EnerBLU produces electric vehicles for the transportation of people and goods. Because the company converts commercial petroleum-fuelled vehicles into electric ones, managers prefer to call the business transformation rather than production. Based in Modena, the second ranked Italian automotive district, the company has expanded its business to three other European countries. Conducted in January–February 2012, the case study illustrates how the electrification of the automotive industry brings about change in workers’ profile, the work environment and career perspectives. Introduction

Volvo Penta is the Swedish manufacturer of engines and power systems for industrial and marine applications. Its new inboard propulsion system (IPS), allowing up to 30% lower fuel consumption and 30% lower CO2 emissions, helped the company maintain a more or less stable number of jobs during the global financial crisis. This practice had an effect (by being highly technologically advanced) on the skills development of at least 100 of its 1400 employees (7.1%). The company collaborates with Swedish universities by taking interns and participating in joint research work to manage green change

Kinnarps is a Swedish furniture manufacturer which has adopted the practice of sustainable sourcing of wood. The practice has not had a significant impact on employment numbers, but has transformed more than 500 existing jobs mainly through provision of additional training because of new skill needs for purchasers, sales persons and blue-collar workers. The company is notable for its extensive and unique collaboration with the Swedish Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) board in anticipating and managing the green change and its impact on employees. The case study was carried out in October–

Ecover is a Belgian chemical company that manufactures ecological cleaning products for both domestic and professional use and sells them all over the world. It is a very distinctive case of a greening company because all the company’s products are produced in a factory that is organised and managed so that concerns for the environment are paramount, from the building where it operates to the content of the product, and including management practices. Introduction Ecover is one of the 336 companies in Belgium in the ‘Production and trade of cleaning products’ sector, which is part of the