Erb Institute

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 is tagged in 10 assets.

Article

Marketing & Communications

When to Speak, When to Listen: A Brand Guide to Navigating a Divided Society

Published on October 24, 2023

About a 11 minute read

Another strong thread throughout SB’23 San Diego addressed the tightrope that brands must often walk when working to stay true to their values — and not letting ‘purpose fragility’ rule in our politically polarized world. ... View More

Article

New Metrics

Sustainability Metrics 3.0: Measuring ROI of Regenerative Approaches, Social Impacts, Brand Trust

Published on November 11, 2021

About a 15 minute read

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 meas... View More

Article

Organizational Governance

Q&A: The Role of Corporate Integrity, Authenticity in a Polarized World

Published on October 4, 2021

About a 5 minute read

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? ... View More

Article

Erb Institute-Ford Social Impact Project: An Academic-Industry Collaboration

Published on March 6, 2021

About a 1 minute read

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. ... View More

Article

Circular Economy Marketing & Communications Organizational Governance

SB’21 Trend Watching: Brands’ Role in Reshaping the World in 2021 and Beyond

Published on February 26, 2021

About a 14 minute read

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-pand... View More

Article

Organizational Governance Marketing & Communications Regulation & Public Policy

Corporate Political Responsibility: The Missing Link in Companies’ ESG Strategies

Published on February 16, 2021

About a 8 minute read

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. ... View More

Article

New Metrics

Ford’s Model of Human Progress Defines, Measures Social Sustainability

Published on October 13, 2020

About a 4 minute read

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 trac... View More

Article

Supply Chain

The Hundred People Behind Your Favorite Pair of Jeans

Published on May 9, 2018

About a 6 minute read

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 ar... View More

Article

Community Updates

Sustainable Brands Hosts Influential Brand Leaders at SB’17 Detroit

Published on May 22, 2017

About a 5 minute read

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 ... View More

Article

Community Updates

Sustainable Brands Unveils Programming for Activation Hub at SB’17 Detroit

Published on May 17, 2017

About a 5 minute read

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 ... View More

Upcoming Events

October 13-16, 2025

SB'25 San Diego

US Event

More Information

Thursday, July 24, 2025

The ROI of Sustainability, Part 2: Sources of Financial Value and Effectively Communicating Analyses

Webinar

Sponsored by SB in Partnership with Valutus

More Information

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

From Aware to Empowered: Unlocking Sustainable Fluency Across Your Organization

Webinar