Responsible Production & the Circular Economy

Americans are more likely to have a positive image of (89%), trust in (86%) and be loyal (83%) to brands that lead with Purpose, according to the 2019 Porter Novelli/Cone Purpose Biometrics Study. This first-of-its-kind biometrics study, examines not only what consumers say they will do to support responsible brands, but also how they feel and physically react when exposed to Purpose-driven messaging.

Several years ago, Maria Carolina Comings, a General Mills executive who presides over the company's organic brands (Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen and Epic) was approached by a professor with the University of Minnesota's Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics about a new grain it was researching and developing. It's a grain that held great promise, he said, and could positively impact the environment.

ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year LG Electronics USA is encouraging consumers to “Flip Your Fridge” in a nationwide retail promotion that offers attractive discounts on ENERGY STAR certified LG refrigerators. On average, an old refrigerator uses nearly twice as much energy as a new ENERGY STAR refrigerator. An LG ENERGY STAR certified refrigerator generally uses less energy than a 60-watt light bulb, and replacing your old refrigerator with a new LG model that has earned the ENERGY STAR label could save you more than $300 over the next five years.

The unofficial start to summer kicks off this weekend with cookouts, pool parties, and beach getaways. As a combat veteran who has lost friends to the scourge of war, I want to provide the following public service announcement. Enjoy the holiday weekend but please find time to celebrate Memorial Day the right way. Whatever you do, avoid these holiday greetings: “Thank you for your service” and “Happy Memorial Day.”

There’s increasing focus and attention, from several key stakeholder groups, on the need for greater transparency on human rights. In Ethical Corporation’s newly published management briefing they look at the rising reputational, legal and brand risks, and some of the companies that are leading the way in Human Rights reporting.

Bridgestone has made steady progress in implementing its Global Sustainable Procurement Policy, which outlines the company’s path to achieving the ambitious goal of using only sustainable materials in all of its products by 2050. Through its partnership with EcoVadis, a provider of sustainability, risk and performance ratings for global supply chains, the tire maker assesses suppliers’ current sustainability practices, and looks at what support is needed to improve on this.

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), has successfully closed a $600 million debt offering – its largest debt issuance in the history of the company and its first since it merged with Duke Energy.

Not a month goes by without a media campaign linking the supply chain of a well-known brand with unsavory labor practices or environmental mismanagement. Such exposés can devalue brands and reduce well-meaning corporate sustainability initiatives to hypocrisy. Beyond financial and reputational risks, a corporation that doesn’t know its supply chain can be caught flat-footed when the regions it sources from are rocked by political and environmental upheaval.

Spirit Moderne is a captivating and sustainable soft surface flooring portfolio for hospitality interiors inspired by Durkan’s collaboration with the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, N.M. Alluring ethnographic textiles from the world over breathe inspiration into new motifs and bring historical source material into the context of the modern era. The rich history behind textured garments spanning ceremonial to everyday use is revived and infused with a contemporary aesthetic for a hospitality audience.

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today announced the company’s commitment to reduce overall solid waste sent to landfills 75% by 2025. This includes certifying at least 35 of its facilities in the United States, or three-quarters of its domestic facilities, as zero-waste-to-landfill by 2025. Through this bold initiative, the company will minimize waste and recycle or reuse materials that were once considered garbage, ultimately reducing waste sent to landfills in numerous communities throughout the country. This initiative is a new target within Smithfield’s industry-leading sustainability program, which also includes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25% by 2025—the first commitment of its kind from a protein company.