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Organizational Governance

How organizations are addressing the 'G' in ESG – striking the balance of maximizing long-term growth and value while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders

Target Unveils Plan to Co-Create an Equitable, Sustainable Future for All

Among the retailer’s goals are to achieve 20% Black team member representation across the company by 2023; and reach net zero in both waste to landfill and value-chain-wide emissions, and 100% owned-brand product circularity, by 2040. Read More...

All Aboard: Cox Enterprises on the Cumulative Power of Buy-In

How can an organization enact profound ESG governance in a sector of the economy that might not be facing external pressures to operate more sustainably? The Cox family of companies accepted this challenge before sustainability was even in the zeitgeist. Read More...

Color of Change Holding Corporations Accountable to Racial Justice Promises

The nation’s largest online racial justice organization has outlined new demands of corporations that made racial justice statements to urge them to move #BeyondTheStatement. Read More...

Leading Brands Share Mix of Success Stories, Cautionary Tales at SB’21 Madrid

While showcasing brands leading the charge toward sustainability — including Interface and Tony’s Chocolonely — SB’21 Madrid gave equal weight to just how much work we have left to do: Only 13% of companies can accurately deem themselves “sustainable.” Read More...

Is Your Industry or Professional Association Asleep? And If So, What Can You Do About It?

The future suggests that successful sectors and professions will rethink their inward-looking mandates to embrace a stronger role in creating value for not only their members, but for society and their stakeholders. A new report uncovers a range of compelling opportunities for associations that make this pivot. Read More...

Disposables to Reusables: Food-Service Businesses Can Save $5B a Year, Avoid Countless Environmental Impacts

Any product designed to be used for a matter of minutes and then thrown away is not a sustainable option – regardless of whether it’s made from plastic, paper, metal or plants. Businesses and the environment will reap undeniable benefits as the new reuse economy for food service gains steam. Read More...

Best Intentions: Surviving a Sustainability Story Setback with Transparency and Truth

When Kevin Murphy announced that all of its packaging would be made from “plastic pulled from the ocean,” it had every intention of delivering that. While the claim was doomed from the start, the company quickly communicated its mistake with tact, transparency and a plan to make it right. Read More...

Fix the Economy, Fix the Climate: A Deeper Dive Into the Win-Win of a Circular Economy

At a recent virtual event, Dame Ellen MacArthur and an esteemed lineup of business and policy leaders discussed how to push siloed circular efforts to scale. And while the unknown and upfront costs are delaying progress, MacArthur asserted: “Everybody loses if we continue with business as usual.” Read More...

4 Ways to Attract Top Sustainability Talent

It’s brilliant news that sustainability and ESG professionals look set to become as critical to any business as operations, sales and marketing; but for brands that rely on a steady stream of candidates in these roles, it will require a rethink of hiring strategies. Read More...

WWF’s ‘Forests Forward’ Helps Companies Deliver on Science-Driven Strategies to Benefit Nature, Climate, People

Companies including HP, IKEA, Kimberly-Clark, Lowe’s and Williams-Sonoma are working with WWF to create lasting change that makes tangible differences in people’s lives and the health of our natural world. Read More...

How the UK Is Promoting ‘Social Value’ Through Its Public-Sector Procurement Process

When organisations start measuring performance beyond the balance sheet, we can make real progress on our most pressing social issues. The UK Government's new procurement policy could provide a model for other countries to move closer to a more sustainable and equitable world. Read More...

Efforts to Achieve the SDGs Are Revitalizing Communities in Japan and Beyond

This year’s International Forum on SDGs for Regional Revitalization examined the acceleration of sustainable development initiatives in and outside Japan, through corporate and government cooperation, and the positive ripple effects on communities around the world.  Read More...

Report: US Health Costs from Climate Change, Fossil Fuel Pollution Top $820B a Year

New NRDC report synthesizes dozens of scientific research papers and is among the first to tally a broad financial toll on public health from climate-change-driven extreme weather, unprecedented heat waves, spikes in air pollution and a rise in vector-borne diseases. Read More...

US Demand for CSOs Grew 228% in 10 Years, But Diversity Remains a Challenge

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. Read More...

How to Empower the Next, Diverse Generation of Inventors

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. Read More...

Is Sustainable Business ‘Complicit,’ a ‘Distraction,’ and ‘Duplicitous’? A Response, Part 2

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. Read More...

Just Brands ’21: Where the Rubber Meets the Long, Bumpy Road to Truly Equitable Workplaces

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. Read More...

Corporate Treasurers Get Serious About Shifting Cash to Communities

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? Read More...

Is Sustainable Business ‘Complicit,’ a ‘Distraction’ and ‘Duplicitous’? A Response, Part 1

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. Read More...

Reimagine Gender: Helping Corporate America Create Truly Inclusive Workplace Cultures

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. Read More...

Upcoming Events

October 14-17, 2024
SB'24 San Diego
US Event
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December 11-12, 2024
SB Member Network: Shifting Customer Behavior and Demand December Member Meeting
Member Event
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March 18-19, 2025
SB'25 Tokyo Marunouchi