ASBN and OSC2 Move to Pass Break Free from Plastic Act     

ASBN has partnered with One Step Closer to Zero Waste (OSC2) in order to collect signatures in support of the Break Free from Plastic Act. We are focusing on the Senate and the House, and the states of Washington, California, New York. Our sign-on letter will be sent to the legislators in each state, and to members of the Senate and House. On our campaign you are also able to make a packaging commitment to take personal action and change at least one plastic material to a more sustainable one in 2022. Sign-on for the initiative to Break Free from Plastic, and make a packaging commitment here. Be a part of the change to a more sustainable and just economy by urging the House and Senate legislators in your state to pass the Break Free from Plastic Bill Act.  

CLICK TO TWEET: I voiced my opinion to my legislators to pass #BreakFreefromPlastic. Will you? Sign on here: https://www.asbnetwork.org/one-step-closer-zero-waste 

The Business Case for Conservation 

Business for Conservation and Climate Action (BCCA), an initiative of ASBN, recently created The Business Case for Conservation. This case study goes into research and analysis of why we need to conserve nature and how it is beneficial for the economy. This case study highlights the importance of policies that combat climate change and how different communities have benefited from them. A prime example of this is the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of conserving at least 30% of lands and waters in the US by 2030. This case study  is designed to help businesses understand some of the actions that can be taken in order to improve local economies. It highlights different studies to show outcomes of changing environmental practices that are also more economic-friendly. This includes the benefits of investing in nature conservation. You can read The Business Case for Conservation here.  

If you would like to start an open conversation with the author of The Business Case for Conservation ASBN can set that up by sending your request to mdepp@asbnetwork.org.  

CLICK TO TWEET: The Business Case for #Conservation shows how you and the economy benefit from conserving nature https://asbn.salsalabs.org/BusinessCaseforConservation

Infrastructure Bill accelerates cleanup and restoration of the Great Lakes 

ASBN has consistently supported the  Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and we created many sign-on letters and openly spoke about its broad-ranging benefits. This Act will significantly accelerate cleanup and restoration of the Great Lakes. We look forward to seeing how the cleanup comes to be and the impact it will have on the Great Lakes and other waters as it expands. ASBN has also spoken about the need for water cleanup and restoration through our works with the Regenerative Agriculture and Justice Working Group. We are proud of the clean water focus in the Infrastructure Act, and look forward to the other areas that the Infrastructure Act can help better the economy and sustainability.  

Cooperative Economy Act Advances Through Legislative Process in California 

We are excited to report that The Cooperative Economy Act (AB 1319), actively supported on the business convening front by ASBN and ASBN member, 1worker1vote, since launch is advancing through the legislative process in California. The Act would create a structure to be able to scale up the worker cooperative movement. We see organize-able worker owned and operated entities as a great option to getting to better work conditions, wages, and overall worker power starting with unionization, equity ownership and democratic governance in almost any industry. Unfortunately, forming a co-op requires significant upfront costs, and in particular a lot of legal expertise because of the complicated structure that has to be set up and the difficulty navigating the current patchwork of regulations. The Act would address these challenges and allow the model to scale. The bill is in print already (in Assembly Appropriations) and will advance in January 2022 after the incorporation of amendments from organized labor and other stakeholders. For more information please contact Ra Criscitiello at rcriscitiello@seiu-uhw.org; [CEA lead organizer, Deputy Research Director for SEIU-UHW - https://www.seiu-uhw.org/, and 1worker1vote.org - http://1worker1vote.org/ advisory board member]. 

Working Group Updates

Corporate Transparency & ESG Disclosure: 

The working group met on February 9th and had a special guest presentation by Kate Cullen, Associate at Oxford Net Zero. Oxford Net Zero is an interdisciplinary research initiative based in the University of Oxford’s fifteen years of research on climate neutrality. Their research fellows recruited from partner institutions from around the world are working to track progress, align standards and inform effective solutions in climate science, law, policy, economics, clean energy, transport, land and food systems and greenhouse gas removal and storage. The next working group meeting is on March 9th at 3PM ET. If you’re interested in learning more about this working, please reach out to arv@asbnetwork.org. 

Livable Planet:  

The Livable Planet Working group is pleased to share a project that came out of its ASBN 2021 conference session. Group member Dr. Susan Eirich facilitated the session that asked participants to share their transformative experiences in nature. The depth, power, and beauty of the stories shared in the workshop were mind-bending. Deep connection opens channels through which information, strength, and healing flows, leading to practical solutions for our environmental crises. The first published in the series is ASBN member Janie Hoffman's (Mamma Chia) connection to a special magnolia tree.: https://earthfireinstitute.org/the-healing-tree-and-other-stories/?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=55450824-cf60-4399-9fa4-d30cdca572b3 

Regenerative Agriculture and Justice:  

This month wrapped up the Regenerative Agriculture and Justice Working Group three-part speaker series on upcoming policy opportunities. IF you missed any of the meetings, here are the recordings from the speakers series:  

Part one featuring: Kiss the Ground, Green America, and The Farm Worker’s Association of Florida. 

Part two featuring: The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund, The National Family Farm Coalition, and EarthJustice 

Part three featuring: The Natural Resource Defense Council, the Organic Trade Association, and the Intertribal Agriculture Council  

Recently this working group launched a policy platform committee that is meeting weekly for the next 1-2 months until we come out with a concrete farm bill platform and plan for the next year. This committee is open only to those that have gone through the process of becoming a full working group member and agreed to our collective principles. If you are interested in becoming a member and joining this committee, please let Colton Fagundes know, cfagundes@asbnetwork.org 

Circular Economy: 

The Circular Economy Group met this month and featured presentations by Nicole Kurian (Policy Analyst at Californians Against Waste) and Reed Addis (Legislative Director at EEC) to discuss the The California Plastic Pollution Reduction and Recycling Act. This is a ballot initiative that will appear on California ballots in November. ASBN is working on creating an organization effort to promote support for the bill. 

Businesses for Conservation and Climate Action (BCCA): 

BCCA had its monthly network meeting to discuss the business case for conservation and indigenous co-management as well as introducing the joint report created by BCCA and ASBN. This is especially important given the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of engaging with businesses and communities to conserve at least 30% of lands and waters in the US by 2030, commonly referred to as 30×30, and known across the US federal government as America the Beautiful. Learn more about BCCA here. 

Childhood Cancer Prevention Initiative (CCPI):

CCPI had its full group call this month in honor of National Cancer Prevention Month. A number of cancer prevention events took place throughout the month. CCPI is hoping to also garner support and gain endorsements for the Protect America's Children from Toxic Pesticides Act (PACTPA) which has been introduced in the Senate. 

Business for Democracy:

The Business for Democracy Working Group was restarted this month after the failure to pass voting rights in the Senate. The aim of the group is to bring businesses voices into advocacy for voting rights and other democracy issues. Learn more here. 

Look for the latest information from ASBN Working Groups on our website and in upcoming issues of Making an Impact newsletters.

• On February 14, Karen Brown Stovell, who serves on NJSBC's steering committee and also co-leads our recently formed BIPOC business advisory committee, wrote an op-ed for Rio NJ titled “Why impact of Advanced Clean Truck legislation will be huge — especially for people of color.”  
• On February 15, ASBN member, Mac McCabe, was quoted in a Mashable article titled “How 'empathy' convinced Crisis Text Line to hand over its data.” 
• On February 16, Ali-Reza Vahabzadeh, ASBN’s executive vice president, head of membership, chief of staff and ESG policy co-lead, was quoted in an article by Impact Alpha titled “Agents of Impact eye corporate disclosure rules on climate and human capital.” 
• A report prepared by ASBN members titled “Briefing on Individual Investments on CDFIs is helping individuals find “investment-ready” CDFI loan funds. 

Member & Staff News

Staff News:

This month David Levine, ASBN’s president and co-founder, wrote a testimony on HB 700, an act concerning environment, products and packaging, labeling, marketing, and advertising for recycling. This testimony was submitted to the Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee. 

ASBN Member News:

Greyston 

Greyston Employment Opportunity Center awarded $1.2 million to scale inclusive hiring model 

EcoPlum 

EcoPlum Sustainable Swag Lifts Off in 2022 as a Certified B Corporation 

RecycleForce  

RecycleForce gets federal money to train more formerly incarcerated for environmental jobs 

Patagonia 

Patagonia, REI, North Face and others threaten to boycott major outdoor show if it’s moved to Utah  

Mebl 

How the Circular Economy Keeps Your Sofa Out of the Landfill 

6 strategies to follow when designing circular furniture 

Matriark 

Stanford GSB Impact Fund Backs Matriark Foods 

Matriark Foods: Woman-Owned Company Plans to Make World-Changing Impact 

New Mexico: Sustainable Equitable Economic Democracy New Mexico 

A seed has sprouted in New Mexico: Sustainable Equitable Economic Democracy New Mexico (SEEDNM.org), a new affiliate of the American Sustainable Business Network. SEED NM's focus is to advance policies that promote an equitable and sustainable economy benefiting all New Mexicans. We aim to center the needs and voices of sustainability-concerned businesses, organizations and individuals, with a focus on populations underrepresented in economic development discourse including immigrants, women, and people of color. We believe that a sustainable, equitable economy supports community wealth, human wellbeing, environmental protection, and social justice. 

SEED NM hosted our first Policy Symposium in January 2022, convening sustainability-minded businesses, policymakers and community organizers to discuss how to elevate sustainable, equitable and democratic economic development policies and programs at the local, state and national levels. Through presentations from government representatives, credit unions, business owners, community leaders and others, we helped advance the conversation about what sustainability means, how businesses and government officials are addressing sustainability challenges, and why the time for action is now. As stated by US Representative Melanie Stansbury, "We need our grassroots advocacy communities at the table, fighting and elevating these issues, telling your stories every day." SEED NM will continue to bring these sustainable economy-focused communities together to amplify our voices and push for change. 

To view videos from the Symposium, visit their Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbcKu6KJNCrMmOkY4fQSz6Q. 

To learn more about SEED NM or to get involved, visit their website at www.seednm.org 

Membership Interview with Bethany Davis, Director of Impact at MegaFoods  

Why is sustainability important to your business? 

We are a vitamin and supplement company working toward a world where everyone is truly nourished. 

Together with our trusted farm partners, we are a force for good. From creating premium products with radical transparency, to committing to organic and regenerative agriculture, we are nourishing our world from the roots by filling nutritional gaps and revolutionizing a broken farming system.

How do you realize your vision for sustainability/what successes can you point to? 

As a B-Corporation, we’re obsessive about quality and committed to doing good. Our Social Impact aspiration is to transform “agri-culture” by empowering communities, revolutionizing food systems, and committing to radical transparency. 

To do that, we need to regenerate our soil because it provides the best solution to meet global goals around climate and nutrition. And while modern agriculture is often portrayed as a reason for so many climate and nutrient problems, we also know that it’s the solution. 

We believe in the power of farmers, and that regenerative and caring agriculture can help us meet our climate and nutritional goals. So we have developed a sourcing standard that will provide farm partners with the support they need to lead this revolution. 

Partners must meet minimum requirements in three key areas: 

• Building the soil (soil health, soil nutrients, and pest management) 

• Conserving resources (water conservation, water pollution, fossil fuels, biodiversity) 

• Supporting thriving livelihoods (farm management, thriving workers, nutritional access) 

We proudly offer support and partnership throughout the process, and incentivize farmers through on-farm investments and consulting services to help reach shared goals, help increase carbon levels in soil, and help improve overall soil health. 

What public policy priorities are of greatest importance to you at this time and why? 
Much of the reason that the farming system is broken is due to policy structures that are outdated or miss the mark. Aligning incentives on a federal and state level to move the agricultural system towards is essential. Right now those incentives are not aligned.  Adding regenerative agriculture provisions in the Farm Bill, state soil conservation legislation, farm worker rights and advocacy and reducing herbicide and pesticide tolerances and uses are all extremely important to transforming a broken ag system.  
  
How does being part of ASBN help you to fulfill your goals? 

ASBN does the heavy lifting of keeping us informed of relevant bills, drafting language and ensuring timely sign-ons to letters, etc. Colton has a wealth of knowledge. We don't have a full time advocacy or govt relations person and we don't need to because ASBC fulfills a large part of that role and effort for us - keeping things simple for our team.  I couldn't do it without them. 

Upcoming Events

ASBN is holding a members only event on March 2nd, at 3PM EST featuring Justin Vail, Special Assistant to the President for Democracy and Civic Participation. Register for the event here.  

Carolyn Pincus, ASBN’s VP of Strategy and Development, will be participating in the Institute for Women’s Policy Research on the economic and business case for investing in care infrastructure. Info to register is here