JHL solutions, LLC

Interesting take on the differences between online and in-person resale experiences - who is winning and how: "Lee Peterson, executive vice president of thought leadership and marketing at WD Partners, a consultancy specializing in restaurants and retail, said secondhand apparel shopping offered a sense of discovery and excitement that was difficult to replicate online. Resale, he said, “is finally a reason to go to the store.” #circulareconomy #circularfashion #retailinnovation Linda Baker reporting for the The New York Times

Nice overview of the impact of #Greenhushing: “As companies navigate the complexities of modern sustainability, transparency and authenticity have become non-negotiable. The practice of greenhushing may seem like a shield against scrutiny, but it ultimately erodes trust and stalls progress toward sustainability goals. “ Also defined: “green wishing “- new to me!

#Nearshoring commitments; playing the long game: "The resurgence of U.S. manufacturing is real, and it’s already happening. We’re seeing companies rethink their global supply chains and invest in domestic production again. This shift isn’t just about bringing jobs back, it’s about creating a more resilient economy that can better withstand global disruptions. It’s not going to happen overnight, but there’s no question that the trend toward onshoring is a positive one for the U.S. economy. The opportunities are there, and companies that invest in bringing manufacturing back home—or closer to home—are positioning themselves to be more competitive in the long run." Perspective from Sean Dalfen #supplychains #resiliency

Something to get you thinking on a Friday, from Diana Scott, who leads the nonprofit’s U.S. Human Capital Center.: “Most organizations are trying to stay the course because they want to create an inclusive, diverse, vibrant culture in the organization. Because they know that contributes to employee engagement, which contributes to employee productivity, which contributes to bottom-line business results. You don’t do DEI because you’re trying to be ‘woke.’ You do DEI because it’s actually serving your business.” With the numbers backing her up: "While a rallying cry of anti-DEI boycotts has been “go woke, go broke,” the reality works in the opposite direction, according to ongoing research by McKinsey & Company?from the past several years. Companies in the quartile with the most diverse executive teams in terms of gender and ethnicity are, on average, 9% more likely to perform better financially than rivals, for example.?Those with the most gender and ethnically diverse boards are 27% and 13%, respectively, more likely to outperform,?according to McKinsey’s latest in a series of reports on DEI, released last year. Those at the bottom of executive team diversity are 66% less likely to outperform financially, even worse than the 27% of four years ago, “indicating that lack of diversity may be getting more expensive,” McKinsey said." Reporting from Daphne Howland for ESG Dive

It will be interesting to watch where Amazon takes this brand. It's a strong value play - designed to grab share from everyone from dollar stores to Wal-Mart. Adding in additional benefits for Prime Members should be an impactful flex: "Amazon’s newly launched “no-frills” private label line along with its expanded Prime savings opportunities highlight the company’s efforts to be an affordable grocery shopping destination.? Amazon Saver includes items aimed at helping “grocery budgets go further,” according to the announcement, and includes crackers, cookies, canned fruit, condiments and other grocery essentials. Most items are priced under $5 and Prime members can get an additional 10% off. " #value #privatebrands #privatelabel #amazon

I loved that this conversation went deeper than the sound bites that you often hear. A balance of optimism about the path forward to Net Zero - with a recognition that there are still opportunities without clear solutions...yet... "We have a very detailed road map to minus 50% in 2030. We know what to do and we know we can do that with existing technology. We don’t need any massive breakthroughs to halve our footprint by 2030. And we know it’s affordable. We’ve costed it. Post 2030, it will get harder and we do need some breakthroughs in terms of transport and technology. We’re going to need ships that have completely different fuel. We’re going to need breakthroughs in some packaging materials and in raw materials. " Mars Chief Sustainability Officer, Barry Parkin Reporting by Perry Cleveland-Peck for The Wall Street Journal #sustainability #Mars #supplychainsustainability #netzero

Interesting developments...and yet: "Unlike with existing recycling methods, researchers can use this technique even if they don’t know exactly what’s in a piece of clothing. But they’ve only demonstrated it in a lab. They say it may take a decade or more for companies to turn the idea into a profitable business. In the meantime, experts say, the fashion industry should also think about other ways to curb waste, such as making garments out of one material so that they’re easier to recycle and making less clothing in the first place." Reporting by Nicolás Rivero for the The Washington Post #circularretail #circulareconomy #fastfashion #zerowaste

The impact of #greenhushing - or not promoting sustainable initiatives: "BlackRock said the funds won’t have sustainable investing as their primary goal but “will have a minimum proportion of sustainable investments.” The passively managed funds are not going to be listed in the U.S. however, where the firm has become a favorite target of the anti-ESG movement." The real culprit: "On its U.S. homefront, BlackRock has eased on its ESG messaging, acknowledging in a securities filing earlier this year that mounting ESG scrutiny and regulations have the potential to affect the company’s revenues." Reporting by Lamar Johnson for Retail Dive #sustainability #ESG

Loved this balanced perspective on how to approach bulk shopping: "But experts say the experience offers the chance to think differently about how you shop — a good habit to develop regardless of where you buy your groceries. “Being in a refillery really forces you to think about how much you need of something because you’re paying by weight,” Meiffren-Swango said. “You’re kind of forced to be a more thoughtful consumer.” #zerowaste #circularity #circulareconomy #circularinnovation

Wrapping up the Velocity Institute conference + expo, Juli Herdegen Lassow moderates a panel of retailers. With Joanna (Asia) Kroschel from Sprouts Farmers Market , MaryBeth Brejnik from NAVY EXCHANGE SERVICE COMMAND (NEXCOM) , and Dan Muller , IGA Supermarkets