Responsible Production & the Circular Economy

Global supply chains are becoming increasingly complex, leading to a growing risk of Human Rights abuses. These mounting complications mean that even businesses in ‘clean’ sectors such as renewable energy producers and electric car manufacturers are facing questions around the human rights risks and challenges in their supply chains.

The international jury of Seatrade has awarded the Costa 4GOODFOOD initiative with the prestigious Seatrade Award for the Corporate Social Responsibility category. This proves the international relevance of the programme designed to highlight the importance and the value of food and to minimize food waste through the direct engagement of guests and crew. For more than thirty years, the Seatrade Award honours results and innovations that lead the future of the cruise industry, recognizing the excellence of the international maritime industry.

In February 2016 The New York Times ran a story, “Oaxaca’s Native Maize Embraced by Top Chefs in US and Europe,” highlighting the work of a new company called Masienda that was sourcing landrace (heirloom) corn from small farms in Mexico. Masienda’s business model emphasizes conservation of agrobiodiversity, while supporting smallholders using sustainable/organic farming methods. When some of us here in Santa Fe saw this article we asked the question, “Why can’t this be happening in New Mexico as well?” And so the New Mexico Landrace (Heirloom) Corn Project was born.

Iroquois Valley Farms has reached a milestone: This spring we added the 50th farm to our portfolio. Our farmland REIT — honored as a “Best for the World” company from B Labs — provides secure land tenure for 35 farm families working nearly 9,000 acres of farmland. More families will be joining the Iroquois Valley Farms fold soon.

The challenge is clear for global food and beverage companies: as the population rises, the ag sector they rely on will need to produce more food with fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while shifting toward farm practices that conserve or restore diminishing water and soil resources. Sustainable sourcing strategies and supply chain transparency will become—and are already– essential practices for the food and beverage industry to ensure that their suppliers are making these critical changes.

As significant owners of and lenders to companies, investors can be major forces in driving these sustainable sourcing practices. It’s in their best interest to do so, as business risks that affect company bottom lines can show up as decreased revenue or stranded assets in investor portfolios.

If ride-sharing and driverless taxis reduce individual commuting, parking facilities could be repurposed as office space, apartments, gyms and more.

If you’ve ever wanted a bee’s-eye view of what life is like for the planet’s hardest working pollinators, then check out the new virtual reality video experience “The Extraordinary Honey Bee“ developed for Nestlé’s Häagen-Dazs brand.

George Bandy, vice president of sustainability and commercial marketing for Mohawk Group, from Neocon 2018, discusses the company’s Merchandise Mart showroom, displaying the breadth of the company’s offerings and the connectivity among designs, biophilic design, market branding, and sustainability.

This infographic from the 2017 UPS Sustainability Progress Report shows how how UPS shapes their sustainability strategy.

Dell expands its closed-loop recycling program from plastics to now include precious metals, keeping these valuable materials out of landfills and in the economy.