MARKETING AND COMMS -
P&G has committed $1M over three years and partnered with GLAAD to work with brands and agencies to advance LGBTQ inclusion in advertising. New study finds senior marketing and ad execs recognize LGBTQ inclusion as a force for positive social change, yet worry about authentic representation.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The construction industry must adopt technologies that increase productivity while mitigating the impact of our growing housing needs on the climate crisis. Mighty Buildings’ technology may be ‘one of the only in
existence’ that could unlock the needed productivity alongside reduced emissions.
LEADERSHIP -
The good news: According to a new report from the Weinreb Group, hiring of Chief Sustainability Officers surged in 2020 in the US, and women now account for 54% of CSO positions. The not-so-good news: The field remains overwhelmingly white.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
For those who cultivate innovation and invention, it is our responsibility to provide opportunity for those historically marginalized. Our society must take the harsh realizations uncovered by the pandemic and use them to fuel ambition and drive, to ensure access and opportunity for every student.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
The Urban Food Forest at Browns Mill caters to one of 35 food-insecure communities in Georgia’s capital — and provides a scalable model for other cities to begin to address this all-too-common systemic inequity in US cities.
WALKING THE TALK -
Schendler is clearly most right in his assertion that sustainable business has not achieved its potential. But I believe it is still possible for the field to become the hero we need more than ever, along with other complementary and
synergistic changes from others.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
Two new initiatives leveraging connected products and scaling recycled polyester aim to accelerate industry transparency, and circular materials and business models.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
At Sustainable Brands’ latest Just Brands event, experts from across the spectrum of business discussed corporate efforts to support diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) issues — and how stakeholders will no longer tolerate a gap between commitments and actions.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
While the terminology soup of recycled plastic sourcing is daunting, at the end of the day every ton of plastic recycled and put back into a circular economy is part of the solution. The key for brands is to be clear and honest in communications with customers.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
The online flower shop’s bouquets — which include The Unpaid Work Bouquet and The
Lack of Childcare Bouquet — cost up to $800B,
reflecting the true value of mothers' work and the true economic cost of adequately thanking them.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
There’s been some skepticism regarding the announcements of big corporate
investments in CDFIs and minority deposit institutions — are these one-offs just to generate a press release or first steps on long-term commitments?
WALKING THE TALK -
It will take many things to address society’s
many immense problems. But there’s no reason an elevated sustainable business sector (or better, someday, a sustainable business-centric economy) can’t play a disproportionately positive and critical role.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
We caught up with Reimagine Gender CEO Lisa Kenney, to discuss why it's critical for businesses to embrace a broader understanding of gender as part of their inclusivity efforts.
BEHAVIOR CHANGE -
The web's most award-winning food site is encouraging home cooks to expand their culinary repertoires and embrace less resource-intensive menu options.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
We are at the very beginning of the most challenging leg of the climate journey; many companies have yet to commit to zeroing out their emissions. Still, a few at the cutting edge are responding to the call for a higher bar to be set and are staking their reputations on achieving it.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
As immense disruption continues around the globe, the spotlight on the role of business in tackling social and environmental challenges is intensifying. Here, Dr Sally Uren, Chief Executive of Forum for the Future, outlines why now is the time to re-evaluate corporate purpose.
WASTE NOT -
For circularity to become mainstream, where nothing is wasted and everything is fed back into the system, it requires businesses to find value in resources already in circulation — and reframe how they perceive waste in the first place.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
More companies are outlining policies and setting targets for DEIJ, but meeting those commitments remains a challenge. At Just Brands ‘21 (May 6-7), major companies share keys to implementation of authentic strategies, to realize the moral and business imperative of becoming a truly inclusive brand.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
The fifth annual 'Who's Minding the Store?' retailer report card shines a light on both market leaders and laggards in chemical safety. Grading retailers against one another motivates action to improve; and mobilizing public concern reminds companies that customers matter the most.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
Three of VF Corporation’s top outdoor apparel brands have committed to bold
goals around circularity and scaling regenerative ag practices — including having all of their top materials be recycled, regenerative or renewable by 2025.