, tangible system change. Governments and industries alike are urged to act, as their pol…

First complete sustainable development framework now in one book

Sep 2019

Symbiosis in Development (SiD) book

After 10 years of work, the first complete book on Symbiosis in Development (SiD) is launched. It is the first A to Z handbook for systemic sustainable development, capturing experience of over 70…

First complete sustainable development framework now in one book

Sep 2019

Symbiosis in Development (SiD) book launched

After 10 years of work, the first complete book on Symbiosis in Development (SiD) is launched. It is the first A to Z handbook for systemic sustainable development, capturing experience of over 70…

News about the future today

Sep 2019

the Tomorrow Times - 20 Years in Sustainability - September ‘19

Except turns 20 this month. This Tomorrow Times looks back two decades in the sustainability field, and wonders: what happened? Sustainability went from niche to buzzword, and now sustainable deve…

Join us in celebrating 20 years of integrated sustainability

Aug 2019

X|X Except 20th Anniversary Celebration

This year, Except turns 20. For the past two decades, we existed to create the foundations of a sustainable society. As one of the first integrated sustainability organizations in the world, we wa…

News about the future today

Aug 2019

The Tomorrow Times - Circular & Bio Economy - August ‘19

This month, the Tomorrow Times investigates the world of the circular economy and bio-based products. Imagine businesses and societies which not only produce zero waste, but also enable industri…

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News about the future today

Jul 2019

The Tomorrow Times - July '19

This month, the Tomorrow Times explores issues rooted in urban and rural development, and integrated solutions inspired by nature. Imagine infrastructures that enable us to live, work, and play in…

With an intimate session on integrated sustainability

Jun 2019

Except Academy Launches at Duurzame Week

During this years Duurzame Week, Except Integrated Sustainability launches the Except Academy. The Except Academy guides individuals and teams, and gives them the tools and tenacity to realise ac…

News about the future today

Jun 2019

the Tomorrow Times - UN: Critical Biodiversity Limits Reached June ‘19

This month, the Tomorrow Times joins the conversation surrounding new critical biodiversity news: what the UN has just discovered, and what it means for humanity.

Dutch Sustainability Firm Raises Bar for High-Performance Buildings

May 2019

Press Release Catalytic Buildings

Utrecht, The Netherlands - To transition 21st century cities towards sustainability, high-performance buildings must uplift the surrounding city rather than solely sustain their own existence. Exc…

15-22 June 2019, Utrecht

May 2019

Except Integrated Sustainability Partners With Duurzame Week

This year marks the fourth edition of Duurzame Week (Sustainability Week) in Utrecht, with events taking place across the city from 15 to 22 June 2019. You can immerse yourself in everything to d…

News about the future today

May 2019

the Tomorrow Times - Global Food Security - May ‘19

Alongside your monthly update of systemic sustainability news, the May edition of the Tomorrow Times explores the global developments surrounding food security, sustainability, and innovation in t…

Sustainable Developments goals EMAIL the Tomorrow Times March 19

News about the future today

Mar 2019

the Tomorrow Times - the UN Sustainable Development Goals - March ‘19

This month, the Tomorrow Times explores how businesses are bringing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the mainstream. We highlight the traps which businesses fall into as well as the t…

Looking back on 2017, speeding forward into 2018

Mar 2019

Except News: Bring in the new!

Dear friends and partners,

we love to update you with highlights of last year and some exciting news for this one. We look back on a transformative year completing 39 projects, a changed b…

Catalytic Buildings White Paper Cover for Press Release

Tuning in to the Construction Sector's "Music of Tomorrow"

Feb 2019

Catalytic Buildings White Paper

Except Integrated Sustainability launches a new approach to sustainable urban development: Catalytic Buildings. A Catalytic Building helps to ‘sustainify’ an existing urban fabric. Going beyond en…

Three day ‘Symbiosis in Development’ Certification Course

Feb 2019

SiD Integrated Sustainability Training

How do you create value with sustainability? We are proud to present our renewed Symbiosis in Development (SiD) integrated sustainability training, hosted by Freek van der Pluijm, a well-rounded f…

Opportunity as a change agent for Sustainable Organizations

Feb 2019

Open position: Senior Project Manager

Except is expanding with projects that shape the future of sustainable development in many different organizations. This is a special and unique opportunity for an experienced project manager with…

3 day Symbiosis in Development (SiD) certification course

Feb 2019

SiD Integrated Sustainability Training | 13, 14 and 21 September

We are proud to present our renewed Symbiosis in Development (SiD) integrated sustainability training, hosted by Freek van der Pluijm, a well-rounded facilitator for organizational change with o…

‘The Tomorrow Times’ - Jan ‘19: Urban Development - ASSET IMAGE

News about the future today

Feb 2019

the Tomorrow Times - Going Beyond Sustainability - Jan ‘19

We introduce to you, our brand new newsletter, the Tomorrow Times. Get updated monthly on critical news about the future. Each edition informs you on the latest happenings, trends, and innovations…

Global News Digest

Feb 2019

Wormfood - February 2017 - A positive year

What better way to stay updated on sustainability than the February wormfood? Discover all about eco-friendly innovations, how Canada guarantees environmental control for natural gas projects, the…

Blue Green Infrastructure: Backbone of future green developments and circular economy in the EU

Jan 2019

Open Positions: Two Researchers (Closed)

Are you a young professional who would like to get equipped with the necessary tools to approach personal growth, complex problems and translate these into powerful solutions that will be applied …

New Year Newsletter 2019

Jan 2019

New Year, New Path Forwards

Dear exceptional people,

We are thrilled to wish you all a happy new year. And what a year it has been! You may have noticed, we’ve had a period of radio silence. This is because we’ve res…

Writer and Editor

Dec 2018

Open Position: Science Communications Internship (Closed)

Except is expanding with projects that are to shape the future of sustainable development in various places around the world. We are looking for passionate and exceptional interns at the beginning…

Science Team Internship

Dec 2018

Open Position: Data Analyst Intern (Closed)

Except is expanding with projects that are shaping the future of sustainable development in various regions around the world. We are looking for passionate and exceptional interns which are at the…

Converting Scientific Knowledge into Practice

Key barriers to a sustainable transition

Dec 2018

Converting Scientific Knowledge into Practice

In this article, we get curious about the divergence between science and practice. Particularly, we focus on what hinders the implementation of theory in the field of sustainability. Herein, we ai…

World Science Day

Nov 2018

Science and Development

To celebrate World Science Day for Peace and Development, Except Integrated Sustainability explores informed decision making and future planning. This piece is the first in a series of three artic…

Venice Biennale

Nov 2018

Designing The City of the Future

Except Integrated Sustainability is part of a multidisciplinary team INCITY working on a design study initiated by BNA titled ‘De stad van de toekomst’ (The city of the future). Except’s Antonia S…

ReGen Villages, Heineken, Egypt, the Wadden Sea Center, and more

Aug 2018

Hot Summer News 2018

Dear friends and partners,

In the midst of a heatwave in the Netherlands, and one to come to Europe in August, we’re excited to share some hot news with you. Our ReGen Villages sustainable…

Getting you ready for your next sustainability project

Jul 2018

Integrated Sustainability: Symbiosis in Development (SiD) Workshop

Except is proud to present to you our renewed Integrated Sustainability: Symbiosis in Development (SiD) Workshop hosted by Tom Bosschaert, Founder and Director, Except and Michiel van der Vight, S…

Opportunity for Entrepreneur

Jun 2018

Open position: junior PR/Marketing specialist

We are looking for a PR and Marketing specialist for 1-2 days a week. We, Except Integrated Sustainability, are a company of about 15 people working on innovative, pioneering projects aimed to boo…

Our 18th Birthday Edition

May 2017

Except Update Q2 '17: UCo & IKEA's supply chain

Dear friends and partners,

From our sunny new office in Utrecht, we wish you a great spring of 2017. Did you know that this year Except turns 18? We hope you’ve all received our invite to…

Global News Digest

Jan 2017

Wormfood – December, 2016

What is a better way to remember 2016 than the December wormfood? Discover how Sweden is trying out a six-hour working day, Google supports renewables and the biodiversity of microbes and inverteb…

Global News Digest

Dec 2016

Wormfood – November, 2016

Welcome to the November wormfood.

Some of the remarkable things that happened over the last month: natural gas and renewables are taking over oil. Discover how global warming is threatenin…

Looking back on Micropia Grid Night: little things can do great deeds

Nov 2016

Grid Night - Little things that matter

Last week Except took her friends and business partners on a tour at Micropia, to celebrate “Little things that matter”. In light of a recent publication on Medium about how an algae can save a t…

Global News Digest

Nov 2016

Wormfood – October, 2016

Welcome to the October wormfood.

Some of the remarkable things that happened over the last month: Africa is threatened by pollution more than malnutrition. Discover how Airbnb is promoting…

Global News Digest

Oct 2016

Wormfood – September, 2016

Welcome to the September wormfood. We collected some intriguing news to inspire you.

Some of the remarkable things that happened over the last month: Paris climate agreement is closer to r…

Global News Digest

Sep 2016

Wormfood - July and August - 2016

Hi all. It has been a nice summer and we may have enjoyed it a little bit too much. So you’re getting two wormfoods for the price of one!

Some of the remarkable things that happened over t…

Yearly review of Except's impact

Aug 2016

Let the Numbers Speak: Except 2015/16 Review

Dear colleagues, friends and partners,

Just a short message from us, because we're very excited to have launched a brand new website and identity.

It offers not just some in…

Our latest Grid night invited you to reuse your waste.

Jul 2016

Trashform Yourself!

On February 11th, we invited you to a night of unusual fun. Held in the intimacy of Rotterdam Collectief, our networking night called onto creativity: our guests made costumes out of trash.

A pollination of inspiration about urban biodiversity

Jul 2016

Grid Night - Cities Go Wild - Part II - Urban Biodiversity

Green Business Club Utrecht Centraal joined Except’s Grid Night Cities go Wild and took urban biodiversity to a professional level, aiming to pollinate the participants with inspiration on how to …

International festival on Technology and Society

Jul 2016

Join us at the Border Sessions

Explore how emerging technologies shape our future society and meet the innovators who are making it happen. We are proud to be one of those innovators.

The impact of the self-driving car on the urban environment

May 2016

Self-driving city

Will the self-driving car contribute to a sustainable urban society? Google Car and other futuristic looking vehicles are going viral, even before they appear in public streets. They make designer…

How will we be moving in the future?

May 2016

Grid Night - Let's Move!

Have you ever wondered what cities in the future will look like? Will they be dreamy cities in the sky or the sea, or small practical rooms in large buildings like in 5th Element? Have you ever im…

Global News Digest

Apr 2016

Wormfood - March 25, 2016 - Free Willy!

This month's wormfood brings you a movie coming to life: Orcas from SeaWorld will finally be freed. Also, for the first time a hard limit is placed on the amount of meat a person should consu…

Global News Digest

Apr 2016

Wormfood - Feb 29 2016 - The good, the bad, and the ugly

Mixed messages this month. Exciting news and global stress make for a colorful news-soup for this wormfood. The UN stresses that we need to eat less meat if we're to counter the effects of gl…

Global News Digest

Jan 2016

Wormfood – January 26, 2016 – Feeling hot hot hot

Historic Paris climate deal achieved: nearly 200 nations sign in end of fossil fuel era. This is highly needed because 2015 is again warmer than the year before. It is also the year in which Scot…

Global News Digest

Jan 2016

Wormfood – November 26, 2015 – China's two-child policy

China ends one-child policy, pollution lobbyists discuss exploiting the Syrian refugee crisis and a Canadian city completely eradicates homelessness.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Looking for independent publicist to reinforce our team.

Jan 2016

Our 2016 wish: a publicist

We're on a roll: we're working on projects around the world, expanding our team, and making a difference. Our PR efforts, however, are lagging behind compared to the speed of our project…

An exciting update for under the tree

Jan 2016

Winter update 2013

Dear friends, colleagues, and partners,

Winter is coming and just before the end of the year we like to update you on what we've been up to.

We've revamped our internal o…

Global News Digest

Oct 2015

Wormfood – October 27, 2015 – Early Life

Scientists discovered that life emerged 300 million years earlier than previously thought, Iceland sents 26 top bankers to prison, and botox might limit your emotional capabilities.

Read…

Global News Digest

Sep 2015

Wormfood – August 20, 2015 – Earth Overshoot Day

Humans have exhausted a year’s supply of natural resources in less than eight months, a big toxic water release in the USA, and now is your chance to buy a Spanish village.

Read all about …

Global News Digest

Sep 2015

Wormfood – September 22, 2015 – Three trillion trees

We have over 3 trillion trees on Earth, Exxon ignored global warming warnings, and apparently moss watching is very relaxing.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Almost Summer Edition

Sep 2015

Grid Night – Cities Go Wild part I

What do a piece of log, a rather short quiz, a fast-paced origami workshop and an insect hotel have in common with a refurbished swimming pool, late night funky music and lots of drinks? That’s ri…

Global News Digest

Jul 2015

Wormfood – July 21, 2015 – Eco-warrior Pope Francis

Pope Francis writes about climate change and social debt in his encyclical, plankton eating plastic caught on camera and underwater greenhouses.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Dutch Agri-Food and Greenhouse Technology Trade Mission

Jun 2015

Except joins trade mission to Detroit

Simon Smits, Vice Minister for Foreign Trade of the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leads a trade mission to Detroit on May 31, 2015, featuring 25 organizations from the Dutch agricultur…

A night full of surprises

Jun 2015

Grid Night - Get Connected

Our latest Grid Night was centered around getting connected to each other and getting reconnected to ourselves. The evening started off with an exquisite dinner at De Machinist. The food was serv…

Dutch Agri-food and Greenhouse Technology Trade Mission to Detroit

Jun 2015

Detroit Urban Regen Launched

25 organizations from the Dutch agriculture, food, and greenhouse technology sectors visited Detroit on May 31, 2015 on a trade mission led by Simon Smits, Vice Minister for Foreign Trade of the N…

Global News Digest

May 2015

Wormfood – May 25, 2015 – (Un)Happy Countries

The latest Global Happiness Index is published, renewable energy beats fossil fuels, and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill dissolved an island.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

June 9 at Meet Berlage, Amsterdam

May 2015

Co-creation session "Cycling under water"

On Tuesday, June 9th we are organizing a co-creation session to further develop our plans for the IJfietstunnel . How can we create the best and safest bicycle tunnel in the world? In a three-hou…

Global News Digest

Apr 2015

Wormfood – April 13, 2015 - We need nature

Nature doesn’t need people, but people need nature. Costa Rica sets renewable energy record and the first head transplant is planned to take place in 2017.

Read all about it in this Wormf…

Global News Digest

Mar 2015

Wormfood – March 13, 2015 - The Human Age

We might have entered the Anthropocene, a new French law is pushing manufacturers to start designing products that are easier to fix, and an incredible vertical forest is cleaning the air in Turin…

Our time of the month to share the fun

Mar 2015

Exceptional Drinks

Yes! It is the opportunity to comment on seemingly unprofessional photo's on our website (or, preferably, to make some new ones), discuss what Except outfits should look like if we would all …

Global News Digest

Feb 2015

Wormfood – February 11, 2015 – Doomsday is near(er)

The doomsday clock is set to three minutes before midnight, water crises is the biggest risk in terms of impact according to the new Global Risks Report, and Anonymous hacks ISIS.

I wish I…

A theatrical evening to celebrate Except's fifteenth birthday

Feb 2015

Grid Night - Transitions

“All good things come to an end”

…or, do they?

We wish our latest Grid Night never had to end, but well, that's not the kind of universe we live in. The very first Grid Night…

Develop unique innovative software for sustainability

Feb 2015

Open Position: Front End Developer

You are a brilliant software engineer, programmer and web front-end developer. You communicate well, consider yourself an all-rounder and look forward to doing diverse projects with a professional…

Transforming cities and neighborhoods into resilient communities

Jan 2015

Urban Renaissance founded

The Urban Renaissance program brings together pioneering public and private organizations in urban transformation, and starts concrete transformations projects, on our own initiative as well as by…

Happy birthday to us!

Jan 2015

Winter '15 News Update

Dear friends, colleagues, and partners,

It's our fifteenth birthday, and to celebrate we'd love to share this winter update with you, packed with goodies. A new movie, Except Aca…

Global News Digest

Jan 2015

Wormfood - August 21, 2013 – New mammal discovered

A new mammal is discovered in the forests of Colombia and Equador, girls hide spoons in their underwear to avoid marrage and take a look inside the world’s tallest slum. Read all about it in this …

Designing a refit for the existing IJtunnel to provide space for cyclists

Jan 2015

Cycling under water

Amsterdam needs a new solution for crossing the river IJ. Ferries run overtime to transport cyclists and pedestrians to the up-and-coming North area of Amsterdam. Expensive plans are being made, m…

“We made a lot of mistakes… and that’s a good thing. We learned a lot.” Maarten Bruinsma, student Industrial Ecology

Jan 2015

Kick-off Except Academy

Last week, four students joined the first edition of Except Academy, our training program aimed at providing students with hands-on experience in systemic sustainability. They started researching …

Guiding our production systems to the next generation

Dec 2014

Open position: Program Manager Industry & Food

The industrial revolution left us with a radically different world, with its benefits and problems. Today, we find that the supply chains we rely on for vital resources are ancient, inefficient, a…

Opportunity for Entrepreneur

Dec 2014

Open position: Architect

You dream in opportunities. Whenever you see a building, you see its potential. It might actually keep you awake at night. You love to link these opportunities to the environment of the building a…

Opportunity for Entrepreneur

Dec 2014

Open position: Program Manager

Honestly, we wish we could clone him. Michiel is the Program Manager of our dreams. We all want to work with him in a project. In his opinion, cooperation needs to be explorative and result-orient…

Informal meet-up

Dec 2014

Get-to-know-us-lunch

We love to get to know you. If you want to know more about Except and our team, you are more than welcome to join our weekly lunch on Mondays.

We start at 13.00h in our office in Rotterdam…

Opportunity for Entrepreneur

Dec 2014

Open position: User Interface Designer

You love user interfaces, you dream about them, can't stop talking about them, and are the first to note that UIX and UID are different things. You want to put your skills to work on the stuf…

Let's change the digital landscape

Dec 2014

Open position: Program Manager ICT & Software

You thrive to work on tools that help organizations improve themselves with a team of professionals. You love to be occupied with connecting software ideas to financers, problem owners and managin…

Global News Digest

Dec 2014

Wormfood – December 1, 2014 - Twenty major trends

Trends that will define life on our planet for decades, storing energy in molten aluminium lakes, and linking Brazilian kids to American elderly.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Exploring ideas and expectations

Nov 2014

Except Academy Testimonials

Except offers students who apply for internships or graduation projects a position at the Except Academy. These testimonials come from a multidisciplinary team of students who had just begun worki…

Global News Digest

Oct 2014

Wormfood – October 31, 2014 - Scarred Environments

Beautiful photos of landscapes scarred by industry and climate change, a Dutch farmer is growing salt-tolerant potatoes, and the role water played during the start of the Syrian war.

Read…

Global News Digest

Oct 2014

Wormfood – October 1, 2014 - Are we becoming monsters?

Our neolibaralistic society is turning us into psychopaths, witness China´s smogpocalypse with your own eyes, and a visual guide to who hates whom in the Middle East.

Read all about it in…

Global News Digest

Sep 2014

Wormfood – September 9, 2014 - Stop wasting food

An insightful infographic visualizes our wasteful food habits, 22% of our global energy demand is renewable, and Russia's 'sex geckos' die on space mission.

Read all about i…

Global News Digest

Aug 2014

Wormfood – July 17, 2014 - Second Silent Spring

Bird declines are linked to popular pesticides, dark snow accelerates climate change, and Ukraine demands the return of combat dolphins from Russia.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Global News Digest

Aug 2014

Wormfood – August 16, 2014 - Amazon tribe seeks help

An Amazon tribe seeks help against illegal loggers and drug traffickers, race is to be scrapped from Swedish legislation, and a Swedish father takes his two video game loving sons to Israel to tea…

From wastewater to torches

Jul 2014

Summer '14 News Update

Dear friends, colleagues, and partners,

We hope you are enjoying the summer as much as we do. The past few months are marked by inspiring events we held and exciting new projects we'v…

How much is nature worth?

Jul 2014

Spring 2014 News - Natural Capital

Dear friends, colleagues, and partners,

It's spring, time for some sunny news! This edition we focus on the rapid developments in the area of Natural Capital.

May 28 | Pllek, Amsterdam

Jun 2014

Grid Night – Pass the Torch

At our biggest Grid Night so far three business leaders pitched their challenges to a diverse audience. The brainstorm sessions moved these questions into a broader discussion. We're glad thi…

Global News Digest

Jun 2014

Wormfood – June 24, 2014 - Plunder of the high seas

Fuel subsidies encourage overfishing, play around with a simulation of system Earth, and should we treat computer programs as legal entities?

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Global News Digest

Jun 2014

Wormfood – June 3, 2014 - New Antibiotics to the Rescue

New antibiotics might divert threat of multiresistant bacteria, great footage of a rare supercell thunderstorm, and China establishes their first environmental court.

Read all about it in…

At the opening of the IABR in Rotterdam

May 2014

Meet the Rotterdam Metabolists

The Rotterdam Metabolists are a joint endeavor of innovative firms in Rotterdam who are leaders in the field of design based on urban metabolism. They present themselves at the opening of the IABR…

The new movement for sustainable cities

May 2014

Rotterdam Metabolists founded

The Rotterdam Metabolists were founded on March 17th, and unites seven Rotterdam based agencies working on the metabolism of cities for over a decade, around the world.

Together they repre…

Global News Digest

May 2014

Wormfood – May 13, 2014 – Our Alarming Food Future

Fresh produce supply is threatened by climate change, the World´s largest nature reserve is established, and the NSA website was hacked.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Hopetoun falls; Photo by DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0

Global News Digest

Apr 2014

Wormfood – April 20, 2014 – Legal rights for nature

Bolivia is about to give nature legal rights, Swedes start trial with six-hour workdays, and Angela Merkel is not allowed to view her own NSA file.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Global News Digest

Apr 2014

Wormfood – April 1, 2014 – Refreezing the Poles

Environmental science activitsts refreeze the poles, mutated tomatoes threaten Monsanto and a gen is discovered that enables birds to emit WiFi.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

It's not true but it might be!

Mar 2014

Wishful thinking

April fools... got you.. :)

The course of empire: Destruction. Cole Thomas 1836

Global News Digest

Mar 2014

Wormfood – March 26, 2014 – Collapse of Civilization

We might be heading to a collapse of our civilization, two years of zero poaching in Nepal and get rid of park benches to get parents moving.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Into the forest

Mar 2014

Winter Retreat 2014

Yes we did it again. To celebrate the end of the winter we went to the Veluwe for new inspiration, long nights, good food, dancing, and catch the first sunshine.

Global News Digest

Mar 2014

Wormfood – March 4, 2014 – We need bold new systems

We need to change our failing systems, sell your personal data and Chihuahuas are terrorizing a US neighbourhood.

Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Global News Digest

Feb 2014

Wormfood – February 8, 2014 – Thank you from the Philippines

The Philippines thank the world for helping in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan, a breakthrough in stem cell research and women are obliged by law in the United Arab Emirates to breastfeed. Read al…

Know what organic urbanism and systems-thinking mean? Read on...

Feb 2014

Wanted: Project Leader Urban Development

We're applying new approaches to neighborhood redevelopment and adaptive reuse of buildings in our Urban Renaissance program. For leading this program we seek someone with leadership skills, …

Global News Digest

Dec 2013

Wormfood – December 2, 2013 – Mass walkout during Warsaw U.N. summit

Environmental groups stage a mass walkout from the Warsaw U.N. climate summit, pope Francis criticizes capitalism and Saudi Arabian man is arrested for giving free hugs. Read all about it in this …

Global News Digest

Nov 2013

Wormfood – November 11, 2013 – Science is telling us all to revolt

Science wants us to overthrow capitalism, discover the ten worst polluted areas in the World, and have fun with some sustainable business jargon. Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Also, …

October 17 | Beurs van Berlage Amsterdam

Nov 2013

Grid Night - City of Tomorrow

This autumn's Grid Night theme was 'City of Tomorrow'. Our guest speakers tickled, challenged and inspired the audience around 3 main topics "Future Foods", "Future C…

Open registration

Oct 2013

Masterclass City of Tomorrow - Fri December 6, Amsterdam

In this masterclass, you will be working on the City of Tomorrow. You'll learn about sustainability, systems thinking, and resilience design. It'll be an exciting day filled with inspiri…

Global News Digest

Oct 2013

Wormfood - October 14, 2013 – Alarming conclusions of IPCC report

The new IPCC report is out, jellyfish shut down a nuclear reactor, and India builds its first ‘baby factory’. Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Also, this Wormfood features a brand new …

A sunny update that brings color and change

Oct 2013

Early Autumn 2013 News Update

Dear friends, colleagues, and partners,

Fall is around the corner, and while the days get colder, we hope to keep you warm with some exciting news. We have some great new projects, some ne…

Global News Digest

Sep 2013

Wormfood - September 21, 2013 – EU being sued for saving bees

The EU is being sued for temporarily banning pesticides linked a decline in bee populations, a CEO is sharing his $3.25 million bonus with his employees and the world’s first “invisible” tower. Re…

Wormfood - August 6, 2013 - Gay Rights!

UN launches a global campaign for gay rights, Mesopotamian Marshlands are declared Iraq’s first national park and plants take nitrogen from air. Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Global News Digest

Jul 2013

Wormfood - July 22, 2013 - Combating modern-day slavery

Following the money trail to help end human trafficking, evolution can't keep up with global warming, and Florida accidently banned all computers. Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Global News Digest

Jul 2013

Wormfood - July 2, 2013 - Be aware of what you tweet

Twitter could land you in jail, AIDS-related mortality declines, and plants that do maths. Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Global News Digest

Jun 2013

Wormfood - June 20, 2013 - Protest!

The world is protesting, a cute cat is running for mayor, and cool maps to explore. Read all about it in this Wormfood.

Sustainable leadership from a systemic approach

Jun 2013

Expedition Greenland

This article (and the expedition) is only available in Dutch (sorry). If you are interested in an English expedition, let us know and we may organize one.

Groenland dient als case en als i…

Springtime sprouts exciting news

Jun 2013

Spring 2013 News Update

Dear friends, colleagues and partners,

We have a lot to share, with new inspiration and fresh energy in the spring, including updates about new services, projects, a completed Quickscan an…

Global News Digest

May 2013

Wormfood - May 28, 2013 - Nature strikes back

Nature strikes back at the Amazon, sleep less while improving your productivity, radioactivity of Fukushima continues to spread, and chemicals you want to avoid (but are somehow still used in chil…

Global News Digest

May 2013

Wormfood - April 14, 2013

This edition of Wormfood follows several important news updates including the escalating tension on the Korean peninsula, an unfortunate downturn for Bitcoin, an update on the 3 year-old BP oil sp…

Global News Digest

May 2013

Wormfood - April 29, 2013

This edition of Wormfood is the first one written by me, Merel, taking over from Matthew. I´m a science journalist next to my work at Except. You can expect some changes in the Wormfood as it grow…

Seeking intrepid entrepreneurs

Apr 2013

New job positions at Except

We're on a roll! With projects developing in the Netherlands, USA and Asia at the same time, we are going to need some talented new additions to our team. We've been busy adding some ama…

Global News Digest

Mar 2013

Wormfood - March 15, 2013

This edition of Wormfood is packed full of exciting updates and global events, including an exciting update from CERN, heaps of other science, technology, environmental and geopolitcal updates tha…

Global News Digest

Mar 2013

Wormfood - March 1, 2013

This edition of Wormfood covers several exciting news stories, including the surprising rise of the Bitcoin, elections in Italy and South Korea, several intriguing science and environment stories,…

Sustainability workshop on location

Feb 2013

SiD Winter Workshops: Hotel New York

This year we held our annual SiD sustainability workshop for new Except members in Hotel New York: how to make the most sustainable restaurant/hotel?

Yum forests!

Feb 2013

Winter Retreat 2013

Part of Except's crew went to the Veluwe National park to pick up some inspiration in the grey days of winter in a forest. Long nights, good food, dancing, and lots of hugs ensued...

Global News Digest

Feb 2013

Wormfood - February 14, 2013

This edition of Wormfood covers several intriguing world events, including the resignation of the pope and the decision of Julian Assange to run for Australian senate. We also cover a ton of envir…

Urban recovery in progress...

Feb 2013

RecoveryPark Detroit site visit

Except and the Dutch RecoveryPark NL team visit RecoveryPark and the Detroit urban renewal locations.

Global News Digest

Feb 2013

Wormfood - January 31, 2013

This edition of Wormfood is full of truly amazing news stories after a very active couple of weeks. Many noteworthy poitical and global events are covered, as well as several key science, health, …

Global News Digest

Jan 2013

Wormfood - January 16th, 2013

Still fresh into 2013, this edition the Wormfood News Digest covers a wide variety of important news stories, including the stepped-up conflict in Mali, fresh insights into global economic trends,…

Celebrating in style

Jan 2013

Except's 13th Birthday

Dear friends, as one of Except's youngest members, I have the pleasure to thank you for the great celebration of our 13th birthday, and amazing to see all your warmth and support.

It …

Global News Digest

Jan 2013

Wormfood - January 1st, 2013

Happy New Year! On the first day of 2013, we take a look at a number of pressing global developments, and look back on a number of top discoveries, technologies, and headlines that shaped 2012; al…

Global News Digest

Dec 2012

Wormfood - December 16th, 2012

Happy Holidays from Except Integrated Sustainability!

In this last 2012 installment of the Wormfood News Digest, we take a look at a number of current global developments, as well as some …

Global News Digest

Nov 2012

Wormfood - November 29th, 2012

This edition of the Wormfood News Digest covers many recent developments, including the recent election in Egypt, climate talks in Doha, some truly amazing science and technology stories, and much…

Global News Digest

Nov 2012

Wormfood - November 15, 2012

This edition of the Wormfood News Digest is full of significant and world-changing developments from the past couple of weeks. We cover the latest developments in the Middle East, significant poli…

Global News Digest

Nov 2012

Wormfood - October 30, 2012

In this edition of the Wormfood News Digest, we look at a number of exciting developments in the field of future economies, emerging technologies, and science. We also cover key global development…

Massive update, fall is blooming....

Oct 2012

Autumn 2012 News update

Dear friends, colleagues and partners,

Yes, sorry for the wait, but here's a massive update; enjoy!

We're happy to update you on important changes this fall: new projects…

Global News Digest

Oct 2012

Wormfood - October 16th, 2012

This edition of the News Digest covers many developing news stories, including the first large-scale, and illegal geoengineering experiement, the winners of the Nobel Prize in the field of Econom…

A fresh summer start

Oct 2012

New website & identity

Dear colleagues, friends and partners,

Just a short message from us, because we're very excited to have launched a brand new website and identity.

It offers not just some in…

Global News Digest

Oct 2012

Wormfood - May 14, 2012

Dear fellow Digesters, In this edition of the Wormfood News Digest, we track the development of many important “game-changing” news stories, including the foundation of an asteroid-mining company,…

Global News Digest

Oct 2012

Wormfood - September 2, 2012

As summer draws to an end, this edition of the News Digest captures many recent developments from around the world, including the EU financial crisis, many environmental and technology updates, tw…

Global News Digest

Oct 2012

Wormfood - August 15th, 2012

In this edition of the Wormfood News Digest, we cover many developments including an update on the Syrian crisis, new legal updates on financial institutions, several amazing environmental and tec…

Global News Digest

Oct 2012

Wormfood - July 17th, 2012

Dear fellow Digesters, In this edition of the Wormfood News Digest, we update you on many top stories including the pursuit of legal action against banks involved in the libor scandal, embargo dev…

global news letter repository

Oct 2012

Wormfood archive

The wormfood newsletter covers important news from around the globe. It's been curated by Except since 2010. This page documents the wormfood newsletter from before our transition to our new …

Global News Digest

Oct 2012

Wormfood - October 1st, 2012

This edition of the News Digest covers a wide number of developing news stories, including the 'thin red line' set between Israel and Iran, American political leadership and the environ…

Global News Digest

Oct 2012

Wormfood - July 31st, 2012

In this edition of the Wormfood News Digest, we cover several amazing developments including the first person to be cured of AIDS, decisive action against financial institutions in Iran, significa…

Global News Digest

Oct 2012

Wormfood - September 16, 2012

This edition of the News Digest covers many key global developments including the violent protests sparked this weekend around the world, many new science and technology reports, insightful econom…

Polydome receives acclaim.

Jul 2012

Nominated for Buckminster Fuller prize!

Two weeks ago we told you we were nominated for a very special prize, but couldn’t tell you which one yet. Now we’re thrilled to share with you that we’ve been nominated for the 2012 Buckminster F…

Flowing through Stadhuisplein

Jul 2012

Grid Night - Go with the Flow

Every now and then Except organizes Grid Nights for everyone in our network. The goal is to meet, talk, inspire and have fun. Our second Grid Night of 2012 was an amazing gathering of people that …

Jackpot!

May 2012

Grid Nite - Money

The first Except Grid-Nite of 2012 was awesome thanks to everyone who came to celebrate with us, play the trading game and listen to Tijn’s presentation of alternative currencies. Tom also present…

Latest News

SiD Systemic Sustainability Masterclass

A transformative year in motion

Newsletter Q3 '24

Partnership with Buckminster Fuller Institute Design Lab

Project Coordinator & Office Manager (Medior/Senior)

Except Newsletter Q1 '24

Moving Beyond B-Corp Certification

Closed: Junior Landscape / Urban Designer Vietnam

Summer '23 Newsletter

ViCo Sustainability Center Crowdfunding

The Tomorrow Times - February '23

Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE)

The Tomorrow Times - October '22

[CLOSED] sustainability researcher and project assistant

Newsletter Q3 '22: unlocking sustainable cities across Europe and Asia

New video training course - systemic sustainability & SiD on Udemy

ViCo & Orchid City Investors and Partner Event

ViCo in the news: Innovation Community in Vietnam

Newsletter Q2 '22: Pathways toward change

Vietnam's Ambassador visits Except Integrated Sustainability

The Tomorrow Times - February '22

Wadden Sea World Heritage Center development progresses

Newsletter Q1 '22: Sustainability in Vietnam, Japan and Roosendaal

[CLOSED] Senior sustainability researcher

Orchid City

Orchid City going public

Orchid City Public Reveal Event

the Tomorrow Times - February '21

the Tomorrow Times - December‘20

the Tomorrow Times - November‘20

An Intro to Systems Thinking for Sustainability course

Fall Newsletter 2020

the Tomorrow Times - September '20

The Tomorrow Times - July '20

Partnership The Green City

Except tijdens de Duurzame Week

Tomorrow Times May '20

The Tomorrow Times - May '20

Life in the time of Corona - March '20

Life in the time of Corona - March '20

The Tomorrow Times - February '20

The Tomorrow Times - January '20

The Tomorrow Times - Sustainable Resorts - December ‘19

The Tomorrow Times - Urban Metabolism & Digitalization - November ‘19

Sailing onwards

the Tomorrow Times - Climate Action and Participation - October ‘19

Symbiosis in Development (SiD) book

Symbiosis in Development (SiD) book launched

the Tomorrow Times - 20 Years in Sustainability - September ‘19

X|X Except 20th Anniversary Celebration

The Tomorrow Times - Circular & Bio Economy - August ‘19

The Tomorrow Times - July '19

Except Academy Launches at Duurzame Week

the Tomorrow Times - UN: Critical Biodiversity Limits Reached June ‘19

Press Release Catalytic Buildings

Except Integrated Sustainability Partners With Duurzame Week

the Tomorrow Times - Global Food Security - May ‘19

the Tomorrow Times - the UN Sustainable Development Goals - March ‘19

Except News: Bring in the new!

Catalytic Buildings White Paper

SiD Integrated Sustainability Training

Open position: Senior Project Manager

SiD Integrated Sustainability Training | 13, 14 and 21 September

the Tomorrow Times - Going Beyond Sustainability - Jan ‘19

Wormfood - February 2017 - A positive year

Open Positions: Two Researchers (Closed)

New Year, New Path Forwards

Open Position: Science Communications Internship (Closed)

Open Position: Data Analyst Intern (Closed)

Converting Scientific Knowledge into Practice

Science and Development

Designing The City of the Future

Hot Summer News 2018

Integrated Sustainability: Symbiosis in Development (SiD) Workshop

Open position: junior PR/Marketing specialist

Except Update Q2 '17: UCo & IKEA's supply chain

­­Wormfood – December, 2016

­­Wormfood – November, 2016

Grid Night - Little things that matter

Wormfood – December, 2016

Wormfood – November, 2016

Wormfood – October, 2016

Wormfood – September, 2016

Wormfood – January 26, 2016 – Feeling hot hot hot

Wormfood – November 26, 2015 – China's two-child policy

Wormfood – October 27, 2015 – Early Life

Wormfood – August 20, 2015 – Earth Overshoot Day

Wormfood – September 22, 2015 – Three trillion trees

Wormfood – July 21, 2015 – Eco-warrior Pope Francis

Wormfood – May 25, 2015 – (Un)Happy Countries

Wormfood – April 13, 2015 - We need nature

Wormfood – March 13, 2015 - The Human Age

Wormfood – February 11, 2015 – Doomsday is near(er)