New report reveals that by meeting their science-based targets, these companies — with more GHGs than France and Spain, combined — will eliminate 265 million metric tons of emissions from their operations, equivalent to closing 68 coal-fired power plants. Read More...
Brands that are committed to sustainability could conduct efficient, cost-effective research to show that their products help reduce exposure to harmful substances, leveraging their commitment to sustainability and expanding it to a commitment to consumer health. Read More...
Envision a future where every material thing in our world is made out of a handful of materials, carefully selected to be safe, healthy and infinitely recyclable. Everything from coffee cup to countertop could be broken down and used as raw materials for a new shawl or lampshade. Read More...
US business leaders have long been vocal supporters of the Paris Agreement — especially since the President declared his intention to withdraw. In the past year, the private sector has renewed its clarion call for the US to step up its policies to protect the economy from climate change. Read More...
On the third and final day at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, it was clear all businesses are being asked to address a fourth ‘p’ — peace. As well as helping to prevent conflict, companies are increasingly taking responsibility for sustaining peace. Read More...
Two US beverage companies are working to empower tea and coffee growers in Rwanda, many of whom are women. Both companies are working to engage Akilah Institute students in hands-on learning in the coffee and tea industries, to open their eyes to the possibilities in their country. Read More...
What Legal Counsels and Chief Compliance Officers have to learn from sustainability and human rights experts is that this can never be a question of compliance alone. Read More...
60% of consumers surveyed agree protecting the environment should be given priority, even if it slows economic growth. But as we’ve seen for years, while consumers widely agree on the need for sustainability, behavior is slow to change. Read More...
While we’ve seen steady if uncertain progress on human rights — and more from business than from governments — there are dangers if the message heard by business is one of complacency. Read More...
As we enter the season of giving — and the season of returns — two new, next-gen online retailers aim to address the rampant clothing waste inherent in e-commerce; and reward users for donating their used, unwanted clothing. Read More...
The plastics industry has become acutely self-aware. Directive targets must be met; new processes researched, developed and launched; and consumer education delivered. And looming over all of this is the spectre of sustainability, and the demonisation of plastics. Read More...
Sustainability experts for decades have been exhorting managers to focus more on the function their products deliver and less on the product itself. Biosphere Rule #5, Function Over Form, is focused on fulfilling customers’ functional needs in ways that sustain the value cycle. Read More...
Last month, Shaw hosted a webinar “Sustaining Human Ability: Taking a People-Centric Approach to Sustainability” — a panel discussion with three organizations that exemplify what it means to put people at the center of their sustainability efforts: Perkins and Will, HeiQ Group and Healthy Building Network. The webinar kicked off our program to recognize diverse organizations intently focused on products and initiatives that support the wellbeing of people and the planet. Read More...
WRI’s RADD (Radar Alerts for Detecting Deforestation) will be deployed initially in Malaysia and Indonesia, which together make up about 90% of palm oil production globally. According to WRI, it will detect deforestation weeks faster than existing optical-based systems. Read More...
“Sustainability” is so last year. This week at New Metrics ’19, we explored the growing range of tools and tricks needed to keep up with demand for next-level goals such as plastic-neutrality, 100% circularity and properly quantified social and product impacts. Read More...
The xSDG Laboratory seeks to amass SDGs-related best practice by using the SDGs to design solutions to a range of complex social problems. The “x” represents the crossing of various social activities with SDGs to create cutting-edge, superior examples of action for achieving specific targets. Read More...
On day 1 of Sustainable Brands’ (SB) New Metrics ’19 (Nov 18-20), representatives from corporates, nonprofits and more explored new ways to quantify the impacts of various forms of stakeholder engagement — from communities to consumers to employees. Read More...
New analysis from Forum for the Future explores the public commitments of 132 leading food companies and outlines a five-point plan to get businesses on track towards a more sustainable global food system. Read More...
There’s no doubt Scope 3 emissions reductions are challenging. How do you get supplier data? Without recognition toward climate performance targets, is it even worth it? Good news: Answers to these questions are becoming clear. Read More...
Typically, the stages in a product’s life cycle that have the greatest environmental effects also are the ones that present the best opportunity for sustainable innovation. If sustainability is part of the innovation process, then LCA should be conducted to ensure the avoidance of unintended consequences. Read More...