PRESS RELEASE -
Ørsted’s annual sustainability report is now released. Over the past decade, the Danish-based energy company has achieved 82% coal reduction, 67% carbon reduction and 64% renewable energy in their power and heat generation. CEO of Ørsted, Henrik Poulsen, has a clear vision.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
The UN Climate Change secretariat is launching an online portal that invites countries, businesses, local government and civil society to contribute to the climate change conversation. The platform will support the Talanoa Dialogue, an international conversation mechanism launched during COP23 in Bonn, which will help track progress on current commitments and drive global climate action.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
What makes a good company successful in an age where we are blessedly cursed with a wide selection of products in every category? With technology being a widespread disruptor, the business landscape is rapidly changing and making some companies obsolete almost overnight. Do you recall Blockbuster?
MARKETING AND COMMS -
It should come as no surprise that purpose — defined as your company’s aspirational reason for being beyond profit — plays a key role in the direction of your business on multiple levels. Purpose is an overarching “north star” that serves as a guidepost for decision making.
WALKING THE TALK -
Naruto City, on the northeast tip of Tokushima Prefecture — Shikoku, Japan. The Naruto Strait’s whirling tides are popular with tourists, but in recent years the region, like many others, has struggled to cope with the exodus of people and industry to urban areas.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), whose members include REI, Iron Mountain, Patagonia, The North Face and Timberland, is producing a new film series that shares the stories of outdo
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Sustainability is increasingly becoming an integral part of business practice, but consumers continue to hold the key to achieving long-term change — a concept that has been widely observed by consulting firms and multinational corporations alike. New data from online search behavioral specialist Hitwise reaffirms this and demonstrates how mainstream television can be used to inspire consumers into action.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
As a reformed banker, I tend to be alert whenever I hear folks talking about investment and investors. Over the past few Sustainable Brands events, I’ve noticed, however, that the language can sometimes be a bit muddled around this topic. Investors are often lumped into one homogenous bunch, whose needs and duties are not really understood. The differences between the types of investment product and the accompanying financial risk-reward can be confused.
PRESS RELEASE -
Inspiring Progress
From climate activism to product innovation, a look back at some of the highlights from HPE's Living Progress over the past year.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT -
We recently spoke with Inge Huijbrechts (@I_Huijbrechts), Vice President, Responsible Business at Carlson Rezidor, about what inspires her work on sustainability.
In addition to being an active Corporate Member, Inge also serves on Sustainable Brands’ Advisory Board. Keep reading to learn more about one of SB’s community leaders, how a four-year boat journey around the world influenced Inge’s career and her message for members as we head into the new year.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Last week, in response to President Trump’s decision to scale back Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, outdoor retail brand and sustainability leader Patagonia in turn announced it would be suing the President, a definitively bold move — even for the likes of the brand that brought us “Don’t Buy This Jacket” an
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Furthering its mission to create a kinder, healthier world — one snack at a time — KIND has launched a new video campaign that explores the courage it takes to be kind towards strangers in an effort to kindle a conversation about what it will take to overcome the issues currently dividing the US.
The video release, in conjunction with a nationwide contest, is part of KIND’s effort to explore the differences between being “nice” and being “kind” — an oft overlooked distinction that has tangible implications on how we act towards one another.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
A digital initiative bringing to life real stories about real people in the Bangladeshi garment industry is proving a game-changer in the country in its first year of launch.
“Made in Equality” is a website and Facebook page illustrating garment workers’ life experiences in their own words. The simple format of an individual’s image, presented alongside their quotes, is proving moving and powerful.
CLEANTECH -
I was driving through rural Pennsylvania recently and saw a fascinating billboard. Sponsored by an organization that promotes coal and natural gas, the sign declared, “The truth is that 90 percent of our energy comes from fossil fuels.”
Technically, that’s true (ish), but it’s also meaningless.
BUSINESS CASE -
Not so long ago, there was a large disconnect between doing good and good business. While the idea of corporate social responsibility has been around since the 1960s, businesses have historically approached CSR and sustainability as a “feel good” silo or regulatory requirement — a means to improve public image reputation and mitigate risk, but not much else. It wasn't until recent years that companies discovered that social impact programs could benefit a company in more remunerative ways — increasing revenue, creating new markets, driving innovation, retaining talent, and opening the doors to new business opportunities. As such, it was rare for CEOs and CFOs to even nod their heads towards citizenship and sustainability, much less make it a priority.
NEW METRICS -
Live Well San Diego: A visionary partnership to define and measure 10 quality-of-life metrics
By Anna Shugoll
PRESS RELEASE -
A businesslike look at America Recycles Day
America recycles one-third of municipal solid waste, and more would be better
PRESS RELEASE -
Despite the growing attention that brands with purpose have received, industry adoption of social benefits is lagging behind other critical transformations such as digital or analytics. The integration of social benefits in the marketing of brands remains on the periphery of many leaders.
What’s more, among many brand and business managers the pursuit of a social purpose is sometimes perceived as a distraction or an unwanted constraint to their ability to achieve their business goals. As a result, the potential of social benefits is often trapped by the perception of uncertain outcomes, unclear methods, and unwanted risks.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
At some point in the future — and in some ways, we are already seeing this — the amount of physical stuff moving around the world will peak and begin to decline. By “stuff,” I am referring to liquid fuels, coal, containers on ships, food, raw materials, products, etc.
New technologies are moving us toward “production-at-the-point-of-consumption” of energy, food and products with reduced reliance on a global supply chain.
The trade of physical stuff has been central to globalization as we’ve known it. So, this declining movement of stuff may signal we are approaching “peak globalization.”
MARKETING AND COMMS -
When I was a kid, after a certain point I stopped wanting to do the things my parents forced me to do. You may have had a similar experience. The harder your parents tried to make you stay away from candy and obey curfew, the more you wanted to eat a ton of candy and break curfew.