Behavior Change
The latest developments supporting a shift toward sustainable consumption, as well as specific ways brands are encouraging less wasteful behaviors.
‘Blue Planet II’ Demonstrates Mainstream Media’s Role in Driving Consumer Behavior Change
Sustainability is increasingly becoming an integral part of business practice, but consumers continue to hold the key to achieving long-term change — a concept that has been widely observed by consulting firms and multinational corporations alike. New data from online search behavioral specialist Hitwise reaffirms this and demonstrates how mainstream television can be used to inspire consumers into action.
Why You Should Care About the NRDC's Antibiotics Scorecard
Since 2015, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has been publishing its Chain Reaction report, produced in collaboration with Friends of the Earth, Consumers Union, Food Animal Concerns Trust and Center for Food Safety. Chain Reaction is basically a report card, showing how well major fast-food (and -casual) restaurants are doing at limiting their reliance on meat products raised on antibiotics. Here’s a look at 2017’s scorecard:
Ørsted’s New Interactive Film Hits 'Home,' Puts Personal Spin on Climate Change
Over the past decade, Danish energy company Ørsted has effectively transformed itself into one of Europe’s leading sustainable energy companies, transitioning away from oil and coal in favor of offshore wind. The company has already reduced carbon emissions by 52 percent since 2006 and is on track to achieve its science-based target of 96 percent by 2023.
'Your Food's Roots' Series Aims to Reconnect People with Their Food
Consumers have a critical role to play in pushing forward the sustainability agenda, particularly when it comes to food. But initiating change requires both educating the public about the issues and inspiring them to action, the latter of which isn’t always a straightforward process.
Disaster Relief and Holiday Giving: 5 Ways to Optimize Corporate and NGO Support
This has been a bad year for natural disasters. In fact, 2017 is tied with 2011 for the most billion-dollar disasters.[1] Without even counting Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria or the California fires, the US has sustained 218-plus weather and climate disasters since 1980, totaling more than $1.2 trillion in recovery costs.
Chicken or Egg: Does Happiness Lead to Sustainable Lifestyles, or Vice Versa?
What better way to kick off Sustainable Brands ‘17 Copenhagen than to explore the personal motivations behind changing consumer behaviours in favour of society and planet?
How to Inspire Natural Resource Conservation at the Consumer Level
October is Campus Sustainability Month (CSM), an international celebration of sustainability in higher education. One focus of this year’s CSM is the conservation of water, a natural resource that humans need to survive.
What Difference Can Consumers Really Make to Improve Sustainability in Fashion?
“This conversation is great, but it’s too polite! Where is the sense of urgency in the room?” During our most recent event at Fashion for Good, themed Power to the Consumer, one woman called us out: “I’ve heard this conversation before, but nothing seems to change! What can we do?” Lady, we hear you! This is exactly why we formed the True Fashion Collective. We want to bridge the gap between niche sustainable fashion enthusiasts and mainstream audiences because we too fear the urgency around this topic is fading.
KIND Foundation Launches ‘Empatico’ Platform to Connect Students Globally, Foster Empathy
On its quest to create a kinder, healthier world — one snack at a time — the KIND Foundation, a nonprofit established by KIND Snacks, has launched a $20 million, multi-year initiative to inspire meaningful interactions between kids across the world and foster empathy. Empatico is a free online learning tool that enables students to practice communication and leadership skills needed in a divided country and interdependent world.
FSC-Certified Products Nudging Consumers Into Walking Their Sustainability Talk
Good for your health, good for the environment, good for the future. These common themes have consumers embracing trends toward products that are responsibly sourced and manufactured. As with many things, consumers hold the key. And for products derived from the forest, the reality is no different.
Unilever: Consumer Behavior Remains the Elusive Key to Sustainability
News Deeply, in partnership with Sustainable Brands, has produced a series of profiles looking at how brands are tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. The goal is to examine trends and gather insights from a new wave of corporate citizenship – in an era when the private sector is increasingly expected to play a positive role in improving our lives and societies. This is the 13th article in the series.
Why Halloween Is the Perfect Holiday to Consider Thrift
North Americans love to celebrate Halloween — from trick-or-treating to costume parties to haunted houses, there is no doubt a Halloween frenzy takes over even before October hits. In fact, 50 percent of Americans report Halloween is their favorite holiday. However, purchasing new costumes, candy and décorations for the whole family can quickly add up. The National Retail Federation reported that in 2017, Americans are predicted to spend an average $86.13 each on Halloween costumes, décor and candy, collectively spending $9.1 billion on Halloween-related purchases.
How Domtar Improved Water Quality, Fish Health in Canada’s Thompson River
Flowing through south-central British Columbia is a crisp river, idyllically flanked by black cliffs. But in the 1970s, the clear water of the Thompson River took on a brown hue and bubbled with foam. Rocks were covered with a thick slime. Area leaders grew concerned that a harmful algal bloom might be to blame, which had potential to harm ecology, area residents and the river’s 24 species of fish, including salmon and rainbow trout. An investigation began into the effects of industrial and municipal discharge – particularly from the Domtar’s Kamloops pulp mill and the City of Kamloops.
Panera Bread® Unveils Nation’s Largest Clean Kids' Menu, Challenges Fast Food CEOs to Eat from Their Own
Panera Bread has established itself as a champion of the ‘clean food’ movement, throwing its weight behind efforts to improve industry transparency and deliver ‘food as it should be.’ Building on its Kids Meal Promise, the restaurant chain has announced a new approach to kids food. Children can now choose almost any item on the Panera menu as a smaller sized entrée, resulting in more than 250 menu combinations.
#ClimateOptimist Campaign Gears Up to Kick Climate Fatalism to the Curb
A new survey from The Climate Group and change agency Futerra has revealed that a majority of people globally are optimistic about our ability to address climate change, with 64 percent of global citizens believing that climate change can be addressed if action is taken now.
L'Oréal’s Holistic Sustainability Approach Bringing It Closer to ‘Sharing Beauty with All’
News Deeply, in partnership with Sustainable Brands, has produced a series of profiles looking at how brands are tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. The goal is to examine trends and gather insights from a new wave of corporate citizenship – in an era when the private sector is increasingly expected to play a positive role in improving our lives and societies. This is the 12th article in the series.
NRDC Updates 'Wasted'; Enlists Dan Barber, Alexa for Phase 2 of 'Save the Food' Campaign
The Natural Resources Defense Council and Ad Council today launched the second phase of their Save The Food national public service campaign, aimed at combatting America’s food waste problem from its largest source — consumers. In doing so, they seek to reduce the massive amount of money, water and energy that is wasted along with it.
WWF Shows UK Consumers How to Fight Climate Change with Their Forks
The World Wildlife Fund has published a new report, Eating for 2 Degrees — New and Updated Livewell Plates, which outlines how simple steps, such as reducing red meat consumption, could help to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
Landmark Research Shows Americans Are Redefining The “Good Life”
In spite of a chaotic political arena, a majority of Americans share the view that The Good Life is defined by connections to people and planet more than by material wealth and consumption. Furthermore, Americans are looking to brands to take the lead in showing them how they can make a more fulfilling life according to a US study of 1,000 adults 18+ conducted in April 2017. The Enabling the Good Life Report from Sustainable Brands and Harris Poll released today shows the dramatic shift in American attitudes and reflects a gap between people’s new aspirations and the ways business responds.
The Business of Behavior Change: Why Brands Are Motivating Action Through Social Marketing
With Earth Day 2017 quickly fading in the rearview mirror, I’m reminded of the challenge we face every other day of the year: maintaining high awareness and action on sustainability issues. Government agencies and nonprofits have traditionally shouldered the greatest responsibility for year-round efforts aimed at influencing behaviors that benefit individuals and society. But a growing number of forward-thinking businesses and brands are beginning to invest in the kind of genuine behavior change programs known as “social marketing” – or, when done by a corporation, “corporate social marketing.”
