THE NEXT ECONOMY -
By failing to acknowledge our industry’s flaws, we could hinder meaningful progress on real issues going forward — namely, making sure carbon offsets actually contribute to reducing GHG emissions.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Demand for low-cost goods has pushed manufacturing into the farthest regions of the world — many of which are increasingly vulnerable to climate change and harsh conditions. Eliminating the most vulnerable links only creates more problems; brands are only as strong as the weakest link in their supply chain.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
The dire social and environmental consequences of opaque fashion supply chains have been laid bare; and consumers now demand that brands have clear, verifiable visibility throughout their supply chains. FTC shows that it can be done — but it requires a vastly different way of thinking.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Diageo has committed to cultivating solutions to enable the farmers in its African supply chain — who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of increasing droughts and floods — to maintain steady farming cycles and income in a climate-changing world.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
The fund will support sustainable food production via early-stage, values-based food innovators — from the ethical treatment of employees on farms and in factories, to the end of the food production cycle with compostable packaging.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Cellular ag technologies address two of the initiative’s four focal areas of innovation for 2022; they could be a key tool for reducing food’s environmental impact and enabling greater food security.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
Companies with significant ESG commitments to shareholders will not be able to hold investments in cryptocurrencies or NFTs and still meet their
sustainability goals; public companies with these technologies in their portfolios will be responsible for the emissions created by their investments.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
The tea brand’s ‘Regenerative Roadmap’ aims to completely reimagine the way Tazo creates its teas, and plays a key role in industry giant ekaterra’s overarching sustainability strategy.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
The biotech startup uses microflora to produce whey protein that’s genetically identical to the milk-derived version, without a cow in sight. And it’s poised for massive impacts, thanks to a growing number of brand partnerships.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Majik Water has found an ingenious way to capture the water from the atmosphere, even in arid regions — harnessing a limitless resource and providing a sustainable solution for thousands of Kenyans, with a goal of reaching 100M people by 2030.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Housed in cargo containers, Atarraya’s ‘plug-and-play,’ AI-powered Shrimpbox delivers up to 10x the ROI of traditional poultry or swine
farming, creating new opportunities for farmers — even in landlocked, highly populated areas.
CLEANTECH -
New program expands first-in-the-US agreement with corporate partners to reduce business travel emissions through sustainable aviation fuels.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
At a recent Sustainable Brands virtual event, leaders from the CPG, restaurant and IT industries highlighted how they sold important ideas and ambitions around impact and responsibility internally, and how that translates to external success.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
Latest research from Planet Tracker proposes a practical business solution to the problem of plastic waste, whereby packaging is treated as an asset to be returned, rather than a liability to be tossed.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Without established goals, ongoing monitoring and disclosure for accountability, progress will never be made. Organizations can instill trust in their ESG data by ensuring it’s on 'TRACK.'
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Proceeds from limited-edition Coors Banquet stubby bottles and a collaborative capsule collection with clothing brand Brixton benefit the Wildland Firefighter
Foundation.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
As regenerative ag gains momentum in the US, how do we ensure that the transition of the food system materializes in a way that supports equitable economic prosperity while allowing people and planet to flourish long term? Here are four areas where today’s decisions will shape US agriculture’s future trajectory.
WASTE NOT -
The problems we’re facing aren’t going to be solved by forgoing plastic straws. Yes, every small action makes a difference; but these actions need to be a piece of a greater puzzle in which every council, government, company and community is building towards better waste management overall.
FROM PURPOSE TO ACTION: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TOGETHER -
“We’ve been working on design for recyclability for years now. But the next step is to make packaging fully recyclable and then collect the packaging to recycle it into new products. We’re very close to creating a low-carbon, circular economy.” — Han Zhang
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The Beyond Plastics Challenge aims to address the plastics dilemma on Earth through the design and production of solutions aided by access to space. The two winning concepts will be able to conduct research in the International Space Station’s unique, weightless environment.