Consumer Engagement

ANN SACKS has partnered with parent company, Kohler Co., to create The Crackle Collection by Kohler WasteLAB, an innovative tile series that employs Kohler’s unfired pottery cull as its medium, transforming the waste into a responsive tile body.

Kudos to TerraCycle and the brands that are working to create the Loop model; a compelling example of business-led innovation that reduces environmental impact. #circulareconomy #recycling

The latest, or at least the most disturbing, food trend is farm-to-landfill. One study estimates that America loses “up to 40% of its food from farm-to-landfill.” The cause? According to multiple research reports, it’s all about cosmetics.

Many people around the world wouldn’t dream of starting their day without their coffee ritual. And they tend to be pretty particular about it — what to buy, where to buy it, how to make it and when to drink it. But how much thought do they put into the coffee bean itself?

The global fashion industry is booming. In the last 15 years, world clothing production has almost doubled, with more than 300 million people employed along its value chain. However, the growth of this huge industry has come at a significant environmental cost.

“Our work with the Smallholder Farmers Alliance to reintroduce cotton growing touches on each of Timberland’s key commitments – to create responsible products, protect the outdoors and serve communities around the world,” said Atlanta McIlwraith, Timberland’s senior manager community engagement and communication.

“Geoff has put together a diverse team; everybody brings something different to the table,” says Nancy Cota, Albertsons’ vice president of Own Brands, who has spent 42 years in the grocery industry. “That’s what makes us so strong. And when you trust each other like we trust each other, you want to win together.”

Due to the high volume of recycled materials from printers and cartridges, National Zero Waste Council member HP has increased their operations. So much so that the contracted company, Lavergne Group, has made plans to expand.

eBay, together with the Halifax Regional Municipality, announced the launch of Retail Revival, a program designed to help small and medium-sized retailers harness the power of ecommerce and global trade. This eBay program, the first of its kind in Canada, is supported by all three levels of government.

If residential solar photovoltaics (PV) were adopted more widely in the United States, they could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But consumers balk at high up-front costs, even if energy savings would later offset those costs. A group of researchers led by former Erb Research Fellow Kimberly Wolske set out to study how different framing strategies affect PV’s appeal.