Messi for the Planet, Stella McCartney’s Material Innovations, and Crampus Comes to Town!

Dear friends,

As the world struggles with issues like the climate emergency and biodiversity loss, which require massive and swift evasive action, companies need to set the bar higher from mere ’sustainability’ to ‘regeneration’.?

This week, we look at how companies should frame their ambitions around not just ‘giving back’ but ‘paying it forward’ - to future generations of leaders, employees, and humanity.

And don’t forget, your round-up of the week’s most inspiring and impactful stories is waiting for you below.

Enjoy the read!

Be kind, be good, and look after each other,

Afdhel and Bobby

Regeneration Is the New Sustainability

Every day, our world faces crises – climate devastation, pandemics, racial unrest, and extreme inequality. It's time for businesses to shift from apathy to active problem-solving. Despite the challenges, we're at a tipping point where collective action can lead to transformative change. Discover why regeneration is the new sustainability and why your company needs a Chief Regeneration Officer.?

Read and reflect here

TOP STORIES THIS WEEK

Campaign of the Week: Over 1 in 3 people with periods in the US and Canada struggle to afford period products. Public Inc., the social-impact agency, and the Period movement joined forces to create a new holiday hero—Crampus, aka the Period Santa, who’s on a mission to raise money to #DeckTheStalls. She’s going to make sure all the good little girls, big badass women, and people with periods everywhere get what they need.

Leo Messi Teams Up with Join the Planet: Within the framework of COP28, Messi announced that he will actively participate in Join the Planet to be part of the movement to care for our planet, seeking to help raise awareness among people around the world about the urgency of protecting nature and taking care of our planet.

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Brands We Love: Agritech leader White Lion Foods, one of Latin America's fastest-growing businesses, has introduced the world's first flavored brazil nut snacks under the Truly Nuts!? brand just in time for Christmas. With 11 years of dedicated sustainability efforts, the company now allocates 25% of its profits to Amazon Rainforest projects and pays its predominantly female workforce 50% above minimum wages.

How the Sun Is Helping to Reduce the Cost of Bread in Lebanon: Did you know you can power an oven with the heat of the sun? Food prices have skyrocketed in Lebanon during a three-year economic crisis, and many people are struggling to afford even basic foods like bread. In an effort to reduce production costs and therefore sales prices, inventor Toufic Hamdan has created a commercial bakery oven powered by the sun’s heat.

Hinge Announces $1M Fund to Combat Gen Z Loneliness: One More Hour? — a new social impact initiative by Hinge, that mobilizes Gen Z to add more in-person connection to their lives, has launched with a $1M fund dedicated to tackling the loneliness epidemic by providing grants to social groups and organizations helping Gen Z find belonging and community in person.

Stella McCartney Presents Cutting-Edge Material Innovations at COP28: A grape-based leather alternative and sequins made from tree cellulose are among 15 material innovations on show as part of fashion house Stella McCartney's exhibition at the COP28 climate conference. The Sustainable Market showcases "the possibilities of current cutting-edge or soon-to-be available technologies" that could transform the fashion industry.

Nepal Registers First Same-Sex Marriage: Nepal has registered its first same-sex marriage, which activists hailed as a victory for LGBT rights. It came five months after the Supreme Court issued an interim order allowing same-sex couples to register their marriages. Taiwan is the only other place in Asia that has legalised same-sex marriage.

"The real work you have to do is in the privacy of your own heart. All of the external forms are lovely, but the real work is your inner connection." - Ram Dass