From the early years of corporate action when “disclosure” was the mark of a climate leader, much has changed. Today, leaders are setting 1.5 degree aligned Science Based Targets, and many companies are committing to go even further by setting Net-0 and carbon negative goals. But achieving these goals will be impossible without supportive climate policies. That’s why it’s time for companies and their trade associations to get off the sidelines and advocate for strong policy. It’s also why several of the leading business-focused NGOs are aligned and collaborating to ensure that the climate leadership mantle is reserved for those companies who are using their voice and influence to secure supportive climate policy. Join this session to learn about the new bar for climate policy leadership called the “AAA Framework”, tools to make it easier for your teams to engage, EDF’s new Authenticity Meter, which assesses recent advocacy actions by companies and industry groups and rates them on how they obstruct or support progress, and engage in a robust dialogue about what you can expect in the coming years as workers and ratings and rankings organizations begin to account for your policy advocacy actions.

The profound, intersecting issues of climate change, social injustice, and health require a new approach to systemic problem solving that empowers individuals to manifest their potential. To achieve this goal, we need to design for new cultural conditions in our organizations and communities that create the platform for more people to contribute fully and in reciprocal relationship with others. This session will explore how when we bring our full selves forward and connect as whole people, we give rise to biodiverse and resilient societies that have the capacity to thrive in the face of change.

We spend so much time thinking about corporate sustainability and planetary sustainability. But what about human sustainability? How do we maintain the energy we need to pursue what matters most to us—especially when our life’s work is something as challenging as protecting the earth’s climate and natural resources? This interactive workshop will help you develop strategies to connect into your purpose, maintain your energy, and develop focus to continue the work that really matters.

Climate action and social justice are inextricably linked, incredibly complex, and at a global scale and scope. While an individual organization can and must make progress on its own, cross-sector collaboration is essential for transformative change and momentum towards a world that is sustainable, just and equitable. How can companies and NGOs effectively partner to move the needle across industries and sectors? What are the primary levers and drivers of substantive change? What do sustainability professionals need to know to contribute to meaningful change at this intersection? How must companies support local organizations and communities, and how can the sustainability function drive maximum impact in these partnerships? Join this session to hear from corporate and NGO leaders on how to drive meaningful change towards an equitable and just society that benefits both planet and people.

Visit our booth in the Forum for an overview of how EcoVadis provides a comprehensive solution for sustainable procurement success.

As more and more companies set ambitious climate targets, one form of offset is in particular demand. By purchasing nature-based offsets, companies can draw down carbon dioxide, regenerate natural ecosystems and bolster local economies. Demand for these offsets could outstrip supply, but a suite of technological and product innovations is rapidly growing the market for forest and soil credits. Come to this session to hear from the entrepreneurs behind these solutions and the offset procurement teams they're working with.

How can circular business models help companies decrease manufacturing and its environmental impact while increasing profit? From lighting fixtures and furniture to clothing and accessories, more companies are exploring models for providing products-as-a-service through such arrangements as rental or leasing, pay-per-use and subscriptions. By redefining ownership, can these models reduce the need for “new” in lieu of fewer, better and more durable products? Can they reduce waste and the environmental impacts associated with production by revisiting disposability and obsolescence? Will these new models hinder or ensure sustainable revenue streams? Join this session to tackle these questions and explore how selling less, might just translate to earning more. 

How are organizations leveraging sustainability as a lens for business growth and consumer engagement? ​This session will discuss the evolution and future of sustainability leadership roles within environmentally and socially conscious companies from architects of mitigation strategy to advocates for consumer interest and stewards of responsible natural resource management. Participants will be invited to share their experiences distinguishing their ESG strategies, lessons on the role of marketing as a driver of change, expanding definitions of successful impact, as well as insights on the role of the private industry in responsibly tackling shared global challenges.

Join GreenBiz 21 roundtables to connect with like-minded participants for interactive virtual discussions around a big question or hot topic. Select your topic of interest to join a group discussion hosted by experts. Bring your own challenges, questions and ideas to these interactive discussions. Cameras on!

The basis of good water stewardship is intuitive: responsible use today = equitable future availability. Companies can follow a number of paths to reach this ideal, but guideposts were established by the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) International Standard. This framework helps businesses move beyond their fence line to define the water-related context of their operations (from hydrologic balance to stakeholder sentimentality and beyond) and identify the appropriate areas for investment to address Shared Water Challenges and advance the Five Outcomes of AWS. It will help you avoid buying sunglasses when your stakeholders would have most valued a rain jacket. Join this conversation with two companies at the forefront of AWS certification in North America to discuss the benefits and lessons learned from applying the AWS Standard.

Join GreenBiz 21 roundtables to connect with like-minded participants for interactive virtual discussions around a big question or hot topic. Select your topic of interest to join a group discussion hosted by experts. Bring your own challenges, questions and ideas to these interactive discussions. Cameras on!

Gain clarity and focus on reaching your potential for impact with a one-on-one coaching session with ICF-certified coach, Shannon Houde.

Join this session for a preview experience of GreenBiz’s new "Leading the Sustainability Transformation" Professional Certificate Program. In this session, you'll engage in the first step of a 10 week simulation, in which participants build their competence, confidence, and credibility in leading sustainable business. This multi-stakeholder role-play will bring the multi-faceted challenges of sustainability to life and provide participants the opportunity to explore the considerations of a major capital expansion of a manufacturing company in a new site. You'll be cast into one of the key roles within the company, including operations, supply chain, marketing and sales, human resources, and environment, health and safety or into a stakeholder role in the community (non-profit and government), with the opportunity to integrate sustainability approaches and considerations across functions and sectors. This will be a highly interactive session, with breakout discussions and group conversation on key decisions, bringing sustainability concepts and skills to life and replicating the impacts of decision-making on a business’s triple bottom line. The model extends beyond the four walls of the fictional company to include its impact on environmental, social, and economic systems in which it exists.

How do circular packaging initiatives advance — or hinder — carbon reduction goals, and how should companies approach and align these strategies? Climate commitments and circular packaging goals can often reflect two pillars under one company's sustainability strategy, yet these initiatives are rarely aligned and sometimes at odds. Some circular strategies like reusable packaging or selecting  widely recyclable materials (like PET versus plastics films) can sometimes come with a higher upfront environmental cost despite life cycle emission reductions — though this calculus can be difficult to quantify. This session will explore  how companies have aligned their circular initiatives with GHG reduction goals, and approached these strategies holistically. We’ll learn what circular projects have provided emission reductions, and how companies are measuring success.

Trees are more than something pretty to look at or sit under. Much like schools, streets and sewer lines, trees are essential infrastructure. They are vital to the health and wealth of people, especially as climate change-induced heat waves are leading to more and more deaths and illnesses. But a map of tree cover is too often a map of income and race—especially in cities. That’s because, often in U.S. cities, trees are sparse in low-income neighborhoods and some neighborhoods of color. The inequitable distribution of trees exacerbates social inequities. Companies, governments and nonprofits throughout the U.S. are stepping up to address this challenge by creating Tree Equity—which, simply put, means trees in every part of every city. Many are doing so through the new (launched in August) U.S. Chapter of 1t.org, a community of people committed to conserving, restoring and growing 1 trillion trees globally by 2030. Join this session to learn why and how you and your company can join the global trillion trees movement.

How can cross-industry collaborations scale CE investments while advancing a more sustainable and profitable future? Across sectors and industries, stakeholders stand to benefit from the multi-billion dollar circular opportunity. By keeping valuable materials — packaging, apparel, electronics and organics — in manufacturing supply chains and out of landfills, companies can reduce costs and increase access to the recycled materials necessary for translating their sustainability goals into tangible realities. This provides a strategic business advantage, while also creating measurable impact and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Impact at scale, however, will require circular systems beyond organizational silos; companies, sectors and industries must collaborate in pursuit of collective impact and opportunity. In this session, we’ll hear how investors and corporations alike are leveraging capital on hand to scale circular supply chains while showing strong financial returns.

Gain clarity and focus on reaching your potential for impact with a one-on-one coaching session with ICF-certified coach, Shannon Houde.

Health and wellbeing in the workplace is typically associated with a wellness program or an occupational health and safety initiative. However, as COVID-19 has demonstrated, companies need to take a bold and holistic approach to health and wellbeing — one that recognizes that health and wellness are driven by social, economic, and environmental factors. Taking a holistic approach starts with understanding the social determinants of health i.e., the conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play and which affect a wide range of health and quality-of life-risks and outcomes. What role can companies play in impacting these conditions and advancing health equity, particularly in the workplace? This session will delve into a broad range of business practices that impact health outcomes, from pay practices and benefits to job security to the physical work environment, introduce the multi-stakeholder-developed Culture of Health for Business Framework for companies to use in developing forward-thinking strategies, and highlight critical issues for companies to manage as they prepare for a post-COVID-19 workplace.

Join this session for a discussion on scope 3 supplier engagement from the perspective of the suppliers, including effective engagement approaches, insights on the target-setting process, and recommendations on how to accelerate action. Speakers will share their perspectives from the ongoing journey of engagement and collaboration on carbon reductions, as there is no one formula for success and best practices are all a work in progress.

From responding to the deluge of “rating and ranking” surveys, to setting increasingly aggressive and wide-ranging goals and targets, the expectations placed on sustainability leaders have always been high — especially when compared to departmental budgets. Then COVID-19 happened. And a racial justice reckoning. And climate-induced wildfires. And a wildly polarizing election. Over the past year, many sustainability leaders — particularly those with terms like "Health and Safety" or “Diversity and Inclusion” incorporated into their titles — have taken on an entire new job’s worth of responsibilities. Meanwhile, many are attempting to balance remote work with staying healthy, managing childcare, and all the other responsibilities of a “new normal.” The result has been a slew of early retirements, career pivots, extended leaves of absence, and resignations from sustainability experts across sectors. The risks to companies from these departures are enormous – institutional memory and relationships are lost. Team morale erodes. New program champions have to be cultivated. Issue expertise has to be outsourced or re-hired. In this session, we’ll ask the question — are we losing our movement's greatest leaders by asking too much of them? And if so, what can be done about “sustaina-burnout”? Participants will be invited to engage in a dynamic discussion, sharing experiences, best practices, and new ideas for improving workplace mental health, work-life balance, and employee well-being within the sustainability community.

Join GreenBiz 21 roundtables to connect with like-minded participants for interactive virtual discussions around a big question or hot topic. Select your topic of interest to join a group discussion hosted by experts. Bring your own challenges, questions and ideas to these interactive discussions. Cameras on!

How can an integrated energy strategy help decision-makers in an organization execute on their sustainability goals? Historically, sustainability has been siloed – leading to inefficient allocation of funds and management attention as well as lost opportunities to make the biggest energy and carbon reduction impact. By taking a holistic approach to crafting an integrated strategy, decision-makers and stakeholders in an organization can better understand the range of available products and solutions (e.g. efficiency, onsite generation, offsite renewables) and then prioritize those that will be most impactful at meeting the company’s cost, risk and sustainability goals though an integrated roadmap. In this roundtable, we will explore the benefits of taking a portfolio approach to decarbonization, and how doing so can help organizations gain line-of-sight for how new opportunities can be most efficiently incorporated into a decarbonization portfolio.

Join GreenBiz 21 roundtables to connect with like-minded participants for interactive virtual discussions around a big question or hot topic. Select your topic of interest to join a group discussion hosted by experts. Bring your own challenges, questions and ideas to these interactive discussions. Cameras on!

Stop by our booth for a session on how to embed the SDGs with resources and accelerators from the UN’s corporate sustainability initiative.

On the path to net zero, many have pledged, some have planned, but few have certainty. This kind of large-scale business transformation requires a faultless plan, with a ready flow of capital to support it. With the market acting as the ultimate arbiter, how can you make sure your pledge will turn into actions and eventual successes? We’ll be joined by panelists across industries to hear what steps they are taking in crafting transition plans, the trade-offs they have had to make, and the successes and challenges they’ve faced so far.

The need for urgent action is clear: while the lifespan of individual garments dwindles, the environmental footprint of the apparel industry continues to grow. But where there’s inefficiency, there’s often opportunity. From renewable and recycled inputs to new business models such as repair, rental and recommerce to end of life management and more — plus enabling technologies, policies and partnerships — the apparel industry is ripe for a makeover. Join this session as we explore how diverse companies are prioritizing these initiatives and remaking their organizational strategy to close the loop in fashion.

The need for companies to address and improve diversity, equity and inclusion has long been a priority, and the events of 2020 have intensified the urgency of this imperative. In addition to prioritizing diversity in hiring, companies must cultivate inclusive and equitable cultures. What role should the sustainability professional play in creating inclusive workplace cultures? How should sustainability leaders collaborate with their colleagues in diversity and inclusion? What is the relationship between sustainability and D&I, and how should these be integrated? What will it take to achieve meaningful progress? Join this session to learn why this must be part of your work and the approaches companies and organizations are taking to drive transformative change.

The business impacts of COVID-19 are teaching us all some hard lessons: First, the value of resilience for businesses and their value chains, and the importance of improving sustainable practices. Second, the need to help companies optimize capital and cash flow as payment terms get extended due to the crisis. Managing these processes are essential for building a robust and resilient business and value chain. What if one program could address both? Join this session to hear about the next wave of innovative programs where organizations are partnering with banking and finance leaders to take action on both fronts at the scale needed for global impact. We’ll explore:

• How combining global sustainability ratings with an innovative new breed of loan and financing programs can boost working capital and accelerate cash flow for suppliers, while providing incentives for suppliers to improve sustainability performance.

• The latest developments with sustainability ratings that enable suppliers — including SMEs and non-listed companies — to benchmark performance, improve management systems to tackle challenges like diversity and anti-discrimination, working conditions, health and safety, environmental and climate impacts such as scope 3 GHG emissions, waste, and resource use.

• Examples of sustainability-linked programs such as reverse factoring of invoices, supply chain finance, and commercial loans, that use these ratings as a mechanism for offering incentives in the form of reduced lending and discount rates, or investment due diligence at global scale.

Gain clarity and focus on reaching your potential for impact with a one-on-one coaching session with ICF-certified coach, Shannon Houde.

Successful leaders do not sit back and wait for new, completely formed leaders to arrive. They consciously recognize people with leadership potential and find ways to cultivate that promise. Through storytelling and interactive discussions in breakout sessions, the panel will foster an important dialog about the lifelong impact of mentoring. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of the values of leadership through mentoring and its lifelong impact and benefits, as well as tips on how to get started or deepen a mentorship practice you already have. Join this session to learn how to be a multiplier and amplifier, and leave a legacy beyond yourself.

Join this session to hear from mainstream companies with strong sustainability and CSR practices on lessons learned in bringing purpose into their businesses and the impacts they're seeing on their companies. Using a story-telling approach, three business leaders will share the drivers of their pivot to purpose, how they engaged employees, management and the board, and how they are now implementing their purpose. They will share how and why this is a quantum leap from CSR and sustainability, and why becoming a for-purpose company has become so important to their brand. Finally, panelists will provide a few tips on how a sustainability practitioner can start this conversation going at their organization.

What type of change management is required to integrate environmental sustainability in business operations? How can we best communicate the value of environmental sustainability in the workplace? And what are the performance indicators that show we have created a culture of environmental sustainability? Join this roundtable discussion to share ideas with fellow participants on what it takes to create long-term value and a culture for environmental sustainability at companies, including strategies for innovative thinking and engaging internal advocates throughout your company.

Join GreenBiz 21 roundtables to connect with like-minded participants for interactive virtual discussions around a big question or hot topic. Select your topic of interest to join a group discussion hosted by experts. Bring your own challenges, questions and ideas to these interactive discussions. Cameras on!

In the wake of a global pandemic, political and economic instability and calls for social justice, how are companies quantifying their impact in a way that is meaningful for employees and recruits, and useful for investors, raters and rankers? Join this roundtable for a discussion on how some companies are starting to turn the corner of intent vs. action and supporting that with new disclosures, programs and more. What does meaningful disclosure look like? Is including D&I metrics in your ESG report enough? And how do we balance data with narrative to show authenticity? This discussion will give you an opportunity to explore these questions and hear from your peers to help you determine what approach will be right for your company.

Join GreenBiz 21 roundtables to connect with like-minded participants for interactive virtual discussions around a big question or hot topic. Select your topic of interest to join a group discussion hosted by experts. Bring your own challenges, questions and ideas to these interactive discussions. Cameras on!