#consumer-transparency
#consumer-transparency

Marketing

Social for Good: How Allbirds Leverages Social Media to Amplify, Engage, and Drive Sustainable Change

Business

Sustainability is maturing

Environment

Sustainability In Your Ear: Author Michael Maniates on Why Green Shopping Isn't Enough

Environment

Why Big Tech companies got quiet on climate change

Environment

Building a Sustainability Strategy Around Customers

1 hour ago

How You Can Invest in Our Planet

Investing in the Earth involves collective efforts from governments, businesses, and individuals to build a sustainable green economy.

Social for Good: How Allbirds Leverages Social Media to Amplify, Engage, and Drive Sustainable Change

Allbirds exemplifies how businesses can achieve success through sustainability and social responsibility in their operations and marketing strategies.

Business

Sustainability is maturing

Sustainability has evolved into a core business function, essential for resilience and long-term value in today's operating environment.

Sustainability In Your Ear: Author Michael Maniates on Why Green Shopping Isn't Enough

Buying eco-labeled products does not lead to significant systemic change in reducing carbon emissions.

Why Big Tech companies got quiet on climate change

Tech companies are prioritizing AI growth over climate goals, raising concerns about their ability to meet emissions reduction targets.

Online Community Development

Building a Sustainability Strategy Around Customers

Sustainability should be viewed as a source of innovation rather than a constraint for companies.

SeenThis joins Ad Net Zero UK and supports drive in the US

Adaptive streaming technology reduces data usage in advertising, enhancing user experience and minimizing climate impact.

Canada news

fromwww.cbc.ca

1 day ago

Public grocery stores are having a moment. Can they really make food more affordable? | CBC Radio

Public grocery stores in Canada aim to reduce food costs but face criticism regarding their feasibility and potential waste of public funds.

#data-centers

fromTruthout

Want to Resist a Data Center? These Organizers Share How They Did It.

Local communities in the U.S. are resisting the construction of data centers due to environmental concerns and corporate influence.

SF politics

Online Community Development

Data center executives fret over the industry's increasingly toxic public image

The data center industry faces backlash over environmental and economic concerns, threatening major projects and requiring better public relations efforts.

fromTruthout

Want to Resist a Data Center? These Organizers Share How They Did It.

Local communities in the U.S. are resisting the construction of data centers due to environmental concerns and corporate influence.

SF politics

Data center executives fret over the industry's increasingly toxic public image

The data center industry faces backlash over environmental and economic concerns, threatening major projects and requiring better public relations efforts.

Have Your Favorite Foods Gotten Worse? Some Shoppers Are Suspicious Of Secret Tweaks From Major Brands - Tasting Table

Many classic foods have changed recipes, leading to altered tastes that consumers have noticed and discussed online.

#ai

fromBusiness Matters

An SEO's guide to ethical AI use

AI in SEO offers speed and analytical power but raises significant ethical concerns that must be addressed for long-term success.

fromTheregister

Artificial intelligence

Make bad moves on AI and face voter backlash, govts warned

fromBusiness Matters

An SEO's guide to ethical AI use

AI in SEO offers speed and analytical power but raises significant ethical concerns that must be addressed for long-term success.

fromTheregister

Make bad moves on AI and face voter backlash, govts warned

The UK government must demonstrate AI benefits to the public to mitigate backlash and concerns over job losses and risks associated with the technology.

more#ai

Social media marketing

fromBlack Enterprise

New Responsible Influence Certification Program Aims To Build Transparency In The Creator Economy

A new certification program for content creators promotes trust and transparency in influencer marketing.

Betting on the news raises ethical questions for journalists

Newsrooms are partnering with prediction market platforms while prohibiting staff from using them, creating a conflict in journalism ethics.

World politics

fromenglish.elpais.com

Experts call for tighter controls on prediction markets: They pose underappreciated threats to democratic integrity'

Prediction markets raise ethical concerns and potential manipulation risks, prompting calls for stricter regulation to protect democratic integrity.

fromThe Verge

Betting on the news raises ethical questions for journalists

Newsrooms are partnering with prediction market platforms while prohibiting staff from using them, creating a conflict in journalism ethics.

World politics

fromenglish.elpais.com

Experts call for tighter controls on prediction markets: They pose underappreciated threats to democratic integrity'

Prediction markets raise ethical concerns and potential manipulation risks, prompting calls for stricter regulation to protect democratic integrity.

more#prediction-markets

8 Ways to Elevate Your Brand as a Creator or Entrepreneur (& Close the Pay Gap)

The global creator economy is projected to reach $1.18 trillion by 2032, significantly impacting minority creators and entrepreneurs.

Unilever's 300,000 Creators Signals a Founder-Led Consolidation

Unilever's shift to creator-led content signals the creator economy's transition into an acquirable asset class.

Growth hacking

fromHubspot

8 Ways to Elevate Your Brand as a Creator or Entrepreneur (& Close the Pay Gap)

The global creator economy is projected to reach $1.18 trillion by 2032, significantly impacting minority creators and entrepreneurs.

Unilever's 300,000 Creators Signals a Founder-Led Consolidation

Unilever's shift to creator-led content signals the creator economy's transition into an acquirable asset class.

more#creator-economy

Business intelligence

Stop Treating ESG Like a Costly Obligation - When Used Well, It Becomes a Growth Advantage

ESG identifies operational and financial risks, enhancing resilience and performance beyond mere compliance.

Social justice

fromwww.theguardian.com

MSC's blue tick' scheme creates illusion of ethically sourced fish, study claims

The MSC's sustainability certification is questioned due to reported widespread labor abuses on approved fishing vessels.

Real estate

fromwww.housingwire.com

When listings lie: AI staging pushes real estate into an ethics gray zone

The true picture standard in real estate requires accurate representation in advertising and marketing, impacting buyer perceptions and legal claims.

#leadership

fromPsychology Today

Non-profit organizations

How to Become a Generous Leader

Leaders can demonstrate generosity through mentorship, servant leadership, and volunteerism.

Psychology

How Calling Out Problems Makes You the Most Trusted Leader

Effective leadership is defined by how problems are framed and handled, not by the intensity of the issues faced.

fromPsychology Today

Non-profit organizations

How to Become a Generous Leader

Psychology

How Calling Out Problems Makes You the Most Trusted Leader

Effective leadership is defined by how problems are framed and handled, not by the intensity of the issues faced.

The Allbirds Pivot Is a Terrible Idea ... Right?

Allbirds is pivoting to AI, changing its name to NewBird AI and investing $50 million in GPUs to revive its struggling business.

NYC startup

Allbirds is ditching years of clean and green street cred

NYC startup

fromThe Atlantic

The Allbirds Pivot Is a Terrible Idea ... Right?

Allbirds is pivoting to AI, changing its name to NewBird AI and investing $50 million in GPUs to revive its struggling business.

NYC startup

Allbirds is ditching years of clean and green street cred

Allbirds is transitioning from footwear to AI infrastructure, abandoning its core environmental principles and public benefit corporation status.

Attention, Vegans: This Red-Flag Ingredient Might Be Hiding In Your Favorite Chewing Gum - Tasting Table

Lanolin, derived from sheep, is often an undisclosed ingredient in chewing gum, posing concerns for vegans.

Careers

fromwww.housingwire.com

fromDaily Coffee News by Roast Magazine

Culture isn't what you say. It's what you do

Culture is demonstrated daily through actions, not just defined in documents.

'Forest 500' Report Tracks Coffee Industry Deforestation Commitments

"While some battles have been won, this year's Forest 500 data shows that the fight against deforestation is still being needlessly lost. The year 2025 was at the heart of high-profile corporate targets to end deforestation - but these have now been missed. As in previous years, too few companies are acting with enough urgency."

EU data protection

US Elections

fromThe Nation

To My Fellow Journalists: We Need to Do Better

Journalism must urgently address the legitimacy of elections and false claims to protect American democracy.

Law

fromUS AFPNews

The news hub

Andrew Forrest is suing Meta for using his likeness in scam ads without permission.

DevOps

fromSecuritymagazine

Democratized Software, Democratized Risk: Who's Accountable When Everyone Codes?

AI-driven coding tools enable non-technical teams to create software, but they introduce vulnerabilities and require clear ownership and governance.

Privacy professionals

from404 Media

Google, Microsoft, Meta All Tracking You Even When You Opt Out, According to an Independent Audit

Microsoft, Meta, and Google may be violating California privacy laws by failing to honor user opt-out requests for ad cookies.

#climate-change

fromThe Conversation

Philosophy

Searching for a 'technofix' to climate change has many dangers. Could radical humility save the planet?

fromThe Nation

A Burning House, a Quiet Media, a Silenced Majority

Media significantly influences public perception and action on climate change, shaping narratives that affect voting, consumer behavior, and personal discussions.

fromThe Conversation

Philosophy

Searching for a 'technofix' to climate change has many dangers. Could radical humility save the planet?

fromThe Nation

A Burning House, a Quiet Media, a Silenced Majority

Media significantly influences public perception and action on climate change, shaping narratives that affect voting, consumer behavior, and personal discussions.

more#climate-change

Startup companies

The Challenges of Scaling a Technology for Social Good

Access to safe sanitation is critical for over three billion people, impacting public health, gender equity, and economic development.

Many Thrift Stores Don't Want These Kitchen Items - But You Can Donate Them Elsewhere - Tasting Table

Thrift stores often do not accept large appliances due to legal, liability, and hazardous waste concerns.

Everyday cooking

fromTasting Table

Why Many Thrift Stores Won't Accept Small Kitchen Appliances - Tasting Table

Thrift stores often refuse to accept donated small kitchen appliances due to liability concerns and safety standards.

Remodel

fromTasting Table

Many Thrift Stores Don't Want These Kitchen Items - But You Can Donate Them Elsewhere - Tasting Table

Thrift stores often do not accept large appliances due to legal, liability, and hazardous waste concerns.

Everyday cooking

fromTasting Table

Why Many Thrift Stores Won't Accept Small Kitchen Appliances - Tasting Table

Thrift stores often refuse to accept donated small kitchen appliances due to liability concerns and safety standards.

more#thrift-stores

Graphic design

fromNielsen Norman Group

fromFood & Beverage Magazine

Handmade Designs: The New Trust Signal

Audiences are increasingly favoring handmade designs over polished, AI-generated visuals due to digital and AI fatigue.

Music production

Coffee for a Cause: From "Outer Space" to Your Morning Brew - Food & Beverage Magazine

Young NYC participants collaborated with Fred Schneider of The B-52's to create a coffee line supporting local nonprofits, inspired by their song 'Outer Space.'

13 hours ago

Why Advertising is all Treat and no Trick

Digital advertising tools minimize risks and enhance targeting, leading to improved ROI and brand safety.

Marketing tech

fromExchangewire

Agentic Advertising Needs Interoperability, Standardisation and Adoption to Thrive

The ad industry is transitioning to agentic advertising, promising automation and efficiency but requiring careful planning to avoid potential pitfalls.

Social media marketing

fromBlack Enterprise

Coach Stormy Speaks Out After Settling FTC Lawsuit

Stormy Wellington is permanently banned from making misleading earnings claims and must provide written evidence for any future claims.

Growth hacking

How to Turn a Product Into Something People Actually Talk About

Distribution should be integral to product development from the start, focusing on one channel before expanding.

European startups

The 'Sneaky' Ways Companies Are Making You Pay More - Without Raising Prices

Companies are creatively offsetting price increases due to rising fuel costs, often passing hidden costs to consumers.

Careers

Online Community Development

New Executive Leadership Challenges Emerging-And What's Driving Them

Executive coaching has evolved to address new leadership challenges such as hybrid team management, decision fatigue, and the need for clarity and connection.

The Right Way to Build an Online Community Around Your Brand

Businesses must control their online spaces to mitigate legal, ethical, and reputational risks associated with unmoderated communities.

fromBoston.com

Ben & Jerry's co-founder wants the company to be independent once more

"Magnum prevented Ben & Jerry's from putting out a post supporting Black History Month. (Ben & Jerry's) wanted to come out with a post calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Magnum prevented that. We wanted to support the student protesters. Magnum wouldn't allow that."

Social justice

Left-wing politics

fromFortune

America's CEOs have become reluctant guardians of democracy | Fortune

Business leaders have historically played a crucial role in promoting democracy and social justice in America.

World politics

We've entered a new era of risk for the modern CEO

Most CEOs are unprepared for crises like Taiwan Strait tensions due to a narrow focus on geoeconomic risks.

London startup

fromwww.theguardian.com

Dozens of firms risk losing B Corp status after standards overhaul

Dozens of companies risk losing B Corp status due to stricter certification standards requiring compliance in all categories.

E-Commerce

Sustainability In Your Ear: Don Carli On Tuning What We See Online To Reduce eCommerce Returns

Retail returns will cost $850 billion in 2026, with 22% due to products not matching online expectations.

New year's resolutions - How the marketing industry can change its ways in 2026

Marketers must be bolder, braver, and more imaginative to enhance their impact by 2026.

The Great Marketing Declutter are you surviving, striving, or thriving

Marketers must identify their group—survivors, strivers, or thrivers—to navigate challenges effectively in a disrupted environment.

New year's resolutions - How the marketing industry can change its ways in 2026

Marketers must be bolder, braver, and more imaginative to enhance their impact by 2026.

The Great Marketing Declutter are you surviving, striving, or thriving

Marketers must identify their group—survivors, strivers, or thrivers—to navigate challenges effectively in a disrupted environment.

Dignity as a competitive business model

Healthcare affordability is forcing families to delay care, highlighting the need for dignity-centered care models that prioritize patient respect and community health.

fromFuturism

A Prominent PR Firm Is Running a Fake News Site That's Plagiarizing Original Journalism at Incredible Scale

National Today is accused of blatant plagiarism by rewording and stealing content from various publications without crediting the original sources.

Marketing tech

How to transform insights into influence at the register

Outcomes-driven marketing is essential for connecting campaigns to conversions.

fromEngadget

Meta isn't setting its Oversight Board free just yet

The Oversight Board has taken steps to formalize its long-contemplated desire to work with other companies, but Meta has thus far declined to move forward with that process.

Artificial intelligence

Social media marketing

Personal Branding Strategies To Stand Out From AI Slop

Authentic leaders will be sought after as AI-generated content saturates professional spaces.

Business intelligence

fromComputerWeekly.com

Sustainability accounting can be difficult, but can differentiate | Computer Weekly

Public cloud platforms offer sustainability benefits, but challenges in data transparency hinder accurate assessment of their environmental impact for enterprises.

Social justice

fromComputerworld

IBM's government DEI settlement could increase pressure to avoid tech hiring diversity

IBM's settlement with the DOJ dismantles its DEI programs and halts workforce diversification efforts.

Careers

The quiet cruelty of 'ghost jobs' in today's hiring market

Job seekers face challenges from 'ghost jobs' that remain posted despite no actual hiring, wasting time and emotional energy.

Uncrap The World

WGAC aims to increase global brand awareness to promote eco-friendly choices and support sanitation access for those in need.

The 3 PR Strategies I Stopped Recommending to Clients After They Backfired

Traditional press releases are losing effectiveness; personalized pitches to journalists yield better results.

#advertising

fromMiami Herald

Marketing tech

Ad companies settle with FTC over 'brand safety' collusion claims

fromNew York Post

Big advertisers agree to settle FTC probe of alleged boycott against X, others

Three major ad agencies settled an FTC probe for allegedly boycotting online platforms based on political content, violating antitrust laws.

fromMiami Herald

Marketing tech

Ad companies settle with FTC over 'brand safety' collusion claims

fromNew York Post

Big advertisers agree to settle FTC probe of alleged boycott against X, others

Three major ad agencies settled an FTC probe for allegedly boycotting online platforms based on political content, violating antitrust laws.

more#advertising

fromMIT Technology Review

Building trust in the AI era with privacy-led UX

Well-designed consent experiences enhance trust and business performance, evolving privacy into an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time transaction.

fromObserver

Facing A.I. Slop and Shifting Algorithms, Brands Bet on Streamers to Stay Real

MrBeast exemplifies success in the creator economy, leveraging YouTube and livestreams while expanding into various media ventures.

fromBusiness Matters

Why Sustainable Promotional Products Are Reshaping How SMEs Build Brand Loyalty

The shift towards eco-friendly promotional merchandise is essential for businesses to convey responsibility and meet market expectations.

Marketing tech

fromExchangewire

Rewriting the Rules of Ad Tech: Intent-Driven Discovery, Meaningful Human Connections, and Transparency

AI and privacy are pivotal forces reshaping the ad tech industry in 2026.

The stigma around AI in journalism may be easing, but trust is still fragile

There is a growing acceptance of AI in journalism, despite initial reluctance and a recent controversy over AI-generated content.

fromMuse by Clios | Discover the latest creative marketing and advertising news. Muse by Clio is the premier news site covering creativity in advertising and beyond.

The 79 Percent Rule: Why Honest Brands Win | Muse by Clios

Honesty in branding and communication is essential for agencies to differentiate themselves in a saturated market.

fromThe Verge

FTC pushes ad agencies into dropping brand safety rules

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a group of eight states have announced a proposed settlement with big ad agencies that will prevent them from working together to avoid certain platforms like X based on their political viewpoints.

Media industry

Philosophy

fromTheregister

3 weeks ago

Calling out corporate BS? There's a steaming pile to aim for

Corporate jargon impresses those least equipped for analytical thinking, confirming biases while also serving essential functions in specific contexts.

Agriculture

What Is Fair Trade Worth?

Fair Trade certification ensures smallholder farmers producing nearly half the world's food receive premium prices and improved livelihoods through ethical supply chain practices.

fromNieman Lab

Independent journalists are mission-driven, but financially strained, a new report says

Financial sustainability remains elusive for creator journalists, with many struggling to fund their lifestyles through content creation alone.

How To Serve Clients Amid Board Scrutiny And Investor Activism

Agency conversations with executives now focus on measurable business impact rather than just creative output.

fromThe Cool Down

'No AI' is the new message brands are leaning into to woo disgruntled customers

Brands are leveraging consumer skepticism towards AI to promote authenticity in marketing.

fromwww.independent.co.uk

How to Navigate Brand Authenticity in the Age of AI Slop

Originality and authenticity in content are essential for brands to stand out in a saturated market dominated by low-quality AI-generated content.

Social justice

People cannot check everything about what they buy. It's time for help

Global supply chains for consumer goods contain widespread human rights abuses and labor exploitation that most companies fail to adequately assess or trace.

US politics

fromMedium

Product ethics have never mattered more

Anthropic refused Pentagon contract terms requiring unrestricted AI use, maintaining ethical boundaries against mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, demonstrating how product values withstand government pressure.

fromYFS Magazine | Young, Fabulous & Self-Employed

fromDaily Coffee News by Roast Magazine

5 Strategies for Eco-Friendly Branding That Leaves a Mark | YFS Magazine

Brands are shifting focus from quantity of promotional items to meaningful interactions that foster lasting relationships with customers.

Report: Sustainability Must Be Embedded Into Core Buying Practices to Drive Change

"Ironically, many if not most of these 'sustainability' projects remain disassociated from companies' core procurement strategies, meaning the coffee produced from these projects is not necessarily bought by the companies involved, or only in minimal quantities," the paper states. "And for the coffee that is purchased, prices do not factor into the project design, despite the fact that price is the single variable impacting farmer income that is in the direct control of companies."

Coffee

Business

Why CEOs Dive Into Political Controversies

Leaders' personal beliefs and internal stakeholders, not customers or media, most strongly drive corporate political positioning, creating risks to brand equity and financial performance.

Smart businesses don't adapt to crony capitalism

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took the unprecedented step of designating a U.S. firm-Anthropic-as a supply chain risk. Anthropic's crime? It refused to violate industry-wide protocols against using AI for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. Hegseth's designation, which has until now been reserved for foreign firms, bars U.S. military contractors from doing business with the company.

US politics

#conscious-consumerism

3 weeks ago

The backlash against "woke business" is loud

Conscious consumerism is normalizing, with 40% of North American purchases influenced by social and environmental factors despite political backlash.

Environment

Four questions that will determine the future of business for good

3 weeks ago

The backlash against "woke business" is loud

Conscious consumerism is normalizing, with 40% of North American purchases influenced by social and environmental factors despite political backlash.

more#conscious-consumerism

Environment

Four questions that will determine the future of business for good

How Good-Loop Has Turned Advertising Into A Force For Good

Good-Loop transforms digital advertising into value exchange by converting ad impressions into nonprofit donations while improving brand performance metrics and reducing campaign carbon footprints.

Philosophy

fromApaonline

The Threats of CEO Activism to the Democratic Process

Right-wing CEO activism surged after 2024, intensifying concerns about threats to democratic processes and shifting scholarly attitudes toward CEO political speech.

Meet America's Best Brands For Social Impact 2026

Bridgestone ranked No. 20 on Forbes Best Brands for Social Impact list through decades of community investment, environmental partnerships, and transparent marketing of its social initiatives.

fromGlobal IP & Technology Law Blog

Greenhushing: The Indirect Consequence of the Crackdown on Greenwashing?

Regulators increasingly enforce against vague or unsubstantiated environmental claims; advertisers must provide clear, high-level substantiation for "green" or "sustainable" statements.

fromPR Daily