SOCIETY

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

The Body Shop's Pride Month Campaign Engages Drag Performers in Support of the Equality Act

The Body Shop's 2023 Pride Month campaign celebrates drag performers and calls on customers to get involved in supporting the U.S. Equality Act — which, if passed by Congress, would extend anti-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community across employment, housing, credit and more. 

Mary Mazzoni

June 21, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

The Public is Behind U.S. Corporations That Stand Up for Abortion Rights, Survey Finds

A growing body of polling indicates that the average American consumer is solidly in favor of abortion rights. That provides business leaders with a supportive environment in which to advocate for the ability of women, girls and other pregnancy-capable people to manage their pregnancies under the guidance of medical science, not extremism. 

Tina Casey

June 21, 2023

Voices for Change

Breathing Through Microaggressions to Avoid Burnout

This Juneteenth, Harvard alum and corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consultant Zee Clarke launched a new online course, Breathing Through Microaggressions and Racism, to give Black workers the tools to transcend these extra layers of stress in the workplace.

Riya Anne Polcastro

June 19, 2023

Voices for Change

LGBTQ+ Voices in Energy Are Essential for Environmental Justice

Edison Energy and its LGBTQ employee resource group hosted an all-LGBTQ panel at the historic Stonewall Inn last week that focused on how to promote queer representation in the energy sector and, by extension, improve outcomes related to climate change and environmental justice.

Riya Anne Polcastro

June 16, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

A Corporate Strategy for Supporting LGBTQ Rights in the Age of Boycotts

Brands that focus on core values that support all stakeholders — corporate, customer and employee — will be less vulnerable to reputational damage from boycotts and more likely to continue thriving in an increasingly diverse society.

Tina Casey

June 14, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

How Brands Can Step Up to Better Support LGBTQ Employees

This year's Pride celebrations are dampened by a disturbing rise in anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric across the United States. Considering a third of our lives are spent at work, employers have a significant role to play in creating safe and inclusive spaces for people in the community who feel increasingly under attack. 

Mary Mazzoni

June 7, 2023

Sustainable Living

How to Keep Thrift Store Donations from Becoming Trash

Unfortunately, many of us are under the mistaken impression that we’re doing enough to reduce waste as long as we recycle and donate our unwanted items. But placing our trash in recycling bins — or “wish-cycling” — and donating our used stuff to thrift shops doesn’t necessarily mean it is being saved from the landfill.

Riya Anne Polcastro

June 5, 2023

Sustainable Living

Brands Taking Stands

Americans Are Ready to Change Their Behavior for the Sake of Sustainability: Are Brands Willing to Help?

We hear it time and time again: People aren't ready, willing or interested in changing their lifestyles for the sake of sustainability. But recent polling from TriplePundit and our parent company, 3BL Media, shows this prevailing narrative isn't representative of how people really feel.

Mary Mazzoni

May 31, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

Repressive State Policies Present New Risks: How Business Can Address Them

Attracting and retaining top talent has become more challenging as U.S. states enact new laws that restrict civil liberties such as LGBTQ rights and abortion access. But business leaders have an opportunity to connect with young voters and restore compatibility between public sentiment and public policy. 

Tina Casey

May 31, 2023

Voices for Change

As Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations Resume, Will Innovators be at the Table?

Governments, advocacy groups, businesses, and nonprofits gathered in Paris this week for a second round of negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty. But one group of stakeholders is noticeably absent from the talks: the entrepreneurs and innovators working to solve the plastic waste crisis.

Mary Riddle

May 29, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Sustainability Matters: What Consumers Are Saying, and How Business Should Respond

Two-thirds of Americans say they read news about sustainability and social well-being on a regular basis — and most feel business isn't doing enough, according to new research from TriplePundit and our parent company, 3BL Media.

Mary Mazzoni

May 24, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

By the Community, For the Community: New Startup Accelerator Backs Locally-Led Climate Solutions

This new startup accelerator squares in on the crucial issue of climate justice, with a call for innovators on the front lines of climate change to submit locally-driven solutions for backing from Village Capital. 

Mary Mazzoni

May 17, 2023

Sustainable Living

Transforming Blight to Boon With Upcycled Sargassum Seaweed

Massive sargassum seaweed blooms have become par for the course on beaches around the world in recent years. Boston-based biomaterial processor Carbonwave is looking to collect the brown algae and use it to replace fossil fuels in products like fertilizers and cosmetics.

Riya Anne Polcastro

May 15, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

AAPI Heritage Month Brings Millions of New Investment to Asian American Communities

The start of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month brought with it new investments that are set to have a major impact on Asian American communities and causes. We took a closer look at two of these new initiatives, the impact they can have on AAPI communities, and how more companies can get involved. 

Mary Mazzoni

May 10, 2023

Community Development

Do More Good with a Tribally-Owned Business

A tribally-owned business is a for-profit business owned by a Native Nation. Profits flow directly to the Native Nation and are used by its government to directly fund services and support for members. These businesses are expanding in the competitive marketplace, and there are more opportunities than ever to work with them.

Jeffrey Ellis

May 9, 2023

Sponsored

Force for Good: Giving Back to Communities Nationwide

The Philadelphia Union is Scoring On and Off the Field in Partnership with Subaru

Neighbors in the Philadelphia-Camden metro, the automaker and professional soccer team joined forces in 2020 to drive greater impact in the communities where they work. They've since cut waste sent to landfills, adopted elementary schools, fed locals with an organic community garden and more.

Grant Whittington

May 8, 2023

Community Development

Microtransit: The Solution to Public Transit Deserts?

Where mass transit falls short, workers, seniors, people with disabilities, and those who don’t drive or own a vehicle are left scrambling to get where they need to go. Via Transportation is stepping up with a technology-enabled solution to improve accessibility while reducing overall emissions.

Riya Anne Polcastro

May 8, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

New Roadmap Aims to Drive Second Chance Hiring in the U.S.

Many business leaders say they face barriers that make it more difficult to hire people with certain or any criminal justice involvement. The Responsible Business Initiative for Justice published research that explores these challenges further and sets out a roadmap for employers to further embrace second chance hiring. 

Mary Mazzoni

May 3, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

400 Drug Company CEOs Stand Up for Mifepristone

Last month, a federal judge overturned the Food and Drug Administration's authority to approve the drug mifepristone for abortions. The reaction from the pharmaceutical and biotech industries was forceful and united, but the sector has much more work to do.

Tina Casey

May 3, 2023

Sustainable Living

More Certified Regenerative Foods Are Popping Up On Store Shelves

Fifty-eight of the world’s 100 leading food companies have either made regenerative agriculture commitments or publicly stated regenerative ag pilots or intentions. As regenerative agriculture gains ground, third-party programs are emerging to verify farms and food brands. These labels are coming soon to grocers near you.

Ken Roseboro

May 2, 2023

Voices for Change

This Cookbook Serves Up Seafood Recipes with a Side of Conservation

Professional spearfisherwoman and sustainable seafood advocate Valentine Thomas' new book offers seafood recipes inspired by her travels, a thorough definition of sustainable fishing and insight on the impact of seafood sourcing beyond the water. <br />

Michelle Erdenesanaa

May 1, 2023

Voices for Change

Prospector Popcorn Provides Meaningful Work for People with Disabilities

Prospector Popcorn provides meaningful employment and competitive wages to all of its employees, including the 75 percent who identify as having a disability.

Riya Anne Polcastro

May 1, 2023

Sponsored

The Science Behind Healthy Spaces: The Role of Buildings in Well-Being

Healthy Buildings Becoming the New Normal in Real Estate

Real estate owners are driving demand for healthy buildings as they seek to retain tenants and strengthen leasing activity at a time when the pandemic still casts a long shadow on occupancy.

IWBI

April 27, 2023

Justice + Equality

Rising Seas Are Forcing Climate Refugees to Abandon Their Island Homes

The Guna Yala people are being forced from their homes as their islands sink into rising seas. Residents of Cardi Sugdub will be the first to be relocated to the Panama mainland, followed by the rest of their tribe over the coming decades. Theirs mirrors the situation for Indigenous island dwellers around the world, particularly in the South Pacific.

Riya Anne Polcastro

April 27, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

Companies Leading the Way on Second Chance Hiring

Second chance hiring is based on the simple principle that a person's past does not define them, and those who have served their time should have a fair shot at employment and a place in their communities. Here are some other companies that are leading the way on the practice as it begins to take hold across the private sector. 

Mary Mazzoni

April 26, 2023

Sustainable Living

With Indigenous Roots, Cheekbone Beauty Celebrates Sustainability and Representation

Cheekbone Beauty makes high-quality, cruelty-free products with low environmental impact. Inspired by the founder's Anishinaabe roots, the upstart brand's sustainability journey looks to blend Western science with Indigenous wisdoms.

Amy Brown

April 24, 2023

Voices for Change

Investment in People and Ideas is Key to Climate Change Adaptation for Tourism-Dependent Countries

Jamaica is calling for investment in local youth and innovation to build capacity for climate change adaptation in tourism-dependent countries. “Ideas, ideas, ideas,” he said said at the 2023 Global Inclusive Growth Summit last week. "That’s a power— to create innovation, to be creative and to add value."

Taylor Haelterman

April 21, 2023

Community Development

New Partnership Taps Indoor Farming to Grow Food Security in Texas

A new coalition of private- and public-sector organizations plans to combat food insecurity in Texas by accelerating controlled environment agricultural innovations that address barriers to food and nutrition security.

Mary Riddle

April 20, 2023

Community Development

Workers Rally to Sound the Alarm on the Growing 'Care Crisis'

Roughly 4 million children are born and another 4 million people turn 65 each year in the U.S., and there aren't enough care workers to help. Working people and advocates will gather in Washington, D.C. this week to recognize the value of care workers and sound the alarm on this growing "care crisis."

Gary E. Frank

April 18, 2023

Sponsored

Impact Through Action: Integrating ESG into a Business

Consumers Care About Sustainability: Mastercard Shows How Business Can Respond

“Consumers are really the key drivers of change for brands and corporations,” Cristina Paslar, Mastercard’s executive vice president for ESG Products, told TriplePundit. "Consumers can vote with their decisions, with their purchases and with their preferences.”

Gary E. Frank

April 18, 2023

Sustainable Living

Will People Wear New Socks Made From Old Socks? Smartwool Thinks So

Outdoor gear label Smartwool released the Second Cut hiking sock this month, made from reused wool collected in a sock take-back program. The sockmaker hopes to go "beyond recycling" by closing the loop on wool.

Riya Anne Polcastro

April 18, 2023

Sustainable Living

Brands Taking Stands

Consumers Vote With Their Wallets as Secondhand Apparel Sales Boom

One in every three apparel items purchased in the U.S. last year was secondhand, according to new research. This burgeoning secondhand apparel boom comes as more and more people say they're concerned about environmental issues and are willing to change their daily lives to make a difference. 

Mary Mazzoni

April 12, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

How Brands Can Support Transgender Rights in the Age of Influencer Marketing

With thousands of influencers to choose from, brands can build on longstanding engagement efforts and connect with groups that might otherwise fly under their radar. Last week’s right-wing firestorm over Bud Light and the transgender TikTok star, actor and activist Dylan Mulvaney is a case in point.

Tina Casey

April 12, 2023

Sustainable Living

Social Enterprise Transforms the World's Most Wasted Plastic Into Sunglasses

Launched two years ago, Ashaya is a social enterprise based in Pune that has managed to recycle this “impossible-to-recycle” multi-layered plastic packaging (MLP) into high quality material.

Abha Malpani Naismith

April 11, 2023

Voices for Change

Seneca Solar Seeks Equitable Solutions for the Climate Crisis

In collaboration with Native communities and partners, Seneca Solar — a climate consultancy and solar developer wholly owned by the Seneca Nation — is flipping the old, extractive model of energy development to focus on equitable outcomes for Native people. 

Patrick McCarthy

April 10, 2023

Voices for Change

Frontier Co-op Breaks Down Barriers to Employment Through Second Chance Hiring, Apprenticeships

Through the Breaking Down Barriers to Employment initiative, the 50,000-member cooperative partners with local organizations to address challenges connected to employment and economic mobility — including through second-chance hiring initiatives and apprenticeships.

Gary E. Frank

April 7, 2023

Community Development

Global Hunger: The Growing ESG Issue That Few Companies Want to Face

Just as the climate crisis is a universal challenge, global hunger is a fundamental issue that ultimately impacts business success — and humanity as a whole. Yet global hunger is a predictable and preventable problem that we can solve in our lifetimes, and doing so can provide a strong return on investment.

Eric Bebernitz

March 31, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

A New Corporate Push for LGBTQ+ Rights, Starting in Florida

The Walt Disney Co. plans to host a major LGBTQ+ rights conference in central Florida this September, and dozens of high-profile U.S. brands are expected to attend — from Apple and Amazon to Uber and Walmart. 

Tina Casey

March 29, 2023

Sponsored

Pursuing Net-Positive

A Key Corporate Partnership Helps This Nonprofit Nature Center Thrive

The Trumbull Nature and Arts Center offers hands-on environmental science experiences for students and educational programming for families in Trumbull, Connecticut. It has grown rapidly in recent years, thanks in large part to collaboration with corporate volunteers.

Mary Riddle

March 23, 2023

Sustainable Living

Want People to Use Less Water? Arm Them With Information

Most people don't know where their water comes from, let alone the volume they use and how. To mark World Water Day, we took a closer look at how better data can help people use less water, enabling water boards and utilities to better manage larger systems and watersheds.

Kate Robertson

March 22, 2023

Sustainable Living

The Social Media Secret Behind Sustainable Consumer Behavior Change

A new study commissioned by Unilever shows that influencers have the biggest impact on consumers’ sustainability-related choices. So, how can brands better engage influencers around sustainability, rather than encouraging their viewers to buy and consume?

Mary Riddle

March 21, 2023

Voices for Change

Social Enterprises Help Ukrainian Refugees Secure Dignified, Long-Term Employment

In Poland and Romania, social enterprises supported by the impact investing firm NESsT are helping to provide dignified employment to Ukrainian refugees as they look to restart their lives in a new home.

Amy Brown

March 20, 2023

Sustainable Living

This, Not That: More Consumers Are Switching Brands Based on Sustainability

Half of all U.S. consumers, including 70 percent of millennials, have changed food and grocery brands based on environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, according to new polling from the research technology company Glow.

Mary Riddle

March 17, 2023

Community Development

Dick’s Sporting Goods Marks 75th Anniversary with $75,000 Grants for Youth Sports

American youth are playing fewer sports these days, and Dick’s Sporting Goods is looking to get more kids back in the game. The retailer is marking its 75th anniversary with the 75for75 grant program aimed at getting youth back into team sports and supporting underserved sports programs across the U.S.

Gary E. Frank

March 17, 2023

Community Development

Howard's Interdisciplinary Maker Space Aims to Prepare Students for the Future of Work

Howard University's department of mechanical engineering will soon be home to an interdisciplinary maker space and innovation lab, where students can interact with peers from other disciplines such as architecture, science and business, thanks to a $1 million gift from Autodesk.

Gary E. Frank

March 16, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Brands Have Grown Silent on Police Violence: How Can They Do Better?

Despite increased attention on the issue — and the rollout of piecemeal reform policies in some cities — data indicates police violence in the U.S. is actually getting worse. So why have brands gone silent on the issue, and how can they do better?

Mary Mazzoni

March 15, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Pharmacy Fallout Over Medication Abortion Continues

Anti-abortion politicians in the U.S. are targeting the legal status of mifepristone, causing confusion and public relations headaches for pharmacy companies. In situations like these, taking an informed and definitive stance — and communicating it quickly and clearly — is critical.

Tina Casey

March 15, 2023

Sustainable Living

Drew Barrymore's Sustainable Home Goods Collab Nods To the Rise of Refillables

Drew Barrymore teamed up with sustainable consumer brand Grove Co. to create a fun, limited-edition line of household products — featuring refillable packaging and zero single-use plastic. It's the latest example in a trend toward reusables that's receiving a warm reception from consumers.

Riya Anne Polcastro

March 13, 2023

Voices for Change

The Necessity of Inner Work To Be An Effective Environmentalist

Does your sustainability work treat people as a resource to be controlled? Does your clean tech solution treat nature like a machine to be optimized? Unlearning white conditioning and white privilege is an ongoing process that requires inner work, and it's a must for those in the environmental community.

Katharine Bierce

March 10, 2023

Sustainable Living

More ‘Regenerative Organic Certified' Products, Coming Soon to Supermarkets Near You

Organic rice brand Lundberg Family Farms is the latest to drop a new product bearing the Regenerative Organic Certified label. So, what is regenerative organic agriculture, and why does it matter for growers, consumers and the environment?

Mary Riddle

March 10, 2023

Corporate Responsibility

Why Racism in the Environmental Movement Must Be Solved By White People

If you’re a white person who cares about the environment and you wonder why there aren’t more Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC) in your climate tech startup, environmental nonprofit or corporate sustainability program, this is for you.

Katharine Bierce

March 9, 2023

Justice + Equality

Want a Fix for the U.S. Labor Shortage? Try Immigration Reform

Anti-immigration politics don’t just hurt immigrants and asylum-seekers. They're also holding the U.S. back from real solutions to a growing labor shortage that has resulted in supply chain slowdowns and a slew of child labor violations.

Riya Anne Polcastro

March 9, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

3 Meaningful Ways to Advance Gender Equity in the Workplace

What are some measurable steps that global businesses can take to push toward gender parity in the workplace? Let's look at a few that are backed up by research and supported by working women and advocates worldwide. 

Mary Mazzoni

March 8, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Walgreens Claps Back at Medication Abortion Foes, But Not Really

The legal status of mifepristone is under attack by anti-abortion factions affiliated with religious extremism. Walgreens and other pharmacies will be forced to take a stand on their own principles until the legal clouds part – if they ever do.

Tina Casey

March 8, 2023

Sustainable Living

Take a Bite Out of Climate Change With Aloha’s New Climate-Resilient Ingredient

Aloha just released a special-edition protein bar that includes Ponova oil. The oil, which is made from the pongamia tree, represents a welcome move toward utilizing more climate-resilient species in the food system.

Amy Brown

March 3, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

One Year Later, One Way for Businesses to Help End Russia’s War in Ukraine

U.S. businesses provided a significant measure of support for government sanctions as they voluntarily withdrew from Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. But there's more that brands can do to take action today and push to end the war.

Tina Casey

February 28, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

Red Flag for DEI: Transgender Repression is Insurrection in Disguise

Business leaders who profess to take diversity and inclusion principles seriously need to recognize the real threats facing American democracy today — and rising transgender repression is the latest reason why.

Tina Casey

February 22, 2023

Voices for Change

Despite Rising Cost of Living, Big Business Risks Losing Talent Over Values

Gen Z and millennial workers expect more from their employers — and the rising cost of living won't stop them from quitting workplaces that don't share their values, according to new research from former Unilever CEO Paul Polman.

Mary Riddle

February 21, 2023

Justice + Equality

Brands Taking Stands

$1.45 Billion 'Project Black' Fund Aims to Scale Diverse Suppliers

Top companies from Target to Sephora have pledged to increase their spend with minority-owned businesses. Now, a fund aimed at helping midsize businesses scale up and work with Fortune 500 companies has reached $1.45 billion and promises to bolster the supplier pipeline. 

Mary Mazzoni

February 15, 2023

Sustainable Living

The Upcycled Food Market is On the Rise: Will It Make an Impact?

While the technical name — products from food waste — doesn't inspire much confidence, repurposing otherwise discarded agricultural outputs could go a long way toward alleviating world hunger while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Riya Anne Polcastro

February 14, 2023

Alternative Economies

Social Change is Crucial for Climate Action, But Brands Need to Use Their Influence Differently

Consumption patterns and corporate behavior remain prime barriers in the fight against climate change. One plays off the other, with consumers reacting to the constant onslaught of advertising designed to keep them buying. So, what's the deal, and can brands do things differently?

Riya Anne Polcastro

February 9, 2023

Sustainable Living

Brands Taking Stands

Black-Owned Whiskey Brand Raises a Glass to HBCUs

The HBCU Old Fashioned Challenge from Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey aims to raise $1 million for historically Black colleges and universities and boost awareness about the role HBCUs play in workforce diversity and economic mobility.

Gary E. Frank

February 8, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

CVS Took on Big Tobacco Nine Years Ago: Is Big Religion Next?

CVS has taken some steps to accommodate religious beliefs in the past, but now the company has been pushed into a corner and it may just come out swinging.

Tina Casey

February 8, 2023

Community Development

What Your Neighborhood is Missing: More Trees

Planting more trees in densely-packed city centers can combat the effect of urban heat islands and save lives during summer heatwaves.

Patrick McCarthy

February 8, 2023

Sustainable Living

Are More Carbon Footprint Labels Coming to the Grocery Store?

The push to add carbon footprint labeling on food products could signal an important shift toward more informed and responsible consumption, as Americans report a willingness to make changes for the sake of the planet.

Riya Anne Polcastro

February 7, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Brands, Don't Make These Mistakes During Black History Month (and What To Do Instead)

If you're planning to add a kente avatar on social media or pen a generic letter to employees, please do us all a favor and stop right now. Business leaders can — and should — do better.

Mary Mazzoni

February 1, 2023

Community Development

Top Universities Fail to Prepare World Leaders for the Climate Crisis, Report Finds

The world's top universities have not fostered the leadership skills and civic engagement necessary for our world leaders to navigate the impending ecological crisis, according to a new project from the youth campaign group Mock COP.

Patrick McCarthy

January 31, 2023

Sustainable Living

Alaska Airlines Ditches Plastic Cups in Broader Push to Curb Plastic Waste

Alaska Airlines is the first U.S. carrier to stop using plastic cups for inflight beverage service, as part of a broader push to phase out single-use plastics. So, what can travelers expect, and how much impact does this really have?

Patrick McCarthy

January 30, 2023

Voices for Change

Brands Taking Stands

Scientists Take a Stand for Environmental Justice Targets

Last week at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, researchers announced what they call the first quantitative, science-based attempt to factor justice into the way we understand the environment and act to protect it. 

Mary Mazzoni

January 25, 2023

Sustainable Living

23 New Plant-Based Foods Coming to Market in 2023

Even if you don't go fully vegan, studies show that even eating less meat and dairy has a significant positive impact on the planet. Need some inspiration? These new arrivals are coming soon to restaurants and retailers near you.

Mary Mazzoni

January 24, 2023

Voices for Change

Being an Ally Means Speaking Up When Black Customers Are Underserved

Structural racism requires structural changes, but when it comes to daily interactions, allies have the power and responsibility to call out discrimination when they see it. “I would love it if allies would speak up more," author and inclusion consultant Zee Clarke told us.

Riya Anne Polcastro

January 19, 2023

Sponsored

Force for Good: Giving Back to Communities Nationwide

Think Globally, Act Locally: How Businesses Can Support Nonprofits in Their Community

This Subaru retailer in Arkansas has donated $3.2 million to more than 70 local nonprofits and initiatives over the past 10 years — and its story illustrates what it means for businesses of all sizes to give back.

Ellen Delisio

January 19, 2023