#sustainable-business

#sustainable-business

Multinational firms are under rising pressure-from investors, regulators, and employees-to demonstrate positive societal impact in the places where they do business. With ESG-focused institutional investments projected to reach nearly $34 trillion this year and roughly 90% of large U.S. companies now disclosing ESG reports, these pressures are now a central part of corporate strategy.

TV has a unique superpower: helping small and medium-sized businesses punch above their weight and reach audiences they'd never normally get in front of. B Corps have authentic stories worth shouting about, and Channel 4 loves nothing more than telling stories that spark change. There are incredible purpose-driven brands nationwide, and this opens the door for more of them to grow bigger.

Unless you are a hair salon engaged in the business of washing customers' hair, of course. Then using 70% less water could well matter as you attempt to cut your carbon footprint. It is more efficient as well. The Water Saver showerhead came from a partnership between Swiss startup, Gjosa, and L'Oréal, the global beauty brand and Fortune 500 Europe listee. At its most basic, Water Saver makes water, well, wetter-fragmenting the water streams to create droplets better suited to rinsing hair:

"When someone says they are a B Corp, or even going through the process, I understand they really mean it," she said. "It's not easy, and the framework gives businesses structure and purpose. If you measure your business purely on profit, you are missing the point."

Financial, environmental and community goals aren't competing objectives; they're interconnected. This is why founders who chase revenue at the expense of value for their customers or broader social impact often experience limited growth. This is a bit like buying a gym membership and then letting your diet go because you're working out. Just like healthy eating habits are part of an effective fitness plan, your mission and values are essential parts of creating a business plan that works.

Cheri Romanoski, native Tucsonan and a former elementary teacher, earned a degree in education at the University of Arizona. Starting a family prompted a new career direction. Producing fresh fruit preserves for her family and sharing the garden bounty with friends and neighbors eventually translated to the creation of Cheri's Desert Harvest in 1985. Teaching students about the natural resources of the Sonoran Desert inspired her to preserve indigenous produce with its rich agricultural and culinary history.