The Erb Institute is a partnership between the Ross School of Business and the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) at the University of Michigan. The institute’s mission is to create a socially and environmentally sustainable world through the power of business. We do that through research, teaching and business engagement—all focused on preparing and supporting bold business leaders who can adeptly transform companies, industries and entire economies for systemic sustainability.
Erb Institute
Sustainability Metrics 3.0: Measuring ROI of Regenerative Approaches, Social Impacts, Brand Trust
9 months ago - At SB’21 San Diego, veterans from sales, marketing, certification, design, finance, agriculture and more agreed: While there’s no checklist for regeneration, a focus on interconnectivity, holistic approaches and actionable goals will lead to measurable ripple effects.
Q&A: The Role of Corporate Integrity, Authenticity in a Polarized World
10 months ago - As governments and public entities remain slow-moving, companies backing their values with action matters more than ever. But for those unsure how to respond to shifting expectations, how do they know they’re leading in a responsible way?
Erb Institute-Ford Social Impact Project: An Academic-Industry Collaboration
1 year ago - With the geometric growth of socially responsible investment dollars entering the market, corporations are increasingly expected to assess and publicly disclose their sustainability, based on their economic, environmental and social performance.
SB’21 Trend Watching: Brands’ Role in Reshaping the World in 2021 and Beyond
1 year ago - At SB’s latest Trend Watching event, experts across a variety of fields and industries offered insights into how purpose-driven brands can effectively activate on everything from marketing to effective leadership to climate justice in our post-pandemic world.
Corporate Political Responsibility: The Missing Link in Companies’ ESG Strategies
1 year ago - The disconnect between many companies’ public sustainability ambitions and their non-public lobbying efforts can no longer be excused. The Erb Institute’s Corporate Political Responsibility Taskforce is helping companies connect the dots.
Ford’s Model of Human Progress Defines, Measures Social Sustainability
1 year ago - A clear definition of corporate social sustainability — the ‘S’ in ESG — remains elusive. To address this challenge, Ford partnered with the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute to define social sustainability and identify metrics to track improvements.
The Hundred People Behind Your Favorite Pair of Jeans
4 years ago - Have you ever stopped to think about how many people were involved in making the clothes you buy? Chances are you have heard about or read The Travels of a T-shirt in a Global Economy or listened to Planet Money’s piece on making a t-shirt. Both are incredibly interesting examinations of the effects of global trade on the fashion industry, developing countries and garment workers.
Sustainable Brands Hosts Influential Brand Leaders at SB’17 Detroit
5 years ago - SAN FRANCISO, May 22, 2017 – Sustainable Brands® kicks off its largest community gathering today with Sustainable Brands’17 Detroit at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. Over 2,000 business executives along with their teams from 35+ countries across the globe are attending the conference and Activation Hub. In addition, there is anticipated record breaking livestream viewership in collaboration with Detroit Public Television (DPTV).
Sustainable Brands Unveils Programming for Activation Hub at SB’17 Detroit
5 years ago - SAN FRANCISCO, May 17, 2017 – Sustainable Brands® recently unveiled the session schedule for the Activation Hub at SB’17 Detroit, running May 22-25th at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. The Activation Hub is the action-centered space within the conference program that allows attendees to collaborate on new tools, resources and ideas to accelerate sustainability-led innovation.