WASTE NOT -
IKEA has been making considerable progress towards its sustainability goals by embracing disruptive design and investing in sustainable materials. While the Swedish retailer has largely focused its environmental efforts on its home goods portfolio, the brand is now turning its attentions to tackling food waste.
PRESS RELEASE -
Chick-fil-A® announced today the addition of a new Gluten-Free Bun. The addition comes in response to customers’ requests for more gluten-free/sensitive options on the menu. The new bun, which is now available in restaurants nationwide, comes individually packaged and can be ordered with any of Chick-fil-A’s sandwich offerings.
The Gluten-Free Bun is made with premium ingredients, including ancient grains quinoa and amaranth. It is enriched with vitamins and minerals and is lightly sweetened with molasses and raisins. The Gluten-Free Bun rolls out nationwide following successful tests in three cities across the country in 2016.
PRESS RELEASE -
The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) issued its latest annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, outlining progress made during 2016 toward the company's commitment to "Shared Goodness." Hershey continues to demonstrate its corporate responsibility leadership by improving its environmental sustainability, strengthening local communities, prov
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Each year on a global scale 30-50 percent of food produced goes to waste, $750 billion worth of food is thrown away and, in the United States alone, 35 million tons of food are discarded. The statistics surrounding food waste are staggering, but governments, NGOs and businesses alike are increasingly taking action to raise awareness for the problem, drive innovation and reduce waste along the value chain.
WALKING THE TALK -
Carlsberg Group has pledged to eliminate carbon emissions and halve water usage at its breweries worldwide by 2030, as part of a new sustainability drive, launched today. The beer maker also intends to switch to 100 percent renewable electricity for its breweries by 2022, as one of several intermediate goals.
PRESS RELEASE -
More than 10,000 meals were donated to the local Grovetown nonprofit Concerned Women Inc. from the newly opened Chick-fil-A, as part of the restaurant's three initiatives to give back to the community, coinciding with its grand opening.
The boxes containing the sustainable meals were packed by more than 60 people Wednesday who attended "The First 100" campout in the parking lot ahead of the site's grand opening Thursday, in an effort to receive free Chick-fil-A food for a year.
Concerned Women Inc. chief Bea Sanders said the food donation will help the organization get a jump-start on its summer feeding initiatives.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
New research out of the London School of Economics should wake up many in the food industry.
In a first-of-its-kind experiment, Linda Bacon – a graduate student in behavioral science and former Global Strategy Director at Mars, Incorporated – tested whether placing plant-based dishes in a separate vegetarian section on restaurant menus influenced ordering. The study’s findings have important implications for how the food industry might move more people to eat healthier and more sustainably, and may just change how we talk about plant-based foods.
COLLABORATION -
Improving childhood nutrition globally through gardening is a goal of the Mondelēz International Foundation (MIF). The MIF supports public-private partnerships, bringing school and community-based gardening programs to children around the world.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
In an effort to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the world today, National Geographic and GSK Consumer Healthcare have joined forces to launch the Chasing Genius Challenge. The competition aims to uncover innovative solutions for issues related to sustainability, global health and food security and will provide $25,000 to winners to scale their ideas.
PRESS RELEASE -
Detroit Ento wins startup competition at SB’17 Detroit
BUSINESS CASE -
Learning from Detroit: Designing a More Diverse, Prosperous and Equitable Economy
by Mara Slade
Image credit: TechTown
In an afternoon panel packed with Detroit leaders, we heard firsthand how they are working in human-centered ways to grow the local economy and support Detroit entrepreneurs.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
By 2050, our global population will grow by more than 2 billion, which will require 70 percent more food. In addition to rising demand, companies are facing increasing scrutiny on the environmental impacts across their value chains. While improvements in processing and packaging are helping brands progress on sustainability, interventions at farm level are essential for driving real change.
We recently spoke with Pure Strategies’ Co-Founder and Managing Director, Tim Greiner, to learn more about how brands and farmers both are working together to usher the industry towards a more sustainable future.
WALKING THE TALK -
Day two of SB'17 Detroit picked up the momentum from day one and ran with it. ...
Transforming Consumption Norms Around Food
By Hope Freedman
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
The Coca-Cola Company is closing the loop and ramping up local sourcing of produce for its juice and aerated drinks category with an expansion of its fruit circular economy initiative.
BUSINESS CASE -
It’s been a busy year for Nestlé – joining various initiatives and making strategic investments aimed at everything from boosting recycling infrastructure to developing bio-based packaging to improving consumer eating habits.
We spoke with Nestlé’s President of Corporate Affairs, Paul Bakus, ahead of his appearance this week at SB’17 Detroit, to learn how the food giant is leveraging partnerships to achieve its many sustainability goals.
PRESS RELEASE -
SAN FRANCISO, May 22, 2017 – Sustainable Brands® kicks off its largest community gathering today with Sustainable Brands’17 Detroit at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. Over 2,000 business executives along with their teams from 35+ countries across the globe are attending the conference and Activation Hub. In addition, there is anticipated record breaking livestream viewership in collaboration with Detroit Public Television (DPTV).
PRESS RELEASE -
PepsiCo has joined the New Plastics Economy initiative as a Core Partner, signaling the global food and beverage company's continued commitment to reduce packaging waste.
Led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the New Plastics Economy is bringing together industry, government, NGOs, scientists, students and citizens to build a more sustainable global plastics value chain.
PRESS RELEASE -
SAN FRANCISCO, May 17, 2017 – Sustainable Brands® recently unveiled the session schedule for the Activation Hub at SB’17 Detroit, running May 22-25th at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. The Activation Hub is the action-centered space within the conference program that allows attendees to collaborate on new tools, resources and ideas to accelerate sustainability-led innovation.
WASTE NOT -
How do you solve a problem like food waste? There’s no magic bullet, but realizing that discarded food attracts flies like nothing else, UK-based startup Entomics has engineered an upcycling solution that exploits the metabolic power of insects to convert leftover scraps into high-value protein and fertilizer product.
PRESS RELEASE -
PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP) today announced that it has signed an agreement with Partnership for a Healthier America ("PHA") to independently report and verify the company's progress against previously outlined goals designed to transform its product portfolio and offer healthier options.
PepsiCo's goals, which were announced last October and informed by World Health Organization and other authorities' guidelines, include a focus on reducing added sugars, saturated fat and sodium levels. In addition, the company is focused on offering more positive nutrition such as whole grains, fruit and vegetables, dairy, protein and hydration, as well as greater access to nutritious foods and beverages in underserved communities.