November 2019 Policy Update

Jay OwenGreen Prosperity, Reforming Global Finance, Beyond GDP, Latest Headlines

Summit Workshops: Key Challenges & Vital Skills

Workshops at this year’s ASBC Summit offer a mix of challenging topics plus detailed strategies and skills to handle challenges better.

Can Capitalism Save Our Planet? offers a choice of three workshops exploring broad, high-impact initiatives. What Will It Take to Solve the Climate Crisis? explores how to overcome longstanding anti-competitive subsidies and win bipartisan support for green infrastructure, clean energy and water tech; offset jobs impact; and make business part of the solution. Can Capitalism Dig Out from Its Own Waste? introduces innovative incentives and policies to reduce packaging waste pollution, ensure safer everyday chemical products, promote sustainable materials and foster a circular economy. The Future of Work: Why the High Road is the Only Road! explores how high-road workplace practices and supportive public policies strengthen companies, communities, and our country.

Because government listens to business, Skill-Enhancing Workshops: Advocacy & Communication offer techniques to give your business voice clarity and authority to advocate for good. In Becoming an Effective Communications Advocate for a Sustainable Economy, participants learn to craft compelling talking points that resonate with elected officials, media and other key influencers. How to Talk About Tough Issues: Race, Equity and Economic Justice offers a safe space for participants to share thoughts on race, privilege and inclusion in the workplace; and the unconscious biases and assumptions we each hold. We’ll also discuss how high-road businesses and policymakers can change the dynamic to expand opportunity in our increasingly diverse American community.

READ THE FULL AGENDA

These are just some of the valuable learning and networking events you’ll experience at the Summit. We’ve retooled registration fees to encourage the widest possible attendance, so bring your team and join us Dec. 10-11 at this formidable business meeting, and let’s start making capitalism work for all.

Click to Tweet: Can we cut packaging waste, reduce racial inequities, effectively speak truth to power and enlist capitalism to solve problems? Find out: https://ctt.ec/80awl+REGISTER TODAY!Donate to one of ASBC’s Policy Issue Areas

Updates and Briefings Convene ASBC Work Groups, Members and Congress 

On Dec. 10, The ASBC Summit kicks off with the High-Impact Issues Update Breakfast, where ASBC’s working groups update you on political dynamics and legislative opportunities for sustainable packaging, climate/energy, the high-road workplace, safer chemicals and more.

On Dec. 11, be on hand for a Congressional Briefing: Sustainable Packaging and the Circular Economy. Members of Congress and ASBC business leaders discuss legislative and industry initiatives to reduce waste and increase investment in our nation’s recycling infrastructure.

These are just some of the valuable learning and networking events offered at the Summit. We’ve retooled registration fees to encourage the widest possible attendance, so bring your team and join us Dec. 10-11. There’s really no time to lose!

READ THE FULL AGENDA

Click to Tweet: What’s up with legislation on sustainable packaging, the high-road workplace, safer chemicals, and recycling investments? Let’s see! https://ctt.ec/X2Lpb+Register Today

CA Bills Require True Product Costing, Reuse of Waste

In October, California Governor Newsom signed two innovative bills sponsored by the National Stewardship Action Council. AB 729 (Chu) ensures that the cost of carpeting reflects the true cost of recycling, establishing the first eco-modulated fees in the state. SB 726 (Caballero & Berman) clarifies how the reuse of household hazardous waste can be done off-site from public facilities, thereby reducing incineration, and saving materials and local government budgets. For help passing legislation in your state, email [email protected]

Click to Tweet: How about true product costing to include recycling; and reusing, not burning, household hazardous waste? [email protected].

ASBC to Honor Leaders in Sustainability

A highlight of the Summit, this year’s Reception & Awards Ceremony on Dec 10 will honor leaders who have worked tirelessly to foster sustainability in the face of daunting opposition. ASBC 2019 Leaders in Sustainability Award recipients are:

·         Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) – for leadership in supporting a sustainable economy and high-road workplace

·         Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) – for leadership in supporting equity and a high-road economy

·         EILEEN FISHER company – for leadership in supporting a high-road economy

·         Michael Peck, co-founder & executive director, 1worker1vote; board secretary, ASBC – for leadership in fostering worker ownership

·         Lauren Maunus, Sunrise Movement – for leadership on climate change

The Awards Reception with bountiful hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be held at ASBC’s welcoming headquarters in D.C. Register now for the Summit and be part of this inspiring event! 

Click to Tweet: Sen. Sherrod Brown, EILEEN FISHER company and others will be honored Dec. 10-11 as champions for sustainability and high-road workplaces. https://ctt.ec/aQcyV+Register Today

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ASBC Leads 3BL Conference Debate on Capitalism

Oct. 29-30, ASBC Executive VP Thomas Oppel hosted a popular “Issue Table” at the Triple Bottom Line (3BL Forum) Conference: “Brands Taking Stands – What’s Next.” ASBC’s table drew an overflow crowd of business, investment, consulting, agriculture and education leaders eager to discuss “Is Capitalism the Problem, the Solution, or Both?” Most participants also asked to stay informed about ASBC, the Summit and membership opportunities.

Media Coverage, Blogs, and More New Listing

·         Planned U.S. Withdrawal from Paris Agreement ‘Completely Irresponsible,’ Says Business Organization – This news article in Newsweek features ASBC comments denouncing the President’s plan to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.

·         Paris withdrawal is being sold with a lie – This syndicated op-ed by ASBC CEO Jeffrey Hollender argues that the Trump Administration’s stated rationale for withdrawing from the Paris Agreement – that it would be bad for business – is a lie. It ran in the Chicago Tribune, the Orlando Sentinel and many other newspapers.

·         We’ve got 6 months to stop another onslaught of harmful algae blooms in N.J. lakes – This op-ed on NJ.com by Geoffrey Goll, president of Princeton Hydro, a member of ASBC, argues for public policies that would provide infrastructure solutions algae blooms, like those in NJ this year.

·         5 World-Changing Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Ideas – This submitted article by Bob Keener, ASBC, in Real Leaders magazine showcases five women business leaders who are using their companies to promote change in the world.