THE NEXT ECONOMY -
In many parts of Asia, COVID-19 is relatively under control; and the focus is on recovery. How the region responds, and how much companies push for a sustainable post-pandemic economy could influence the entire world, due to Asia’s place as
the global driver of innovation and change.
WASTE NOT -
Agricycle wants to address poverty and put a dent in global food waste. So far, it has created nearly 7,000 livelihoods in Africa and diverted 177 tons of food waste — and counting.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
GoParity — an innovative investment platform that finances sustainable projects through crowdlending — has enabled the villagers of fire-ravaged Belver, Portugal to expedite access to much-needed recovery funds and quickly begin
reforesting.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
Recent research shows that people’s awareness of the link between their personal wellness and that of the environment has increased. How can simple solutions make a big impact? When it comes to food, we need to make it easy for people to make smart, sustainable choices.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
At SB’s latest Trend Watching event, experts across a variety of fields and industries offered insights into how purpose-driven brands can effectively activate on everything from marketing to effective leadership to climate justice in our post-pandemic world.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
The $2M annual fund will aim to address gaps of food affordability and waste, as well as accessibility and acceptability, around the world. Dole is seeking strategic partners to help develop solutions.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
A regional coalition, led by UNEP, will support access to financing by the public and private sector, with special emphasis on SMEs — to foster innovation and the implementation of specific projects in the region.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Reaching 100 million people at once comes at a high cost — but the sticker price of a Super Bowl ad comes with deeper implications, both for brands and
society. What if that money was used for good?
SUPPLY CHAIN -
When it comes to one of the world’s most polluting and exploitative industries, more and more consumers are demanding transparency. We have the technology to deliver end-to-end transparency and to support the reinvention of the fashion
industry.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
Two global coalitions have committed to make good on their companies’ DEI commitments; and adhere to a new set of Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics, respectively. Larry Fink’s annual CEO letter expounds on the need for both.
WALKING THE TALK -
PepsiCo plans to more than double its science-based climate goal, aiming to
achieve net-zero emissions by 2040; and expands efforts to create resilient supply chains in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on female farmers.
WASTE NOT -
While zero-waste initiatives in the US gained momentum in 2019 and early 2020, myriad complications related to the pandemic brought many to a screeching halt. But as we transition from emergency mode, there have been restarts.
LEADERSHIP -
For Sweden and its business leaders, an inclusive society and economy is both a matter of principle, and a source of resiliency and success over the long term. Of course, we’re not all Swedish — so how can others adopt the same mindset?
SUPPLY CHAIN -
IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative and brand partners including Mars, PepsiCo and Unilever have developed the platform to enable a landscape approach to sustainable commodity sourcing.
CLEANTECH -
Unilever, Starbucks and Dairy Farmers of America have joined the historic alliance, which calls on the food industry to embrace the simple, circular relationship between food waste and its potential to reduce greenhouse gases.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
The murals were part of a Fairtrade America campaign during October for Fair Trade Month, to raise awareness of Fairtrade’s positive impacts.
Shoppers voiced their choice for Fairtrade and won various Fairtrade prizes.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
Based on research conducted by the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol in 2020, here are three trends we can expect from the apparel industry — as we emerge from COVID-19 and toward a more sustainable future.
COLLABORATION -
As Congress signs off for Thanksgiving, roughly 12 million Americans could soon lose jobless benefits. The hope is that people and companies continue to step up; government programs continue, and the flexibility the food supply chain has gained during COVID will enable a nimbler switch to accommodate future need.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
What links the two major themes to emerge from the day — COVID and climate — is the need for companies to take steps to assist vulnerable people in supply chains, and to ensure their needs are always taken into account.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
In the months and years to come, the real estate sector must play a critical role in creating a decarbonized environment — helping society prepare, respond, re-enter and ultimately re-imagine a sustainable future.