FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
W23 Global is the first retailer-led venture fund to seek entrepreneurs and
early-stage ventures offering solutions to a range of common sustainability
challenges.
WASTE NOT -
IKEA has created a collection made from recycled coworker uniforms; while Dr.
Martens’ Genix Nappa collection features recycled-leather remakes of three of
the iconic shoe brand’s signature styles.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
Online resale is expected to more than double in the next 5 years, reaching
$40B by 2028; 40% of voters say they’re more likely to vote for a candidate
that supports circularity in fashion.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
The Scorecard — which evaluates global chocolate manufacturers,
brands and retailers on social and environmental criteria in seven areas — helps
consumers make ethical purchasing decisions and incentivizes companies to
improve their performance in these areas.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
The new policy will protect more pollinators and create a more sustainable
produce supply chain; but campaigners say more industrywide action is needed.
WASTE NOT -
The platform connects shoppers with near-expiration food coming directly from
grocery shelves at a significant discount.
WASTE NOT -
Addressing the fate of returned items — and the larger issue of 'wrap, return,
repeat' consumer culture — requires adoption of smart technologies to offset
losses and improve retail’s environmental impact during the holiday season and
beyond.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
Improved automation is a major driver behind several of the biggest trends that will impact packaging sustainability in 2024.
WASTE NOT -
At COP28, the US Food Waste Pact, ReFED’s ‘Roadmap for Philanthropy’ and $57M from the Bezos Earth Fund are among new initiatives targeting global food-system transformation.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Shaw’s Tara Currier sat down with Elwyn Grainger-Jones, new ED of the Cradle to
Cradle Products Innovation Institute, to learn more about how the Institute drives continued improvements in products across industries.
WASTE NOT -
The use of AI in retail planning is now a strategic imperative in the fight against waste of all kinds — including the rampant waste created during the holiday season.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
SB’23 San Diego concluded with the inaugural Regenerative Agriculture Summit, in which players from the field explored the shared opportunities offered by regenerative ag — where sustainable practices intersect with economic growth.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
This week at SB’23 San Diego, Context Nature shared guiding principles with which business can bridge nature and finance strategies; and three companies shared lessons learned from enacting their own biodiversity commitments.
WASTE NOT -
High-frequency wireless tech will help suppliers sort fruit based on fine-grained ripeness measurements — enabling distributors and retailers to save good fruit and veg from being thrown out with the bad, and move ripe fruit to the front of the line.
LEADERSHIP -
While many companies now understand the value of dedicated ESG leadership, there remains no real playbook for how to get started. Here’s how ESG practitioners can standardize sustainability-forward operations and innovation across workstreams.
WALKING THE TALK -
The retailer argued that a new store would be 25% more energy efficient; but environmentalists say the Oxford Street demolish-rebuild plan would have sent 40K tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.
CLEANTECH -
The Smart Store — expected to be ~50% more energy efficient than a typical supermarket — will also work as Danfoss’ test center for energy-efficiency technologies.
COLLABORATION -
The EDRA/GHIN Scope 3 taskforce will agree on consistent methodologies in how carbon data is treated through the supply chain and share best practices in both reporting and accelerating the industry’s progress in reducing Scope 3.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Danish grocery giant Coop’s impactful partnership with Krukow Behavioral Design yielded insights for any retailer looking to enlist its customers’ help in reducing food-related carbon emissions.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
As Brand-Led Culture Change continued, we heard from a number of players touching retail on how they’re nudging consumers toward more climate-friendly purchases and shifting the model
to create a more just and inclusive shopping experience.