PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
Founder Pauline Idogho and her diverse team of BIPOC women have created a line of globally inspired, ready-to-drink, organic, non-alcoholic cocktails that support environmental sustainability and social health and inclusion around the world.
OUR HEALTHY LIVES MISSION -
Cultural taboos, and lack of information and access to sanitary napkins, mean that menstruation still limits the lives of women and girls in many places. Stayfree and UNICEF developed a series of social and behavior-change initiatives to improve resources and understanding among girls, families and society.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
Purpose and ESG are often conflated. Here, three experts explain what makes them different, why you need both, and how to prioritize the gamut of ESG- and
Purpose-related activities.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
While some sustainability terms have stood the test of time, others are now outdated. No matter what terms you use, you and your colleagues should have a shared
understanding of what “purpose” means in your organization to gain its greatest benefits. Here is an up-to-date glossary for responsible business professionals.
LEADERSHIP -
To truly help individuals and ourselves, we need to bust up the system, swim upstream and avoid the herd mentality. We need to take a step back and truly
understand our own roles in society — and by doing so, to let go of outdated notions.
LEADERSHIP -
“We need to keep that competitive advantage and continue to innovate so that we can really make
sustainable living commonplace. It’s constant innovation; and we want others to come along on the journey with us.” — Niki King
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
The United Way Social Purpose Institute offers a free tool to help companies assess and rate the degree to which their purpose is fully embedded across the company and in its relationships. These are the new techniques that purpose players are expected to demonstrate to stay in the ring …
WALKING THE TALK -
Corporate Knights has developed the world’s first rating system to assess companies’ implementation of their social purpose commitments. Its research finds that the gap between ‘say’ and ‘do’ varies from one company to the next.
WALKING THE TALK -
Here, Roshan Paul and Ilaina Rabbat, co-founders of the Amani Institute, provide a dashboard for both aspiring and established changemakers to reflect on their motivation, their limitations and their overall fortitude for life in a social impact career.
REDEFINING SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD FOR THE FUTURE -
The seafood giant and the global nonprofit have expanded their ongoing partnership to not only clean hazardous fishing nets out of waterways, but to try and stop fishers — large and small — from discarding gear in harmful ways.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
MDIs are trusted providers for communities of color and include some of the oldest minority-owned US banks; they play a unique role in increasing access to
financial services for underserved populations.
WALKING THE TALK -
In India, CSR is approached with a rigor not found anywhere else in the world. Here, we see how businesses around the world can learn from the Indian approach to CSR — to ensure that every dollar spent has the best societal impact, while improving your brand value.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
As consumer-product companies, we have a unique ability to make meaningful change in the broadest sense — and a shared responsibility to our consumers to help make doing the right thing an easy, affordable choice.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Advertising is a critical element for business success; and successful businesses are better positioned to give back to society. But we believe the societal impact of $6.5M can do far more to authentically connect
stakeholders with brands than a half-minute of airtime.
WALKING THE TALK -
Bringing new gravitas to the term, ‘purpose-driven,’ the team behind Colive is using their uniquely delicious olive oil to help end the civil unrest that has divided their native Cyprus since the 1970s — and exemplify the benefits of social entrepreneurship and peace through cooperation.
WALKING THE TALK -
The World Surf League has chosen to focus on the specific threats to its “playing field.” This risk-turned-opportunity approach to building a sustainability strategy is the best way for other leagues and teams to ‘find their wave,’ addressing the specific reasons to inspire action.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
Through a series of multi-year partnerships with business-focused nonprofits, Umpqua aims to close the opportunity gap in access to capital, resources, and expertise for traditionally underserved innovators.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
At Auburn University’s architectural-training program, “housing is health.” Associate Director Rusty Smith asserts: “As architects, we have a professional responsibility. It's not only an ethical or moral responsibility; it's a professional responsibility, as well, to act when we see people in crisis.”
MARKETING AND COMMS -
An intentional purpose will be unique to every company — based on your history, culture and the role you play in your customers’ lives. But, based on our interviews with leading purpose-led companies, here are five common themes that can inspire your own ‘purpose advantage.’
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
If an organization commissions a multimillion-dollar building or renovation, how can it double or triple the social and environmental benefits from its investment? Many green building standards already exist, but what if it was possible to go beyond them — to design a building process that was transformational in its execution?