On Earth Day, the long-term health of our planet takes center stage as people around the world call for and collaborate on solutions to the climate crisis. But many of us act every day with the Earth’s future in mind — making changes to our behaviors, purchases, workplaces, and homes that reduce our environmental impact.

To guide those changes and take them to a global scale, the 193 member states of the United Nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. From eradicating poverty to amplifying partnerships, the SDGs spell out the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges and provide a call to action for addressing the well-being of the planet and all of its people. For Certified B Corporations, the SDGs provide a framework for impact and an opportunity for innovation that incorporates climate action as well as climate justice.

In this week’s articles, B Corps large and small are prioritizing the environment’s long-term health and incorporating the SDGs in their everyday actions, shaping solutions and systems to protect the Earth and all who call it home.

In community,

B The Change  

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The evolution of the fashion industry over the last few decades ushered in high styles at lower prices — but with environmental and social costs. Now, the industry is trending toward ethical fashion with apparel made with the planet’s long-term health in mind. The leaders of three ethical fashion industry B Corps share how they incorporate the UN Sustainable Development Goals into everyday business practices to take positive climate action. (Also check out our guide of B Corp gear that will help you ease into ethical fashion.)
 

Customers, community members, and other external stakeholders are increasingly urging businesses to address economic, social, and environmental inequalities — a demand that can feel overwhelming, especially for smaller companies. In this B The Change article, Lisa Geason-Bauer of B Corp Evolution Marketing shares how the UN Sustainable Development Goals can guide businesses in their equity work to foster diverse teams and supply chains.
 

To support businesses pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), B Lab and the United Nations Global Compact along with content advisors developed the SDG Action Manager. This impact management solution enables businesses worldwide to set goals, track progress, and stay motivated on their actions toward the SDGs.
 

For the investor community, the UN Sustainable Development Goals are another useful tool for evaluating, directing, and measuring financial impact. Mike Dutton of B Corp The Builders Fund outlines how its portfolio companies combine initiatives to make progress on multiple SDGs — and how other businesses and organizations can replicate that model.
 

Here’s your chance to catch up on recent articles:

• Climate Action With Style: B Corps in the Ethical Fashion Industry Minimize Environmental Impact Through Healthy Supply Chains: How the UN Sustainable Development Goals Can Shape Better Business Practices and Drive Climate Action

• 3 Simple Ethical Fashion Swaps: An Earth Month Guide: B Corp Gear to Help You Ease Into Ethical Fashion

• Climate Change Guilt and Next Gen Action: Skip the Guilt Trip: Young People Want Brands to Empower Action on Climate Change

• Intrepid Travel’s Annual Report Shows the Power of Public Transparency: Why We’re Reporting on the Worst Year in Travel

• Irish Plant-Based Startup Is ‘Committed to Fix the Freezer Aisle’: B Corp Expands to U.S. Amid Growing Consumer Demand

• B Lab Partners with Ad Victoriam and Fors Marsh Group to Enhance the B Hive User Experience: Internal Communications Tool Provides an Online Meeting Place for the B Corp Community

• How Forward-Thinking Businesses Can Address Systemic Inequalities Through Adoption of the SDGs: 2 Strategies to Build a More Equitable Economy

• To Zero Waste and Beyond: How B Corps Are Reducing Their Impact Through Circular Business Practices: From a Ski Resort to a Law Office, B Corps Discover New Ways to Reduce and Reuse Waste and Benefit the Economy

• 7 Zero-Waste Swaps from B Corps: An Earth Month Guide: B Corp Products to Help You Live a Low-Waste Lifestyle