COLLABORATION -
The non-profit global alliance features nine organizations committed to dedicating the power of their design communities to addressing the UN SDGs — beginning with SDG 6: clean water and sanitation.
LEADERSHIP -
To truly help individuals and ourselves, we need to bust up the system, swim upstream and avoid the herd mentality. We need to take a step back and truly
understand our own roles in society — and by doing so, to let go of outdated notions.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The GAF Cool Community Project will assess and mitigate the impacts of the urban heat island effect in landlocked and underserved cities — beginning with the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacoima.
WALKING THE TALK -
Despite having been acquired by a global spirits conglomerate, the founders of Sipsmith have been able to redefine their mission and vision for the company —
as well as influence others within the global group to join them on the journey.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
The first national Black farmer co-op since the Reconstruction era is on a mission to revive and support Black farmers — which have dwindled to a mere 1.4% of farmers in the US — and cultivate a national network of growers of regeneratively farmed hemp.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
Many mainstream travel agents still emphasize low prices and profit, treating both travelers and destinations as commodities; but Kind Traveler challenges the viability of such a model within an industry increasingly shaped by more conscious travelers.
LEADERSHIP -
“We need to keep that competitive advantage and continue to innovate so that we can really make
sustainable living commonplace. It’s constant innovation; and we want others to come along on the journey with us.” — Niki King
MARKETING AND COMMS -
By focusing on a handful of easy target demographics, brands exclude swaths of people — the people who most need to be included in the narrative. The next time you brief your agency or write a brand plan, I hope you’ll rethink assumptions of who the sustainable consumer could be.
WASTE NOT -
Well, maybe not exactly ... But this week, the two food-delivery services detailed how they’re eliminating their operational impacts and continuing to engage consumers in climate-friendlier food practices.
WASTE NOT -
Reducing plastic waste is a winning issue for consumers. With so many examples of early success and ROI, there’s no better time to join the movement by committing to reduce plastic pollution and limiting the need for virgin plastic.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
The United Way Social Purpose Institute offers a free tool to help companies assess and rate the degree to which their purpose is fully embedded across the company and in its relationships. These are the new techniques that purpose players are expected to demonstrate to stay in the ring …
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Even when effective collection, messages and messenger are skillfully deployed, there are still factors that complicate consumer recycling behavior.
WALKING THE TALK -
Corporate Knights has developed the world’s first rating system to assess companies’ implementation of their social purpose commitments. Its research finds that the gap between ‘say’ and ‘do’ varies from one company to the next.
WALKING THE TALK -
The reality of living in a capitalist society is that we can't simply cut off the production of products and services; the brands that will succeed in the upcoming decades will be those that function holistically, with sustainable actions built in.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Bite has reimagined the way consumers can and should use routine personal-care products. It has disrupted the linear approach to a stale industry with a fresh, waste-free format that offers a successful, premium model of circularity.
WALKING THE TALK -
Here, Roshan Paul and Ilaina Rabbat, co-founders of the Amani Institute, provide a dashboard for both aspiring and established changemakers to reflect on their motivation, their limitations and their overall fortitude for life in a social impact career.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
The tourism industry is responsible for approximately 8% of global carbon emissions. For every event that commits to more sustainable practices, the VR sector does its part in helping the tourism industry as a whole become more resilient in the face of climate change.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Since 2020, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Friendly program has helped customers discover and shop for more sustainable products. We asked Amazon's Adam Werbach how the program began, what the company has learned, and his vision for the program’s future.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Marketers are the co-creators of our societal narrative, and a brand’s messaging has the ability to drive culture change. Never before has the power of the stories we tell held such importance or latent opportunity.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
As demand for better brands continues to increase, we can expect an exponential increase in two things: ‘green’ brand claims and the level of public scrutiny. Before your brand team loses time, money and precious brand equity, check out this summary of resources to help you stay the course.