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In May of 2007, a powerful tornado destroyed the entire city of Greensburg, Kansas, killing 13 people. It was a terrible loss for a community of only 1,400. The surviving residents chose to stay and rebuild, with sustainability and resiliency as priorities. Their decision has provided businesses with a blueprint for green building and construction. However, there are still many lessons yet to be learned about survivability and resilience as extreme weather becomes more commonplace in the age of climate change.

Building back greener

The tornado that struck Greensburg destroyed almost every building in town, forcing many residents to relocate. However, others chose to stay. They coalesced around a proposal to reconstruct their town as a “model green community.” The area’s history in sod house construction may have helped promote the idea of a sustainable, energy-efficient community.

In 2013, USA Today revisited Greensburg and found town reborn as “the world's leading community in LEED-certified buildings per capita,” including Bucklin Tractor and Implement, the local John Deere dealership.

The role of public funding

Public financial resources played a significant role in the city’s green recovery, partly due to the its status as a county seat with an airport, hospital and other buildings eligible for assistance.

The U.S. Department of Energy provided expert guidance on renewable energy as well as LEED standards, and the Department of Agriculture financed a 12.5 megawatt wind farm for the city.

The population of Greensburg remains at approximately half its 2007 level, and its economic recovery has been hampered by the same factors besetting other rural communities. Still, the town’s green reconstruction is considered a success, and the city continues to promote its sustainability profile with the slogan, “Stronger, Better, Greener.”

Building to survive the next tornado

Greensburg’s efforts to build tornado survivability into its infrastructure have received much less attention, but the risk of future tornados was in mind during the rebuild.

The first “eco-home” built in the city, for example, was designed to withstand winds of up to 240 mph, and the new LEED buildings incorporate structural elements that improve tornado survivability as well as energy efficiency.

The science of tornado-proof building continues to develop. Meanwhile, though, communities in tornado-prone areas are still at risk, and the risk will grow as the warming climate increases the chance of extreme weather.

What businesses can do

Tornado-proofing an entire building is beyond the capacity of many employers. Retrofitting safe spaces into existing buildings is more realistic. However, the experts advise that a safe space is practically useless without a plan for access during an emergency, and there are many other steps employers need to take in order to protect their employees and others on site.

The devastating tornados that struck last week in Kentucky and several other states have drawn renewed attention to the responsibility of employers during extreme weather. Several fatalities were concentrated in an Amazon warehouse in Illinois. Another cluster occurred within a candle factory in Kentucky.

While the details of those two episodes have yet to be confirmed, early reports indicate the lack of an effective tornado response plan.

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If true, that is a critical lapse without much excuse. Tornado response has been studied extensively, and that knowledge base is reflected in a simple brochure on individual tornado safety produced by NOAA and the National Weather Service.

“Most deaths and injuries happen to people who are unaware and uninformed,” the agencies write, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to weather reports, developing a plan of action that includes access to adequate shelter, and holding frequent practice drills.

In light of the brochure’s advice, some employers may especially need to reconsider restrictions on access to personal smart phones at work.

“Be sure your mobile device is set up to receive warnings,” the brochure advises. “Allow location access to pinpoint if you are in the path of a storm or in a warning.”

A case study for survivability

In 2013, researchers analyzed the impact of a 2004 tornado that completely demolished Parsons Manufacturing, a rural factory in Illinois. All 150 people survived with just a handful of minor injuries. The episode provided tornado safety advocates with hard evidence that many tornado deaths are avoidable if employers plan ahead and make the necessary investments.

The researchers distilled lessons learned from the Parsons factory into four areas: planning, practicing/preparing, monitoring and acting.

They emphasized that planners need to account for the manner in which people respond to warnings. Hearing a warning is just the first step in a thought process that leads to understanding the warning, believing it, personalizing it, confirming its validity and finally, deciding to act.

That final decision will be difficult if not impossible to achieve in a workplace that fails to plan, fails to practice, fails to establish access to a safe space — and above all, fails to establish trust with its workers.

One key way in which to establish trust is to provide workers with hard evidence that an emergency plan exists by having them drill it. Even a tabletop exercise can make a difference.

“Having a detailed emergency action plan is not enough. Participants in the plan must practice sheltering, or evacuation procedures for the plan to succeed,” they write, adding that “the educational background and demographics of the community play a major role in the public’s understanding of a warning.”

Although the planning stage can take months if not years, the researchers also note that swift, timely communication is critical once such a warning sounds.

“The people receiving the warning information must be monitoring some type of mass media device (e.g. television, weather radio, computer, pager, phone system, etc...) for the message to be received,” they observe, mirroring the guidance in the NOAA brochure.

“Failing to follow this important step will greatly minimize the amount of time the public has to react to the threat,” they emphasize.

The role of leadership

There is a personal backstory to the success of the Parsons response. The plant owner, Bob Parsons, had witnessed a tornado years earlier. At the time, he was employed in a business with no plan and no shelter. The experience made a powerful impression on him. He built his factory in 1975 with a reinforced concrete block restroom designated for shelter. By the time the tornado struck in 2004, the facility had established a formal safety plan overseen by an emergency response team, and a total of three shelters were on site.

Tornado planning is not rocket science. A number of leading employers, most notably Waffle House, have established a solid track record in disaster planning. There is no need for other employers to reinvent the wheel in order to cut the risk of death during a tornado.

Leadership in planning and preparation is the key, and that begins at the top.

As corporate leaders reap media attention for piling onto the sustainability trend, paying attention to workplace safety, worker rights and survivability is just as important.

Image credits: State Farm via Wiki Commons; City of Greensburg, Kansas via Facebook

Despite studies concluding that artificial intelligence (AI) often contributes to bias against women and people of color in the workplace, many companies continue to use software that incorporates AI as part of their hiring practices. On one hand, it’s understandable: Going through resumes submitted online is a slog. The same goes for scheduling a long week of video interviews. Nevertheless, concerns over AI led to a dozen leading brands to announce last week that they were committed to stop artificial intelligence and algorithmic bias from having any impacts on their hiring practices.

But such action may be too little, too late for local and state governments. New York City’s government recently passed a law that will require any company selling human resources software using AI to complete third-party audits in order to verify that such technology doesn’t show bias against any gender, ethnicity or race. In addition, companies using such software would be required to inform job applicants that they use AI as part of any hiring process, as well as disclose whether any personal information helped its HR software make any decisions.

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It’s easy to dismiss New York City as a political outlier, but states such as Illinois and Maryland have also enacted similar legislation. Both states’ laws attempt to tackle the problem of using AI to analyze video interviews of job applicants. While the technologies are relatively new, the ongoing problem isn’t: At a minimum, legislation considered across the U.S. seek both transparency and the consent of prospective employees before such technology is used to assess their fit within a company.

And in a move that could have implications across the country, The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) launched a working group in October in order to ensure that the use of such hiring tools comply with federal hiring and civil rights laws that the agency is tasked to enforce.

“This is a big deal because it could provide people some transparency when it comes to learning why they weren’t hired,” wrote Fortune’s Ellen McGirt in her most recent RaceAhead newsletter. “For people of color, knowing whether AI was used to determine if they were a good fit for the job could be revelatory.”

Image credit via Adobe Stock

The Better Cotton Initiative, the world’s largest sustainable cotton program, has today announced targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2030 from a 2017 baseline. This announcement is a step toward assisting an industry plagued by environmental and social problems; the Initiative also highlights the need to create new approaches for less polluting agricultural practices in order to mitigate climate change risks.

Global cotton production accounts for 220 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, and cotton production requires a lot of inputs. For example, its global water footprint is approximately 8.2 trillion cubic feet a year, or the equivalent of 238 bathtubs of water per person globally. And, 16 percent of global insecticide use is for cotton production, more than any other crop.

On that point, the Better Cotton Initiative said it has continued to make progress in mitigating its environmental and social impacts. According to a new report by the organization, “Better Cotton production had a 19 percent lower emissions intensity per [metric ton] lint than comparison production across China, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkey.”

However, making significant progress on reducing carbon emissions requires widespread and calculated action, which Better Cotton says it has demonstrated. Along with its partners, the organization has trained 2.5 million farmers in 25 countries on more sustainable cotton production, and nearly one-quarter of the world’s cotton is cultivated under Better Cotton standards.

“Beyond the organization, Better Cotton is a unique global platform that strives to do something that has never been done before, and that is to bring some collective continuity to the conversation around ‘cotton,’ said Marc Lewkowitz, the president and CEO of Supima in a public statement. “As the world’s largest natural fiber crop, ‘cotton’ exists in a very diverse landscape.”

Better Cotton has achieved some impressive results, according to its data. During the 2019-2020 growing season, farmers working with Better Cotton in India consumed 10 percent less water; 13 percent less synthetic fertilizer; 23 percent less pesticides; and used 7 percent more organic fertilizer when compared to farmers not affiliated with the Initiative.

At the same time, Better Cotton concluded that farmers who participated in its programs gained yields that were 9 percent higher, and profits that were 18 percent higher. Hence the social benefits to farmers and their communities are undeniable, starting with higher incomes and improved working conditions. Globally, 250 million people generate income from cotton production, with many of them farming in low-income countries.

“With Better Cotton’s new 2030 Strategy, there is an ambitious initiative to drive and steward demonstrable continuous improvement that is both responsive to our global challenges as well as supportive of the growers and their communities,” added Lewkowitz. “Data and metrics will drive insight and impact and provide beneficial feedback to the growers on the positive outcomes to enhance their engagement and commitment to sustainable and responsive practices.”

What’s notable about Better Cotton’s targets is that as it seeks to achieve these goals within a relatively short timeframe, the organization will need take action right away. Furthermore, cotton farmers, and the textile industry as a whole, are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to drought and extreme weather. Certainly, the industry has a lot to gain from a more stable climate.

Better Cotton isn’t taking any time off to rest after today’s announcement. By the end of 2022, it plans to announce four additional targets related to soil health, pesticide use, smallholder farmers' livelihoods and women’s empowerment.

Image credit: Jeff Hutcheson via Unsplash

As that most difficult year, 2020, extended into 2021, our crew of writers tackled a wide range of challenges, from political polarization to the climate crisis. We crunched the numbers, and here’s one observation: Our readers have appreciated the fact that we have been all over the map on the sustainability front. Unlike previous years, there weren’t a handful stories that jumped out in a crazy way on the page views meter. In fact, more than a dozen stories were bunched up together. We can never quite trust that search engine optimization, can we? So, we arrived at what are the 15 most read TriplePundit stories over the past 12 months. Since the numbers were so close, we're listing them in chronological order.

The business community’s initial response to the January 6 insurrection

U.S. Businesses React to Trump Insurrection: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Tina Casey, January 2021). The storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6 was a horrible event, one that sparked an impressive corporate response during those first few days in January. That attack appears to have largely been forgotten, but back then, 3p’s Tina Casey covered how companies first responded – and gave a primer as to how businesses can help ensure such an attack does not happen again.

Nom nom nom for plant-based foodies

20 Plant-Based Foods Coming to Market in 2021 (Mary Mazzoni, February 2021) The plant-based food boom is heating up. Growth in the segment outpaced all other food categories amid the coronavirus pandemic, with plant-based meat sales up 148 percent in 2020 compared to the year before. Having surpassed the $5 billion mark last year, the overall plant-based food market is set to top $74 billion by 2027. Our very own Mary Mazzoni summed up trends for this year – give it another read to see which ones became popular, or to get ideas on what to try out.

One company’s response to the “cancel culture” trope

IBM Gets It Right on Cancel Culture and Corporate Responsibility (Tina Casey, February 2021) Tossing out the term “cancel culture” had become a damage control strategy for lawmakers facing corporate boycotts or a decrease in donations due to their connection to the failed insurrection attempt. Casey showed how IBM broke free of that debate in the first place – by having a decades-long policy of no making political donations, whether directly or through a political action committee (PAC).

Diversity should be an immersive experience, David!

Ew, David! Schitt’s Creek Offers Companies A Cautionary Tale on Diversity (Leon Kaye, February 2021) Rehashing one of Schitt’s Creek’s more popular Alexis Rose memes shouldn’t distract from the fact that many organizations still struggle on the diversity, inclusion and equity (DEI) front. During its six seasons, the scrappy Canadian comedy series took its own stands on diversity while ditching common stereotypes. While it all did not go smoothly, how the series’ co-founder, Daniel Levy, handled criticism levied at the show actually could offer organizations some lessons on how to handle this problem.

ESG funds and sustainable investing are here to stay

If You Invested in ESG Funds, 2020 Was a Good Year (Leon Kaye, March 2021) 2020 was a year most of us are now happy to see in the rearview mirror, but last year was kind to one subset of the financial sector: ESG funds. During the pandemic, funds screened for environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors proved to be more resilient than conventional fund counterparts, according to a report from Morgan Stanley. The financial giant’s Institute for Sustainable Investing crunched the numbers and found that total returns for U.S. sustainability and ESG equity funds outpaced traditional funds by 4.3 percent in 2020.

Why Gen X women and their older peers rock

Choose to Challenge? Women Over 50 Invented It (Leon Kaye, March 2021) For this year’s International Women’s Day back in March, the theme was “Choose to Challenge.” Yet if we’re talking about choose to challenge in a wider context, face it: Women over 50 years old wrote the playbook. We reminded you about what many women over the age of 50 have lived through both in their personal lives and professional careers.

Bringing family forest owners into the carbon market

Small Landowners Are Untapped Heroes in the Fight Against Climate Change (Kate Zerrenner, May 2021) About 10.7 million ownerships from individuals, families, trusts, and estates account for 36 percent of U.S. forests (approximately 290 million acres). Despite their essential role in the management and sustainability of forested land, these family forest owners are often left out of the majority of carbon reduction schemes. Kate Zerrenner profiled how one CPG company is partnering with them.

Climate change’s ongoing threat to mental health

It’s Finally Time to Take the Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change Seriously (Kate Zerrenner, May 2021) The psychological harm of surviving a natural disaster has been documented for decades. But with climate change, such natural disasters are no longer purely “natural” – in fact, they are becoming more intense, frequent and destructive depending on the event. “Protecting people’s mental health and avoiding the costly effects of trauma is yet another reason we should invest in economy-wide climate change solutions,” wrote 3p’s Zerrenner.

One brand’s quest to become the world’s most sustainable and just company

HP Leads a Corporate Transition to Equity (Kate Zerrenner, June 2021) Zerrenner spoke with Ellen Jackowski, chief sustainability and social impact officer at HP, about the company’s mission to become "the world’s most sustainable and just technology company.” To that end, the multinational computer, 3D printing and printing company had announced some of the technology industry’s most comprehensive goals that seek to cement its leadership in this space, ones that are centered on climate action, human rights and digital equity.

Stop talking about racial equity; take steps and lead

4 Ways for Business to Show Authentic Leadership on Racial Equity (Mary Mazzoni, June 2021) A bevy of top companies had issued bold statements and significant financial commitments to advance racial equity in 2020. But the hard work still needs to begin. In an interview with Gary Cunningham, Prosperity Now’s president and CEO, he suggested four steps companies can take to turn allyship into action. “The key here is authentic leadership — in other words, walking the walk, not just talking the talk. It’s easy to say that you’re anti-racist without changing anything about how your organization operates,” Cunningham said during an interview with 3p’s Mazzoni.

Not a surprise: youth keep coming up with new solutions to further social justice

What Do Sustainable Agriculture and Healthcare Equity Have in Common? (Nayelli Gonzalez, June 2021) What do two seemingly unrelated issues, sustainable agriculture and healthcare equity, have in common? Youth-led solutions are the focus of Aqua-Pods and Medicine Encompassed, two organizations launched by young leaders who were recently named winners of the 2021 Changemaker Challenge, a nationwide contest sponsored by T-Mobile, the T-Mobile Foundation, and Ashoka. The competition aims to mobilizes youth who have trailblazing ideas on how to change the world for good with seed money and mentorship. 

Wut, a plant-based burger actually made of…plants?

Wendy’s Plant-Based Burger Is Actually Made from Veggies (Megan Amrich, July 2021). Plant-based foods have long been a popular topic here on 3p, for obvious reasons including the fact that the global meat sector has a largely negative environmental and social impact on the planet. One problem with the emerging plant-based foods industry, however, is that not everyone is fine eating processed or re-engineered soy or pea protein. Hence Wendy’s test marketing of a black bean-based burger scored lots of attention – and eyeballs – earlier this summer.

Finally, more retailers are selling affordable and fashionable adaptive clothing

What Is Adaptive Clothing, and Why Are More Retailers Offering It for Children? (Megan Amrich, July 2021) The timing came in July, which also happens to be Disability Pride Month. JCPenney became the latest American retailer to offer its own brand of adaptive children’s clothing, joining the likes of Target, Kohl’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Zappos and Lands’ End. “As the mother of a disabled child, I greatly appreciate the increased availability of adaptive fashion options,” wrote 3p’s Amrich. “Previously, adaptive children’s clothing was only available if you could sew or hire a tailor. There were some small vendors available online (like on Etsy), but there was no economy of scale, so prices were extremely high for many families.”

So why was Tesla snubbed at that summer White House event?

Why the White House Banned Tesla From Its Big EV Announcement (Tina Casey, August 2021) President Biden had called leading auto industry stakeholders to the White House last summer for a new announcement on vehicle emissions, and Tesla was conspicuous by its absence. The snub seemed to make no sense considering the Tesla’s lead position in the electric vehicle (EV) field. Some have suggested that Tesla was ghosted for its anti-union position, but other key factors could have been in play, wrote Casey, 3p’s senior writer.

The business community has become quiet about immigration reform

As the Battle Over U.S. Immigration Reform Heats Up, Business Stays Largely Silent (Mary Mazzoni, October 2021) In January, more than 180 top companies and other organizations released a statement in favor of bipartisan immigration reform. A month later, after a bipartisan pair of senators introduced the latest iteration of the Dream Act, another coalition of more than 100 companies and trade associations urged Congress to pass it. Even as congressional Democrats worked to pass the more robust U.S. Citizenship Act, many kept the door open for a piecemeal approach to reform, a sentiment that also seemed to resonate with big businesses. Since those bipartisan talks fizzled out, however, it has been largely crickets on the issue from the private-sector side. Mazzoni had a simple question: Why was that?

Image credit: Markus Winkler via Unsplash

If you haven’t ever seen the aurora borealis, otherwise known as the northern lights, put such a trip on your bucket list. Granted, traveling that far up north to see this spectrum of light in the farthest northern latitudes involves much time and money, so it’s not a reality for many of us. So, here’s an alternative that’s possible closer to home: The outdoor wear manufacturer and retailer Timberland has a launched a collection that showcases this natural phenomena’s vibrant colors.

The NL Sky Collection offers a bevy of options, including fleece, footwear, hoodies and t-shirts. Sure, the colors are brilliant. Nevertheless, there’s more than an imagined trip near or to the Arctic at play here. Timberland has designed many of these products using its ReBotl material, which is made of recycled plastic bottles as well as recycled insulation. This collection is a reminder of how fragile the environment is – and how the consumption of virgin materials is contributing to the wider climate crisis.

“This concept explores Nature and its connection to the imagination as darkness fades into the swirling light show known as the aurora borealis. Every trail on the ground and each star in the sky represent new possibilities and ideas,” said George Clayton, a senior apparel designer with Timberland, in a public statement. “This is the next frontier in fashion for Timberland. One that helps build the world forward through eco-innovation and responsible materials.”

Working with Timberland on this collection is the digital fashion house The Fabricant, the portfolio of which includes partnerships with Adidas, Napapijri, Puma and Under Armour.

The NL Sky Collection builds upon Timberland’s legacy of being ahead of the curve when it comes to pushing forward on sustainable design. This year alone, the brand’s milestones included the rollout of a new collection of sustainably made footwear, Greenstride. In addition, Timberland and its parent company VF Corporation announced what they said was the first regenerative rubber supply system within the apparel industry.

Image credit via Timberland

Companies including Patagonia, Scania, Triodos Bank and Volkswagen Group have recently joined a movement that is calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. They are among brands that have pledged to keep such materials linked to deep-sea mining out of their supply chains. The companies pulling rank include BMW, Google, Philips, the battery maker Samsung SDI, and Volvo, all of which have emphasized the need to explore alternative approaches to deep-sea mining. These companies have proposed solutions that include the development of sustainable land mining practices and a transition toward using materials that can be a part of a more closed-loop system.

“Volkswagen is continuously working on sustainable mobility solutions for future generations,” Volkswagen’s Dr. Frauke Eßer said in a statement. “This includes high standards for responsibly shaped raw material supply chains. Seabed mining poses severe environmental risks that we take very seriously, and that drives us to support the call for a moratorium.”

Concerns over deep-sea mining

The deployment of clean energy technologies, including electric vehicles (EVs), solar photovoltaics, wind energy and energy storage systems has in turn sparked high demand for minerals that are often difficult to find, including copper, cobalt, nickel, lithium and manganese. For example, a typical electric vehicle requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional vehicle, and onshore wind needs nine times the amount of materials than gas-fired power plants. Surging demand could create shortages, yet there are rich reserves of cobalt, copper, zinc, nickel, gold, manganese, and other rare earth minerals in ocean floor deposits.

“Humans need to continue rapidly transitioning to renewable energy sources, but in a responsible manner,” Hans Cole, Patagonia’s head of environmental activism, said in a statement. “No matter what reasons we hear for mining the bottom of the ocean, we need to recognize that it would create grave ecological threats and risks disturbing carbon locked away in the deep, with limited opportunities for proper oversight. In our pursuit of renewable energy, we need to ensure that any essential mining is done in the most ecologically responsible way, which means no deep-sea mining.”

The long-term ecological impacts of the practice are still largely unknown, but some scientists have voiced concerns over how deep-sea mining could have an impact on the global carbon cycle. Those fears are based on the fact that oceans are profound carbon sinks and can help absorb an estimated 25 percent of carbon emissions from human activities.

According to the companies that are calling for a moratorium, “Deep-sea ecosystems have experienced little disturbance from human activities up to now, and we know they are likely to have low levels of resilience. Given the slow pace of deep-sea processes, destroyed habitats are unlikely to recover within human timescales.”

Of course, mining on land presents its own range of environmental and social issues. For example, an estimated 70 percent of the world’s cobalt comes from mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where many of the mines are plagued by human rights violations.

Although deep-sea mining is not currently occurring, evidence suggests that it if permitted, could begin as soon as 2025 or 2026. Despite considerable international support, there is no such ban currently in place. As a result, corporations are now feeling the pressure to step in order to safeguard the oceans.

Sustainable alternatives to mining

In addition to committing to not buying minerals linked to deep-sea mining, companies can also develop products that minimize the need to mine new sources of minerals. For example, the Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt announced that it has produced the first-ever lithium-ion battery cell with 100 percent recycled nickel, manganese and cobalt. The company plans to expand its recycling capabilities to process 125,000 tons of batteries per year.

Further, there is plenty of work that automakers and industry stakeholders can do to create more sustainable vehicles and thereby reduce the demand for conflict materials. For example, not all EV and utility storage batteries contain cobalt, an expensive, rare, and toxic mineral found in the cathodes of many batteries. In addition, lithium iron phosphate batteries are cobalt-free, more economical, and already in use in many of Tesla’s EVs. Further, Samsung SDI has adopted a cobalt-free battery strategy.

Despite continued advances in the alternatives to these minerals and recycling efforts, companies that are proposing deep-sea mining say that the materials are crucial to promote the clean energy movement. Nevertheless, the industry can’t ignore this alliance of corporations that are calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining.

“It is fantastic to see Volkswagen Group, Triodos Bank, and Patagonia supporting ocean health for future generations by taking action on deep-sea mining and committing to keeping minerals from the ocean floor out of their products,” said Farah Obaidullah, Global Campaigner with the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition in a statement. “We hope this will inspire more companies to take up the baton and defend this vital life-sustaining ecosystem by saying ‘no’ to deep-sea mining.”

Image credit: Jim Beaudoin via Unsplash

In a year that saw unprecedented flooding worldwide — from Germany, Vietnam and Kenya to Canada and the U.S. — many people had too much water. Some, however, fell short, as a megadrought continued in the western U.S. and Brazil faces its worst drought in a century, adding pressure to an already taut situation. Further, drought and flooding are bringing attention to another pressure point: water quality and its environmental justice impacts. 

While 2021 bore witness to devastating water-related events, it was also a year of improving the understanding and ability to solve these problems. Top headlines this year include stories about improving inadequate and unreliable data, shifting utility business models, and addressing inequities in legacy infrastructure. The science on climate change is clear, and people are increasingly recognizing water’s inextricable link to every aspect of addressing climate change.

With a better understanding of the problem, the solution becomes more possible. In 2021, the efforts made by the public and private sectors to get a clearer picture of resources and needs are just as much of a news story as the problem itself.

Goals for Safe Water Worldwide Face a Stubborn Data Problem

Data has always been a sticky problem for the water sector because of both the nature of the resource and complex regulations and usage patterns. As countries grapple with how to meet the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leadership increasingly recognizes the need to improve water data collection and management. Without it, nearly half of the world’s population will continue to struggle to understand the scale of the problem or how to address it. Read the full story here.

Climate Change is Worsening Water Scarcity: How Business Can Help

Measuring scarcity in particular requires good data. A mapping technology called WaterLOUPE, developed in partnership with Kimberly-Clark and Dutch research organization Deltares, enables water-stressed communities like Cape Town and Sao Paolo to track data related to social, economic and climate factors that affect freshwater availability. Having that data at hand means communities can act according to their own circumstances. Because data is so crucial, the private sector has a vital role to play in the solutions, but all stakeholders must understand the situation on the ground. Read the full story here.

Water Utilities Need to Completely Reset Their Business Models

Having the data is one thing; having the structural systems in place to manage supply in a changing climate is another. Water utilities, like their electricity counterparts, cannot rely on antiquated business models to address times of stress. The problem is governance, not technology, and more utilities recognize business-as-usual operations are not sustainable in the new normal of climate change. Read the full story here.

What's Crucial in Biden’s Infrastructure Bill: Water Investments

Infrastructure was a hot topic in 2021. American drinking water infrastructure continued to barely pass muster, and repeated floods and droughts put additional stress on the pipes that were often laid decades ago and have long since outlasted their intended lifespan. While much attention has focused on energy and transportation infrastructure in the new infrastructure law, water infrastructure gets a big boost in the legislation as well. Read the full story here.

Crisis in Jackson Shows Why Water Investments Are Needed Now

Water quality was again a hot topic in 2021, with one of the most distressing news stories coming out of Jackson, Mississippi, where residents, mostly lower-income and Black, were left without safe drinking water for weeks. The new infrastructure law will send $75 million to the state for water infrastructure needs, but it is still not clear how that will be allocated. Officials have stated priority funding should go to disadvantaged communities. Read the full story here.

Mexico and Texas: Connected by Water, Agriculture, Energy, Immigration and Climate Change

In the Mexican state of Guanajuato, home to over a thousand American expats, water quality and quantity are longstanding problems, exacerbated by climate change and the increased demand for thirsty crops grown there. The situation is made worse by inadequate regulation and oversight as well as the worst affected people being the least powerful. Community members and development organizations have started working with the expat community and the tourism industry to help bring attention to the problem. Read the full story here.

Closing in on the first full calendar year of the global pandemic, people continue to feel the impacts of climate change. Water is a tangible thing, in a way that energy and agriculture often are not. When it is not available because there is not enough or it is not safe to use, people notice. This year has seen an emphasis on data, technology and investment, which is essential. The biggest challenge will be changing the culture and governance of this resource to meet the challenges of climate change. 

Image credit: Jong Marshes/Unsplash

The Japan-based beverage company Suntory Group is targeting “100 percent sustainability" in packaging by using only recycled or plant-derived materials for all the plastic beverage bottles it uses globally by 2030. The company behind consumer beverages like Orangina and spirits like Jim Beam recently announced a major achievement toward this goal: a 100 percent plant-based bottle prototype that is completely recyclable. 

This announcement is the product of a strategic partnership that dates back to 2012 between Suntory and Anellotech, a U.S.-based sustainable technology company that uses non-food biomass. Suntory didn’t provide details on how quickly it plans to mass-produce the plant-based bottles, but it says the development is critical to realize its goal of 100 percent sustainable bottles by 2030. 

“We’re delighted with this achievement, as it brings us one step closer to delivering this sustainable PET bottle to the hands of our consumers,” said Tsunehiko Yokoi, executive officer of Suntory Monozukuri Expert Ltd, in a statement. The bottle is made from two plant-based raw materials, terephthalic acid (PTA) and mono ethylene glycol (MEG). “The significance of this technology is that the PTA is produced from non-food biomass to avoid competition with the food chain, while MEG is also derived from non-food grade feedstock," Yokoi said. 

Advancing plant-based bottle technology

Annellotech’s Bio-TCat process uses pine wood and agricultural residues and is less expensive than bio-based processes that use sugar as a feedstock. Thus, it uses economical, renewable and readily available inputs. Annellotech uses a one-step thermal catalytic process, going directly from biomass to aromatics, which is chemically identical to petroleum-based counterparts. However, this approach significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to petroleum-based PET bottles and uses energy from the biomass feedstock itself. 

How does the prototype compare to other bio-plastics?

Currently, bio-based plastics account for about 1 percent of the total plastics produced each year. Although bioplastics seem like an ideal solution to some of the environmental issues that plague the packaging industry, this hasn’t been the case historically. Existing bio-based plastics need to be recycled separately, which is neither practical nor economical. Also, many of them do not use sustainable feedstocks and rely on food products like corn, sugar cane or sugar beets.

However, the Suntory prototype is an exception to the recyclability issue because it is chemically identical to petroleum-based PET, and the two can be recycled together. In the United States, Maine and Oregon recently passed extended producer responsibility laws for packaging to encourage companies to minimize packaging and make it more readily recyclable. If this movement gains speed, it could incentivize producers to use more recyclable packaging or else foot the bill. 

But, the new 100 percent plant-based bottle from Suntory wouldn’t tackle the issue of ocean plastic waste because PET bottles are not biodegradable. Sadly, an estimated 21 billion to 34 billion PET bottles end up in the oceans each year, according to Oceana. Consumer concern about ocean plastic pollution has skyrocketed in recent years and now rivals concern for climate change. Although the plant-based bottle addresses greenhouse gas emissions and recyclability, Suntory still needs a plan for preventing pollution. 

In addition, there has been an increasing push to hold producers responsible for the plastic pollution associated with their products, so brands not addressing this issue could be a liability in the eyes of consumers. For example, Break Free From Plastic’s Global Brand Audit Report examines which companies are manufacturing the packaging that ends up in the oceans. (For its part, Suntory didn’t make the top 10 list of the most polluting companies.) Greenpeace has also criticized Coca-Cola for not addressing ocean plastic pollution and being slow to adopt reusable bottles, even on the heels of an announcement that it will use 50 percent recycled materials in its single-use bottles by 2030. 

Progress on Suntory’s sustainability targets

Suntory was founded in 1899 and produces numerous alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages including Japanese whiskies Yamazaki, Hibiki and Hakushu, American spirits Jim Beam and Maker's Mark, and consumer beverages like teas and soft drinks. Its annual revenues in 2020 were $20.4 billion, and it serves the Asian, American, European, Oceania and African markets. 

The company has set several strong sustainability targets. It aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its entire value chain by 2050, which will involve using energy efficiency renewable energy solutions and working with supply chain stakeholders. It also plans to cut water consumption in half at its worldwide plants by 2050 and preserve water resources and ecosystems.

“Suntory has been entrenched in the work to create sustainable packaging solutions since 1997. This plant-based bottle prototype honors our historic dedication while shining a light, not only on our path to achieving our 2030 fully sustainable PET bottle goal, but also towards our ambition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain by 2050,” said Tomomi Fukumoto, COO of sustainability management at Suntory Holdings, in a statement.

Images courtesy of Suntory

Whether you're wishing your loved ones good tidings in person or from afar, we've got you covered with our sustainable holiday gift guide. From zero-waste options to gifts that give back, check off your list with these choices that are big on cheer but light on impact. 

For the most sustainable holiday gift, start by shopping local and buying used 

As we say each year, it's hard to find a more sustainable holiday gift than something that already exists and might otherwise go to waste. Fortunately for waste-free shoppers around the world, a host of top brands are diving into re-commerce and making it easier than ever to shop secondhand without sacrificing style. Check out REI and Patagonia for outdoor gear or brands like The North Face and Eileen Fisher for clothing and outerwear worthy of a second life. Check out more of our favorite re-commerce shops here. 

If you can't buy used, buy local. Most small businesses are still struggling amidst the pandemic, and your support can help them stick around. Even if you're still avoiding in-person shopping, sources like Google Maps and Yelp make it a breeze to find nearby mom-and-pops with online shopping options. To support Black-owned businesses, which have been particularly hard hit, directories like We Buy Black, Official Black Wall Street and EatOkra can help guide your way. And don't forget restaurants! Purchasing gift certificates can help your favorite eateries and bars weather the storm and remain part of your community. 

U.S. National Parks wall calendar from Parks Project

Gift the nature-lovers and art aficionados on your list with this practical and sustainable holiday gift that gives back. Sales of this eye-catching calendar, made from certified sustainable paper and featuring art from Wyatt Hersey of Chico, California, go to support the National Parks Conservation Association. Parks Project also sells a bunch of other cool sustainable holiday gift options like puzzles, scented candles and outdoor gear featuring the work of up-and-coming artists and benefiting various organizations that work to protect public lands. 

Price: $25

Handcrafted charging dock from Oakywood 

These smart charging docks for iPhones, Apple watches and Android devices are handmade from responsibly sourced wood, and this Polish brand plants a tree for every purchase in partnership with One Tree Planted. It also sells handcrafted laptop sleeves, cases for phones and AirPods, and sleek work-from-home desks that are sure to make your favorite techie smile. 

Price: Starting at $49

Recycled and renewable cutting board from Material Kitchen

Boost up your favorite foodie's sustainability chops with this cult favorite cutting board from Material Kitchen. With a modern minimal design made from recycled plastic and renewable sugarcane, the reBoard became a fast social media favorite — and it's easy to see why.

New York City-based Material regularly gives back to hunger relief organizations, and this year 50 percent of the profits from two reBoard colors (a peachy nude called To Pó-Po with Love and a rich green called Reimagine Justice) will support two awesome local organizations: Heart of Dinner, a nonprofit meal delivery service for East Asian elders, and Drive Change, which trains formerly incarcerated young people for jobs in the food and hospitality industry.  

Price: $35

Sustainable scents from Ojas & Woo

Brooklyn-based Ojas & Woo is an eco-friendly, vegan, and zero-waste scent shop that collaborates with artists and artisans from across the U.S. The brand's small-batch scented candles feature wood wicks, coconut apricot wax, and "nice, natural smells," says our writer who gave them a try in her home this year. The best part is: When the candle is used up, your favorite luxury-lover can send the glass jar back to be refilled at a steep discount compared to the original sticker price. 

Price: Starts at $33

Ocean plastic backpack from GOT BAG

This German brand bases its supply chain around a network of around 2,000 fishermen and women in Java, Indonesia, who often get plastic caught in their fishing nets. GOT BAG uses 3.3 to 9.9 pounds of this plastic "bycatch" to produce each of its stylish and functional carry-alls, which range from laptop sleeves up to roll-top travel backpacks. I've been testing out the $99 daypack (pictured above) for the past year, and with a seamless transition from backpack to briefcase and band that easily slips over the handle of rollaway luggage, it's perfect for commuting and traveling alike. 

Price: Starts at $49

Reusable sheet mask from the Honest Company

It can be tempting to gift your favorite skincare addict with the latest viral product you saw on social media, but let's be real: Chances are you don't know enough about another person's skin to choose what's best, and if it doesn't work for them, your well-intentioned gift may be destined for the garbage.

Instead of adding to the potential waste stream, consider a clever way to cut it down to size, like this reusable silicone sheet mask from the Honest Company. The mask works to lock in any essence, serum, cream or oil, and it can be washed and reused after each use for an effective nightly treatment without the waste. 

Price: $15

A cookbook that benefits struggling restaurants

This digital-only cookbook from Penguin Random House includes never-before-seen recipes from celebrity chefs like Ina Garten and Bobby Flay, and all proceeds go to support the Restaurant Workers' COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, which provides direct crisis relief to restaurant workers, supports nonprofits serving restaurant workers in crisis, and gives out interest-free loans to help restaurants get back up and running. 

Price: $6

Universally flattering nail polish from J. Hannah

This nude nail color with a cause is a good look for any beauty-lovers on your list. All profits from this universally flattering shade from sustainable startup brand J. Hannah are donated to an evolving roster of human rights organizations. This season's recipient is Jane's Due Process, which helps young people in Texas access abortions and birth control. 

Price $19

Nature-inspired blanket from Sackcloth & Ashes

Entrepreneur Bob Dalton founded Sackcloth & Ashes after his mother found herself homeless in 2013. The brand donates one blanket to a homeless shelter for each one sold, and it's on a mission to "blanket the United States" by donating 1 million blankets by its 10-year anniversary in 2024. 

This throw is one of five new designs made in collaboration with National Geographic and inspired by the diverse topography of planet Earth. Like all blankets from the brand, it's made from recycled fibers by workers earning fair wages, and as an added bonus a portion of the proceeds from this collection go to support the nonprofit National Geographic Society. 

Price: $130

Minimal necklace from Purpose Jewelry

This lovely drop necklace is designed to train young women who have escaped human trafficking with introductory jewelry-making skills, and all proceeds go to benefit the brand's nonprofit, International Sanctuary, which provides women artisans with fair wages, education and  healthcare as they look to rebuild their lives. For other styles to choose from, check out the One Day of Hope line, which is made up entirely of "training pieces" made by women who have recently arrived at one of the nonprofit's sanctuaries. 

Price: $26

Assorted soap set from Hand in Hand

Friends don't let friends have dry, cracked COVID hands. If someone on your list is going through it, reach for this gentle soap bar set from Hand in Hand, which is free of palm oil and made with fair trade, organic and vegan ingredients. The brand provides soap and clean water to children in need with every purchase, benefiting communities in over 20 countries to date. (Also available in fragrance-free.) 

Price: $30

Tasty gift packages from Homeboy Industries

If food is your go-to gift, consider swapping out your standbys for a gift package from one of 3p's favorite socially conscious brands. Operating under the motto "jobs not jails," Homeboy Industries offers employment, education, and other services to former gang members after they are released from prison. Having served well over 100,000 people in its home city of Los Angeles since 1986, it now powers the Global Homeboy Network of more than 400 organizations committed to giving formerly incarcerated people a second chance.  

Homeboy's selection of gift packages include coffee, snacks, preserves and baked goods, and all proceeds support its re-entry programs. 

Price: Starting at $35

Sweet treats from Greyston Bakery 

Greyson Bakery is another perennial favorite among the TriplePundit team. The brand's brownies are tasty enough to make an appearance in Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors like Half Baked, and the social enterprise is also a trailblazer for open hiring. Having built its team without interviews, job applications or background checks, Greyston is now primarily staffed by people with criminal justice histories, as well as those experiencing homelessness, substance abuse issues or who, for whatever reason, have trouble finding steady work.

From classics like brownies and blondies to creative flavors like snickerdoodle and cinnamon roll, these socially conscious treats are sure to please any sweet tooth on your list. (And yes, they have vegan options!) 

Price: Starting at $25

Image credit: asife/Adobe Stock and Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash