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Sama put increasing the number of women in the technology industry at the center of its mission. Now, women make up 53 percent of the company’s workforce, and half of the senior managers and the executive team are women. 

Sama produces computer data solutions that power artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning models for Fortune 500 companies. And it’s giving people in Africa — particularly women and youth — a seat at the global AI table by providing meaningful work to lift them out of poverty.

“We have a belief that talent is distributed equally, but opportunity is not,” Sama CEO Wendy Gonzalez told TriplePundit. “And our goal is, basically, digital upskilling and full-time employment in underserved communities with the intent of sustainably moving people out of poverty by providing financial independence and work skills to get into the formal economy. By formal economy, I mean jobs that have salaries and benefits.”

The company’s commitment to gender equality includes continuously assessing its practices, policies and culture to identify areas for improvement and implement necessary changes. It uses third-party, unbiased evaluation to do so where appropriate. Sama also offers mentorship programs, leadership development and skill-building workshops, and incorporates gender balance, equal opportunities and pay policies from the hiring phase onward. 

Gonzalez explained that Sama’s business mission is to develop more accurate and effective AI models for larger companies by providing training data and curation solutions. 

“We basically help improve and drive accuracy in the data that AI models are built upon, and we do that through a combination of technology as well as a ‘human in the loop’ workforce,” said Gonzalez. “Those are our teams that are based in east Africa that help improve the quality of the models that you might use today, whether it be in your phone or on the internet, etc.”

Women make up less than a third of the world’s workforce in technology-related fields, according to a report by The World Bank. In the United States, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs represent just 25 percent of the total labor force, according to the Women Tech Network. Thirty-five percent of the employees in those fields are women. And in 2023, 35 percent of the country's tech jobs, specifically, were held by women. 

Sama recently announced plans to further its work removing barriers for women in technology at all stages of their careers. Those plans include hosting lectures at secondary schools, spearheading thought leadership and tech roundtables with influential women in the tech industry, and sharing stories of inspiring women within the company and throughout the industry.

“When we started this company we were really looking at financial independence and work as the right solution towards poverty alleviation,” Gonzalez said. “We had women at the center of it because when women succeed, communities succeed. So we started with the goal of hiring at least 50 percent women. It’s not a regular practice, and it’s certainly not a regular practice in a tech company, but I’m really proud to say that 53 percent of our workforce identifies as female.”

Sama has a women’s tech employee resource group that meets regularly to support each other and discuss available resources, Gonzalez said. There’s also a mentorship program within the company that is open to everyone, not just women. Company leaders engage in discussions at universities, and Gonzalez herself often gives talks at institutions like Harvard Business School and Kenyatta University in Kenya.

Regarding talent acquisition, Sama’s talent team ensures a balanced set of candidates by focusing on inclusivity, including gender and people of color, Gonzalez told 3p. Hiring managers make the final decisions, but they receive a comprehensive list of candidates. Metrics are tracked monthly to ensure diversity goals are met without compromising the hiring managers’ autonomy to choose the best fit for the company, she said.

“It’s kind of a belt-and-suspenders approach,” Gonzalez said. “It’s provide for the right diverse candidates, let the managers do what they need to do to hire effectively, and then track that data so we can make sure we’re not getting off track.”

There are still areas where there is room for improvement, such as engineering roles, where achieving diversity is challenging, she said. 

“We strive to source as many diverse candidates as possible, but the pipeline is not as robust in this field compared to others,” Gonzalez said. 

To address this, Sama considers not only candidates with extensive experience but also junior candidates, she said. 

“This approach helps us balance our business objectives with diversity goals, allowing us to bring in a more diverse range of candidates,” Gonzalez said. “This is one way we thoughtfully drive diversity within our organization.”

It may surprise some to learn that more than 10 million U.S. workers own a piece of their employers. Employee-owned companies paid out more than $175 billion to their teams in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available. 

Sometimes criticized as "not quite capitalism," employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) are picking up steam as a way to center companies around core values and worker wellbeing, rather than the pressure of external stakeholders. As the U.S. lights up our fireworks and lets our flags fly for the 4th of July holiday, we're saluting just a few of the employee-owned companies that took a chance on independence and reaped the rewards.

WinCo Foods

Headquartered in Idaho, budget supermarket chain WinCo Foods operates around 140 stores in Western states including California, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Nevada. With a staff of more than 20,000, it's also one of the largest employee-owned companies in the United States. 

If you thought the size of WinCo's workforce would mean employees only get a few bucks a year from their stake in the company, you'd be wrong. The online magazine Strixus published a boldly headlined profile of the company back in 2022 — "How WinCo Foods Turns Its Employees Into Millionaires" — and the stories it reported are striking. One employee named Cathy indeed amassed over $1 million in WinCo stock after working on the shop floor from the ages of 19 to 42. Though she could afford to retire, she told the publication she planned to keep working at WinCo for at least another decade. 

The company says the value of employee shares increased by an average 18 percent compounded annually since its ESOP in 1986. "That means an employee who received a company contribution of $5,000 worth of stock in 1986 now has stock worth almost $863,000 from that one year alone," WinCo's website reads. 

Along with stake in the company, WinCo offers resources like manager apprenticeship programs, free online training courses, and tuition assistance for local community colleges to help employees grow in their careers. “WinCo’s employee owners are our greatest business asset and our most potent resource for growth," a message from CEO Grant Haag on the career page of WinCo's website reads. "We want smart, motivated people who want to work hard, own the company and take us into the future.”

Black & Veatch

Black & Veatch is a global consulting, engineering and construction company that specializes in infrastructure, and it's entirely employee-owned, with more than 12,000 professionals globally. Black & Veatch also provides free financial planning services for employees, along with career development and continuing education programs, wellness benefits, and volunteer matching. 

Operating under the mantra #WeOwnIt, Black & Veatch says it sees employee ownership as a way to ensure the company will continue to grow as a business while staying true to its values around community and the environment. The Black & Veatch Foundation, which is powered by gifts from the company and its employees, has donated more than $20 million to nonprofits focused on humanitarian aid, economic empowerment, and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and the company is a leading donor in its hometown of Kansas City, Kansas. 

“Employee-ownership is more than a financial interest in our company — it’s a financial interest for each and every professional that benefits when the company does well,” said Black & Veatch Chairman and CEO Mario Azar. “Through our employee ownership, we
 all share in the company’s success — and together, we are building long-term wealth for each other.” 

King Arthur Baking

With roots tracing back to 1790, King Arthur Baking is a favorite of fans across the U.S. for flours, baking ingredients and cookware — and some may have noticed the brand's signature red and blue packaging proudly proclaims, "100% Employee-Owned."

"As employee-owners, we're not beholden to outside shareholders who care only about the bottom line," the company's website reads. "We have the freedom to emphasize other values, like social and environmental responsibility, and the wellness and satisfaction of our employees." 

The company emphasizes a "culture of belonging" and offers impressive benefits like wellness incentives, donation gift-matching to nonprofits, and 40 hours of paid time off each year to volunteer. King Arthur also supports dozens of nonprofits and community groups focused on food access, sustainable agriculture, and helping young people of all backgrounds find fulfilling jobs in the food and agriculture space. Its free outreach program Bake for Good teaches K-12 students science and math skills through baking bread, and it spreads "the power of baking" by sharing family recipes from different cultures on its website.

Along with doing good in the community, the brand is pursuing aggressive environmental targets around regenerative agriculture and renewable energy, along with a 30 percent cut in supply chain emissions by 2030. 

Recology

Fun fact: The waste management provider responsible for San Francisco's 80 percent recycling rate is also 100 percent employee-owned. The company pursues "a world without waste," providing waste collection, processing and recovery services to more than 2.5 million people in California, Oregon and Washington. 

Along with stake in the company, Recology's 3,600 employees receive supplemental retirement plans alongside their 401(K) or pension. The company also runs a volunteer program for employees, and its "Waste Zero teams" provide education and outreach in the communities Recology serves with the aim of driving sustainable behavior shifts that reduce waste.

Bob's Red Mill

Founded by Bob and Charlee Moore in 1978, Bob's Red Mill grew from a purveyor of flours and specialty grains to an impressive product lineup including all sorts of pantry staples beloved by shoppers across the U.S. 

On Bob's 81st birthday back in 2010, rather than receiving gifts, he decided to give his greatest gift away: his business. He surprised all of his employees by giving them ownership of Bob's Red Mill through an ESOP. The company crossed the milestone of becoming 100 percent employee-owned in 2020. 

"It was just the right thing to do," a statement from Bob on the company's website reads. "I have people that have worked with me for over 30 years, and each and every one of them deserve this." Bob passed away earlier this year at the age of 94, but his legacy lives on in the form of generational wealth opportunities for employees and a culture rooted in the company's purpose to "inspire joy with wholesome foods made with care and consideration."

That takes the form of sourcing fair trade ingredients, publicly disclosing its carbon footprint, donating to nonprofits, and founding an environmental restoration project in its hometown of Milwaukie, Oregon, among other efforts. 

Editor's Note: This story was updated on July 31, 2024. 

A new business-led pledge may test the limits of corporate backing for lawmakers who fail to support election integrity, including former U.S. President Donald Trump. The new pledge was released last week under the umbrella of the Leadership Now Project, a bipartisan nonprofit organization that advocates for American democracy.

Called the Federal Candidate Pledge to Respect Elections, the document calls on candidates for president and other federal offices to uphold the basic democratic guarantee of free and fair elections. The pledge cites six specific commitments for candidates, including respect for individual voting rights, ensuring the safety of election officials and, above all, supporting the peaceful transfer of power.

More than 125 business leaders co-signed by the time of the announcement on June 26, including LinkedIn Co-Founder Reid Hoffman. "As we prepare for the general election, it is critical that candidates reinforce confidence in our democratic processes, as election instability threatens business operations and economic stability," Hoffman said in a statement.

Other signatories include “senior executives in tech, finance, consumer products, and other industries from 23 states, including swing states like Wisconsin and Arizona, which are experiencing unprecedented threats to election administrators,” according to Leadership Now. 

A litmus test for candidates (and business leaders)

Leadership Now sent the Respect Elections Pledge to both major-party candidates for president and others running for federal office in 2024. First and foremost, though, the pledge is a test for other business leaders. It sets the bar of democratic principles at a fundamental level that everyone with even a passing knowledge of American history should be able to endorse.

Simple as it is, the test will be a difficult one for business leaders who continue to provide financial support to Trump and other Republican office holders linked to one of the most anti-democratic events in American history, the attempt to force a second Trump term by a violent overthrow of the U.S. government on January 6, 2021.

That attempt failed, but the work of undermining trust in elections continued, aided by the financial support of prominent businesses. On June 4, for example, the nonprofit organization Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Congress catalogued 1,796 corporations and industry groups that continue to provide financial support to members of Congress linked to anti-democratic actions including the failed insurrection. The independent newsletter Popular Information also tracks corporate support for “election deniers,” totaling more than $23 million in donations from some of America's largest companies since January 6, 2021.

The business case for democracy

Trump’s ability to attract allies in the business and inherited wealth communities was on full display in recent weeks, including a high-profile appearance at the influential organization Business Roundtable and a $50 million commitment from the mega-donor Timothy Mellon. “Wall Street executives and business leaders, after backing many of Trump’s primary rivals, have slowly warmed to him since he clinched the nomination in March," political correspondent Sara Dorn reported for Forbes last month. 

In an email message shared with media on June 26, Leadership Now insisted most CEOs and other executives do not share that opinion. The majority view, the organization argues, is one that recognizes the symbiotic relationship between a healthy democracy and a thriving economy.

Noting that “some CEOs endorsing Trump, like Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman, has given the appearance that business is rallying behind the former president en masse,” Leadership Now emphasized that the Respect Elections pledge “underscores that many business leaders recognize the importance of safeguarding our elections to support the integrity of our economic environment.”

On its website, Leadership Now further draws out the relationship between democracy, private enterprise and corporate social responsibility, stating that “a framework of accountable and sturdy democratic institutions” is the foundation for businesses to “thrive, innovate and contribute to societal well-being.”

Pledges are a dime a dozen these days, but Leadership Now has backed up its words with action. The organization filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court election interference case Donald J. Trump v. United States of America to hammer home the point that, in a democracy, everyone is accountable to the law.

“For over 230 years, the American business community has relied upon our founding governmental principle that no one is above the law as the essential guarantor of business investments and expectations,” explains Daniella Ballou-Aares, CEO of Leadership Now.

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision this week, extending unprecedented immunity from prosecution to U.S. presidents and passing the case back to the trial judge to determine if Trump's actions in particular are immune. 

Climate impacts may compel more leaders to weigh in

Overlaying the democratic and economic risks noted by Leadership Now is the looming climate crisis. Advocates warn that Trump’s “Project 2025” plan, a document produced by the conservative organization Heritage Foundation, aims to roll back the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act along with other federal climate action steps.

"Repealing the law has become an obsession among many conservatives, including the authors of the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, widely seen as a far-right road map for the early days of a second Trump administration,” James Temple, senior editor for energy at the MIT Technology Review, reported earlier this year. 

Far-right agenda aside, climate risks are beginning to cross party lines as a rising series of heat waves, wildfires and destructive storms sweeps across the United States, leading to crippling insurance costs for homeowners and businesses alike.

When risk talks, people tend to listen. Whether or not business leaders listen hard enough remains to be seen. Nevertheless, on the heels of the first presidential debate, Leadership Now plans to collect more signatures from business leaders and commitments from political candidates into the weeks leading up to Election Day, putting more pressure on candidates — and the business community — to defend fair elections and a peaceful transfer of power. 

ESG (environmental, social and governance) and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs may have come under fire lately, but that’s not stopping top-earning companies from linking the outcomes to executive compensation. The practice of linking DEI metrics to compensation among S&P 500 and Russell 3,000 companies increased by at least 20 percentage points over the last two years, according to the nonpartisan think tank The Conference Board. Likewise, the use of climate metrics by Russell 3,000 firms increased by 100 percent between 2021 and 2023, and it more than doubled among S&P 500 companies in the same period, from a quarter of firms to just over half.

Of course, how companies are integrating and measuring the metrics varies. TriplePundit spoke with Monica Batchelder, chief sustainability officer at the software and technology company Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), about the company’s unique, strategic approach to implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) based on climate action. 

“Linking ESG metrics to executive compensation isn’t necessarily new,” she said. “It’s a growing trend, probably for like the last five years.”

Going beyond Scopes 1 and 2 to make a real difference

When HPE began instituting a climate-based management model, most of the companies that adopted ESG metrics for executive compensation focused more on social and human capital, like workforce diversity and talent retention, than environmental measures, Batchelder said. Those that did include the climate and environment were more centered on operational emissions, with eyes on Scopes 1 and 2.

“The problem with that is that for most companies the vast majority of your carbon emissions, your climate footprint, is linked to your Scope 3 emissions, which are outside of your direct control,” Batchelder said. “Our Scope 1 and 2 emissions are less than 3 percent of our total carbon footprint. So we didn’t feel it was a credible sort of strategy to link our carbon footprint to that. We wanted to go broader.”

A three-year plan for knowledge-based action

In order to do so, HPE took a three-part approach, rolling the process out over a span of three years. It used the first year to understand what needed to be done by giving executives the foundational knowledge for the action they would need to take, Batchelder said. Vice presidents and above were given training to develop this knowledge base, and completing the training served as their metric for that first year. Ninety-six percent of them did so. The second year was used to develop action plans, and 100 percent of the executives met the metric.

“Every member of HPE’s executive committee was tasked with evaluating how their team-specific remits could reduce the company's carbon intensity,” Batchelder said. “My team could have given each business unit a plan to execute, but our thinking was that having them self-develop their own plans and KPIs with our guidance actually caused them to do the mental gymnastics, so to speak, to figure out how to not just set a goal but actually operationalize it and put an action plan together … The approach [that we've taken] is unique in that every member of our executive committee is responsible for their specific contribution, as opposed to our overall climate targets as a company.”

HPE is currently in year three of the rollout, which means the executive teams will see their variable compensation tied to the KPIs in their action plans this year. Instead of measuring their performance-based pay by numbers, it will be based on how well executives execute their action plans. By looking at the metrics this way, leaders can’t rely on growth or chance to get them to their goals, Batchelder said. 

Can this strategy work for other businesses?

While shareholder expectations might influence linking ESG metrics to executive compensation, implementing this strategy is not correlated with increased profits, according to a 2023 study in the Journal of Accounting Research. Although this could potentially have a negative effect on the long-term inclusion of such KPIs, it’s not a given. After all, stakeholders’ expectations for corporate climate action are on the rise. But can HPE’s model be expanded to other companies and industries? That depends.

“There are certain industries where we have a better handle on the sort of maturity and evolution of our corporate carbon footprint, to the point that our executives feel confident tying their compensation to that and seeing their efforts reflected in the calculations that we report each year,” Batchelder explained. But, “in some industries … corporate carbon footprints are evolving in maturity, and that varies based on industry, as well. And it is challenging to tie executive compensation to metrics that continue to get re-baselined, and evolve, and that executives may not feel confident with.”

A stake in the game increases the likelihood of success

“Localized accountability ensures that all of our leaders are focused on the most impactful actions that they can take within their own domain, and it makes a strategy more actionable to them,” Batchelder said. “Because if you are just to say, ‘I’m going to link your compensation to a 50 percent reduction in emissions,’ that doesn’t mean anything. I don’t know how to action that if I’m an executive. I’m not a climate expert.”

Since emissions reductions are not linear the way other KPIs are, the action plans promote multi-year effort, she said. This is especially important considering the focus on Scope 3 emissions throughout the value chain versus the more easily controlled — and minimal in comparison — carbon footprint of the company’s facilities alone. 

The overall success of HPE’s strategy won’t be evident until the end of the fiscal year in October, but it appears to be a solid approach that’s motivating executives toward measurable outcomes by giving them ownership of the process.

“What was really important to us was that every executive in our company had skin in the game and also saw their unique role and ability to influence their climate KPIs,” Batchelder said. “Too often in this space inaction is a result of not understanding what you can do or feeling like the task of what needs to be done is too daunting for you to be able to make an impact on it.” 

Hearing the words “sustainable shopping” and “online” in the same sentence might raise red flags about emissions and packaging waste, and rightly so. But online shopping can be better for the environment. When done right, it has the potential to replace multiple car trips to stores with one delivery vehicle, which addresses the biggest environmental impact of shopping: the carbon footprint.

By consolidating orders, sticking to slower delivery options, and replacing — not supplementing — in-person trips, you can cut the impact of your online orders and gain access to better-for-the-planet products that might not be at your local stores. These sustainable sites can help you get started. 

EarthHero

EarthHero is a one-stop shop for household goods, cleaning supplies, pet supplies, and personal hygiene and beauty products. Every product featured on the site meets the store’s sustainable sourcing pillars. That means the products are made with sustainable ingredients and materials, the brands are ethical and treat employees fairly, the packaging and waste generated are as minimal as possible, and the purchase somehow gives back to people or the planet. EarthHero also emphasizes working with female-owned, BIPOC-owned and LGBTQIA+-owned brands in an effort to improve representation in the sustainability space. 

EarthHero is a B Corp, a certification awarded to for-profit businesses that use their profits and growth to benefit society and the environment. It’s also a member of 1% For The Planet, a group of companies that commit to donating at least a percent of their annual sales to environmental initiatives and organizations. And EarthHero became Climate Neutral Certified in 2021, which means the store offsets its yearly emissions and is lowering its overall emissions with the goal of eventually reaching zero. 

Thrive Market

Thrive Market dubs itself an “online, healthy grocery store” that wants to make healthy foods affordable for everyone. The certified B Corp ships organic and sustainable products to all 48 of the lower United States. It’s the first online-only retailer to accept electronic benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and offers a price-match program if you find a cheaper price elsewhere. 

Thrive has an evolving list of over 500 ingredients that it will not allow in the products it sources, either because it deems them unhealthy for people or the planet or because their impacts aren’t well understood. The store is also Climate Neutral Certified, with the goal of reaching negative overall carbon emissions by 2025. All of its warehouses are TRUE Certified for Zero Waste, which means that it recycles or repurposes at least 90 percent of the materials that enter its warehouses every year. 

Unfortunately, Thrive is a membership-based store, so shoppers must sign up for a membership at a fee of $60 annually or $12 monthly, which the company says is “to protect our brand partners who are not comfortable with our deeply discounted prices being publicly visible.” Though, Thrive has donated over 2.8 million memberships to families in need. 

Made Trade

If you’re searching for ethically made, sustainable furniture and housewares, Made Trade is a woman-owned company specializing in just that. The more than 130 brands, small businesses and artisan collectives with products featured on the site were vetted based on equity, sustainability and transparency. The company also verifies safe working conditions and livable wages along the supply chains. 

Every product meets at least two of Made Trade’s eight core values: Fair Trade certified, handcrafted, made in the United States, BIPOC-owned, made with sustainable materials, upcycled or recycled, vegan and women-owned. And the store was Climate Neutral Certified in 2021. 

Wear Pact 

Calling itself “Earth’s Favorite,” Wear Pact offers certified sustainable clothing. The store works with Fair Trade Certified factories to ensure safe working conditions and support for workers and the local community. The rigorous, global certification focuses on improving the lives of factory workers, protecting the environment and building transparent supply chains. 

On the environmental side, Pact measures and offsets its carbon emissions through SimpliZero and is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard, which means its clothing is made of organic fibers on farms that maintain and build soil health without using pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. 

Pact also partners with Give Back Box to take back your gently used clothing, either in the box your order came in or any other box, and give it to nonprofits that need it. 

Back Market 

Back Market is a platform where vetted refurbishers can sell restored tech like smartphones, laptops, and gaming consoles. The certified B Corp ensures refurbished devices are high-quality and resold at fair prices to fight e-waste. You can also sell them your old tech instead of sending it to a landfill. 

On average, “a refurbished smartphone uses 91.3 percent less raw materials, 86.4 percent less water, generates 89 percent less e-waste, and puts 91.6 percent less carbon emissions into our atmosphere compared to brand new,” according to Back Market. 

This story is part of Shopping Month in TriplePundit's Sustainable Living Challenge, where we explore simple ways to buy less, keep things longer and shop sustainably as needed. Learn more and take the challenge here.

The global skincare space is booming, with personal care companies expected to make more than $180 billion from skincare products this year. But the popularity of multi-step skincare routines packed with products is problematic for skin health as well as the environment, says Dr. Angelo Landriscina, a board-certified dermatologist and medical researcher better known on TikTok and Instagram as @DermAngelo.

Along with skincare tips and product reviews, Landriscina regularly shares information about sustainability in skincare with his hundreds of thousands of followers.

"I started to notice that some of the things I was seeing as ‘trends’ that I felt were not good for the public as far as their skin health were also not good for the environment," he says. "For a while, there really was a movement toward using more and more products, to consume more, and always to have the hot new thing. Quite often, people were causing more harm than good by creating irritation, skin barrier impairment, and sometimes making conditions worse when they were trying to improve them. At the same time, you're buying more and more products, and you're creating more and more waste."

We spoke with the self-proclaimed "skincare sustainability nerd" about how everyone can consider the environment more in their skincare shopping and daily routines. 

Avoid single-use skincare products

"Another thing that has been really spreading recently is the rise of single-use products," Landriscina says. "It used to be sheet masks. Now it's toner pads, and you'll even see on social media single-use face towels to dry one's face." 

Single-use masks, serum packs, sponges and towels may look aesthetic online, but from a skincare standpoint, they serve no purpose, he explains. "If this was doing something, it might be worth it, but if it's not, then why are we trying to promote this as a product?"

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Angelo Landriscina, MD, FAAD (@dermangelo)

Choose serums, masks, toners and eye creams in multi-use packaging to cut down on waste, and don't be fooled into thinking single-use comes with benefits for health and hygiene. "A lot of it comes from people who either suffer with or are afraid of acne, and I think it comes out of a fundamental misunderstanding of what acne is as a disease process," Landriscina says. "Acne is not from being dirty. It's not something you can catch from a towel or from other people."

If you're still worried about your towel aggravating a specific skin concern, buy a set of reusable face cloths and launder them after each use. "That's most likely going to have a lower impact on the environment than single-use towels, because you'll be able to use them for years," he says. "If you are using a clean towel, there is no issue with it."

Skip the gimmicks

Beyond creams and serums, the sector has seen an explosion in skincare accessories that claim to boost up skin benefits in one way or another. Brands and influencers claim things like jade rollers can de-puff the face, exfoliating brushes smooth skin texture, and electronic facial devices delay the onset of skin aging, to name just some examples. 

The market for these devices is already in the billions of dollars, but evidence to support their benefits for the skin is often lacking. Too often, they simply end up in the trash after the user failed to see a meaningful difference or grew tired of the extra steps.

"If you're blowing through a few of these a year, whether it be an LED mask, a pore vacuum, a cleansing brush, these are things that are going to end up in landfill," Landriscina says. "Even there was a trend of skincare fridges, which I hated. If you have the disposable income to buy a skincare fridge, I would guess that you most likely already have a refrigerator running in your house. If you want your products to be cold, put them in there."

Learn how to recognize sustainable attributes in packaging

"People will often come into my comments when I talk about sustainability and give me the whole, 'It shouldn't be about personal responsibility. It's about industry.' And I have to explain to them that skincare is an industry and we are the people creating the demand, so it's something that we should think about," Landriscina says. 

In any industry, when people purchase more sustainable products, they signal to brands that sustainability is something consumers care about and value. Landriscina regularly tips his hat to brands as they release products in sustainable packaging and encourages his audience to look out for certain product attributes as they shop. 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Angelo Landriscina, MD, FAAD (@dermangelo)

"What I've been doing is trying to use my tiny little microphone to lift up the brands that are doing good things," he says. "Kiehl's now has these big refill pouches. Neutrogena is selling a cleanser that comes as a powder in a packet that you reconstitute yourself. Brands are using less plastic on their flip-tops. All those little things, I try to bring that to my audience and say, 'Look, less plastic. I would go for this one if it were on the shelf,' to use whatever influence I have to try to entice people to look at packaging and think about it."

As more skincare products become available in refillable packaging, Landriscina also uses his mic to educate both brands and consumers about what has the most impact. "One thing I've been talking about a lot lately and am trying to pressure brands to do is that if they're doing a refillable pump bottle or pump jar, the pump should be part of the keepsake component. That's one thing that I'm telling everybody to look out for," he says, because the pump component on packaging is generally not recyclable. 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Angelo Landriscina, MD, FAAD (@dermangelo)

Practice "intentional skincare" by thinking before you buy

"One thing I always try to preach is intentional skincare," Landriscina says. "It’s become such a hobby for people, even at this point for teenagers. Before buying something, I try to get people to think about the purpose the product is going to serve in their skincare routine: What is it supposed to do for me, or am I just excited by something that's shiny and new?"

It's a message that resonates with Landriscina's growing community of followers. "It's funny because my platform has actually grown a lot since talking about this," he says. "It's almost to the point where people are seeing this stuff and they're starting to become rightfully disgusted by it. They see how excessive this is, and I think they've realized that it's not real and they're starting to resent it — not just for the environmental impact, but also for the expectation that somebody's going to spend that much time on skincare every day or that it would even be good for the skin." 

Paring down your skincare routine to the essentials and being mindful as you shop is ultimately better for your skin, as well as the planet, he says. "The things I hammer home are just use what's necessary and not more than that, really be mindful of the packaging, and educate yourself a little bit about some choices you can make in your everyday life," he says. "If I can make a little bit of a difference there, then I'll be happy."

This story is part of Shopping Month in TriplePundit's Sustainable Living Challenge, where we explore simple ways to buy less, keep things longer and shop sustainably as needed. Learn more and take the challenge here.

The Caribbean is in the throes of a sinister drought that is ravaging islands like Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica and a slew of others. These moderate and sometimes localized droughts are sowing the seed for what is blooming into a region-wide water crisis. In places like Saint Lucia and Jamaica, water rationing measures are already in place. Sections of Jamaica like the Kingston, Saint Andrew, and Saint Catherine parishes, as well as the western parishes like Westmoreland and Clarendon, are hit the hardest. But Jamaica may tap into a natural solution which at scale could prove formidable: protection of wetlands.

Dry and wet seasons are typical for the region, and Jamaica in particular is no stranger to this cycle. The wet season typically begins during late May or early June, but for the better part of this year, water scarcity and lack of rain has been an issue. In April, the government initiated a water supply restriction schedule within the corporate areas of Kingston. 

But as far back as January, people have protested water scarcity and issues in Jamaica's largest parish, Saint Ann. Residents of Mount Edgecombe complained of a persisting scarcity that began in 2020. 

Tamara lives in the Kingston and Saint Andrew corporate area. In many ways, people like her are hit the hardest. Not only are women historically more vulnerable to water scarcity, but Tamara also operates her own farm. Farmers are particularly vulnerable to water scarcity. 

“It was very hard to maintain not only myself, but the animals,” she told TriplePundit. “The reality of continuous days without flowing water became terrible as the hot weather became harsher. I felt a high level of heat stress, and if I experienced that, I could only imagine what my animals would’ve succumbed to. In order to manage, I had to prioritize the animals over myself because I can be helped, but they rely solely on what I can provide. So, the majority of the water that I had in storage was used to supply them and make sure I could at least take a bath.”

Kingston has untapped underground water sources, but there is an issue with attempting to tap into them, Debbie-Ann Gordon-Smith, a chemistry professor at the University of the West Indies, told 3p. “Several studies I’ve been a part of have revealed contamination in the water underground,” Smith said. The main contamination found was sewage waste. 

It’s water she believes could be treated and reused for other purposes, and it speaks to an interesting quality of the land in Jamaica: an ability to hold water, even below the surface.

Tapping these underground channels may be a future solution or even a part of a larger overall plan for more sustainable water policy and practice. In the meantime, the ability of the land to trap and store water offers another solution in a place like the Mason River Protected Area on the border of Saint Ann and Clarendon parishes. The 202-acre wetland is home to the island’s only inland peat bog.

There’s nothing particularly new about protected areas or wetlands. But Mason River is a perfect example of what happens when land is protected and how surrounding communities can benefit, even during droughts. It was declared a wetland of international importance, or Ramsar site, in 2011. 

“In general all the green spaces cumulatively help to improve the environment,” Keron Cambell, a botanist who supervises the Mason River Protected Area, said. “With respect to ecosystem services on a broad scale, we have cleaner air, water to drink and use for irrigation, nutrient cycling, mitigation in terms of flooding, etcetera.” The protected area is owned and operated by the Natural History Museum of Jamaica, which is the division of the Institute of Jamaica that Campbell works for. 

I visited the protected area after it rained across the island overnight.  And even during the dry season, I still had to wade through ankle-high waters in some sections. That water-holding ability is thanks to limestone, Simon Mitchell, a professor of sedimentary geology at the University of the West Indies, told 3p. 

“Wetlands are really formed when we have water captured in a particular place,” Mitchell said. “A place like Mason River is a series of limestones and a relatively flat area, so the water builds up in the depressions in the limestone. We see water being captured in these areas because these limestones have some clay in them, which stops the water from draining away.” 

Much of Jamaica is limestone, evidenced by the many underground rivers, streams and connections to major bodies of water that run through the parishes, Mitchell said. This ability to trap, store and divert water underground might just be the island’s most resilient, natural hidden power against the ongoing drought.

Unfortunately it’s not a cure-all for climate change ills. Wetlands are habitats that host life, and they’re not an infinite or dispensable resource. Even the Mason River Protected Area finds itself more at risk as the days go by. 

Climate change is not only intensifying weather systems and creating global heatwaves, it's also creating longer, more grueling dry seasons. During my visit, I noticed an absence of the carnivorous plants that are usually there year-round. The station attendant explained that their absence is due to the increased heat during the dry season. Some plants completely wither only to return when the wet season begins.

Furthermore, wetlands have become much more valuable with their capacity to absorb and trap carbon dioxide within their bogs and marshes. The loss of these places is even more dangerous because of the years of trapped carbon that is released in the atmosphere when they are dried up or disturbed. 

It’s essential to protect wetlands like Mason River, as their ability to boost climate resilience is priceless. But they are limited in their ability to weather the changing climate. Individuals can support these protected areas through ecotourism ventures like guided tours. The remaining challenge lies with governments, world leaders and policymakers who can sanction or cease environmental crimes and support sustainable ventures. 

I'll let you all in on a little secret: I haven't bought a new piece of clothing in over two years. Don't get me wrong, I love fashion and putting together a great look for a given occasion. But if you collect timeless pieces and take good care of them, you don't really need to buy as much — which, as an added bonus, also reduces your impact on the environment. Read on to learn how I keep my favorites looking fab for 10 years or more and how you can make your clothes last longer, too.

Look at the care tag before you purchase 

Laundering your clothes according to the instructions on the care tag is the best way to ensure they stay looking sharp as long as possible. But if you wait until you get your new outfit home to see what the tags say, you can easily set yourself up for a commitment you can't keep up with long term.

Check out the tags in the store, and be real with yourself: If you know you can't be bothered to take something to the dry cleaners, hand wash it or use the gentle cycle, don't buy it. Thinking you can simply toss it in the regular cycle with your gym shorts will not end well (I speak from experience). 

Use laundry bags to make clothes last longer

Many associate laundry bags with undergarments and other delicates, but they're super useful for making all kinds of clothes last longer. They keep dress shirts, dresses, sweaters, and tank tops from pilling or stretching out, and they protect the screen printing on graphic tees and sweatshirts from peeling. A set of laundry bags will last you for years while keeping your favorite outfits on rotation far longer.

Be mindful on the first washes

While color bleeding isn't super common, it can happen, and the last thing you want to see is an entire load of laundry turned pink by a new red T-shirt.

For the first few washes of a new garment, pay more attention to laundering with like colors, and use cool or cold water to minimize color bleeding. Color-catcher sheets, which you'll find in the laundry aisle at most retailers, can also capture bleeding dyes from the wash water before they can stain other fabrics. 

If you don't have many clothes of the same color, you can also consider laundering a new item on its own for the first few washes using the small load or auto-fill setting on your washing machine. This may sound like a waste of water and energy, but it's ultimately less wasteful than having to prematurely toss a basket full of clothes. If you do run into a color-bleed situation, taking action quickly can still save your stained clothes. This rundown from Fabricare can help.

Zip and flip

When left open, zipper closures can rub up against other garments during the wash cycle and lead to early wear. Extend the life of all your clothes by zipping up your pants and sweatshirts before tossing them in the washing machine. While you're at it, turn items you aren't washing in laundry bags, such as pants or jeans, inside out to minimize visible fading and help clothes last longer.

Use cold water and hang to dry

Laundering in warm or hot water makes your clothes fade and wear out much faster, and with modern washing machines and soaps, it's no longer necessary to use a hot water cycle in order to get clothes clean. While it's your choice if you'd like to hang dry everything — I personally tumble dry things like hoodies and towels to avoid that stiff and scratchy feel — skipping the dryer more often is generally best for most clothing, too.

Bleach with caution

I don't use bleach in the laundry myself, but if you do, proceed with caution. Bleach can wear away at clothing fibers over time, and if used incorrectly, it can even turn your bright whites to a pale yellow. Spandex in particular tends to yellow in a bleach wash, and even a small amount blended into a stretch fabric can cause a problem. Read the wash instructions on the bleach bottle closely, and avoid fabrics such as Spandex, silk or mohair. Bleaching whites less frequently, such as every few washes, can also avoid premature wear to the fabric and make clothes last longer. 

Practice those mending skills 

Even if you don't know how to darn a sock or use a sewing machine, basic mending is within reach for most people. When you see a seam begin to loosen or a small hole start to form, the sooner you take action, the better off you'll be.

At the first signs of wear-and-tear, it's generally pretty easy to see how the affected area should look and what's starting to go wrong. Often a few hand-stitches with a matching thread is all that's needed to correct it. This rundown on repairing a ripped seam and this video tutorial for invisibly closing a small hole can help, but once you get the hang of it, you won't need the instructions to get it right. 

Find a good tailor

Of course, if you wait too long, the tear can start to spread, and then things start getting much more difficult. If you've got a more complex situation on your hands — or mending simply isn't for you — then you may prefer to seek out a professional.

Finding a tailor or seamstress you trust changes the game when it comes to your wardrobe. Not only are their services great for mending, but they can also alter clothes to your measurements — taking an off-the-rack outfit from okay to excellent and letting you thrift shop to your heart's content while being less concerned about finding a perfect fit. 

Likewise, good shoes can last forever if they're re-soled, so try the shoe repair shop rather than the trash the next time your favorites look like they've seen better days. 

What are some of the ways you look to make your clothes last longer? Tell us about it at [email protected] to be featured in a future story on TriplePundit. 

This story is part of Shopping Month in TriplePundit's Sustainable Living Challenge, where we explore simple ways to buy less, keep things longer and shop sustainably as needed. Learn more and take the challenge here.

This story on the energy transition is part of The Solutions Effect, a monthly newsletter covering the best of solutions journalism in the sustainability and social impact space. If you aren't already getting this newsletter, you can sign up here.

The energy sector is responsible for 73 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and it will take $4 trillion to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, according to the United Nations Development Program. It’s the exact kind of unfathomable problem that solutions journalists are skilled at breaking down and turning into a conversation about action. Read on to see how they’re making the energy transition less daunting by focusing on the governments, communities and companies working to make the shift possible.

Investigating companies’ community impact 

Liberty, North Carolina, is the soon-to-be home of a Toyota electric vehicle battery “megasite” that’s bringing a much-needed economic transformation to the mostly rural region. The car company is set to invest $13.9 billion in the project, which is expected to bring 5,100 direct jobs, thousands more indirect jobs and 100,000 new residents to the area, journalist Nicole Norman reported for Inside Climate News. 

That’s bringing about a lot of change to the town of 2,600 and those around it, an area that experienced great economic woes during the 2008 recession. “For the first time in the 250 years of Randolph County’s existence, we have a chance to be wealthy,” John Ogburn, longtime resident and city manager of nearby Asheboro, told Inside Climate News. 

Already, Toyota is partnering with local colleges to fund job training and education programs, and county and city officials are approving new neighborhoods and housing developments. Norman spoke to residents of Liberty and the surrounding communities for an in-depth look at how the project came to be, the community impacts and the new opportunities. Read more. 

Identifying scalable cross-sector collaborations

Community solar projects are only allowed in 20 states, but that number is growing thanks to federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, environmental journalist Alex Brown reported for Stateline. 

Community solar gives places like farms, schools, and stores an opportunity to earn extra income by leasing land or roof space to a solar electricity developer. The developer installs solar panels and funds the project by selling subscriptions to locals who can’t install their own solar arrays. Based on the power generated by the panels, the subscribers receive credits that reduce their electricity bills. The model helps more projects get off the ground, expanding clean energy in a way that often offers financial relief to low-income households that would otherwise be unable to access it.

Legislation to enable and expand these programs faces opposition from utilities in states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Washington. But a growing number of states, including Virginia and Pennsylvania, are finding ways to work with utilities to make community solar a reality. Brown looked into the benefits, the hurdles and where community solar is already working. Read more. 

Exploring up-and-coming tech solutions 

The millions of electric vehicle batteries reaching the end of their usable lifespan are adding even more waste to the already overwhelmed global electronic waste stream. It’s a challenging problem to tackle, but innovators at Honda are turning to hydrogen fuel cells to ease the strain. 

“Fuel cell vehicles represent a smaller but growing part of the EV field,” senior writer Tina Casey reports for TriplePundit. “They combine hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce an electrical current through a chemical reaction.” 

Honda recently unveiled a power station that uses fuel cells recovered from its cars to generate energy. And it’s launching a new battery and fuel cell hybrid version of its top-selling compact SUV: the CR-V e:FCEV. Designed to appeal to commercial drivers, the vehicle will help alleviate the battery supply chain while allowing customers to meet carbon emission reduction goals. Casey covers how the new tech works and whether it could make a difference. Read more. 

Learning from the failures and the successes 

We all watched electric scooters rise to prominence a few years ago. And we continued to watch when their popularity fell as the purported climate and convenience benefits were overshadowed by safety concerns and mismanagement. Now, a few years after the spectacle, Syris Valentine, a climate solutions fellow at Grist, looked into what we can learn. 

“The true climate benefits of these fleets depends upon how companies deploy and manage them, and safety remains a concern as injuries climb,” Valentine wrote. “But industry leaders appear intent on ensuring their scooters are as sustainable and safe as possible.”

Valentine reviews the issues the industry still faces, like the rise of serious injuries and whether the logistics of distribution and charging negate emissions savings, and speaks to experts about what can be done to address them. Read more. 

Most of the stories above were found via the Solutions Journalism Network’s online database of solution-focused stories. If you’re looking for more stories like these, I recommend checking it out. 

Global demand for avocados is growing steadily, with per-capita consumption in the United States tripling since the early 2000s. With such escalating popularity, curiosity about the avocado industry's agricultural practices is also on the rise. Enrique Audiffred, a third-generation farmer and second-generation organic avocado grower in Michoacán, Mexico, is eager to share more about the subject.

Using data to drive sustainability 

Audiffred studied industrial engineering with a specialty in collecting and analyzing agricultural data using sensors. To him, the benefits of applying technology to organic avocado production are clear. “The digitalization of avocado production allows me to consume fewer resources, making my production costs much lower,” Audiffred said. “Workers benefit from the system, because they are not exposed to pesticides and fertilizers, and our environmental impact is less.”

Sensors installed on Audiffred’s farm monitor moisture, salinity and nutrients in the soil. The data they collect is used to optimize a smart “fertigation” system, or a specialized irrigation setup consisting of sensors and irrigation hoses with valves. The system delivers water and fertilizer directly to the root zones of specific trees lacking in water or nutrients. “It is very efficient,” he explained. “The valves open and close depending on which area needs water and fertilizer, thereby avoiding waste and contamination."

Audiffred also developed a monitoring system to help him identify microclimates and a control system to move production from colder zones into warmer zones. This helps him standardize production and create a more predictable schedule for harvest. 

Another program he created detects anthracnose, a common agricultural disease that can lead to significant crop loss. “This model allows us to apply disease control only when necessary, instead of on a calendar basis,” he said.

“The kind of tech I use on my farm can only be found in five or six other orchards in the whole country,” he continued. “But it should be implemented all over the world for any grower who depends on agriculture for their income.” 

While Audiffred believes access to technology is the industry's biggest challenge at the moment, he's still betting on ag-tech to change farming processes around the world. “Digital agriculture is the Industrial Revolution 4.0. It solves problems with water, insecticides and fertilizer,” he shared. "Most of the issues on my farm are solved by data that is available to me because of the technology I use.”

Although many of Audiffred’s growing innovations are high-tech, he also utilizes one surprisingly simple practice to promote sustainability on his farm: trees.

“Right now, half of my land is dedicated to the production of avocados, and the other 50 percent is a forest right next to the avocado orchard that I maintain to promote biodiversity,” he said. “I am very [environmentally] conscious, and I want to continue to promote sustainability in my work. We depend on the environment, so we must take care of it.”

Growing avocados with the future in mind

Many farmers with multigenerational connections to the land express a profound, deep-seeded commitment to its preservation. Alejandro Bautista, a second-generation avocado grower, is no different. “My father started our orchards 65 years ago, and when I got older, I came to work with [him],” Bautista said. “We now have about 200 acres of different cultivars.” 

Like Audiffred, Bautista supports forests on his land to promote biodiversity and soil health. Of his approximately 500 acres of land, about 300 acres are rainforest. 

“Part of what makes our avocados so rich is our volcanic soil,” he explained. “We have a volcano covered in forest, and we make sure to take care of it. There is a lot of wildlife in the forests, including wildcats and deer, and there is a natural spring that provides water to many communities. We benefit from the ecosystem there.”

Bautista’s family began their organic transition 40 years ago. “The main interest of my family is to be healthy,” he said. “When we looked at the potential damage that [irresponsible agricultural practices] can have on workers, our family and the land, we decided to transition to responsible farming and organic cultivation.” 

The farm now uses only natural fertilizers and maintains grass in the orchards at about eight inches minimum in order to sustain the natural insect population. They also plant trees far enough apart to promote air flow, allowing for ventilation and reducing disease pressure. Rather than agrochemicals, they feed the soil with natural composts and utilize natural insecticides like garlic and chilis to protect crops from pests.

Ever since he was 13 years old, Bautista has dedicated his life to agriculture. With his 70th birthday right around the corner, he is conscious of the legacy he has built in his community.

“The thing that brings me the most satisfaction is that we are walking the talk,” he reflected. “We are teaching by example to have a sustainable way of life. I am happy that my children and grandchildren are seeing this example.”

The future of sustainable avocados 

As sustainable avocado growers in Mexico work to ensure the prosperity and longevity of their farms, the market for organic avocado production continues to expand. In 2022, retail sales of organic avocados reached $162.4 million in the U.S., a 2.8 percent increase from the previous year. 

Farmers like Audiffred and Bautista, who implement practices that preserve natural resources and steward the economic and environmental well-being of their communities, are essential for the industry’s long-term success. Reflecting on the bright future of the avocado sector, Bautista is hopeful for the next generation of sustainable growers. 

“I invest a lot in sustainability education, because I want to know that I am doing something for the next generation,” Bautista concluded. “Responsible agricultural practices are very important. It is a very good business to be a good person.”

This article series is sponsored by the Avocado Institute of Mexico and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Images courtesy of the Avocado Institute of Mexico