THE NEXT ECONOMY -
Building on their individual efforts and those under the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF)’s New Plastics Economy initiative, dozens of businesses have made their commitment to the new UK Plastics Pact.
PRESS RELEASE -
Here at Target, we’re proud of our ever-growing, differentiated assortment of must-have products. Our teams search far and wide (literally!) to bring guests popular and exclusive items they’ll love. Sometimes that means creating our very own collections, and other times that means seeking out new and exciting brands. This week our second year of Target Takeoff starts to do exactly that!
Target Takeoff is a mini retail boot camp that brings 10 up-and-coming startups to Minneapolis to work alongside business mentors to learn the ins and outs of the retail industry. The program is a part of Target’s larger retail accelerator capability—which also includes Techstars and our India-based accelerator in Bangalore.
BUSINESS CASE -
Extreme weather events cost the global economy a record $320 billion in 2017. Food systems are experiencing more shocks than ever before, yet they also cause about one quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.
WALKING THE TALK -
Increasingly, businesses are using their clout to influence governments to advance a fair, inclusive and sustainable society and position their business for success. They recognize that government leadership is essential to develop progressive economic, social and environmental public policy to realize a future in which business and society can prosper.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
Amidst a wave of negative public opinion on plastics and the waste associated with it, several companies have responded with commitments to reduce single-use plastics, combat marine plastic pollution, and support startups with
PRESS RELEASE -
What does it mean when you see the ENERGY STAR® logo on a product? The little blue sticker means the item meets the highest standards of energy efficiency, set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
At Best Buy, we like this logo because it helps us identify sustainable products for our customers, helping them save energy and money on their utility bills.
Because of our dedication to educating customers and offering a wide variety of ENERGY STAR certified products, the EPA has named Best Buy a Retail Partner of the Year for the fifth year in a row. For this streak, we also get to claim the title of Sustained Excellence.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Closed Loop Fund (CLF) today unveiled an historic statewide, public-private partnership targeting a $5 million investment in recycling infrastructure in Connecticut in 2018. This statewide program follows Closed Loop Fund’s successful investment in Waterbury, CT in 2017.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The New Textiles Economy continues to bloom as key players in the apparel and textile industries take action to shift towards a more sustainable model.
COLLABORATION -
Over 25 major UK retailers — including Asda, The Co-operative, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s — have signed up to a series of commitments to tackle some of the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Businesses have a critical role to play in cleaning up the global economy, but it is consumers whole truly hold the key to achieving a more sustainable future.
In a new report, PA Consulting Group shows that retailers can build customer loyalty — and grow sales — by providing customers with reasons to stay engaged by returning to stores to resell, recycle and donate clothing and electronics.
PRESS RELEASE -
In a continuing commitment to investing in the growth and success of its employees, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced three major programs that will enable employees to share in the tax savings created by the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The improvements in employee wages and benefits, which are long-term and sustainable compensation investments, total $425 million annually and create continued growth opportunities for the company and its employees. The programs announced today include the following employee-focused investments:
WASTE NOT -
Around 52 million tons of food are wasted each year in the United States despite 1 in 7 US citizens lacking reliable access to sufficient, affordable and nutritious food. While raising consumer awareness is an important food waste reduction strategy, interventions at the corporate level have a crucial role to play in addressing the issue on a large scale.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
This New Year’s, retailers should make a resolution to get toxic chemicals out of their products and packaging.
At a time when the EPA is undermining the implementation of the nation’s new chemical safety law enacted just last year, it’s more critical than ever for retailers to step up and use their market clout to drive dangerous chemicals out of commerce and ensure substitutes are safe.
Over the past year, we’ve seen a growing number of retailers adopt new or expand sustainability policies to identify and remove chemicals that are harmful to public health.
WASTE NOT -
Food waste may be on the rise, but startups across the globe are developing new solutions to drive waste — and costs — down to an all-time low.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Digital news organization NowThis is rolling out a new food-focused channel that aims to explore food as it relates to culture and the environment. NowThis Food builds on the brand’s already extensive digital offerings, which include NowThis News and NowThis politics — the third and fourth largest video channels on Facebook in terms of engagement, according to Business Insider.
WALKING THE TALK -
Outdoor retailer Patagonia is no stranger to throwing its weight behind worthy causes, particularly those aligned with its mission to “use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” In the past, this has included shuttering its doors on Election Day to highlight pressing environmental issues, donating 100 percent of its Black Friday sales to environmental organizations, calling for a boycott of the Outdoor Retailer
WASTE NOT -
Households in the UK waste two million tons of food each year simply by not consuming it in time. A third of this food waste is the result of the result of a confusing and counterintuitive labeling system. WRAP, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Defra have teamed up to change the way food is labeled and ultimately tackle the critical issue of food waste.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
In an era where brands are becoming increasingly socially conscious to keep up with societal trends, Marc Skid is no exception. The recently launched online underwear retailer is using the finest, sustainably grown materials to provide its customers both a high-quality product and an opportunity to donate to feed, cure and save the world.
WALKING THE TALK -
With the launch of its #OptOutside campaign in 2015, REI set a new precedent in retail, shuttering its stores on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, giving its employees a paid day off and – on a day that has come to represent consumerism at its most extreme – encouraging staff and consumers alike to forgo the shopping frenzy in favor of the great outdoors. The move epitomized the company’s ethos and kickstarted a movement to drive positive behavior change and impacts.
NEW METRICS -
As Sustainable Brands' New Metrics '17 conference kicked off in Philadelphia on Monday, speakers from SASB, CSRLab, WRI, the World Happiness Summit and more presented a range of topics revolving around a few common themes: Correctly measuring what matters, disclosing material data and knowing your audience when you do.
From disclosure to performance: Building a virtuous loop
By Jessica Bast