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Blog Mike Green

Obama and House Republicans Visit COP Negotiations in Glasgow

Monday marked the official launch of week two of the Negotiations here in Glasgow. Just like the first week of negotiations, week two also started with some special guests. It was announced over the weekend that President Obama would be making several speeches to delegates and negotiators at COP 26. While the former President brought a message of urgency and ambition, the climate talks were also joined by Congressman Crenshaw of Texas (more on that below).  

Blog By Maryanne Howland, Chair, American Sustainable Business Council, and Founder & CEO Ibis Communications & Global Diversity Leadership Exchange

America’s Hidden Need for Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework

The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) is an opportunity to begin to turn a century old built environment into a new one with a bold vision for the next economy that empowers the future of innovation that we have not even yet dreamed of - one that includes a significant part of the US population that could be the inspiration for much of that innovation.

Blog Frank Franciosi, Executive Director, US Composting Council

Build It and They Will Come? Compost Infrastructure Challenges Circular Economy

Like an avalanche gaining speed, we in the compost industry began to see the interest in composting as a key part of the circular economy begin to build momentum in 2016-17. What was normally a handful of compost-related bills in state legislatures began to surge to a dozen, then dozens, as the traditional recycling industry faltered.

Blog Carolyn PIncus

Why Your Business Sustainability Depends on Empowering Voters:
A Look at Seventh Generation’s Voter Strategy

As the 2020 election nears, many responsible business leaders worry how voter turnout will impact the progress of our sustainability goals. Voter turnout appears to be crucial, as long-term sustainability in its broadest definition requires inclusivity to be viable. Companies committed to increasing sustainability are already engaged in meeting the life-supporting needs of all their stakeholders. But even the best companies can’t do it alone. Public policy must be working toward those same objectives.

Blog Bob Rossi, Director, NYSSBC

WIN: Governor Cuomo Signs Child Safe Products Act Into Law

Governor Cuomo signed the Child Safe Products Act (S.501-B Kaminsky / A. 6296-A Englebright) into law.  The move marks the fulfillment of a decade-long campaign by a broad, diverse coalition of environmental health advocates, health-impacted groups, sustainable businesses, environmental justice leaders, health care providers, child care providers, parent groups and many others. The law will require manufacturers to disclose chemicals of concern in children’s products and restrict the most toxic, while authorizing the State to add chemicals to disclose and restrict by regulation. The bill passed 53-9 in the Senate and 100-23 in the Assembly on April 30, 2019 as part of a first-ever bicameral Earth Day package.

Blog MaryAnne Howland, Founder & CEO Ibis CommunicationsMary Wynn Ryan, Principal, Winning Ways Marketing

Full, Fair Elections: What’s in it for business?

High-road, sustainably-minded companies have a lot to contend with, including competitors who don’t live by the same standards. The best companies are also busy supporting environmental, justice, and human needs campaigns. So why should they make pushing for fair elections their top priority?

Because everything they value depends on it.

No hype. Every American company is affected to some degree by lawmakers’ decision-making, otherwise known as politics. Ask the coastal restaurants and shops how repeated flooding from climate change dampens profits. Or ask any company how deteriorated infrastructure impedes reliable supply lines or how metastasizing health care cost can cripple bottom lines.

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ASBC Sustainable Business & Advocacy Summit: “Making Capitalism Work for All”
Plenary Sessions

ASBC Sustainable Business & Advocacy Summit: “Making Capitalism Work for All”

1. Our Economic Future: Can Capitalism be Saved?
Among the ranks of top CEOs, alarm is spreading about the future of capitalism. These concerns are driven by rising income inequality, the depth of the Great Recession, a sense that capitalism excessively focuses on individual rather than community success and tax cuts which boosted corporate profits over more productive investments in Main Street. Others worry about industry consolidation and regulations and laws that stifle innovation and competition. A raft of anxieties exists side by side with unprecedented wealth.

Blog BOB KEENERDEPUTY DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS, ASBC

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Business Support for the Climate Strikes

Our campaign to support the youth-led climate strikes was a great success. In total, over 200 businesses and business organizations signed to show their support. Not bad for a campaign that came together very quickly and was a completely new idea. Most important, it gives us a strong foundation for a much larger effort in the future.

Blog Karina KaysMatt Castello

September 20 Climate Demonstration Firsthand Accounts

ASBC vice president Ali-Reza Vahabzadeh joined the climate march in New York City. He says, “You could tell something big was happening in the City that day. From the moment I stepped onto the subway, I could feel the buzz of anticipation. When I got out at Brooklyn Bridge station, I was part of a great mass of people getting off trains, climbing up the stairs, all getting ready to have their voices heard. It wasn’t the usual jostling crowd, it was a gathering of people with a shared purpose.

Blog Mary Wynn RyanExecutive Editor, ASBC

White-Hat Lobbyist Fights the Good Fight

Business values stable conditions, but today’s economic, social and environmental conditions are neither stable nor sustainable. How do you make progress on a large scale when enormously powerful decision-makers block the way? That’s an urgent question.

Blog MaryAnne HowlandVice Chair, ASBC | Founder and President, Ibis Communications, Inc.

The Big Opportunity Missed in Creating Innovation & Investments for People with Disabilities, with MaryAnne Howland

MaryAnne Howland is the Vice Chair of ASBI Board of Directors and is the Founder & CEO of Global Diversity Leadership Exchange, a forum designed to advance inclusive and global sustainability. Among the issues within the umbrella of diversity and inclusion, MaryAnne feels a deep passion for representing and providing solutions for the community of people with disabilities. As a mother of a son with cerebral palsy, she has an intimate understanding of the challenges and opportunities of living with a disability.

Blog Jeffrey HollenderCEO, Co-founder and Board Chair, ASBC

Walking the Talk: A CEO to CEO Interview

Founders of bambu®, Jeff Delkin and Rachel Speth, sit down with CEO of the American Sustainable Business Council, Jeffrey Hollender, to share their thoughts on being a sustainable business leader. They discuss and share engaging in policy efforts that defend the triple bottom line and the experiences and outcomes of having to say “no” when new business opportunities can compromise the larger mission and the organization’s commitment to sustainability.

Blog Greg LessardFounder & Financial Planner, Aspen Leaf Wealth Management

How To Make Your 401(k) Green

Most investors don’t think twice about the individual companies nestled within the funds in their 401(k) plans. Almost universally, investors are inadvertently investing in fossil fuels, gun manufacturers, and even companies with histories of treating women & minority employee groups unfairly.  

The concept of avoiding offensive companies and instead buying corporations aligned with investor values has been around for decades. It’s referred to as Sustainable, Responsible, & Impact (SRI) investing.