WALKING THE TALK -
As we exit Pride month and look to WorldPride in August, it’s apparent that we’re at an inflection point for purpose — one that requires consistent corporate action that positively impacts LGBTQIA+ people, no matter where they are in one’s workforce or world.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The ongoing pandemic has changed fundamental patterns in our lives, accelerating existing trends and revealing new unmet needs. Since the onset of COVID,
Steelcase has conducted ongoing research to help organizations understand its impact on their people and business.
WASTE NOT -
thredUP’s 2021 Resale Report estimates that the secondhand clothing market will double in the next 5 years, reaching $77 billion. Policy incentives to end fast
fashion production and disposal would fuel the movement.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
The happiness of buying new shoes is a short-lived dopamine kick, whereas finding better ways of living in balance with yourself adds lifelong value. It’s time to create a new offering: Who can you help people become?
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Mastercard, BBVA and Ant Group are among 12 global firms aiming to steer consumers toward behaviors that help support climate action and restore biodiversity around the world.
BUSINESS CASE -
Any product designed to be used for a matter of minutes and then thrown away is not a sustainable option – regardless of whether it’s made from plastic, paper, metal or plants. Businesses and the environment will reap undeniable benefits as the new reuse economy for food service gains steam.
WALKING THE TALK -
When Kevin Murphy announced that all of its packaging would be made from “plastic pulled from the ocean,” it had every intention of delivering that. While the claim was doomed from the start, the company quickly communicated its mistake with tact, transparency and a plan to make it right.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
While peatlands cover only 3% of our land, they store 30% of the world’s soil carbon. And the popularity of peat in commercial potting soils means that peatlands, or bogs, are rapidly disappearing. Back to the Roots aimed to give conscientious home gardeners a solution.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Innovators such as Aleph Farms could change the meat industry for good: Your steak can now be grown in a lab — offering the same texture and taste of a
conventional steak, without the environmental and ethical consequences.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
The first-of-its-kind direct measure of our everyday consumption’s water impacts — thanks to data from S&P Global Trucost — aims to create a greater consumer understanding of the importance of water locally, nationally and
globally.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
From rethinking sourcing to shipping, here are some of the key carbon- and waste-reducing strategies brands big and small are using to better balance sustainability and business goals.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
In GlobeScan’s 2020 survey of global consumers, 74% said they agree that they need to consume less to preserve the environment for future generations, vs 66% in 2019. But opinions are mixed when it comes to shopping secondhand, renting or leasing items — pointing to the persistence of that pesky intention-action gap.
FROM PURPOSE TO ACTION: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TOGETHER -
Noticing that litter is a problem is the first step in taking action to create a cleaner, more sustainable planet. The next step is taking action. Partner with community members and local organizations to get involved and create meaningful change.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
At Sustainable Brands’ latest Just Brands event, experts from across the spectrum of business discussed corporate efforts to support diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) issues — and how stakeholders will no longer tolerate a gap between commitments and actions.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
While the terminology soup of recycled plastic sourcing is daunting, at the end of the day every ton of plastic recycled and put back into a circular economy is part of the solution. The key for brands is to be clear and honest in communications with customers.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
The world’s largest jewelry company aims to make diamond jewelry accessible to a wider audience. Its new Pandora Brilliance collection marks its first collection without mined diamonds.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
The web's most award-winning food site is encouraging home cooks to expand their culinary repertoires and embrace less resource-intensive menu options.
WALKING THE TALK -
Whether environmental or social, luxury brands will have to contend with issues related to corporate social responsibility — it’s in the zeitgeist. “Being your best self” is the essence of luxury. Values and purpose are thus luxury essentials, not just nice-to-haves.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Progress in pet care sustainability will require industry-wide alignment on key challenges and opportunities. While Petco’s sustainable products commitment is a solid first step, our aim is to make ESG an industry-wide priority to meet the
expectations of our savvy, sustainability-minded consumers.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Next month, GlobeScan’s latest annual, global consumer survey will assess whether the uptick in concern around creating a healthier, more
sustainable future that occurred during the pandemic will persist in the longer term.