ECONOMY

Corporate Responsibility

Undermining Progress: Human Rights and the Low-Carbon Transition

Panama’s Copper Crisis: What a $20B Lawsuit Says About Investor Power

A Canadian mining giant is using a $20 billion lawsuit to pressure Panama into reopening a controversial copper mine. The case exposes how international investment agreements can undermine democracy, and why experts are calling for fairer investment frameworks worldwide.

Andrew Kaminsky

April 13

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

The MAHA Movement Meets the Glyphosate Buzzsaw

The Trump administration’s support for the notorious herbicide glyphosate shocked voters attracted to Make America Healthy Again messaging during the 2024 election. That anger could ripple into midterms.

Tina Casey

April 9

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Target Answers Boycotts and DEI Criticism With…Cleaner Stores?

Last year Target became an unwilling poster child for the cost of compliance with the Donald Trump administration's stance on corporate diversity. Will the retailer's renewed focus on store experience actually win back customers, or come across as tone deaf?

Tina Casey

March 18

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Warehouse Owners and Communities Are Blocking ICE Detention Centers

The U.S. federal government plans to spend more than $38 billion in taxpayer money to convert windowless warehouses into immigrant detention centers. Real estate developers, local lawmakers and communities across the country are pushing back.

Tina Casey

February 18

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Trump Policies Are Losing in the Court of Law, and the Court of Public Opinion

From violent immigration raids to rising energy prices, the public is increasingly unhappy with U.S. President Donald Trump. Some of the president's policies also cost companies a lot of money, and a growing number are taking the matter to court.

Tina Casey

February 11

Corporate Responsibility

This New AI Tool Helps Recruiters See Skilled Immigrant Talent and Fill Jobs Faster

Across the United States, skilled immigrants are driving Ubers and working service jobs while employers struggle to fill vacant positions. A new AI pilot aims to change that by matching foreign credentials to U.S. job requirements.

Abha Malpani Naismith

January 22

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Gradually and Then Suddenly: Gen Z Consumers Also Vote

U.S. President Donald Trump's falling approval rating with Gen Z could carry big implications for business.

Tina Casey

January 21

Corporate Responsibility

Disability Inclusion is the Untapped Market Hiding in Plain Sight

The $23 trillion disability economy is reshaping global markets, but it's flying under companies' radars. Organizations that lead on accessibility in the new year will capture the loyalty of long-overlooked consumers and build the workforce of the future.

Marc Safman

December 23, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Americans Expect Stronger Corporate Leadership on Social Issues, Especially Mental Health

As Americans' concerns over mental health support, hunger, and other social issues rise, more than half say companies should step up to drive solutions.

Carol Cone

December 18, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

New Analysis Provides More Evidence That Heat Standards Save Lives

As the Trump administration is expected to finalize a standard to prevent heat-related injury and illness for workers by early next year, a new study shows that clear, comprehensive rules save lives.

Liza Gross, Inside Climate News

December 15, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Virtual Power Plants Create New Pathways for Business Action on Climate Change

These software systems manage power supply from multiple sources and sell it to utilities as if it came from a single power plant. This takes serious strain off the grid, while creating financial incentive for homes and businesses to cut energy use during peak times.

Tina Casey

December 3, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

When Sustainability Compliance Stalls, What Comes Next?

Businesses are struggling to keep pace with ever-changing sustainability regulations and rollbacks, leaving them checking boxes instead of driving progress. The answer isn’t less oversight — it’s smarter oversight, argues the co-founder and co-CEO of the sustainability rating platform EcoVadis.

Pierre-François Thaler

October 7, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Closing the Gap Between Caring and Doing: The Clean Earth Model

Research shows that hands-on environmental activities not only increase ecological knowledge, but also help people see that change is possible. The Clean Earth Challenge offers a powerful example, rallying people to collect more than 10 million pieces of litter on their daily walks.

Kristian Darigan Merenda

August 29, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Two Leading EV Makers, Two Sides of the Brand Reputation Story

From the killer of the electric car to an EV leader, General Motors is now the No. 2 seller of electric vehicles in the United States. The automaker's hard work building consumer trust positions it to capitalize on the widely-reported missteps of Tesla, or more specifically of Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Tina Casey

July 9, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

LEED v5 and the Low Cost of Renewable Energy Create a New Momentum for Green Building

As renewables get cheaper, countries around the world are also seeing stronger momentum toward building electrification: replacing systems in buildings that rely on natural gas with electrically-powered alternatives. That could spell good news for the green building sector, which is already having a busy year. 

Tina Casey

July 2, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Paul Polman Offers a Masterclass in Courageous Leadership

The visionary purpose-driven executive and co-author of "Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take" recently joined the Purpose 360 podcast to share crucial guidance for courageous leadership in tough times.

Carol Cone

June 16, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

The Myth of the Silent Executive

The prevailing narrative in the media seems to be that business is mostly staying silent about how changing U.S. policies affect them for fear of legal action, government reprisal or social media backlash, but coalitions including the Leadership Now Project question how much that's really true. 

Mary Mazzoni

June 4, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Should Companies Still Make Their Sustainability Goals Public?

In the latest episode of "What the...?," we asked Laura Gitman, chief impact officer of BSR, whether sustainability goals are still the right tool for driving corporate progress, if companies should make their goals public, or if it's time to rethink the model entirely. 

Mary Mazzoni

May 14, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

In Uncertain Times, Smart Brands Use a Compass

The era of public sustainability storytelling hasn’t ended — it’s evolved. What used to be about volume is now about timing, nuance, and knowing when to speak — and when not to, says the CEO of TriplePundit's parent company 3BL.

Charlie Wilkie

April 25, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

The CSR Leader’s Dilemma: Stuck in the Fear Zone

The turbulent environment in the United States has left the once-bold world of corporate social responsibility afraid to take action. It's time for CSR leaders to lean into business-aligned, employee-driven and community-focused initiatives, argues MovingWorlds CEO Mark Horoszowski. Skills-based volunteering is one option.

Mark Horoszowski

April 24, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

The Time is (Still) Now for Fleet Electrification

Despite the abrupt change in federal electric vehicle policy under the new U.S. administration, the attraction of fleet electrification continues to grow, with an assist from innovators in the EV charging space.

Tina Casey

March 19, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

From Sustainability to Sustainment: New Language for a New Era

Though conservative backlash against the ESG movement continues in the United States, anti-ESG legislation does not necessarily reflect public opinion. The principles of sustainment, a set of guidelines used by the U.S. military, offer inspiration for businesses looking for alternative language to describe their sustainability efforts in this environment.

Tina Casey

February 25, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

The Sustainability Wildfire: Why Businesses Must Lead or Be Left in the Ashes

As the Los Angeles fires spread, some of the first responders weren’t firefighters or government agencies — they were Latino immigrants, running toward the flames to protect neighborhoods that weren’t even their own. The lesson for businesses? Leadership doesn’t wait for permission. It doesn’t check the polls. It acts.

Charlie Wilkie

February 10, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Fewer Companies Made Sustainability Commitments at Davos. Maybe That's a Good Thing.

Ever since the World Economic Forum updated its Davos Manifesto calling for a “better kind of capitalism," the annual meeting served as a launching pad for big corporate statements and lofty commitments tied to environmental sustainability and social equity. But leaders were largely silent on that front this year. 

Mary Mazzoni

February 5, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Companies Risk Reputational Damage By Abandoning Core Values Due to ‘Politics of the Moment’

"It’s a mistake to over-index on the politics of the moment because, in an era of change elections, you are completely redoing your principles as a company or organization every two years and it feels like you have no core,” says former White House communications director Ben LaBolt. 

Dave Armon

February 4, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Experts Say ESG is Here to Stay

TriplePundit spoke with SAP Chief Sustainability and Commercial Officer Sophia Mendelsohn at the company’s Hudson Yards offices in New York City last month to gain some insight into what lies ahead for the corporate sustainability movement over the next four years.

Tina Casey

January 24, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Benefits Beyond Affordability: U.S. Universities Expand Free Tuition Programs

As freshman classes at colleges in the United States decline, a slew of schools are adding or expanding free tuition programs for the coming school year. Experts say the benefits of free tuition extend past making college more affordable.

Riya Anne Polcastro

January 24, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Impact Professionals Share Their Predictions for Brand Purpose in 2025

Members of the Purpose Collaborative, a network of more than 40 social impact-focused firms, share their predictions for social impact, brand purpose and sustainability in 2025. While skepticism and political pushback present real hurdles, they identify key opportunities to connect with stakeholders.

Carol Cone and Kristin Kenney

January 16, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

DEI Has a Role to Play in the U.S. Manufacturing Sector

There's tremendous need for manufacturing workers in the United States. Leaders like Karla Trotman, the CEO of Pennsylvania-based Electro Soft, say diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are essential to addressing that need and the future of the sector at large.

Gary E. Frank

January 16, 2025

Corporate Responsibility

Equipping Gen Z for Green Jobs in Building Operations

Green job postings are growing faster than the number of workers who have the skills to fill them. Recognizing that need, Autodesk and the job training nonprofit Stacks and Joules created a training program for green building operator careers that looks to recruit young people who are often overlooked in the field.

Amy Brown

December 17, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Undermining Progress: Human Rights and the Low-Carbon Transition

Zero Waste Mining: Creating Opportunities From a Billion-Ton Problem

Mines produce an enormous amount of waste, some of which is highly toxic. But researchers and mine waste management companies say zero waste mining could become a reality, and it would be in the best economic interests of mining companies.

Andrew Kaminsky

December 10, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

As More Companies Disclose Their Impact on Nature, Transparency Can Drive Progress

Nature-related disclosures are becoming more common among companies in a variety of sectors around the world, but a new report shows there is still room — and need — for companies to better assess, disclose, and address their impacts on nature. Experts say continuing to increase transparency and reporting can drive necessary behavior change.

Amy Brown

December 9, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Why Companies Should Center Worker Voices in the Age of AI

The COVID-19 pandemic turned traditional business conventions on their head, and research shows sticking to equitable, employee-centered strategies as the workplace returns to normalcy strengthens companies' bottom lines. Businesses can learn from that experience as they look to integrate AI into daily work.

Riya Anne Polcastro

December 3, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Smarter Supply Chains: How AI and Bluetooth Stickers are Revolutionizing Logistics

The logistics-focused tech startup Wiliot wants to help products in supply chains "talk." Using Bluetooth stickers that collect data and artificial intelligence, businesses can get a detailed view of a product's journey and recommendations on how to improve their supply chains.

Abha Malpani Naismith

December 2, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

When It Comes to Climate Action, the U.S. Construction Industry Is Still In

The construction industry provides a good example of the potential for U.S. businesses to continue making significant progress on climate action. Key stakeholders are working with innovators to tackle one of the most notorious global greenhouse gas emitters, the production of concrete.

Tina Casey

November 20, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Sustainability Reporting: How Private Companies Can Leapfrog Their Listed Competitors

Private companies in the European Union might be tempted to put off sustainability reporting as an unnecessary burden for now, as it's not mandatory until 2026. But there are business benefits to starting early beyond effective compliance.

Sarah Walkley

November 7, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Climate Resilience Takes Center Stage As Climate Impacts Intensify

Climate resilience — the ability to prepare for, recover from and adapt to the intensifying impacts of climate change — is gaining traction with governments and businesses, but to keep up with the escalating frequency and severity of extreme weather, the pace has to accelerate.

Joyce Coffee

October 25, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Why Incremental Change is Everything When It Comes to Sustainability for Fashion Brands

Sally Tarbit, director of the branding and communications agency The Team, shares three simple steps for fashion companies to start making a meaningful, sustainable difference.

Sally Tarbit

October 21, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Sustainability Communicators Warned to Avoid ‘Implied Benefits’ to Stay Clear of Greenwashing Allegations

The fundamentals of advertising and marketing that were taught in university classrooms for decades are flawed and could result in a lawsuit in today’s era of greenwashing, says veteran sustainability communications counselor Suzanne Shelton.

Dave Armon

October 18, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

6 Reasons Companies Greenhush (And Why You Shouldn’t)

Greenhushing, the practice of companies staying silent about their sustainability efforts and progress, has gained traction as a surefire tactic to avoid greenwashing accusations. But keeping mum could present just as much risk for both companies and the planet.

Julia Lyon

September 26, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Hollywood Shares Sustainability Communications Tips During Climate Week

In the growing field of sustainability communications, where getting it right can yield improved reputation and market share, those working for film studios and television networks are eager to mentor those outside the entertainment sector to think bigger.

Dave Armon

September 26, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Older Employees Could Be the Answer to Tech's Workforce Problem

Despite layoffs at major tech companies attracting media attention, the demand for entry-level tech talent is steadily growing, and employers are coming up short. Challenging the perception that older employees will struggle to work with technology could help fill the gaps.

Gary E. Frank

September 12, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

These Companies Respect Their Employees' Right to Organize

The U.S. minimum wage hasn't increased in 15 years, and labor organizing is reaching new peaks across the nation, with more than 450,000 workers going on strike last year. Many companies oppose unionization by default, but not all employers take this approach.

Mary Mazzoni

September 4, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Support for California’s Climate Disclosure Rules Remains Strong Despite Push for Delay

The California State Legislature has until the end of the month to decide whether to delay a pair of climate disclosure bills that require companies to report greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks: SB 253 and 261. Experts and businesses say the delay is unnecessary.

Riya Anne Polcastro

August 27, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Corporate Climate Targets Are a Mess. Could Tracking 'Spheres of Influence' Help?

New research proposes a new, more expansive way to look at companies’ contribution to global net-zero.

Joseph Winters

August 23, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Harnessing AI for Corporate Sustainability Requires Precautions

Sustainability professionals are using artificial intelligence (AI) to help with tasks like improving energy efficiency and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, but others are concerned it will do more harm than good for their company's sustainability. There's a lot to consider, but with the right precautions, AI could be a benefit.

Riya Anne Polcastro

August 22, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Companies Remain Committed to Net Zero, So How Can They Reach Their Goals?

About 90 percent of 200 of the world’s largest public companies are maintaining or accelerating their net zero commitments, according to a PwC survey. A few challenges are slowing progress toward these goals, but the obstacles are surmountable with the right plan in place.

Gary E. Frank

August 1, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

ESG: Illegal Collusion or Just Good Business Sense?

Some U.S. legislators moved to restrict companies from measuring and managing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk, but research shows these policies are unpopular with voters and harming financial returns.

Mary Mazzoni

July 31, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Companies Risk Losing Customers and Employees as They Move Away From DEI

Research shows that recent high-profile moves away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs don't align with public opinion on the matter, putting companies at risk of losing customers and employees.

Tina Casey

July 31, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Staples Wants Your Back-To-School Shopping Trip to Include Recycling

Most school supplies are difficult to recycle and can't be placed in curbside bins. This back-to-school season, Staples is making it easier to recycle mixed material items like backpacks, crayons and calculators by expanding its in-store recycling program.

Riya Anne Polcastro

July 26, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Low Profile, High Impact: New Life for At-Risk Auto Plants

The U.S. Department of Energy just announced $1.7 billion in grants for 11 projects transforming derelict automotive plants into facilities capable of taking part in the electric vehicle supply chain.

Tina Casey

July 24, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

On-The-Job Training and Internships Help Close the Green Skills Gap at DSD Renewables

A shortage of employees with green skills, a variety of abilities needed to develop a sustainable economy, is limiting the growth of the renewable energy industry. DSD Renewables is leading on-the-job training and internship programs to increase the number of qualified candidates.

Riya Anne Polcastro

July 19, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Seeing is Believing: What Project 2025 Means for Business

The 922-page document known as Project 2025 has existed online for months. So, why is everyone talking about it now, and what could it mean for business?

Tina Casey

July 17, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Ceres' New Guidance Shows Leaders How to Build a Climate Plan Step-By-Step

When it comes to building a climate transition plan, many companies don’t know where to start, are overwhelmed or fear they'll do it wrong. Ceres' new report walks through the different aspects of creating or evaluating a plan so companies can manage the risks and opportunities presented by climate change.

Andrew Kaminsky

July 15, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Elections, Plastics, Gun Safety and More: Trending Brand Stories of 2024

As we pass the midway point of the year, we're taking a look back at some of the stories our readers clicked most from our weekly Brands Taking Stands newsletter, which covers the latest in corporate and consumer activism.

Mary Mazzoni

July 10, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Pulling Back on DEI is Not That Simple

The retailer Tractor Supply recently dropped all diversity, equity and inclusion programs along with its decarbonization goals. The move may appease some critics, but it exposes the company to competition from other retailers that are seeking a share of the growing rural market.

Tina Casey

July 10, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Consumers Want To Hear More From Companies About Sustainability, Study Finds

Among U.S. consumers, 69% agree businesses should communicate more about sustainability and social impact, according to new research from TriplePundit. That includes 75% of Gen Z and 74% of millennials who want to hear more.

Mary Mazzoni

June 26, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Skyscrapers Can Make a Statement About Sustainable Design

The world's fixation on taller and taller buildings raises many questions about the misuse of materials and energy resources. But with new technologies, architects and developers can use skyscrapers to make a meaningful contribution to the energy transition.

Tina Casey

June 5, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Support for the Anti-ESG Movement Is Dwindling, But Uncertainty Looms Ahead of Election Day

With signs the news cycle — and the general public — are moving, can business leaders and financial professionals finally put the anti-ESG movement in the rear-view mirror?

Tina Casey

May 22, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

From Honest to Just: How Coca-Cola’s Fumble with Honest Tea Turned Into an Unexpected Gift

Seth Goldman, founder of the Honest Tea brand that was purchased (and then discontinued) by Coca-Cola, reflects on blessings in disguise and his new organic and Fair Trade tea line, Just Ice Tea.

Seth Goldman

May 22, 2024

Sponsored

Force for Good: Giving Back to Communities Nationwide

Building Love and Belonging into Employee Resource Groups

Many employees feel excluded at work. Employee resource groups (ERGs) can help, if they are truly grounded in inclusion principles and employee empowerment. The associate director of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at Subaru of America explains how they work for the company.

Ashley Estes

May 22, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Anti-ESG Fever Shows Signs of Bending, Not Breaking (Yet)

The anti-ESG movement is still running strong, but some state legislators already have second thoughts as the consequences of anti-ESG laws come into view.

Tina Casey

May 1, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Do Boycotts Work? Two Years On, Brand Exits From Russia Are Having an Impact

Hundreds of leading brands and other companies stopped doing business in Russia after its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Two years later, it's having a demonstrable impact on Russia's financial ability to wage war, but crucial government action is still missing.

Tina Casey

April 17, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Third-Party Verification Labels Can Guide Sustainable Shopping, If Consumers Know About Them

Third-party verification labels can help consumers shop their values, but only if people know what these labels mean and why they should look for them on the products they buy.

Mary Mazzoni

April 17, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Beware the Silent Boycott, Lest It Get Loud

A silent boycott is taking shape against the high-profile automaker Tesla — offering an opportunity to explore why automakers that promote their environmental profile also need to attend to the social aspect of ESG (environmental, social and governance) principles.

Tina Casey

April 3, 2024

Sponsored

The One Home, One Planet U.S. Event Inspires Action for Ikea and Purpose-Driven Leaders

Ikea Sources Bright Sustainability Ideas From Stakeholders at the One Home, One Planet U.S. Event

Ikea recently brought leaders together to envision a better and more sustainable future, with an eye toward ideas the company can implement to improve impact on people and the planet.

Rasha Rehman

April 2, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

SEC Climate Disclosure Rule: Let the Lawsuits (and the Decarbonization) Begin

At least two lawsuits were already filed to block the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's climate disclosure rule that was published this month. Meanwhile, a $6 billion program to decarbonize energy-intensive industries is forging ahead regardless.

Tina Casey

March 27, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Climate Action and the Case for Voter Engagement

Now that communities in many parts of the U.S. are feeling the impacts of climate change firsthand, voting rights supporters have a new opportunity to engage voters and encourage them to choose leadership on climate action.

Tina Casey

March 20, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Why Corporate Sustainability Goals Fail (And What Leaders Can Do About It)

New research pinpoints exactly what's keeping business leaders from reaching their sustainability goals. We spoke with Robert G. Eccles, founding chairman of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and co-author of the report, to learn more.

Mary Riddle

March 5, 2024

Sponsored

Why Smart Leaders Care What Consumers Think About Brand ESG

The Sustainability Advantage: How Brands Can Boost Revenue By Empowering Consumers

Mike Johnston, data product leader at the research technology firm Glow, which recently released the Size Of Prize report in partnership with TriplePundit, makes the case that businesses are squandering potential profits by not fully embracing sustainability.

Mike Johnston

February 29, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Brands Taking Stands

Sustainable Brands Are Worth $44 Billion to U.S. Consumers, New Study Finds

About a quarter of U.S. consumers stopped doing business with a brand in 2023 because of its social or environmental behavior. And that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the value of sustainability for brands, new TriplePundit research shows.

Mary Mazzoni

February 28, 2024

Corporate Responsibility

Ikea Proves Increased Revenue and Sustainability Go Hand-In-Hand

The largest Ikea franchisee, Ingka Group, reduced its supply chain emissions by 24 percent while simultaneously increasing its revenue by 31 percent. We asked the chief sustainability officer how they did it.

Mary Riddle

February 22, 2024