Facebook Issues 2020 Sustainability Report

Facebook released its Sustainability Report for 2020 this week, saying that it met its goals of reaching net zero emissions and 100% renewable energy for its global operations. The company also reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 94% from 2017 levels, exceeding its goal of 75%. Other highlights from the 2020 report included: The company’s…

In a Wave of Crises, a New CMO Playbook Emerges

Fifteen months ago, as the world began to go into lockdown mode, Heide Palermo and I began to host a series of marketing community support calls for CMOs and top Innovators. The world had changed. Consumers were panicking. Employees were rewiring their homes. Retailers were scrambling. Brands were at a standstill. Marketing was disrupted. Everything…

A Beautiful Window Unit Air Conditioner? Windmill Has You Covered

We’ve seen disruption in mattresses, razors, alcohol, toothpaste and, now, window unit air conditioners. Mike Mayer is the co-founder of Windmill, a startup that’s setting out to breathe new life into the air care category–starting with their window unit AC. On this episode of I’m With the Brand, we hear about Windmill’s relentless focus on…

This Brand Ensures Sustainability Isn’t Niche

As the pandemic wanes, the health of the planet remains top of mind for both consumers and brands. Despite the grounding of planes, drastically reduced commutes and closed businesses, carbon dioxide reached record levels in the atmosphere in 2020–demonstrating the difficulties on the road ahead. More big brands are making net-zero emissions promises, including Unilever’s…

Consumers Demand and These Brands Deliver on Sustainability

Sustainability and environmental consciousness have taken center stage as leading factors in consumer purchasing trends. As a result, brands are taking an increased interest in their sourcing of materials and products in an effort to improve their environmental actions. Leaders from Everlane, Imperfect Foods, and IKEA discussed their growing sustainability efforts and plans for the…

Barbie’s Newest Doll Collection Is Made From Recycled Ocean-Bound Plastic

Iconic toy company Mattel recently announced its goal to achieve 100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials for all of its products and packaging by 2030. With the belief that creating a sustainable future means inspiring future innovators and leaders to prioritize it from the start, the brand has initiated campaigns through its toy brands…

IPG’s Climate Action Plan Sets an Emissions Reduction Target

Interpublic Group (IPG) is implementing what it calls an “ambitious climate action plan” to battle climate change. Philippe Krakowsky, chief executive officer at IPG, said in a statement that this shift towards sustainable transformation is imperative for the company to advance its ESG goals. “The steps we are taking today represent a significant move forward…

Grove Collaborative Names New CMO as It Looks to Drive Awareness

Sustainable consumer goods company Grove Collaborative has named Jennie Perry its new chief marketing officer as the $1.32 billion online startup aims to reach more shoppers keen on lowering their ecological footprint. In addition to overseeing marketing strategy, Perry will lead creative, communications, brand strategy and consumer insights. She reports to cofounder and CEO Stuart…

Corona Employs AR to Show How Plastic Is Destroying Oceans and Beaches

In its desire to become net zero, AB InBev’s Mexican beer label Corona has been recovering plastic released into the ocean and beaches, and to mark World Oceans Week, it released an augmented reality (AR) experience to challenge consumers to reduce their own personal plastic footprint. “Plastic Reality” users will be able to estimate their…

UK Media Agencies Sign Up for Carbon Reduction Charter

In recent years the advertising and media sector has begun to wake up to its own contribution to the impact it makes on the environment, with networks such as WPP and Havas among others outlining their pledges to becoming net zero. Now, IPA, the U.K.’s agency membership body, has initiated a Media Charter that aims…

How Havas Plans to Shrink the Advertising Group’s Environmental Footprint by 2025

Advertising network Havas Group detailed steps to become more environmentally sustainable over the next four years as it aims to lower its greenhouse gas emissions (HGG) by 60%. The group issued a corporate social responsibility (CSR) report that promises to lower electricity consumption by 5%, move a quarter of the business to renewable energy supplies,…

Samsung Builds a World Using Upcycled Product Packaging

With a Covid-inspired surge in home deliveries and wasteful packaging over the past year, electronics firm Samsung chose to launch an eco-friendly home renovation project ahead of the United Nation’s World Environment Day. Released on June 4, the campaign was devised by Edelman, which was instructed to find a way people could rethink how to…

Twitter Details World Environment Day Initiatives

Twitter detailed steps it took this week to help raise awareness about the climate crisis and enable users to organize for change in their communities and connect with others who are passionate about protecting the planet ahead of World Environment Day Saturday (June 5). Users who follow the Climate Change Topic will see personalized conversations…

Pinterest Prepares Brands for the ‘Greenaissance’

Pinterest is going green this week with “Here Comes the ‘Greenaissance,'” new insights on Pinners’ renewed focus on calls for community action, earth-friendly products and sustainable living. A recent study by the company found that the majority of respondents started at least one new sustainability habit during the pandemic, and four out of five plan…

Scottish Government Shows World the Climate Crisis Impact

Ahead of the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) Summit taking place in Glasgow later this year to bring together world leaders to confirm how they plan to tackle the climate emergency; the Scottish Government has released a campaign calling for collective action to reach net zero. Scotland has committed to reaching…

Corona Commits to Protecting the Beaches With a Newly Announced Sustainability Program

Over the years, Corona has successfully positioned itself as the beer to drink on the beach thanks, in part, to its slogan “find your beach” and its faithful use of aspirational, oceanside imagery. Now the brand is aiming to keep shorelines looking picture perfect by launching a “Protect Our Beaches” initiative. Corona kicked off the…

Ikea Campaign Shows Consumers How to Live More Sustainably

Ikea is urging customers to consider more sustainable ways to live with a new campaign that features a robot inspired to save the planet. Created by the brand’s retained agency Mother, the “Change a Bit for Good” ad aims to challenge the perception that sustainable living is too complicated and expensive. In the ad, the…

A Sustainability Playbook on the Day the World’s Largest Iceberg was Born

One of the first initiatives of the recently formed Adweek Sustainability Council, co-chaired by myself and Marc Pritchard, chief brand officer of Procter & Gamble, was to help brands understand, embrace and integrate the United Nation’s (UN) 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) as part of their brand growth strategy, as opposed to treating sustainability as…

How Brands Are Enrolling Consumers Into Their Sustainability Strategies

2021 saw a significant shift in sustainability efforts-new policies were put in place, pledges to decrease carbon footprint, sustainability task forces implemented, and so forth. Now the challenge is-how do brands bring their consumers onto their journey towards a more sustainable world? At the Adweek Sustainability and DEI Summit, head of community Heide Palermo sat…

Unilever Rolls Out New Sustainability Plan and Discusses Measurement

Dubbed Unilever Compass is the multinational’s new fully integrated strategy to become a global sustainability leader. The company’s new corporate strategy is built on the successes and failures of its now retired ten-year-old Sustainable Living Plan. It is set to transform its social, environmental, and economic performance across its value chain. At Adweek’s Sustainability and…