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Finance & Investment
The Sustainability Practitioner’s (Basic) Guide to Investors
The Sustainability Practitioner’s (Basic) Guide to Investors
Published on December 21, 2017
Written by Martin Rich
About a 3 minute read

As a reformed banker, I tend to be alert whenever I hear folks talking about investment and investors. Over the past few Sustainable Brands events, I’ve noticed, however, that the language can sometimes be a bit muddled around this topic. Investors are often lumped into one homogenous bunch, whose needs and duties are not really understood. The differences between the types of investment product and the accompanying financial risk-reward can be confused. Read More...

Collaboration & Co-CreationCollaboration & Co-Creation
Thai Union, Nestlé Partner to Promote Human Rights in Thai Fishing Industry
Thai Union, Nestlé Partner to Promote Human Rights in Thai Fishing Industry
Published on December 19, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 2 minute read

A year after announcing its strategy to ensure 100 percent of its branded tuna is sustainably sourced, Thai Union, the company behind brands such as Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee, John West and Petit Navire, has embarked on a new partnership with Nestlé to help rebuild its damaged reputation. Read More...

Organizational Governance
2 Ways to Tie Your Sustainability Path to a Broader Movement
2 Ways to Tie Your Sustainability Path to a Broader Movement
Published on December 15, 2017
Written by Cristian Barcan
About a 4 minute read

Sustainability matters, but why does it matter to your business? The vinyl industry began our sustainability journey with the recognition that meeting the needs of a fast-growing population will demand much more of the earth’s natural resources, and we wanted to be prepared to address this challenge. As a result, doing more with less is essential to the way we manufacture and market our products. Read More...

Innovation & Technology
More Gifts That Keep on Giving: Sustainable Brands' 2017 Holiday Gift Guide
More Gifts That Keep on Giving: Sustainable Brands' 2017 Holiday Gift Guide
Published on December 14, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 12 minute read

Sustainable products geeks rejoice, for 'tis once again the season of giving! And what better way to celebrate and participate than with gifts whose buying and giving creates more cheer, health, beauty and financial stability while eliminating waste, pollution and carbon emissions around the world? Here are just a few of our favorite discoveries this year of products we'd be proud to give. Waste Not You know we’re big fans of upcycling, here at SB! Here are just a few of the waste-turned-products we loved this year: Read More...

Circular EconomyCircular Economy
2018 Circulars Nominate 43 Changemakers Paving the Path to a Circular Future
2018 Circulars Nominate 43 Changemakers Paving the Path to a Circular Future
Published on December 13, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 9 minute read

2017 was a big year for the circular economy, with innovative new products, initiatives and tech tools popping up almost daily, and making it easier than every for corporates and consumers alike to engage in circularity. An initiative of the World Economic Forum and the Forum of Young Global Leaders, The Circulars are awarded to individuals, companies (from startups to multinationals) and public and social organizations in recognition for their contributions to the circular economy. This year, 43 innovators have been nominated for pushing the circular agenda forward and paving the way for others in their field. Read More...

Marketing & CommunicationsMarketing & Communications
KIND Launches Storytelling Campaign to Inspire Empathy, Kindness
KIND Launches Storytelling Campaign to Inspire Empathy, Kindness
Published on December 12, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 4 minute read

The campaign explores the differences between being 'nice' and being 'kind' — an often overlooked distinction that has tangible implications on how we act towards one another. Read More...

Marketing & Communications
Report: Corporate Action on SDGs Stalling Just Two Years Into 2030 Agenda
Report: Corporate Action on SDGs Stalling Just Two Years Into 2030 Agenda
Published on December 5, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 3 minute read

Despite mounting evidence for the business case for integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into brand strategy, a new report released by Corporate Citizenship shares some alarming trends in how corporate action on the SDGs is evolving. Read More...

Consumer Behavior Change
Ørsted’s New Interactive Film Hits 'Home,' Puts Personal Spin on Climate Change
Ørsted’s New Interactive Film Hits 'Home,' Puts Personal Spin on Climate Change
Published on December 5, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 3 minute read

Over the past decade, Danish energy company Ørsted has effectively transformed itself into one of Europe’s leading sustainable energy companies, transitioning away from oil and coal in favor of offshore wind. The company has already reduced carbon emissions by 52 percent since 2006 and is on track to achieve its science-based target of 96 percent by 2023. Read More...

Finance & Investment
Wilmar Embraces Sustainability-Linked Finance, Unveils Child Protection Policy
Wilmar Embraces Sustainability-Linked Finance, Unveils Child Protection Policy
Published on December 4, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 4 minute read

Wilmar International, the world’s largest producer of palm oil, has announced major steps forward in reducing its environmental and social impacts. The company has worked out an innovative financial deal with ING to link its existing loan to its sustainability performance, and has unveiled a policy aimed at protecting children living on its palm oil plantations. But human rights campaigners say it may be little more than a band-aid. Read More...

Materials & Packaging
Trending: Cross-Industry Collaboration, Bio-Based Materials Fuel Sustainable Packaging
Trending: Cross-Industry Collaboration, Bio-Based Materials Fuel Sustainable Packaging
Published on November 29, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 4 minute read

Packaging remains a considerable challenge for businesses looking to reduce their impacts, but innovators such as food-service supplier Eco-Products and Finnish startup Sulapac are helping to accelerate the transition to lower-impact models through cross-industry partnerships and sustainable packaging solutions. Read More...

Organizational GovernanceOrganizational Governance
Third Year of REI's #OptOutside Movement Gives the Power to the People
Third Year of REI's #OptOutside Movement Gives the Power to the People
Published on November 22, 2017
Written by Jennifer Elks
About a 7 minute read

With the launch of its #OptOutside campaign in 2015, REI set a new precedent in retail, shuttering its stores on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, giving its employees a paid day off and – on a day that has come to represent consumerism at its most extreme – encouraging staff and consumers alike to forgo the shopping frenzy in favor of the great outdoors. The move epitomized the company’s ethos and kickstarted a movement to drive positive behavior change and impacts. Read More...

Circular EconomyInnovation & Technology
Trending: Coffee Grounds Poised to Power Future for Sustainable Transport, Fashion
Trending: Coffee Grounds Poised to Power Future for Sustainable Transport, Fashion
Published on November 22, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 4 minute read

Your morning cup of java could be good for more than just a caffeine buzz — Shell and Vancouver-based sustainable clothing company LEZÉ the Label are fueling a sustainable future with the help of waste coffee grounds. Read More...

Circular EconomyCircular Economy
Trending: Resource Optimization Is Driving the Future of Food
Trending: Resource Optimization Is Driving the Future of Food
Published on November 21, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 5 minute read

In the face of climate change, embracing new methods of agricultural production, consuming responsibly and adopting circular business models will be critical to forging a sustainable future and achieving both income and food security. Read More...

New Metrics
AT&T, BASF, Cabot, HPE and More Show #NewMetrics in Action
AT&T, BASF, Cabot, HPE and More Show #NewMetrics in Action
Published on November 15, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 23 minute read

While measurement, disclosure and other forms of engagement were the dominant themes yesterday, day two of New Metrics ’17 saw brands, NGOs and solution providers digging deeper to reveal practical applications and concrete findings from where the rubber meets the road in the world of sustainability metrics. The design and implementation of a Sustainable Product Optimization Tool By Anna Shugoll Read More...

Supply Chain
Beauty Industry Leaders Partner with EcoVadis to Launch Responsible Beauty Initiative
Beauty Industry Leaders Partner with EcoVadis to Launch Responsible Beauty Initiative
Published on November 14, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 2 minute read

In an effort to accelerate improvement on ethical social and environmental performance throughout the beauty supply chain, Clarins, Coty, Groupe Rocher, L’Oréal and EcoVadis have launched the Responsible Beauty Initiative (RBI). Read More...

Innovation & Technology
Looking for a Circular Packaging Solution? Meet RePack
Looking for a Circular Packaging Solution? Meet RePack
Published on October 30, 2017
Written by Jonne Hellgren
About a 4 minute read

Maybe you remember visiting a post office to pick up one of your online purchases and seeing the hundreds, even thousands, of packages going to other shoppers — to be used once and thrown away. Sure, online purchases need to be individually labelled and protected for transport, so some form of packaging is necessary. But shouldn’t we as environmentally conscious purchasers have a say in how our goods are packaged? And shouldn't sustainably minded brands be able to offer their customers a choice in this matter? Because surely shoppers and brands would choose a returnable, recyclable package for transporting online purchases — especially if it made economic sense. This is where RePack comes in. Read More...

Organizational Governance
Earning Trust Through Transparency
Earning Trust Through Transparency
Published on October 25, 2017
Written by Kelly Semrau
About a 3 minute read

Trust. It can sound a lot like a buzzword or business jargon, a word or phrase thrown around by leaders when trying to identify, define or solve a problem. Sometimes it’s not even a consideration until it’s lost. According to the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer, only about half of the general population trusts business, government, media and nongovernmental organizations to do the right thing. Trust in business fell to 52 percent, and CEO credibility also fell globally. Read More...

Organizational GovernanceOrganizational Governance
3 Key Takeaways from Engaging an Industry in Sustainability
3 Key Takeaways from Engaging an Industry in Sustainability
Published on October 24, 2017
Written by Cristian Barcan
About a 3 minute read

The vinyl industry recently marked its first “sustainability community anniversary” — that moment where industry leaders came together to pledge to embark on our sustainability journey. In the year since, we’ve adopted common sustainability positioning focused on doing more with less, agreed on a purpose-driven continuous improvement path forward, formed the Vinyl Business and Sustainability Council (VBSC), and initiated an industry-wide materiality assessment. There’s still much work to do. Read More...

Organizational GovernanceOrganizational Governance
Liverpool FC Comes Under Fire for Controversial Deal with Tibet Water Resources
Liverpool FC Comes Under Fire for Controversial Deal with Tibet Water Resources
Published on October 20, 2017
Written by Nithin Coca
About a 5 minute read

Liverpool Football Club’s latest sponsorship deal, with Tibet Water Resources Limited — a company committing ongoing human rights and environmental atrocities in the region — is a case example of the kind of partnership brands just cannot make in today's world if they are striving for sustainability. This matters because England-based Liverpool FC is a widely recognized sports brand. According to Forbes, the team is worth $1.49 billion, making it the eighth most valuable soccer club in the world. Read More...

Materials & PackagingMarketing & Communications
Q&A: Tim Greiner on the Transformational Role of Chemical Footprinting
Q&A: Tim Greiner on the Transformational Role of Chemical Footprinting
Published on October 20, 2017
Written by Sustainable Brands
About a 8 minute read

Sustainable chemical management is a critical component of a healthy and circular future. In its second annual report, the Chemical Footprint Project (CFP) revealed encouraging advances across industries towards the use of safer materials and greater transparency. Read More...

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