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A growing number of U.S. state legislatures are responding to labor shortages by relaxing the laws around child labor. That can be a relief for employers in job markets where immigration crackdowns and other factors have squeezed the pool of adult labor. Before hiring a child, though, businesses should take a close look at both the ethical and legal landscapes.

Education and child labor

Earning money with an after-school or summer job is a critical rite of passage for many children in the U.S. After-school and summer jobs can foster responsibility, teamwork, creativity, communication, independence, financial management and other life skills, and they often serve as a stepping stone to opportunities after high school.

However, students need to finish their K-12 education in order to advance in life, whether that means going on to a job, a trade school or an advanced degree. Work doesn’t necessarily impinge on that priority, but it easily can, especially for children who are already vulnerable due to their socioeconomic position or immigration status. 

Exploitive child labor is a matter of national policy that can ripple throughout supply chains here in the U.S. as well as overseas. It concerns all businesses, whether or not they employ school-age workers. 

Exploitive child labor also feeds into structural injustice. It closes the door on accumulating generational wealth and robs the national economy of potential talent, watering down the next generation of entrepreneurs, managers, professionals, researchers, academics and other education-dependent positions. Skilled trades can also lose potential workers who suffer injury or health impacts while still in school.

Child labor and federal law

Federal child labor laws come under the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As the U.S. Department of Labor explains, the FLSA is not intended to prevent work altogether. It is intended to prevent injury and loss of educational opportunity.

The FLSA generally prohibits employing children under the age of 14, but there are many exceptions. Also with exceptions, the law limits the hours minors under age 16 can work, and it sets specific standards for teenagers within certain jobs. Jobs classified as hazardous, such as operating power equipment, are generally off limits altogether for those under age 18.

Employers can find general guidance on federal child labor laws from the U.S. Department of Labor, which also provides overviews and updates on specific jobs. A link to state laws is included on the agency’s YouthRules! website for students, parents and employers.

The bad old days of child labor are still here

Children and laborers of all ages worked under horrific conditions in the U.S. before the FSLA was enacted, as recounted by the small business resource website WorkforceHub, a project of the human resources firm Swipeclock.

“In the cotton mills, children were often employed overnight for shifts of 12 hours a day. Cold water was thrown in their faces to keep them awake at night and accidents were common on the job,” the company notes.

Hazards can still occur today when children are employed illegally. Recent reports of children ages 13 to 17 working overnight shifts at a meatpacking plant have raised new concerns over enforcement of both state and federal child labor laws. Similar concerns have been raised over indications that unaccompanied immigrant minors are vulnerable to exploitation.

In February, the Labor Department issued a report that advocated for stiffer penalties. The agency cited a 69 percent increase in illegal child employment over the past five years.

“The maximum civil monetary penalty under current law for a child labor violation is $15,138 per child. That’s not high enough to be a deterrent for major profitable companies,” the Labor Department concluded.

In another study published in March, Jennifer Sherer and Nina Mast of the Economic Policy Institute also made the case for stronger laws. They took note of a decline in youth workforce participation over the past 20 years, indicating that more young people are continuing their education “in order to increase their long-term employability and earnings.”

“Putting off work in order to obtain more skills and education is a positive trend — for both individuals and the economy — not one that should be slowed or reversed,” Sherer and Mast argued.

States are responding to illegal child labor, but not in a good way

Despite evidence that illegal child labor is on the rise, almost a dozen states have passed legislation or introduced bills that loosen the laws, making enforcement all the more difficult.

Some of the new laws appear to be consistent with the FSLA health and safety standards. For example, New Jersey recently extended the permissible hours for teens to work during vacations and other non-school days, as reported by Ariana Figueroa of the nonprofit news organization New Jersey Monitor. The New Jersey law also lowered the age for parental consent to obtain a teen work permit. However, both teens and their employers must still register with the state’s Department of Labor. A new online “working papers” portal could help support enforcement and prevent exploitation, though that remains to be seen.

In other states, the situation is more concerning. Figueroa takes note of a new bill in Ohio that would enable employers to keep teens under age 18 on the job until 9 p.m. on school nights, up from 7 p.m. A similar bill in Missouri would raise the school-night work limit from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for 16- and 17-year-olds.

In Iowa, the legislature is considering a bill to regarding the employment of children as young as 14 in roofing, mining and other dangerous occupations. Industry advocates promote such work as training programs, but critics point out that training programs can be just as dangerous.

"A kid can still lose an arm in a work-based learning program," Charlie Wishman, president of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, told the Des Moines Register.

What businesses can do

In one indication that illegal child labor is nearing a crisis, on March 24 the U.S. departments of Labor and Health and Human Services announced a new Memorandum of Understanding that formalizes their joint efforts to enforce FSLA standards.

The new MOU “represents unprecedented steps to maximize collaboration between the two agencies to prevent and address illegal child labor,” according to the Health and Human Services Department.

That is a step in the right direction. However, business leaders cannot drop the problem of illegal child labor in the hands of federal agencies at time when states are relaxing their laws. 

Business leaders who are considering teen job applicants need to refresh their knowledge of state child labor laws. They also need to be aware of new state legislation that runs counter to the protective aims of FSLA standards.

Above all, business leaders need to help reform exploitive age-based wage systems. “At the state level, lawmakers should eliminate subminimum wages for youth and raise the minimum wage, eliminate the two-tiered system that fails to protect children from hazardous or excessive work in agriculture, strengthen labor standards enforcement, and empower young people to build and strengthen unions,” Sherer and Mast recommended in their report for EPI.

That may be a bitter pill for employers to swallow in terms of direct labor costs, but it is one that business leaders who profess to care about education and child welfare will have to take. That is, if they truly care about these things.

Pride Month is meant to be a joyful celebration of the LGBTQ community and a rallying cry for justice and inclusion. But this year's celebrations are dampened by a disturbing rise in anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric across the United States. Considering a third of our lives are spent at work, employers have a significant role to play in creating safe and inclusive spaces for people in the community who feel increasingly under attack. 

The explosion of anti-LGBTQ legislation runs counter to public opinion 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is tracking 491 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation making their way through statehouses across the country. The scope of these bills include weakening anti-discrimination laws, censoring discussion of LGBTQ issues and history in schools, restricting gender-affirming care for transgender people, and banning LGBTQ gatherings like drag shows.

As state lawmakers look to push this type of discriminatory legislation through, many have adopted increasingly extreme anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. Groups of their fans and followers have done the same, in person and online, including a coordinated campaign against brands promoting inclusion during Pride Month. 

The surge in discriminatory legislation and rhetoric could lead people to believe the public's attitudes have shifted when it comes to welcoming and including people in the community. But data indicates that's far from true.

Recent polling from GLAAD and the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that support for equal rights is increasing, not decreasing. In the GLAAD survey, 91 percent of non-LGBTQ Americans agreed that LGBTQ people "should have the freedom to live their life and not be discriminated against," and 84 percent support equal rights for the community. Similarly, 8 in 10 respondents to the PRRI survey are in favor of laws that shield people in the community from discrimination. 

The discriminatory climate is taking a toll on LGBTQ people at work 

A study released last week by Indeed sheds light on how discriminatory policies and rhetoric are affecting LGBTQ people in the workplace. The majority of LGBTQ respondents (60 percent) report experiencing discrimination at work, ranging from being passed over for promotions and raises to outright harassment and violence. More than a quarter of LGBTQ people, including over 30 percent of trans people, say they are not out at work. 

"This climate of fear and intimidation comes on the heels of hard-earned fights for employers to do better by LGTBQ+ communities," journalist S. Mitra Kalita, CEO of URL Media, wrote on Charter this week. "That’s all at risk as literally hundreds of bills seek to obliterate the existence of our colleagues."

She spoke with three LGBTQ and workplace experts about what brands can do to better support their employees. The results are insightful and well worth a read in full. “Work continues to be a major source of stress for LGBTQ+ professionals, especially with rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation which has a direct impact on access to economic opportunity,” Andrew McCaskill, who works on LinkedIn’s communications team and authors The Black Guy in Marketing newsletter, told Kalita. 

So, what are other leaders saying about what brands can do to support employees better? 

How brands can step up to better support LGBTQ employees

Offer LGBTQ-specific benefits. Over half of LGBTQ employees want to see benefits that are specific to their community, but less than a quarter report having any in their current workplace, according to Indeed's survey. Benefits employees are seeking include health insurance that covers LGBTQ-friendly providers and gender-affirming care, benefits that extend to domestic partners rather than solely spouses, mental health benefits, and paid caregiver leave. 

In many cases, these are benefits employers already offer, but they haven't modified them to be inclusive of all their employees. In its guidance for LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) — which represents 325,000 HR professionals across 165 countries — recommends employers revisit their policies and practices to ensure they are equally available to all employees. 

Check your culture. Creating inclusive benefits packages and corporate policies is an important baseline, but "having a written policy isn't enough," SHRM's guide reminds employers. "Even if an employee is in a workplace with internal policies that protect LGBTQ+ workers, a company's culture may inhibit employees from bringing their whole selves to work." 

LGBTQ-specific diversity training — another benefit highlighted by employees in Indeed's survey — is a solid first step for educating your teams about how to avoid, spot, and stamp out microaggressions and discrimination against their colleagues. So is setting clear, values-based expectations for employees, such as respecting others. Even dress codes can set the tone for how people show up at work. "Make sure they are neutral without gender stereotypes," SHRM recommends. "General Motors gained national attention when CEO Mary Barra replaced a 10-page dress code with two words: Dress appropriately."

Lift up diverse leaders. “If employees are hearing from the same types of individuals, they’re seeing that a clear mark of success [to their employer] isn’t someone who looks or sounds like them," Sabrina Kent of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce told the Story Exchange.

When recruiting, make it clear that your company is an equal opportunity employer, and ensure you interview and consider diverse candidates rather than quickly deciding on someone who looks and lives like you. Do the same when choosing who will head up projects, present during meetings and lead teams. The more you lift up leaders from all backgrounds, including LGBTQ people and those from other historically marginalized communities, the more your employees get the message that you want every one of them to succeed. 

Use your marketing to raise awareness. Your company's voice matters in the fight for inclusion. In its recommendations for corporate allies, GLAAD calls on companies to use their marketing materials and social media to speak out against discriminatory legislation and support "Pride 365," running inclusive campaigns throughout the year rather than solely during Pride Month. Even better, engage LGBTQ-owned media companies to help you get the message out. 

Flex your political muscles. "Extend support to the political fight," GLAAD challenges business leaders. "True corporate allies do not donate to candidates or elected officials who introduce, vote yes, or otherwise support  anti-LGBTQ legislation or block passage of pro-LGBTQ legislation like the Equality Act." 

Beyond revisiting your political donations, GLAAD called out Apple as an example of how companies can step into the role of political ally. "Amidst an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation in 2022, Apple utilized multiple offices to take action. Apple lobbied against these harmful bills, filled court briefs in cases involving LGBTQ people, and encouraged other large companies to take public stands against this legislation," GLAAD observed. 

The bottom line

LGBTQ employees work day in and day out to make their companies successful, and with discrimination on the rise, employers have a responsibility to them.

Failing to live up to that responsibility tells employees — whether they're part of the community or not — that your company ignores or tacitly approves of an increasingly hostile climate that threatens people's well-being. Decision-makers at any company that claims to lead with values and purpose certainly wouldn't want to send that message. And with leaders creating clear blueprints for inclusion, there's really no excuse for companies not to do better. 

Image credit: Jose Pablo Garcia/Unsplash

Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are core to the energy transition as the U.S. looks to source 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and move to a net-zero carbon economy by 2050. The problem is, when compared with other available energy sources — including fossil fuels — wind and solar installations take up the most space.

A new report from the Nature Conservancy looks to address the problem with strategies and recommendations for energy planners that maximize the advantages of clean, renewable energy while minimizing land use. 

"Place-based" planning for renewable energy

Nels Johnson, senior practice advisor for renewable energy deployment at the conservancy, contrasts America's energy planning process with the elaborate planning system it uses for transportation projects. For example, many organizations, government agencies, and citizen groups collaborate on plans for roads, streets, and even bike paths that must meet certain criteria in order to get funding from the Federal Highway Administration.

“We don’t have anything like that in the United States for energy,” Johnson told TriplePundit. “We’re not suggesting it should be exactly like that, but it just shows how much planning goes into transportation compared to energy right now.”

Place-based planning in which all stakeholders play a role is necessary for decarbonization, limiting environmental and social impacts, and minimizing cost, according to the conservancy’s “Power of Place" report. Yet regional differences in resources, demographics, and land use and values make a one-size-fits-all approach impossible. 

The reasons for taking a regional approach are obvious, Johnson said. For example, offshore wind farms like the ones built in the Northeast won’t work on the plains of Nebraska or Kansas — although wind is a significant source of clean energy in those areas. Likewise, the options for shifting to solar energy in the Great Plains are more limited than they are in southern U.S. states.

Clean power's land problem 

Reaching a net-zero carbon economy by 2050 will require the nation to bring between 3,100 and 3,500 gigawatts of wind and solar generation capacity online, according to the report. Developing that much wind and solar infrastructure the way it’s typically done now would require more land than the state of Texas. 

“When we have that much area needed to accommodate the project sizes for wind projects, for solar projects, for new transmission lines, we’re bound to have potential impacts to things that we care about,” Johnson told 3p. “Another challenge is that where we can put stuff isn’t totally a free choice. We're constrained by where transmission is [and] where utility substations are. And those determine where we can put that wind [and] that solar unless we build new transmission lines, which has been very difficult to do.”

On top of that, under current practices there is little or no spatial planning to balance new clean energy infrastructure with other local needs like housing, agriculture, industry and ecosystem health, Johnson said. The Nature Conservancy has an online tool called Site Renewables Right to help developers or energy buyers know what’s in every single acre in the U.S. in terms of the potential environmental impact, which can help with balancing the push for more renewables with local land needs. 

Agrivoltaics: A major tool for using less land while installing more solar 

One option for reducing the impact of clean energy development is the expanded use of agrivoltaics, a practice that integrates solar energy generation and agriculture on the same plot of land. 

“Agrivoltaics has become quite a buzzword recently, and that’s a good thing,” said Nathan Cummins, Great Plains Division renewable energy programs director at the Nature Conservancy. “I think everyone’s starting to realize how much space we are going to need for this transition and the opportunity that can happen when we think about creative ways to deploy renewable energy that’s not just focused on getting clean energy, but focused on getting the best outcomes for communities, for conservation and for the environment.”

Agrivoltaics has been in use for some time now and is most commonly seen across the central U.S., Cummins said. “There’s always been a strong partnership between the agricultural sector and the renewable energy sector,” he told us. 

Though data indicates the practice is compatible with most fruit and vegetable production, there are still knowledge gaps, Johnson said. 

“What’s not known is how compatible agrovoltaics could be with large-scale grazing, for example, or with wheat or other crops that, at least theoretically and in research context, looks like it could really work,” he explained. “Once we unlock some of that information and get some practical experience, that could really show greater potential than our study showed in ‘Power of Place.’”

Even so, evidence shows significant opportunities for agrivoltaics in land sharing, making solar panels more efficient, and reducing the amount of water some crops use, Cummins said.

The bottom line

In its report, the conservancy does not shy away from saying there will be some increased costs for creating clean energy infrastructure, Johnson said. But greater use of agrivoltaics and other creative systems could spark innovation and provide incentives that help offset additional costs.

Large-scale corporate buyers of clean energy are helping to spur the development of the energy market, Cummins said. And they have an opportunity to be at the forefront of thinking about renewables differently.

“The Clean Energy Buyers Association estimates that about 42 percent of all large-scale renewable energy projects in the United States have been developed due to corporate demand [since 2014],” Cummins said. “These corporate buyers are your Googles, your Amazons, even new upstart companies like Rivian, et cetera, that are working to buy clean energy at a big scale. It's a way for a company to meet their broad ESG [environmental, social and governance] goals, beyond just the E.”

Image credit: Vincent Delsuc/Pexels

Americans increasingly report a desire to change in order to do better by the planet and the climate. But that should mean more than swapping traditional products for environmentally-friendly alternatives. It’s also a matter of changing our core relationship with stuff. In doing so, we can drastically reduce our carbon footprint and our contribution to landfills.

Unfortunately, many of us are under the mistaken impression that we’re doing enough to reduce waste as long as we recycle and donate our unwanted items. But placing our trash in recycling bins — or “wish-cycling” — and donating our used stuff to a thrift store doesn’t necessarily mean it is being saved from the landfill. Just as a sizeable percentage of what gets put in the recycling bin can’t or won’t be recycled, donated items may also end up in the trash, depending on what is donated and where.

While it may feel good to drop a load off at the local thrift store, this can amount to nothing more than absolving ourselves of responsibility for the waste we have generated, effectively making it someone else’s problem. Fortunately, there is plenty we can do to limit what will be trashed or shipped overseas.

Local thrift store owners struggle to cope with an overabundance of stuff

The vast majority of clothing that is donated to a charity thrift store never makes it into someone else’s closet, with estimates putting the rate of resale for clothing donations in North America at around 20 percent. Items that can’t be resold in the U.S. and Canada are often repurposed or shipped overseas — meaning they're likely to become rags or compete with traditional textile-makers in other countries. Shipping and repurposing these items is no doubt carbon intensive. And that’s on top of the emissions and resources that were used to produce them in the first place.

But clothing isn’t the only thing that is donated en masse to charity thrift shops, and statistics on what becomes of all of the other stuff when it can’t be sold are harder to pin down. My brother, Paul, salvages items from an independent charity thrift store dumpster in Oregon and finds a variety of things that still have plenty of use left in them. “I do see a lot of kitchen supplies — you know, plates, cups. I see a lot of artwork, like paintings that go on the wall. A lot of toys, like kids’ toys. So many kids’ toys!” he told me in an interview for TriplePundit.

He went on to list a slew of goods he has encountered: Christmas decorations, collectibles, food processors, Soda Streams, water purifiers and other kitchen gadgets, as well as electronics like tablets and printers. 

“I find TVs in there. Not super often, but those have — usually by the time I get to them — the screens are broken on them. So I don't know if they were no good and they just weren't able to sell them or if they were already broken,” he mentioned, adding that the cords on some items such as food processors appear to have been purposefully cut so that they cannot be salvaged. 

Clothing, on the other hand, makes up a tiny percentage of what he reports finding. “The clothing they do throw away, I think it’s because people are bringing it in dirty.”

From thrift store to side hustle

While Paul can’t say for sure what percentage of excess stuff in the thrift store dumpster is actually still usable, he estimates it's about 30 to 40 percent. And it’s way more than he can salvage on his own.

“I go in for two things. No. 1, if it's money valuable to try and sell it. No. 2, if it's something I can use for the house, or I think one of my friends can use it," he said. "Often I've gone to the dumpster and gotten everything I want out of it and then a friend, you know, told me later they went and they got a bunch of stuff from it. ... It's all relative. It's like, you know, I didn't want that stuff, but it's still good stuff ... so other people end up taking it.”

How to be part of the solution 

The old adage "one person’s trash is another’s treasure" certainly rings true here. But it also begs the question: How can we take more responsibility for our stuff and ensure it doesn’t go from the donation bin to a dumpster?

Buy less. The first logical step is to stop and think before we buy. There's no hard data on how many tossed donations are the result of consumers upgrading to a newer version or changing out the aesthetic of their kitchen and home decor, but it is one possible explanation. And it’s well past time that we switch our mentality from buying whatever we want to focusing on what we actually need instead.

Kitchen gadgets are a prime example of this. Asking oneself a few key questions before making a purchase could help keep those small appliances from flooding thrift shops faster than they can be sold. Will we use it regularly, or is it just a novelty? How likely are we to keep it until it wears out? Do we already have something that serves the same purpose? These same questions can be applied to most of the stuff we buy.

Choose purpose over aesthetic. Likewise, before switching out dish sets or glassware, it’s a good idea to question our motivation. What’s wrong with what we already have? If it still serves its purpose, why replace it? Do we really need a new color scheme or design? Instead of replacing a set when a couple of items get broken or lost, consider buying replacements from a thrift store. After all, there is no shame in mismatched plates, utensils or anything else. 

This same idea can be applied to any number of household items — from towels to bedding and so much more. Consider that the desire to have the latest aesthetically pleasing and perfectly matched sets is the result of advertising. It doesn’t actually enhance our quality of life. Additionally, when it comes to household items, decor and stuff in general, the best bet is to embrace minimalism.

Reconsider that gift. Oftentimes people will give gifts just to give them — leaving the recipient to wonder what they will do with it in the long run. Before giving a gift, ask: Is this something that will add value to their lives? It is thoughtful and useful? Or do they already own something similar? If a gift is likely to just add clutter or be disposed of, consider giving an experience instead.

Rehome unwanted items. The Washington Post’s Allyson Chiu suggests downgrading appropriate clothing to sleepwear or swapping unwanted clothes with friends instead of donating them. But the same concept can be applied to any number of items.

Paul agreed that a lot of the stuff that he sees thrown out could have been given directly to people in need. Consider contacting local churches and domestic violence shelters about donating to families that are getting back on their feet. Or list the item somewhere for cheap or free, such as Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor or Freecycle.

Check the shelves. Before donating, it’s a good idea to check the store’s shelves for an overabundance of similar items. Employees may also be able to say whether the donation is in demand or likely to sell. Don’t pass it on if it’s broken or missing pieces. And if it’s dirty, be sure to clean it first.

The bottom line: Changing how we see stuff

Finding a new home for unwanted items may take more effort than dropping them in a donation bin, but it’s one way to lessen the chances of more stuff ending up in a landfill. Even better, minimize shopping and focus on needs instead of wants. And while none of us are perfect, we can do our best to eliminate waste from unnecessary purchases. 

Image credits: Sikander/Wikimedia Commons and the author

Negotiators worked around the clock this week to reach procedural agreements and content alignment for a new Global Plastics Treaty. While world leaders hammered out the details at the second session of the U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) to end plastic pollution, key observers, advocacy groups, businesses, and other stakeholders also gathered to push their governments to address the plastics waste crisis. 

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), for example, was a key player at INC-2 — hosting conversations between government ministers, senior business executives, scientific associations and youth organizations on the future of the plastics treaty. Erin Simon, WWF’s VP for plastic waste and business, is on the ground in Paris working to advise and coordinate various stakeholder groups involved in INC-2.

“Humanity started out thinking that plastic could solve for so many problems, so we went ahead and proliferated its uses without addressing what would happen when we were done with it. We are now depending on plastic excessively, and we are unable to manage it," Simon said. “The world has come to see that the plastic crisis is an issue we cannot address on our own and we have to come together to tackle it. That’s where the global treaty comes in. It is a mechanism that represents global alignment and our shared path forward. No global crises have been tackled at scale without a global agreement.”  

The Global Plastics Treaty is operating in uncharted territory. While global treaties like this typically take 10 years or more to come into force, U.N. member states have agreed to implement the Global Plastics Treaty in just three years. The Paris negotiations that wrap today are the second of five meetings, all scheduled to be held before the end of 2024.

The goal of INC-2 was to finalize procedural matters and find areas of high-level alignment in setting global rules and measures to address what advocates like WWF refer to as "high-risk plastics." These are defined as plastics that are highly likely to end up as pollution and have greater impacts when they enter the environment. Examples range from plastic cutlery to plastic-based wet wipes and microplastics in personal care products. 

As talks wrap in Paris and continue on, Simon called for negotiators to step back and look at the full lifecycle of plastics, especially the ways it interconnects with other global crises like climate change and biodiversity loss. 

“If we focus only on plastic waste instead of the entire lifecycle of plastics, we miss out on the opportunity to further our progress in the climate and nature space," she said. "They feel like separate spaces, but they are not. It is all interconnected." 

For example, more than 99 percent of plastics are made from fossil fuels, she said, referencing research from the Center for International Environmental Law. "From the moment of extraction, they are emitting greenhouse gases and threatening the health of communities around the world," Simon said. "We need to think more broadly about how these crises intersect."

If demand for plastic continues as it has, emissions associated with plastic production could account for 15 percent of global emissions by 2050, according to 2019 research published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Climate Change. "That could mean plastic production threatens our ability to stay within 1.5 degrees of warming," Simon said.

Stakeholders at every stage of the plastics lifecycle — from national governments to small towns, from businesses to consumers and advocates — are a key piece of the system, she argued. And all stakeholders must be heard and involved with treaty drafting and implementation. 

Some businesses have expressed opposition to the Global Plastics Treaty. However, over 100 large companies — including Henkel, Mars, 3M, Target, Unilever and Walmart — have joined a coalition in support.

“These are companies being held responsible for this crisis, but they are unable to get the policy they need to succeed," Simon said. "They answer to many different regulatory frameworks that are completely disaggregated, so it is imperative to them that we have a good treaty."

Against this backdrop, these leading companies' "ambitions match high-ambition governments," she argued — referencing the High Ambition Coalition of over 50 governments pushing for more stringent bans and regulations on plastics, led by Norway and Rwanda and including the European Union. 

"In order to successfully move toward a circular economy, the companies have asked for standards and policies, and they want to invest in solutions," Simon said. "Some companies have asked to pay into extended producer responsibility. They have changed the game for negotiations. They are showcasing to the member states that they are willing partners at the highest level of ambitions.” 

The third round of negotiations, INC-3, is scheduled for November 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Image credit: Naja Bertolt Jensen/Unsplash

From planetary warming to plastic waste, it's easy to get bogged down in all the bad news out there. But let's not forget that innovators around the world are on the case, doing largely unsung work on a daily basis to scale solutions with the potential to address these challenges head on. To bring a little cheer to your week, today we're rounding up some of the most eye-catching sustainability solutions to cross our desks this spring. 

A system that turns blue-green algae into a carbon sink

Blue-green algae blooms are bad news, but they're becoming more frequent with climate change. "Blue-green algae is the common name for cyanobacteria, a type of water-dwelling bacteria that has plant-like photosynthetic abilities," TriplePundit's Tina Casey reported last month. "An over-abundance or 'bloom' of cyanobacteria can wreck ecosystems  and harm other living things." 

But as we remember from grade school: If they use photosynthesis, that means they consume carbon dioxide, so it's no surprise that companies the world over are looking into the bacteria as a sustainability solution. One of those companies is Tel Aviv-based BlueGreen Water Technologies — which sells nontoxic algaecides that target cyanobacteria internationally. 

"Its patented, EPA-approved formula triggers a natural 'suicide' response in cyanobacteria, clearing the way for beneficial algae and other aquatic species to take over," Casey reported. "The treatment effectively converts a body of water into a carbon sink, with the dead cyanobacteria locked into sediment for potentially millions of years, according to BlueGreen. This carbon-sequestering feature could help offset the cost of remediating blue-green algae blooms, if stakeholders could claim carbon credits for the operation." Read the full story to learn more.

AI and crowdsourced science combine to preserve coral reefs

"Through a novel citizen-science project, time mindlessly wasted online can be put to use helping scientists understand, and even restore, the world's coral reefs," Ruscena Wiederholt of TriplePundit reported in April. 

The Calling in our Corals project combines the computing might of artificial intelligence with the ears of millions across the internet. Launched by Google with the help of marine biologists Steve Simpson and Mary Shodipo, the project invites any internet user to listen to 30-second audio clips of coral reefs from around the world. Healthy reefs are rife with vibrant sounds (who knew?), while those under threat are muted, so soundscape data can tell scientists quite a bit about the state of the world's reefs. Users identify "the sounds made by fish, shrimp and other underwater animals," and the data is used to train an AI model tasked with making predictions about reef sustainability, Wiederholt reported.

"Impressively, this tool may also help to restore reefs," she wrote. "Some animals, like fish larvae, corals and other invertebrates, spend their larval stage in the open ocean. The sounds of a healthy reef act like a beacon, encouraging juvenile animals to settle there. Consequently, playing the music of healthy reefs on underwater speakers may accelerate their regrowth and restoration." Read the full story to learn more.

A blockchain-powered system that tracks sustainability from field to fork

Merge Impact is looking toward blockchain — the digital ledger technology that enables cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin — to track agricultural ingredients through the supply chain. The Illinois-based startup bills its sustainability technology as the first of its kind to connect farmers, food manufacturers, and brands with data about the environmental impact of their decisions at every step from field to fork. 

"Major food manufacturing companies have made public commitments to regenerative sourcing worth trillions of dollars. But many of these commitments have been based upon dubious data, resulting in shaky and unsubstantiated sustainability action plans," L. Blaine Fulmer of TriplePundit reported last month. "Merge Impact’s use of third-party data collection and blockchain technology allows food companies to understand the impact of their supply chains and make reliable claims about their products. In turn, customers can rely upon these claims to make better choices about the products they support." Read the full story to learn more. 

A water-based alternative to PFAS

The group of chemicals known as PFAS are ubiquitous in modern life. These perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances are used in everything from food packaging and personal care products to non-stick cookware, touchscreens and textiles. Often called "forever chemicals" because they do not naturally degrade, PFAS have been found in soil and water nearly everywhere in the world, not to mention in human blood. 

Young entrepreneur David Zamarin started working to develop PFAS alternatives at only 15 years old. His team at the Massachusetts-based sustainability startup Impermea Materials thinks they've found a novel replacement for the class of chemicals that can naturally degrade and is not toxic to human or environmental health. 

"Instead of just switching out one type of PFAS for another, Impermea Materials has developed its own molecule — dubbed siloalkoxyurylsilane," Riya Anne Polcastro of TriplePundit reported last month. "Its water-based solutions can be used in place of PFAS in a variety of products — including packaging, apparel, upholstery, and technical textiles such as those worn by firefighters and military." Read the full story to learn more. 

A biomaterial process that converts seaweed from beaches into usable products

Sargassum seaweed blooms have been bumming out beach-goers around the world over recent years. The masses of dead seaweed wash up on shorelines and threaten marine ecosystems, and they're only getting worse as ocean temperatures warm. 

Boston-based bio-material processor Carbonwave is looking to collect 40,000 tons of sargassum seaweed from beach spots like Quintana Roo, Mexico, this year. "But it's not just about getting the rotting vegetation off of beaches. Once collected, the company is converting the brown algae into bio-stimulants and cosmetic emulsifiers while working to develop more fossil-fuel alternative products," 3p's Riya Anne Polcastro reported. Read the full story to learn more.

A social enterprise finding new uses for the world's most waste plastic

Indian social entrepreneur Anish Malpani is doing some pretty sweet stuff with recycled plastic — and he just so happens to be the little brother of one our writers, Abha Malpani Naismith. Ashaya, the social enterprise Anish runs in Pune, has developed a system to convert hard-to-recycle flexible plastic into durable material for new products. Virtually none of the flexible plastic used in snack bags, food wraps and electronics packaging is recycled worldwide. Ashaya pays a premium to self-employed refuse collectors for this junk plastic and uses 10 percent of its profits to send the collectors' children to school. 

Ashaya's team "chemo-mechanically extracts materials from this waste using a patent-pending technology and use those materials to create sunglasses, the company's first proof-of-concept product," Malpani Naismith reported. "Each pair of sunglasses is made of five chip packets." Read the full story to learn more.

An app that makes flood predictions visual to drive the point home

FloodVue is the Pokémon Go of flood data. The app leverages augmented reality, which blends a user's own viewpoint with a digital image. In the case of FloodVue, developed by the global consultancy WSP, users can see a four-dimensional rendering of predicted flood conditions at their location. But the data on FloodVue doesn't just look cool — it can strike a chord with policymakers and city planners as they consider how much to invest in resilient infrastructure. 

“To dictate back to the community where it's going to flood, how much rainfall is needed to flood, how to protect their assets — that's where we want the software to go and how it can help communities, public agencies, and governments overall,” Tyer Jones, water national business executive for WSP’s U.S. branch, told Michelle Erdenesanaa of TriplePundit. Read the full story to learn more. 

Image credit: Jill Wellington/Pixabay

We hear it time and time again: People aren't ready, willing or interested in changing their lifestyles for the sake of sustainability. They're too busy, too broke or too ambivalent to think about how their choices impact the world around them. And until they change their tune, there's nothing brands can do about it — except sell them more stuff. 

This prevailing narrative has been around for decades, but data continues to show that it isn't representative of how people really feel. The public is increasingly aware of the environmental and social challenges we face — from climate change to wealth inequality — and they want to be part of the solution. 

Over half of Americans say they’ve already made lifestyle changes like shopping secondhand, purchasing products in reusable or refillable packaging, and buying less overall in order to reduce their impact on people and the planet, according to a December survey conducted by TriplePundit and our parent company, 3BL Media, in partnership with the research technology firm Glow. 

Let's break down what U.S. consumers are really saying about sustainability, how it factors into their own lives, and how brands can respond differently than they have in the past. 

People are willing to change their behavior for the sake of sustainability 

Shopping secondhand. Purchasing products made from, or packaged in, recycled materials. Choosing items in reusable or refillable containers. Shopping in the grocery bulk aisle to avoid packaging altogether. Some would have us believe these lifestyle shifts are too expensive or too cumbersome for Americans. But more than 60 percent of respondents to our survey said they're already making these changes or intend to do so within the next six months. 

Of course the say/do gap — which refers to the difference between what people say in surveys and what they actually do in their daly lives — is always a factor. Even so, the interest in these lifestyle changes is significant and runs counter to preconceived notions that consumers don't really want — or aren't really ready — to change their lifestyles for sustainability reasons. 

People even expressed interest in behaviors that are commonplace in other countries but often dismissed as something that could "never work" in the U.S. For example, over half of respondents said they would be willing to take packaging like bottles back to a store for wash and refill.

Our findings support existing research on general readiness for behavior change: In another 2022 survey, for example, half of responding U.S. adults said they’re willing to accept 95 percent of the changes needed to avert the climate crisis and restore ecosystems. The survey also revealed the extent of climate anxiety among the public, with 1 out of 4 respondents worried they may have to give up long-term goals like starting a family. 

When it comes to packaging in particular, our findings indicate that 75 percent of U.S. consumers are willing to choose reusable alternatives — echoing 2022 polling from Trivium Packaging which found the same. The trade publication Packaging World recently declared reusable and refillable packaging to be a "global opportunity," with sales forecast to grow by 4.9 percent annually to $53.4 billion by 2027.

How brands can respond to shifting consumer preferences

Many advocates point to the calls for consumer behavior change as merely a delay tactic from large companies: If the narrative keeps people focused on their own behaviors — analyzing everything from cup preferences to clothing choice — they won't have energy left to push for a shift in corporate practices or government regulations.

In the past, this may have been true, with consumers and brands pitted against each other in a cyclical blame-game while the poor get poorer and global temperatures rise. But findings like these indicate we've reached a critical moment when ideologies can align, and brands can show up as partners for consumers looking to play a role in the future they want to see. 

Leveraging our nearly two decades of experience in communicating about sustainability, TriplePundit and 3BL Media's Consumer Insights and Sustainability Benchmark report includes key action items for businesses looking to respond to consumer sentiment in a positive way. 

"Understanding people’s uncertainties and anxieties about the future, and what they want to see from business, gives companies the opportunity to communicate and present themselves as part of the solution that consumers are looking for," the report reads. "The next piece of the puzzle is to figure out how businesses can tailor their communications to appeal to consumer interests and bring them on board their journey to a more sustainable world." 

In particular, we highlight how brands can adopt a more meaningful role of partner and educator — rather than simply another purveyor of goods and services. "Since consumers want to be part of the solution, help them do that by sharing actionable information," the report reads. "It may be as simple as telling them how to make your product last longer or how to lower their personal carbon footprint with a checklist on your website. You can celebrate your company’s successes by applauding theirs."

For more insight on how brands can — and should — respond to shifting consumer attitudes about sustainability, check out prior reporting on TriplePundit or download the report here. 

Image credit: Bluewater Sweden/Unsplash