Marketing & Communications

How brands are successfully communicating their sustainability efforts — and how their stakeholders are asserting their own needs and preferences

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Unwieldy Restoration Hardware Catalogs Stir Social Media, Consumer Backlash
Unwieldy Restoration Hardware Catalogs Stir Social Media, Consumer Backlash
Published on June 30, 2014
About a 4 minute read

A few weeks ago, Restoration Hardware mailed out its annual catalog. Only, this one weighed 17 pounds. The 13 different 'source books,' as the company calls them, had 3,300 pages and were delivered by UPS. Consumers reacted furiously to what was seen... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Bevy of Brands Abuzz with Bee Campaigns
Bevy of Brands Abuzz with Bee Campaigns
Published on June 26, 2014
About a 4 minute read

Bee colony collapse disorder continues to generate concern, debate and action around the world. With bees playing a critical role in our lives and economy, a number of companies are running campaigns for the cause, particularly those whose businesses... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
New Research Shows Food Marketing Can Create False Sense of Health
New Research Shows Food Marketing Can Create False Sense of Health
Published on June 18, 2014
About a 3 minute read

Health-related buzzwords mislead consumers into thinking packaged food products labeled with these words are healthier than they actually are, according to a new research study conducted by scholars at the University of Houston (UH).Some of these wor... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
From Conflicted to Regenerated in 4 Days: A Reflection on the Activists of SB '14 San Diego
From Conflicted to Regenerated in 4 Days: A Reflection on the Activists of SB '14 San Diego
Published on June 12, 2014
About a 6 minute read

If I had written this last Tuesday, it would have been titled “Environmental activists stoop to new low: Spend money to rent boat to illegally trespass to protest sustainability conference.” However, after three days with thought leaders in corpo... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Will GMO Labeling Muddy the Sustainable Food Waters or Make Things Clearer?
Will GMO Labeling Muddy the Sustainable Food Waters or Make Things Clearer?
Published on June 11, 2014
About a 3 minute read

Socially responsible investment themes come to light in a range of industries we touch every day. Agriculture and food is a prime example, and the emergence of GMO labelling is a big part of the conversation. With Vermont now the third state to requi... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Regenerating Trust, Connection, Engagement Key Keynote Themes on #SB14sd Day 4
Regenerating Trust, Connection, Engagement Key Keynote Themes on #SB14sd Day 4
Published on June 6, 2014
About a 4 minute read

Annie Longsworth of Saatchi & Saatchi S served as MC for our last day at SB’14. Reminding cause-marketers that we do things when we want to and need to and not when we’re told to, Longsworth eloquently introduced a series of plenaries with th... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
McDonald's USA Introduces 'Happy,' Who Will Hopefully Encourage Kids to Eat Healthier
McDonald's USA Introduces 'Happy,' Who Will Hopefully Encourage Kids to Eat Healthier
Published on May 21, 2014
About a 2 minute read

McDonald’s USA announced this week it is offering new incentives for kids to eat healthier – with the addition of yogurt as a new side option for Happy Meals and the unveiling of “Happy,” the company’s new Happy Meal brand ambassador.McDona... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
The 'CVS Effect' in Action: Lessons from Chipotle's #BurritosNotBullets CSR Win
The 'CVS Effect' in Action: Lessons from Chipotle's #BurritosNotBullets CSR Win
Published on May 21, 2014
About a 4 minute read

After a bruising shareholder vote-down on executive pay last week, Chipotle Mexican Grill sure needed a win.It got one, courtesy of some loaded semi-automatic weapons and some pissed-off moms. In a May 19 statement, the company asked customers not to... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Tom's of Maine Highlights Achievements, New Goals, Other 'Goodness' in New Report
Tom's of Maine Highlights Achievements, New Goals, Other 'Goodness' in New Report
Published on May 15, 2014
About a 2 minute read

The second edition of the Tom’s of Maine Goodness Report, released today, shines a light on the company’s approach to its ingredients, packaging, waste, water, energy, community and employees. The new report shows progress against 11 key goals an... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Kellogg Drops 'All Natural' Labels in Kashi Products
Kellogg Drops 'All Natural' Labels in Kashi Products
Published on May 13, 2014
About a 2 minute read

The Kellogg Company has agreed to drop the words "all natural" and "nothing artificial" from the labeling and advertising for some Kashi products, as part of a settlement of a class-action suit. The company also will pay $5 millio... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Coca-Cola Gamifies Recycling in Bangladesh with 'Happiness Arcade'
Coca-Cola Gamifies Recycling in Bangladesh with 'Happiness Arcade'
Published on May 7, 2014
About a 2 minute read

“What happens when no one is concerned about recycling?” That’s what Coca-Cola asks in a YouTube video detailing its recent effort to engage youth in the Bangladeshi city of Dhaka on the importance of recycling. Coke’s latest campaign in the ... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Shareholders Again Ask Abbott Labs to Label GM Ingredients in Baby Formula
Shareholders Again Ask Abbott Labs to Label GM Ingredients in Baby Formula
Published on May 6, 2014
About a 2 minute read

Shareholders at Abbott Laboratories’ annual meeting last week sent a message to management and the Board of Directors — for the second year in a row — that they are concerned about the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the company... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Effie Worldwide, WEF Unveil Award to Recognize Sustainability-Focused Brands
Effie Worldwide, WEF Unveil Award to Recognize Sustainability-Focused Brands
Published on April 29, 2014
About a 3 minute read

The World Economic Forum (WEF) and Effie Worldwide, which rewards effectiveness in marketing communications, have announced a new award aimed at incentivizing marketers to put more emphasis on sustainability in their work, and “recognize and celebr... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Showtime's 'Years of Living Dangerously' Combines Climate Change Science with Drama
Showtime's 'Years of Living Dangerously' Combines Climate Change Science with Drama
Published on April 28, 2014
About a 4 minute read

The gripping new Showtime docu-series Years of Living Dangerously tackles climate change with a combination of Hollywood star power, heavyweight scientists and frontline reporting. Sending big name such as Harrison Ford, Thomas Friedman, Lesley Stahl... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
How Brands Can Connect with Consumers — Through 'Storydoing'
How Brands Can Connect with Consumers — Through 'Storydoing'
Published on April 23, 2014
About a 2 minute read

We all have a personal metastory, a story that we build through every action we take, every choice that we act on, and every purchase we make. It is the story that emerges in the minds of others as they see us and our choices. This is true for people... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
The FTC's New Green Guides in Practice: A Real-Life, Detailed Case Study
The FTC's New Green Guides in Practice: A Real-Life, Detailed Case Study
Published on April 22, 2014
About a 3 minute read

gDiapers is a Portland, Oregon-based diaper company offering mums and dads a diaper insert that is flushable, home-compostable and plastic-free. My wife and I moved from Sydney, Australia to Portland, Oregon in 2004 to launch the company. As new pare... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Creativity Is One of the UK's Greatest Assets — Let's Turn Its Attention Towards Climate Change
Creativity Is One of the UK's Greatest Assets — Let's Turn Its Attention Towards Climate Change
Published on April 17, 2014
About a 5 minute read

Late last month, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its second report, warning the impacts of global warming are likely to be ‘severe, pervasive and irreversible.’ It’s considered the most comprehensive assessm... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Heineken Doubles Renewable Energy Use, on Track to Meet 2020 Goals
Heineken Doubles Renewable Energy Use, on Track to Meet 2020 Goals
Published on April 14, 2014
About a 3 minute read

Heineken has increased the percentage of renewable electricity it uses in its global operations from 9.3 percent in 2012 to 18 percent, to a total of 358,100,000 kWh, according to the beer maker’s recent sustainability report.The increase in renewa... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Study Reveals Few Fashion Brands Are Walking Their Sustainability Talk
Study Reveals Few Fashion Brands Are Walking Their Sustainability Talk
Published on April 10, 2014
About a 4 minute read

A recent study by brand comparison website Rank a Brand shows discrepancies in sustainability talk and action in the fashion industry. The report finds that while fashion brands are tackling sustainability challenges through communication (63 percent... View More

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Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Across Western US Going Dark for Earth Hour 2014
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Across Western US Going Dark for Earth Hour 2014
Published on March 19, 2014
About a 4 minute read

For the seventh consecutive year, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts throughout the Western U.S. and Hawaii will participate in Earth Hour, a global event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to raise awareness about climate change. On Saturday, Mar... View More

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