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ON OUR MINDS
Brought to you this week by Account Executive and brand-new dog mom (scroll for photo), McKenna Gramoll.
Keeping up the climate strike’s momentum
On September 20, the youth led the world in the kick-off of a historic climate strike. Armed with clever, artistic and confrontational signs, the message was clear: it’s going to take all of us to end the age of fossil fuels and solve the global climate crisis. Both international and national media outlets amplified stories through the Covering Climate Now coalition. Led by Columbia Journalism Review and The Nation, the project tapped more than 300 outlets to run a week’s worth of climate coverage in the lead-up to the UN Climate Action Summit. Meanwhile, leadership from major corporations paled in comparison. As Christine Arena puts it, this is the "zero hour” for corporate sustainability. Action-oriented consumers are demanding more than just nice-to-have sustainability measures. Now more than ever, we need scalable, solution-oriented change.
Why more companies should be following Mattel's lead
This week, toy manufacturer Mattel announced that it would be unveiling a new line of gender neutral dolls called “Creatable World.” Dolls come with interchangeable clothes and accessories, new hair options, and body types that depart from the typical Barbie and Ken mold. Mattel’s latest move is a reminder of why corporations need to keep up with rapidly changing perceptions of gender. Earlier this year, client Lisa Kenney of Gender Spectrum wrote a Fast Company piece explaining why companies can no longer afford to ignore the gender conversation: “How do ideas about gender influence marketing, packaging, messaging, and point of sale? If you market a product exclusively to young girls, for example, you may be missing out on a potential market segment and leaving money on the table.”
E-cigarettes go up in smoke
Amid rising medical concerns and regulation uncertainty, vaping has become the latest social responsibility frontier for retailers. Around the world, countries like India are banning e-cigarette sales, citing concerns over youth health. The White House announced its plans to ban the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes in the U.S. With international leaders and medical professionals denouncing vaping products, where do corporations stand? Last Friday, Walmart announced that it would no longer sell e-cigarettes at its U.S. stores. As Axios notes, “Walmart, which first banned assault weapon sales and now vaping products, is providing a template of how CEOs can move beyond a monomaniacal focus on profits.”
ON OUR RADAR
Read:
- Ever since the 2016 Stanford sexual assault trial, the words in Emily Doe’s victim impact statement have not left us. Her phrases are committed to memory. Today, we know her as Chanel Miller, author of a new memoir: Know My Name.
- A new study on American museum acquisitions and exhibitions pushes back on the art world’s rising progressive, inclusive narrative. Artnet dives into the findings (with insights from a familiar expert).
- Feminist activist Mona Eltahawy advocates a muscular, out-loud approach to teaching women and girls in her new book, Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls.
- Have you heard? The UN has a new roof. Learn how client Adaptive Green developed the innovative, sustainable design.
Listen:
- Recycling has become a mainstay in American households. But how much of our plastic is recycled in the way we intend? NPR’s Here & Now exposes the reality of recycling plastic.
Shop:
- The Body Shop is going back to its roots. Its new UK concept store promotes environmental coalition-building and is filled with sustainable applications like a shower gel refilling station.
Watch:
- The razor industry has certainly had its challenges in recent years, but companies are innovating in response (see this piece on body hair). Procter & Gamble’s Carolyn Tastad shared more about how Gillette is doubling down on social issues.
- The Good Place. Our team is buzzing about the remarkably quirky, inquisitive nature of this broadcast show. Ahead of its final season, the NYT published a meaningful piece about how leading character Chidi “broadens TV’s notions about black masculinity.”
Pre-order:
Go:
- Fulcrum, a new Future of Work conference from the co-founder of SOCAP, will take place in Detroit November 13-14. Score 50% off registration with our code MCP50. We’ll see you there.
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