THE NEXT ECONOMY -
As our climate systems become more erratic, clean sources of energy will become
ever more precious; and scaling and diversifying sustainable ways to harness it
will be key to our survival.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Waitrose is the latest retailer to partner with Tony’s Open Chain — a
Tony’s Chocolonely initiative to end exploitation in the industry; while the
World Cocoa Foundation launches a methodology for measuring household income and
living incomes for farmers.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
W23 Global is the first retailer-led venture fund to seek entrepreneurs and
early-stage ventures offering solutions to a range of common sustainability
challenges.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
In what it’s calling a new chapter of trust and standardization for the
voluntary carbon market, the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market gives three
carbon-crediting programs its seal of approval.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
'Carbon Bankroll 2.0' illuminates the huge, untapped climate impact of the US
financial system — how it is undermining leading companies’ climate action, and
why companies’ financial management may be their greatest lever for climate
progress.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Kind Traveler’s responsible-tourism model now helps San Luis Obispo, California
further its tree-planting efforts and progress toward its goal of achieving
carbon neutrality by 2035.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
With major markets passing environmental and human rights due-diligence
requirements, sustainable commodity sourcing may soon no longer be optional —
and brands that have invested and built relationships with farmers will be the
winners.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
Online resale is expected to more than double in the next 5 years, reaching
$40B by 2028; 40% of voters say they’re more likely to vote for a candidate
that supports circularity in fashion.
WALKING THE TALK -
New Schwab Foundation research provides scalable lessons on how to drive value
creation by addressing systemic socioeconomic exclusion at the local and global
levels.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
2023 surveys of risk professionals and consumers indicate an intensifying concern about extreme weather as it more directly impacts people’s daily lives, and a corresponding interest in sustainable investment opportunities.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
The Scorecard — which evaluates global chocolate manufacturers,
brands and retailers on social and environmental criteria in seven areas — helps
consumers make ethical purchasing decisions and incentivizes companies to
improve their performance in these areas.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
A €30M portfolio in Europe and a $50M fund in the US put much-needed capital behind cultivating regenerative-ag value chains, while a partnership with NatureMetrics supports
Unilever's work to make farming its ingredients climate resilient.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
As tourism continues to evolve and travelers become more aware of
both their positive and negative impacts, the accommodation industry has an
opportunity to respond in a meaningful way.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
With Ecoflix — a nonprofit streaming platform on a mission to be the ‘Netflix
for nature’ — brands can produce compelling sustainability content that also
helps protect nature and wildlife.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
In a new GlobeScan survey of 5K retail investors in 10 countries, all express
similarly high levels of support for investment funds becoming more active in
the climate space.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
New matchmaking platform highlights game-changing solutions from the Earthshot
Prize nominations process and connects them with like-minded investors and
philanthropists.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
Deloitte and Circle Economy Foundation identify ongoing
gaps in circular policies and approaches and outlines a roadmap to unlock
capital, implement policy, and unlock skills and human capital needed for a
robust circular economy capable of meeting the material challenges of the
Anthropocene.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
While the new mandate was scaled back from what was originally proposed, US
companies must now prepare to join many markets around the world in the
climate-risk disclosure game.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
The 2024 EY Europe Long-Term Value and Corporate Governance Survey finds
just 24% of EU company leaders understand how ESG priorities will
create value; Boards must step up and challenge cooling
corporate commitment to sustainability.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
Here, Shanna Marzilli — President & CEO of Plan International USA — outlines
three key areas that every skills-training program should incorporate to build a
better, more equal, future working world.