What happens when a sustainability-serious business meets a climate activism ecosystem with no bank account? Can they consummate their shared passion – and what’s the cost of the best climate story on the market?
This article takes the form of a screenplay. Act 1: A Perfect Match depicts the kind of encounter the See Through Network regularly sees take place between Effective Activists and businesses at ‘green’ events populated by Ineffective Activists, highlighting the difficulty businesses have in telling the difference. Act 2 reveals the events of morning after…
ACT II: Will They or Won’t They?
SCENE: INTERIOR, DAYTIME
A busy trade show, decorated entirely in green.
A large banner reads ‘Green Theme 2026: This Planet Ain’t Gonna Save Itself!’
The floorspace is packed with stands, banners, screens, stages, products, tables and chairs.
At the Susbiz stand, a small round table with a coffee pot, cups and a plate of croissants.
Around it sit WIDGE, SITHRU and a hungover-looking ROI.
SITHRU talks animatedly. WIDGE sits forward, scribbling in a notebook. ROI slouches back, idly shreds a croissant, eyeline divided between SITHRU and the passing crowds.
From time to time, ROI greets an attendee with a wink, nod and grimace, pointing from coffee pot to head.
WIDGE (still scribbling): But this one’s great too, Sithru. That’s now four Ecosystem products that would be perfect for us!
SITHRU: Glad you like them.
ROI, eyes still scanning the passing attendees: Yeah. I might be able to put word in at Cashbiz, and see if we can help you out with one or two of them too.
ROI glances down at WIDGE’s notebook, jabs a finger at a couple of places: Just so I know, what does Ecosystem want for that one, and that one?
SITHRU, moves chair closer to WIDGE, apparently to see what ROI is pointing to: Oh, that one. Well, it rather depends what YOU want from it.
ROI, irritably puzzled: What do you mean? I want the same as everyone else here. That’s the whole point of this event, isn’t it? Why else have we all spent a fortune to be here, other than to buy and sell green stories to sell green products? The clue’s in the name!
ROI points at the banner, leans back and laughs loudly, nudging WIDGE with his elbow
WIDGE, declining to laugh along: ROI, Sithru has just been kind enough to spend an hour explaining some Ecosystem products, and suggesting why they might be useful to us. It’s now our turn to explain what we’re looking for, and – if we want to do a deal -to make an offer.
ROI’s laugh dies. Before he can respond, SITHRU’s phone rings.
SITHRU looks at the caller display, raises an apologetic finger to indicate a brief break, and walks out of earshot.
ROI, still slouching, side-eye watches SITHRU disappear from view, then suddenly sits up and urgently whispers to WIDGE.
ROI: You want exclusive access too?
WIDGE, still writing notes, glances at ROI: I thought you were here for the free breakfast.
ROI: Give me some credit here – I’m just playing hard-to-get. Whatever you do, don’t let on to Sithru I’m interested. If Ecosystem know we’re interested, they’ll try to get us into a bidding war, so let’s strategise here. Which ones do you want, and what exclusivity window are you going to demand?
WIDGE, exasperated: If you were listening so intently, do you not remember what See Through said about all their products, right at the start? Maybe you were distracted…
ROI: I didn’t MEAN to pour coffee in my lap! What did I miss?
WIDGE flips back a few pages in notebook, before pointing to page: Here. They don’t offer exclusivity, only first-mover advantage.
ROI: You can be so naive, Widge. That’s the oldest sales trick in the book. Trust me, you’ll find Sithru’s precious red lines disappear pronto once we show them the money.
WIDGE: But…
ROI: Think about it, Widge. This is the last day of the show. Sithru may be playing it cool, but I don’t see a long queue of other bidders swarming here. Ecosystem’s window to close a deal slams shut in… [looks at heavy gold watch]… six hours.
WIDGE: But…
ROI: Our new friend Sithru here is selling. We’re buying. Clock’s ticking.
WIDGE, returning to notebook: You really weren’t paying attention, were you, ROI?.
ROI: I can listen and wipe coffee from my trousers at the same time. Did it not occur to you that I was just faking not paying attention?
WIDGE: But…
ROI: I’m just as interested in those products as you are – I’m just not showing my hand like you, scribbling it all down in your notebook. You do realise that every word you write is pushing the price up, don’t you?
WIDGE: I don’t think you heard the bit where See Through was explaining how Ecosystem has no bank account.
ROI: Of course I heard it. Unlike you, I knew better than to swallow it.
WIDGE: You don’t think it’s true?
ROI: Look, everyone’s selling something. These events cost a bomb – do you seriously think Sithru would have just spent an hour selling products if Ecosystem had no bank account?
WIDGE:But Sithru explained all that – did you even look at the Ecosystem website?
ROI: Grow up, Widge. Look around you. If I didn’t prefer you not to stick your nose in my groin, I’d ask you to smell the coffee.
WIDGE: Why would Sithru lie about not having a bank account?
ROI, sighing, frustrated: Look around you, Widge. What do you see?
WIDGE: I see some businesses who want to look sustainable, and others that actually want to be sustainable. Both are looking for solutions that will prove they’re sustainable to a rightly sceptical public, and, these days, to increasingly strict regulators.
ROI, exasperated: Get off your high horse, Widge. Look, I’m trying to help you here. Leave the negotiating to me, you’re only going to screw it up if you buy all that ‘no-bank-account, no-exclusivity’ bullshit. Watch and learn. Keep a straight face. Look – Sithru’s back now.
WIDGE, quietly amused: Be my guest ROI. Show me how it’s done.
SITHRU, returning to table: Apologies for the interruption. This meeting is taking a longer than anticipated and I had to reschedule someone.
ROI smirks knowingly at WIDGE.
ROI, whispering to WIDGE: Yeah, right, must be all those other mystery invisible bidders! What did I tell you?
SITHRU: Where were we?
WIDGE, looking at ROI: I believe ROI was about to make you an offer you can’t refuse.
SITHRU exchanges a brief glance with WIDGE, then turns attentively to ROI.
ROI: OK. Let’s cut the crap. Cashbiz may be able to use one or two of your products and we’ll pay you a fair price, but we need exclusivity and you’ll have to change one or two features.
SITHRU: I see. Can you be more specific?
ROI, tears a sheet from WIDGE’s notebook, scribbles something down, folds it in two, and holds it at eye level, just out of SITHRU’s reach.
ROI: Look, I’m going to be straight with you. Cashbiz is about to launch a new range of anti-leak plumbing parts. R&D has come up with a way to make them from recycled plastic bottles. Marketing has come up with a great brand name and strapline.
WIDGE, smiling helpfully: You told me last night. ‘Greenwashers – saving water, saving the planet’.
ROI, annoyed at having his thunder stolen, to WIDGE: Do you mind?
ROI, turns back to SITHRU: We’re looking for a good green PR story for the launch. A couple of your products might fit the bill.
SITHRU looks quizzically at WIDGE, who shrugs with a smile.
ROI, regaining the initiative: I have in my hand an offer which I know will be much more than Widge here, or anyone else in this hall, is ever going to offer you. If any of them try to match our bid, I’ll see to it that Cashbiz adds 10% to whatever they offer.
SITHRU: That’s very generous, but…
ROI: BUT – Cashbiz needs a minimum 2-year exclusivity window plus final approval of any content before you release it AND, you’ve got to sign a contract before the end of the day or the deal’s off.
ROI smiles, raises eyebrows, tilts head, and wiggles the piece of paper temptingly.
WIDGE tears another page from the notebook, scribbles something down, folds it in two, and emulates ROI’s pose. ROI looks exasperated.
WIDGE: Here’s the Susbiz bid.
SITHRU looks from face to face, folded bid to folded bid, takes both, smoothes them out on the table, and reads them carefully.
ROI, initially annoyed at WIDGE’s counter-bid, soon resumes an air of confidence, sits back in chair, brushes invisible crumbs from lap.
WIDGE, with a wry glance at SITHRU, pointedly does the same, awaiting SITHRU’s verdict.
SITHRU: These are both, in their own ways, very interesting offers, which deserve careful consideration. I’m sure you’re both very busy people with many other things to do here.To save time for all concerned, I’ll consult with my colleagues before giving you our final response. Widge, what time are you heading home?
WIDGE: We start breaking down the stand at 6pm.
SITHRU: That should be long enough. Shall we meet back here at 6?
***
Next: Act III: Who’s The Hero?
Find out what happens at the trade show the following morning…
To find out more about Sithru’s ecosystem, visit www.seethroughtogether.org and www.seethroughcarbon.org