Innovation & Technology

The latest products, services, design approaches and business models that are helping organizations of all sizes deliver on their sustainability ambitions and establish a new business as usual

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Forget Incremental Improvements: 40 Companies, Cities Working to Activate New Plastics Economy
Forget Incremental Improvements: 40 Companies, Cities Working to Activate New Plastics Economy
Published on May 25, 2016
About a 3 minute read

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative kicks off today with an inaugural workshop that brings together more than 40 leading companies including Amcor, Coca-Cola, The Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, Indorama Ventures, Marks &... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Savor a Taste of Sustainability Every Morning
Savor a Taste of Sustainability Every Morning
Published on May 24, 2016
About a 3 minute read

How can you taste sustainability? How can sustainability bring more quality to a cup of coffee? The answer is found in one word: ALIGNMENT. When a farmer remains partner with his coffee, his interest in a thriving coffee business aligns with the inte... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Toyota Advances Safer, Longer-Lasting Rechargeable Batteries
Toyota Advances Safer, Longer-Lasting Rechargeable Batteries
Published on May 24, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Earlier this month, engineers at the Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA) announced they made a breakthrough in magnesium battery technology that could lead to smaller, longer-lasting rechargeable batteries for “everything from cars t... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
COMMON Partners to Accelerate Social Purpose Businesses, Lead ‘Paradigm Shift’
COMMON Partners to Accelerate Social Purpose Businesses, Lead ‘Paradigm Shift’
Published on May 23, 2016
About a 3 minute read

A new strategic partnership aims to bolster social purpose startups and launch more products that are better for the planet. ... View More

Article
Innovation & Technology
Durable Duds: The Disruptive Startups Looking to Wear Out Fast Fashion
Durable Duds: The Disruptive Startups Looking to Wear Out Fast Fashion
Published on May 23, 2016
About a 5 minute read

As leading fashion brands continue their creative battles against textile waste — check out recent innovations by Levi Strauss, H&M and adidas — a new breed of circular clothing disruptor is starting to emerge. These purposeful startups are l... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Sustainable Water Management and Facilitating Global Access to Clean Water: Addressing SDG 6
Sustainable Water Management and Facilitating Global Access to Clean Water: Addressing SDG 6
Published on May 19, 2016
About a 2 minute read

Although roughly 70 percent of our planet is covered with water, drinkable water is increasingly becoming a scarce resource. The United Nations has defined access to clean water as one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals; BASF supports the SDGs and i... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Dow Teams Up to Advance Renewable Energy, Circular Economy Goals
Dow Teams Up to Advance Renewable Energy, Circular Economy Goals
Published on May 19, 2016
About a 4 minute read

This week, The Dow Chemical Company launched two new partnerships aimed at advancing two of its seven 2025 Sustainability Goals, launched last year. ... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Starbucks Issues First-Ever U.S. Corporate Sustainability Bond, Aimed at Driving Social Impacts in Supply Chain
Starbucks Issues First-Ever U.S. Corporate Sustainability Bond, Aimed at Driving Social Impacts in Supply Chain
Published on May 18, 2016
About a 4 minute read

Starbucks Corporation announced on Monday that it completed the underwriting of an initial public offering of senior notes, including its first-ever U.S. Corporate Sustainability Bond. ... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Digital Risk Assessment Tool Wins $250K to Screen for Slavery in Seafood Supply Chains
Digital Risk Assessment Tool Wins $250K to Screen for Slavery in Seafood Supply Chains
Published on May 17, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Yesterday, the Partnership for Freedom announced the winners of Rethink Supply Chains: The Tech Challenge to Fight Labor Trafficking, a competition seeking technological solutions that help fight modern-day slavery in global supply chains. Earlier th... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
If a Social Impact Innovation Is Created and Not Distributed, Can It Have Any Effect? Check Out the D-Prize
If a Social Impact Innovation Is Created and Not Distributed, Can It Have Any Effect? Check Out the D-Prize
Published on May 17, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Recently, we added a competition called the D-Prize to our Idea Accelerator. This prize, whose tagline is “Distribution equals development,” is a terrific idea that is so needed in our world today. Why? There is no shortage of excellent, incentiv... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Ford Turning Captured CO2 Into Car Parts, Expanding Healthcare Outreach in Africa
Ford Turning Captured CO2 Into Car Parts, Expanding Healthcare Outreach in Africa
Published on May 16, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Ford Motor Company claims to be the first automaker to formulate and test new foam and plastic components using captured carbon dioxide (CO2) as feedstock. Within five years, the company expects to be using the new biomaterials in its vehicles. Foams... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Sustainability Delivering Ever Faster Growth for Unilever
Sustainability Delivering Ever Faster Growth for Unilever
Published on May 16, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Unilever’s Sustainable Living brands continue to show superior performance, as the company reports on the fifth year of progress of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. Consumers expect more of brands and businesses now — and they reward those t... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Schneider Electric Partnering with Silicon Valley Startups to Spur IoT Solution Development
Schneider Electric Partnering with Silicon Valley Startups to Spur IoT Solution Development
Published on May 13, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Schneider Electric has announced a new Silicon Valley Innovation program designed to scout and develop startups focused on applications related to the intersection of energy and the Internet of Things (IoT). The first phase of the program will identi... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
#BusinessCase: Circular Economy Helping Nike Double Its Business with Half the Impact
#BusinessCase: Circular Economy Helping Nike Double Its Business with Half the Impact
Published on May 13, 2016
About a 6 minute read

On Wednesday, leading apparel and footwear brand Nike released its latest sustainability report and was announced as the newest Global Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Nike has made impressive progress during a period of continued growth, a... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Smart Partnerships, IoT, Certifications Helping Brands Meet Consumer Demand for Better Products
Smart Partnerships, IoT, Certifications Helping Brands Meet Consumer Demand for Better Products
Published on May 12, 2016
About a 6 minute read

Since the introduction of the first ecolabels and standards for organic products in the late 1980s and '90s, sustainability standards and certifications have proliferated across myriad industries. From food to manufactured goods, standards and certif... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyMaterials & Packaging
Bolt Threads Raises $50M Series C, Partners with Patagonia to Pioneer Sustainable Textiles
Bolt Threads Raises $50M Series C, Partners with Patagonia to Pioneer Sustainable Textiles
Published on May 12, 2016
About a 3 minute read

You’ve probably heard plenty of startups claim they can “revolutionize” their industry, but in the case of Bolt Threads, they may actually be right. The California-based biotechnology startup is already manufacturing its Engineered Silk™ prot... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
UPS Foundation, Zipline, Gavi Partner to Drone-Drop Medical Supplies in Rwanda
UPS Foundation, Zipline, Gavi Partner to Drone-Drop Medical Supplies in Rwanda
Published on May 9, 2016
About a 5 minute read

The UPS Foundation has partnered with drone manufacturer Zipline and leading vaccine alliance Gavi., to deliver blood, medicines, and vaccines to clinics across Rwanda via a fleet of Zipline drones. Drones can provide a faster, more reliable method o... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Trending: Beverage Makers Turning Production Waste Into Biomass, Carbonation
Trending: Beverage Makers Turning Production Waste Into Biomass, Carbonation
Published on May 6, 2016
About a 4 minute read

The Arandas, Mexico-based Tequila Cazadores distillery has become a shining example of Bacardi’s “Good Spirited” corporate responsibility program. The facility is now 100 percent biomass-fueled thanks to a recently-installed biomass boiler, and... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
F&A Next Showcasing Innovations That Will Shape the Future of Food & Agriculture
F&A Next Showcasing Innovations That Will Shape the Future of Food & Agriculture
Published on May 4, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Robots farmers; intelligent crop monitoring; vertical city farms; algae- or lupine-based ingredients; and sustainable methods for growing, nutrient extraction and waste valorization – if the latest crop of F&A Next finalists is any indication, ... View More

Article
Innovation & TechnologyInnovation & Technology
Zero Waste Europe Needs Your Help to Redesign Wasteful Products
Zero Waste Europe Needs Your Help to Redesign Wasteful Products
Published on May 4, 2016
About a 3 minute read

Brussels-based association Zero Waste Europe is developing a project to empower community groups across Europe to challenge wasteful products and facilitate stakeholder collaboration on their redesign. ‘The People’s Design Lab’ is expected to l... View More

Upcoming Events

August 24-25, 2026
SB’26 Ōtautahi Christchurch
US Event
More Information
September 29-30, 2026
Sustainable Brands Türkiye’26
International Event
December 2-3, 2026
SB Member Network: Selling Sustainability and Shifting Consumer Demand and Behavior December Member Meeting
Member Event
More Information
See All Events >