Product, Service & Design Innovation
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.
How American Family’s DreamBank Is Connecting Community, Fueling Dreams
Natalie Healy — American Family Insurance DreamBank Manager — provides insight into how the company is fostering community both in a special physical space and online, supporting a community of dreamers pursuing their passions.
Trending: 4 Steps Forward for a Circular Economy for Fashion
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. Eastman's new Naia Renew portfolio, ASOS’ first circular collection, and the launch of brands Borobabi and Covalent add to the budding landscape of fashion that chips away at the rampant waste created by the industry.
Amazon’s ‘Climate Pledge Friendly’ to Make It Easier for Customers to Discover, Shop for Sustainable Products
Label launches with 25K+ products endorsed by team of third-party sustainability certifiers. And Amazon’s new ‘Compact by Design’ certification aims to reduce carbon emissions through increased efficiency and better packaging.
How to Scale Your Sustainable Business: 5 Learnings from the Dutch Startup Ecosystem
Here are five lessons from the fastest-growing startup ecosystem in Europe, that will be useful for founders everywhere looking to make a difference.
EVERFI Commits $100M to End Systemic Social, Economic Inequity in K-12 Schools
The social impact education provider will offer free digital education and tools to close gaps that lead to long-term, systemic inequalities for at-risk students.
From Carbon Sinks to Carbon Banks: Could Mycelia Help Resolve Our Climate Crisis?
NetZero’s forthcoming “Mycelium Balls” will put the massive carbon-sequestration ability of mycelium — which can double the environment’s natural carbon-capture rate — into the hands of everyday people.
McDonald’s, Loop Partner on Industry-First Cup Return Scheme
Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. Beginning in 2021, McDonald's customers in select UK restaurants will be able to choose a reusable hot beverage cup, which can be returned to be sanitized and reused.
Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Through Sustainability, Equity and Resilient Design
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. Here, Purpose Built Communities president Carol Naughton discusses how sustainability and designing for resiliency can help to end intergenerational poverty, strengthen economically diverse communities and aid in neighborhood revitalization.
Report: Unlocking Manufacturer Innovation Key to Achieving Circular Fashion
Cross-Posted from Supply Chain. With the COVID-19 and climate crises threatening industry’s dominant business model — which is based on continued growth in production — circular models will need to be at the heart of fashion’s growth plans going forward.
All Timberland Products to Be 100% Circular, Net Positive by 2030
The brand is aiming to design 100% of its products for circularity, and source 100% of materials from regenerative agriculture.
Planned Obsolescence and Your Right to Repair
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. Have you ever wondered why some consumer goods don't last? From cell phones to household appliances and clothing to automobile tires, some products we use every day could last much longer. But they don't.
Biomimicry Providing a Concrete Solution to a Global Problem
With impending, growing climate change impacts — in conjunction with the expected growth of our cities, ports and other coastal infrastructure — investing in “Blue Tech” is of prime importance.
Algramo Brings Refillable, Waste-Free Cleaning Products to NYC
Cross-Posted from The Next Economy. In partnership with major brands and small business owners, Algramo gives consumers a better way to refill household-name cleaning products through a cost effective, smart dispensing system.
New Innovations Simplify Ocean Plastic Supply Chain
Cross-Posted from Supply Chain. Incorporating recycled ocean plastics into products is no longer a risky affair, and more brands are following in the footsteps of earlier pioneers to revolutionize their own product lines and story with these salvaged materials.
Interior Design Firm’s Product Exchange Minimizes Construction & Demolition Waste
Cross-Posted from Waste Not. Schott Design’s product exchange program, SchottXchange, goes beyond its carpet reclamation and recycling efforts on its projects to facilitate the reuse of items within or between buildings, diverting materials from the landfill.
Going Green (and Blue): Three Lessons Learned from a Circular Partnership
Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. As CHEP and Ice River Springs have worked together in pursuit of a stronger circular economy, we’ve learned a number of lessons. We want to share a few with you, in hopes that they’ll spark inspiration for your own operations.
Nimble Nonprofit Pivots to Fulfill Its Purpose During the Pandemic
The Desai Foundation’s advice to purpose-driven organizations dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic is to look beyond the immediate practicalities and be open to new ways to deliver on end goals.
Slowly But Surely, Fairphone Paving the Way to a More Ethical Electronics Industry
Cross-Posted from Supply Chain. Latest Fairphone Impact Report reveals benefits of social and environmental programs; while LCA of the Fairphone 3 shows that using a smartphone for over 5 years can reduce CO2 emissions by about 40%.
How a Classic Brand Is Tackling the Marine Plastic Problem
Cross-Posted from Chemistry, Materials & Packaging. Zipper giant YKK Group has used recycled PET yarns in the woven tape of its Natulon® zippers since 1994. But when it wanted to help address the challenge of ocean plastic, the company saw it as an opportunity to get creative.
Global Maker Challenge Finalists Tackling Food, Trade, Justice, Circularity
This year’s global challenges centered around four themes: Sustainable and Healthy Food for All, Climate Change/Circular Economy, Innovation for Inclusive Trade, and Innovation for Peace and Justice.
