What is a bond?

A bond is a debt security, meaning that when you buy a bond, you are essentially making a loan. Unlike stock, which gives you a piece of ownership of a company, with bonds you become a lender to the bond issuer.  

Bonds are issued by several entities – such as companies, banks, cities, states, and countries -- to finance projects and operations. The issuer pays interest to the bondholder at certain intervals, usually twice a year. Bonds come with an end date, called maturity, at which the principal will be repaid along with any outstanding interest. 

Bonds are considered lower risk than stocks because they pay a fixed interest rate throughout the life of the bond. Bond interest is typically lower than the bondholder could make from stocks, but it’s also guaranteed, while stocks can and do lose money.

Bond categories

Common types of bonds include:

Corporate Bonds

Corporations issue bonds to raise money for capital expenditures, operations, and acquisitions. Corporations in all industries issue bonds. A corporate bond is essentially an IOU from the company to the bondholder. Although corporate bonds do not give you a piece of ownership in the corporation the way a stock does, as lenders, bondholders are paid before stockholders if the company goes bankrupt.  

Municipal Bonds

Municipal bonds, also called munis, are issued by sub-national governments such as cities, counties, and states, to fund public works such as parks, libraries, or highways. Interest earned on municipal bonds is often tax free.  

Types of muni bonds, include: 

• General obligation bonds. Bondholders are paid from the local government’s general revenue stream, often generated by property taxes. The local government can raise taxes if needed to pay back the bondholders. 
• Revenue bonds. Bondholders are paid by the local government from revenue generated by a specific project, such as a toll road or lease fees.  
• Conduit bonds. Bondholders are paid by the local government, which in turn is paid by a private entity such as a nonprofit college or hospital. If the private entity fails to pay, the local government usually does not have to pay the bondholder. 

Treasury Securities

Treasury securities are issued by the Department of the Treasury on behalf of the U.S. government. Backed by the “full faith and credit” of the federal government, they have historically been considered among the safest investments available.  

There are three types of treasury securities, depending on length of maturity:  

• Treasury Bills (T-bills), with maturity terms of a few days to one year. 
• Treasury Notes (T-notes), with maturity terms of two, three, five, seven or 10 years. 
• Treasury Bonds, with maturity terms of 10 to 30 years.  

Treasury securities can be purchased directly from the U.S. Treasury’s website, but only on dates that particular security is on sale, according to the auction calendar. Interest income from Treasury securities is taxable on the federal level, but not the state or local level. 

Green Bonds

Green bonds are bonds that finance projects with a positive environmental impact, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean public transit, green buildings, pollution control, and green spaces. The World Bank issued the first green bond in 2008. Since they their popularity has taken off, with over $1 trillion in green bonds expected in 2024. 

An example of a green bond is the Connecticut Green Bank’s Green Liberty Bonds and Notes. While Green Liberty Bonds must be purchased through a participating brokerage firm, the bank has held 13 offerings of Green Liberty Notes, which can be purchased for as little as $100 – essentially crowdfunding clean energy and energy efficiency projects. 

Other Bonds

Other types of bonds include 

• U.S. Savings Bonds, issued by the Treasury Department. 
• Agency bonds, issued by federal agencies other than the U.S. Treasury, such as the Federal Housing Administration or Small Business Administration. 
  

Buying and selling bonds

Before they mature, some bonds can be bought and sold on the market like stocks. U.S. Treasury securities are among the most commonly traded bonds,  

When bonds are bought or sold, the principal amount and interest paid on the bond remains the same, but the sale price of the bond can fluctuate. That’s because interest rates fluctuate.  

If you are selling a bond that was issued with lower interest than the current interest rate, it is less attractive than a new bond, so is usually sold for a lower price. Conversely, if the interest rate on the bond is higher than the current rate, it can sell for a higher price.

Most Americans invest in the market through their workplace retirement plan or a college savings plan. Learn how these plans work next.

Next: Retirement and College Plans

Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations. 

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It’s expensive to run a business. But when companies like Walmart or Amazon cut corners on wages and benefits, they hurt the most important people: their own employees. In 1965, the average CEO-to-employee compensation ratio was 21:1. Last year, that ratio skyrocketed to 281:1.

The small businesses of the Green Business Network®, however, actively work against this trend. Though small businesses face steeper hurdles than corporations or chains to keep the lights on, GBN members understand there is no compromising just labor practices. While some businesses like Target quickly buckled under pressure on DEI, or actively union-bust like Starbucks, a truly ethical business does not give up its morals just to stay open.

Profit Doesn’t Require Exploitation

The Ukranian- and family-owned woodcrafting business AltaadiR doesn’t mince words. “As craftspeople, we do not separate profitability from ethical responsibility. Our pricing is based on the real cost of materials, time, and skilled manual labor—not on mass-production standards or the pressure to compete with low-cost imports,” says co-owners Tetiana and Oleksii Riabchenko.

Kim Isley, founder of the tree gifting business Trees for a Change agrees that “employee pay is not one of the places to get creative.”

The national numbers underscore Isley’s claim. To live in West Virginia, ranked in a 2025 SmartAsset study as the state with the lowest necessary income, a person would have to make a minimum of $38.86/hour to attain a livable wage—over five times as much as the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour, which was last raised 17 years ago, in 2009.

“If you can’t find a way to make a bit of profit without exploiting the labor of others, you’re doing something wrong,” Isley declares.

Listening to Your Employees

Employee wellbeing doesn’t just depend on wages but in the U.S., work benefits are treated as an optional luxury. Among 41 countries studied by the Pew Research Center in 2019, the U.S. is alone in offering zero hours of mandatory parental leave. Similarly, healthcare is often tied to employment in the U.S., rather than seen as a basic right.

Julie Lineberger of the accessible modular housing manufacturer WheelPad and Co-Board Chair of Green America says the company starts from “the assumption that good wages and benefits are essential.”

“We ask how to build a business that can support these commitments from the beginning,” she explains.
What this looks like in practice can vary across organizations. At Nomadics Tipi Makers, the company’s commitment to supporting workers includes encouraging employees to advocate for themselves and “a healthy work-life balance” and responding respectfully.

“If an employee needs time off, flexibility due to personal issues, or needs extra work to make ends meet, we always listen,” says owner Nicole Loffler of Nomadics.

Humanity Must Come First

“Just labor practices start with recognizing that humans are living beings with dynamic needs,” says Stefan Schachter, co-founder of ECOTEAS. “We structure work in such a way to try to avoid injury and burnout.”

For Damian Jones at Aid Through Trade, the success of a business and the artisans it works with are one and the same. As a fair-trade business, like many Green Business Network® members, Aid Through Trade also must adhere to rigorous standards.

“When you know personally the hands that make your jewelry, just labor practices aren’t an abstract
concept but a visible reality that calls us to operate at a higher level,” Jones says.

Integrity, Not Compromise

Some business owners recognize that committing to their morals sometimes means having to say no or “de-prioritizing something else,” as Robert Behnke of the clothing company Fair Indigo{GBN} puts it.
“In our case, it’s partially the overhead that comes with locating your office in a very desirable zip code with very desirable office space,” Behnke says.

Eliza Loring, owner of sustainable fashion brand OOLOOP, had to turn down working with some designers for the sake of her ethics. And despite economic pressures like inflation and tariffs that have caused some brands to axe their sustainable fibers, Loring stayed strong.

“By refusing to work with certain designers because their materials were not good enough, we found they came back and added more organics and recycled fibers to their collections,” she says.

If these small businesses can afford just labor practices, there are no excuses for the biggest corporations. Vote with your dollar by supporting the small businesses of the Green Business Network® and holding corporate bigshots accountable.

Of all the alcoholic drinks in the United States, beer reigns supreme. The Pew Research Center notes that beer made up 42.3% of all consumed alcohol in 2021, compared to wine at 17.4% and spirits at 40.3%. According to the Beer Institute’s 2025 Beer Serves America study, the beer industry contributes more than $471 billion to the national economy.

In 2024, the U.S. produced 160 million barrels of beer—that’s 20 gallons per adult in the country. While craft brewers often work with organic produced grains, big beer corporations often use wheat and hops treated with pesticides toxic to human health, pollinators, and the safety of our water and food supplies.

“People are often passionate about the type of beer they drink and have major sway with beer producers,” comments Emma Kriss, Food Campaigns Manager at Green America. “If the beer industry can get pesticides out of its products and implement organic farming practices in its supply chain, then they would be an example to other food companies that they can do the same.”

The Way We Make Beer Is Bad

It starts with how we grow crops like barley and hops. Instead of practicing safe and healthy agricultural practices like regenerative or organic, most beer companies in the U.S. prioritize profit and efficiency over a healthy planet and people.

Spraying pesticides on crops to control pests may increase food production, but their use comes at a cost. Pesticides are known to cause acute health problems like blurred vision, difficulty breathing, seizures, and more, as well as chronic risks such as cancer, reproductive harm, and disruptions to the endocrine system. The resulting harm spreads throughout the supply chain, from the farm workers who grow and harvest the grains to the people who drink commercial brews.

“Barley, for example, can be exposed to up to seven pesticides, including the neurotoxin dichlorvos,” explains Kriss. Dichlorvos is classified as “possibly” and “probably” carcinogenic to humans, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer and EPA.

The known carcinogenic herbicide glyphosate was found in nearly every major U.S. beer brand in a 2019 report from the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) finding several major brands contained
glyphosate levels above 25 ppb.

The Beer Institute, which represents the $431 billion beer industry, tried to dismiss these findings as trivial noting these levels are below the EPA’s “tolerance” levels for glyphosate—in other words, below the maximum legally permissible amount of pesticide residue allowed. However, as PIRG notes, studies have shown as little as 0.1ppb of glyphosate, or .0001ppm, has the potential to destroy beneficial gut bacteria and increase breast cancer cells. And the landmark study that supposedly demonstrated the safety of glyphosate, “Safety Evaluation and Risk Assessment of the Herbicide Roundup and Its Active Ingredient, Glyphosate, for Humans,” released in 2000, was formally retracted in December 2025 by the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, because of improprieties, including the influence of Monsanto, maker of glyphosate containing RoundUp, on the results. Green America is currently working with partners to update this testing and will share the results later this year.

“Farmers and farm workers are [exposed] to these harmful pesticides, increasing their risk of the known health concerns,” Kriss warns. She also notes that when pesticides seep into the soil, they can put future nutritious crops at risk.

Can I Still Drink Beer?

Despite the prevalence of pesticides in beer production, there are ways beer-lovers can keep enjoying their hoppy ales and stouts and all the rest.

Kriss suggests opting for organic beers at retail stores or restaurants but warns that even organic foods can carry trace amounts of pesticides through drift. Even organic-labeled compost and fertilizers can still turn out to be contaminated by pesticides because the source material may contain industrial run-off. If a local brewery you love doesn’t have organic beers, tell them how important that is, and it will keep dollars local.

Enjoy the tailgates and parties, the pubs and camping trips, and some good beer, by drinking organic and
advocating for organic and safe agricultural practices from your local farmers and businesses.

Take action with us!

Electronic devices are so deeply embedded in our everyday lives that it is nearly impossible to go without them. They make our commutes more enjoyable, our jobs more efficient, and our communication practically instantaneous.

Every electronic device has an “ingredient list” of materials it is made from—aluminum, glass, copper wires, rubber buttons—that are generally considered safe for consumers.

But while device users may never encounter them, the solvents, cleaners, and degreasers used to manufacture our electronics can be hazardous to human health—and the people who make your electronics may be exposed to them every day at work.

Countries have made great strides in establishing legislation that protects buyers from toxins in electronics—but for the people making electronics, chemical protection standards are still lagging. Electronic manufacturing occurs all over the world, with approximately 78% of workers in Asia and the Pacific. According to a report from the International Labour Organization, there were over 17 million people employed worldwide in the manufacture and assembly of electronics hardware in 2023.

Protecting these workers from toxic chemicals is what Green America’s Clean Electronics Production Network seeks to address.

Meet the Clean Electronics Production Network

The Clean Electronics Production Network (CEPN) launched in 2016 as part of Green America’s work to holistically protect people and the planet, all the way up through the supply chain. CEPN unites diverse stakeholders and focuses specifically on reducing toxic chemicals in electronics manufacturing. CEPN comprises more than 20 member organizations including electronics brands and suppliers, environmental organizations, labor and worker representatives, ecolabels, academics, and public servants. Its core mission is to move toward zero exposure of workers to the toxic chemicals present in the assembly, production, and manufacturing of the many electronic devices we use today.

Several decades ago, metals that were extremely harmful to human health were present in electronics. Lead and mercury are two examples, both of which cause harm to the nervous system. However, these metals are largely absent from the devices we use today thanks to strict regulations from governments around the world. These wins were made possible by people and organizations around the world.

But there are toxic substances used in the manufacturing process itself, such as solvents, degreasers, and cleaners, which are often not included in the “ingredient list” of a device because they are absent by the time the device makes it into the hands of users. For example, chlorinated solvents are suspected carcinogens; methanol can be easily absorbed through skin and may cause blindness and kidney failure; and 2-ethoxyetheyl acetate can cause reproductive harm. Some of the workers who build electronics every day may be exposed to these substances on a regular basis.

Pamela Brody-Heine has been the Senior Director of CEPN for six years, helping to move the needle towards improved worker chemical safety in electronics manufacturing. She works with Senior Program Manager Mary Swanson, Program Manager Ginger Leib, and Senior Fellows Steve Brown and Michelle Turner. Together, they collaborate with major players in the electronics industry and other stakeholders towards zero exposure for workers.

“Well-known brands have come to the table to work with the network—Apple, Dell, HP, and Fairphone—that’s a win,” says Swanson. Getting these large corporations to sign onto Towards Zero Exposure, CEPN’s flagship program, has set a bold standard in shaping the culture around worker chemical safety. That is because of the influence the Signatories have on the industry.

“If you look at most of the big brands, they have supplier companies that do most of the manufacturing,” says Swanson. The Towards Zero Exposure program requires each Signatory to work with at least 15 production facilities, and some work with many more, to eliminate specific toxic chemicals from the manufacturing process. Altogether, “more than 200 supplier companies involved have been positively impacted by the Signatories so far,” says Swanson.

A Decade of Industry Change and A Future of Growth

CEPN’s newest project takes on chemical safety training. For the last two years, CEPN and partners have been drafting comprehensive training modules for workers and managers so that they are more informed on chemical safety to protect their own health and the health of their teams.

“This gives access to training resources to suppliers that are [part of earlier stages] in the supply chain that might not have resources on chemical safety training available,” says Leib.

The Chemical Safety Training Program is currently offered in three formats: in-person, live webinar, and interactive digital training formats. It includes topics such as workers’ right to know about chemical hazards and risks, hazard communication, control approaches, emergency response, and methods to promote worker engagement. The trainings are currently offered in six languages (English, Vietnamese, Malay, Thai, Tagalog, and simplified Chinese) with the intent to expand the range of available translations.

Leib says that beta test feedback of the Chemical Safety Training program, which took place from November 2024 to January 2025, was extremely positive. A year later, CEPN is excited to grow a
network of qualified trainers that can continue to deliver the Chemical Safety Training modules.

To further incentivize facilities to go through the Chemical Safety Training modules with their workers, CEPN has included a Supplier Recognition component. After a certain percentage of workers and managers have completed the training, the facility can be recognized on CEPN’s official list. So far, facilities in Vietnam and Malaysia that took part in the beta test and wish to be recognized are visible on the CEPN website.

A Green Economy for All People

Born from Green America’s mission to protect all people and the planet, CEPN has made great progress in electronics manufacturing safety for workers. As of February 2026, CEPN’s Towards Zero Exposure and other programs have improved worker chemical safety and extended to facilities in at least 30 countries and 800 facilities around the world. When hazardous chemicals are eliminated across the supply chain, it protects workers, their communities, and the environment from those chemicals.

Additionally, the positive beta test feedback demonstrates that CEPN’s chemical safety training addresses a workplace gap regarding education for electronics manufacturing workers. Leib states that CEPN will make more translations available as the program expands to make training even more accessible.

The Towards Zero Exposure program will continue to work with Signatories to eliminate priority chemicals from the manufacturing process. This work is as important as ever in a global economy that is increasingly dependent on electronics, especially when political administrations are slow to enact federal protections for workers. With its multi-stakeholder format—engaging workers, multi-national companies, and the global supply chain—CEPN can improve the lives of workers even in the absence of governments passing worker health and safety legislation.

In a globalized world, CEPN’s work is crucial to making workplaces safer and healthier for all people and the planet.

The Clean Electronics Production Network is part of Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions. The Center brings together diverse groups of stakeholders to solve sustainability problems that no individual business, organization, or leader can solve alone.

Leather is associated with luxury and durability, and it’s everywhere. It’s in our sneakers and jackets, our handbags and belts, and our furniture and car seats. As I write this piece, I’m wearing two pieces of clothing made from leather. Many global actors rely on the complex supply chain of animal hides to create leather-based consumer goods and unfortunately, there are many opportunities for environmental and social harm along the way.

Green America recently worked with a researcher in Bangladesh, A.K.M. Maksud, who has long been an advocate for labor reforms, to examine the leather supply chain in that country. He found children as young as eight working in leather processing facilities, exposed to harsh chemicals, with no opportunity to attend school.

“Hidden Hands: Child Labor in Bangladesh’s Leather Industry,” is our report based on his research, set to launch publicly this spring. It documents the experience of four young leather workers who’ve labored in tanneries since childhood. One of the young men interviewed, Tariq, shared experiences that illustrate the harsh conditions in leather tanneries.

Tariq was eight years old when he started working in a tannery in Hazaribagh, Bangladesh, one of the world’s most notorious leather-processing hubs. He was forced to leave school a few days into first grade to help support his family.

In the tannery, Tariq’s small hands first trimmed scraps of raw hide, scraped off meat and fat, and nailed hides onto wooden boards to dry. As he grew older, he began carrying buckets of chemicals like lime, sulphate, chromium, and formic acid. He learned how to mix and handle these toxic substances without gloves, masks, or any protective gear. Spills burned his skin and acid splashes left blisters and scars. Fumes stung his eyes and made him cough, but there was no way to avoid them. When he was fifteen, a spinning drum handle smashed his hand so badly [that] the bone broke through the skin. He missed two months of work, then went back because he had no other way to survive.

Today, at twenty, Tariq still works as a chemical mixer and dye man. The same chemicals he handled as a child still touch his bare skin every day. His hands and feet remain scarred and cracked from constant contact with acid and tanning waste. With no chance to return to school, he sees no path out of the tannery except for more years of the same dangerous work.

Leather and footwear are the second largest export industry in Bangladesh, and more than one out of every ten Bangladeshis work in the leather sector. The U.S. imports $8.7 billion of leather goods from Bangladesh each year. It’s essential that companies and consumers take action to ensure ethical leather production in Bangladesh and around the world.

Our report documents steps companies should take to ensure suppliers are protecting workers and prohibiting child labor, and how to give workers a central role in monitoring and enforcing labor rights agreements. Companies should also advocate for systemic reforms of the industry and develop responsible alternatives to leather. Green America is sharing these recommendations with major leather importing companies and asking them to work with us to implement these solutions.

As consumers, we can promote more responsible practices as well. We can refurbish current leather goods and buy used or recycled leather when possible. We can also support responsible alternatives to animal leather, such as recycled rubber and plant-based leather. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has a guide to plant-based leather companies on its website: “From Apples to Kombucha Tea: See the Ingenious Way Designers Are Making Vegan Leather.”

When buying new leather, look for vegetable-tanned leather that avoids the use of toxic chemicals like chromium. For example, Green Business Network® Member OOLOOP offers products made from upcycled leather scraps, free-range grass-fed animals, and/or vegetable-tanned leathers.

Together, consumers and businesses can support the call of workers and communities for greater responsibility in leather production in Bangladesh. Stay tuned for more ways to take action from Green America in the coming year.

A green economy doesn’t treat workers’ well-being and a healthy environment as acceptable losses in doing business. The bottom line isn’t ever-increasing individual profit—it’s the prosperity that comes from taking care of each other for a brighter, shared future. While traditional business outlooks may favor short-term profit at any expense, the fact is that the long-term success of any company requires safeguarding the welfare of workers, consumers, our environment, and our communities.

The top priorities of a green economy reflect how protecting both fair labor policies and environmentally sustainable practices are essential to creating a solid foundation that will serve any business well into its future:

Fair Pay and Pay Transparency are essential to a fair, green market. Economic data has long shown that a thriving middle class is the hallmark of a prosperous society. Therefore, paying workers fairly—whether it’s a livable wage, fair pay, or universal basic income—are crucial to ensuring people have enough money for their needs and to put back into the economy for their wants. Pay transparency is a key part of fair pay as well, breaking down socio-economic barriers and clarifying the monetary value of jobs. It also helps to address issues of wage theft and failure to pay overtime. For too many workers worldwide, unfair wages fail to cover even basic costs of living, and the ability to access essential needs such as food, clean water, shelter, clothing, and education remains precarious.

Health and Safety in the Workplace is fundamental to a strong workforce. Sufficient medical care for people and their families means workers get the care they need when they’re sick. It also means workplaces put worker well-being and safety first, ensuring that workers are: given safe and secure channels to report workplace violations; educated in safety and hazard prevention; and guaranteed just compensation for injuries and other harms. It’s especially critical to ensure workers are of legal age—many workplace accidents occur with underage workers.

Anti-Discrimination and Equity Policies in workplaces ensure that every person has the opportunity and resources to achieve their career goals, regardless of sex, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, nationality, creed, disability, age, or political opinion. Right to Organize in the workplace ensures that workers can speak up collectively to call out harms at work and choose to join a union if they wish. Worker agency and safety to raise major issues is necessary to ensure fair pay and safe workplaces.

Life/Work Balance provides people with enough time to recharge from work. People need to rest, play, provide caregiving, and manage obligations outside of work. We work for a living, but we don’t live for work. Time outside of work means we can spend our paychecks on goods, services, and experiences that keep the green economy running.

Environmental Sustainability creates an economic foundation that can take us into a prosperous and vibrant future. Instead of expanding industries such as chemical manufacturing or battery recycling that contaminate our water and poison the air, we must adopt policies and practices that seek to waste as little as possible and create little-to-no harm for our environment, our communities, and the workers we depend on. We can build innovative and profitable businesses that also ensure the resources we need are around for ourselves and future generations.

A green economy doesn’t have to be aspirational—there are businesses thriving right now that follow these principles and contribute to the health and vibrancy of their communities. Despite the many corporations that insist we accept greed and injustice as the price of doing business, labor protections, sustainable supply chains, and healthy work/life balances aren’t in opposition to profits and success; they’re vital building blocks in creating a robust economic system that’s accessible and equitable for everyone. And we can still insist—through how we spend our money, who we choose to do business with, and using our collective voices for change—on corporate policies and practices that allow a green economy to thrive for the good of us all and our planet.

No economy can exist for long without a healthy workforce. However, too many corporations
continue to chase ever-increasing profit margins at the expense of our planet and the people whose labor creates those profits in the first place. And it is corporations, not workers nor their communities, that are often protected by state and federal policies.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the number of states blocking labor protection laws has been rising since 2013. Currently, 44 out of 50 states have preemption laws that target worker rights, which means that even if cities, counties, and other local governments pass ordinances to benefit workers, state legislatures can still render them void. At the federal level, the administration has directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop factoring in the cost to human lives when deciding whether to set new limits on the amount of ozone and fine particulate matter industries spew into our environment—the only cost that now matters is corporations’ bottom lines.

Industries can keep insisting that contaminated soil and drinking water, an unstable climate, workers’ exposure to toxic chemicals, and child labor are unavoidable prices to pay when doing business, but Green Americans know we can and should do better than that. No profits are worth the price of people’s wellbeing and the health of our planet. It’s why readers like you have supported our campaigns to end child labor in our global supply chains and demand Big Beer stop using toxic pesticides that harm beer enthusiasts and the bees that pollinate our crops alike. It’s how Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions continues to build on its previous successes with our Clean Electronics Partner Network to protect the workers exposed to toxic solvents while they make the devices we depend on.

And we’re seeing more small businesses and green entrepreneurs prove that success doesn’t require exploiting workers. In fact, they embrace doing business in ways that value worker safety, prioritize ethical partners in their supply chain, and view a healthy planet as essential to good business.

But while we advocate for sustainable economic systems, the current administration’s policies continue to put workers and the communities that depend on them at the front lines of injustice. Nowhere is this more apparent than the ongoing months-long siege of immigrant and BIPOC communities nationwide by federal immigration raids. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as of January 2026, 73,000 people are being held by the federal government in immigration detention centers, a 75% increase over the past year; over two-thirds of those detained lack any criminal convictions and most have no violent offenses. According to the American Prospect, thirty-five people have died in ICE custody over the past year, making 2025 the deadliest year for the agency in two decades. As of February 17, over a dozen people have been shot by immigration officers since September, five of whom died: Isaias Sanchez Barboza, Silverio Villegas González, Renee Good, Keith Porter, and Alex Pretti.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that in 2023, foreign-born workers, including those who are undocumented, account for nearly 19% of the total U.S. labor force, from academia to the arts to engineering, as well as medical research, domestic assistance, and more. Over eight million un-
documented workers alone are employed in physical labor-heavy and often high-risk industries, including agriculture, service, manufacturing, and construction. People who come from the same communities that already suffer disproportionate harmful impacts from pollution, worsening climate disasters, and workplace discrimination now also face being torn away from their loved ones and disappeared into a massive system of forceable displacement and deportation, or worse.

As Green Americans, we recognize how these horrific abuses are part of larger systems that also excuse the exploitation of workers and the environment to enrich corporations that care for nothing beyond their profit margins. We must continue to act in solidarity with and demand justice for those from at-risk communities, whether they’re our loved ones, neighbors, coworkers, colleagues, or complete strangers. Not just because they contribute to our local and national economies, but also because it is the right and moral thing to do.

A green world can only exist if we stand up for each other.

24 Million Bangladeshi Workers Are Dependent on the Leather Sector, and Many Enter the Labor Force as Children; Life Expectancy for Tannery Workers is Only 40-50 Years Due to Toxic Chemical Exposure. 

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 28, 2026 – Green America released a new report on the environmental and health impacts of the leather industry in Bangladesh, and particularly the exposure of child laborers to harsh labor conditions and toxic chemicals. The new report includes the stories of four children who worked in the sector and worked with highly toxic chemicals without adequate protection.  

Todd Larsen, Executive Co-Director at Green America, said: “Leather comes at a devastating cost, with child laborers risking their lives daily to produce goods sold in wealthier countries. Consumer awareness is spreading and sustainable alternatives are emerging, but corporations need to step up to address this problem in their supply chains and products.” 

“Everything of my work is risky. I have to handle dangerous acids. Electric wires are not well managed… we often get shocked,” said Rafi, who was 10 years old when he left home in Tangail to work near the Hemayetpur Tannery Complex. 

Zayan, who was 14 when he started working at another tannery in Hemayetpur, said he works 14 to 16 hours every day with no holidays. The harsh work environment and toxic chemicals wear down his young body, and the average life expectancy for tannery workers like him is only 40 to 50 years. 

The leather sector is highly profitable, with the global leather goods market reaching $242.85 billion in 2022 and projected to surpass $400 billion by 2030. But in tanneries and workshops, unsafe machinery and hazardous materials cause workers to suffer chemical burns, respiratory illnesses, chronic skin disease, and frequent injuries. The leather production supply chain also relies on more than 200 toxic chemicals, exposing workers of all ages to serious health risks and harming local communities with chemical run-off. 

With a population of more than 170 million people, roughly 14% of Bangladesh’s workforce depends on jobs linked to the leather industry, from large tanneries to informal workshops, and many of these workers enter the leather labor force as children.   

According to the report findings: 

• In Bangladesh’s informal tannery sector, child labor is often an open secret. With weak labor inspections and little fear of penalties, employers routinely hire minors to perform the most dangerous jobs. 

• Bangladesh has some of the most hazardous tanning and dyeing operations in the world. Much of the semi-finished leather processed there is then shipped to China for further manufacturing into consumer goods destined for wealthy countries. 

• Leather tanning and processing in Bangladesh exposes workers to highly toxic chemicals without adequate protection. Workers routinely handle substances such as hexavalent chromium, formaldehyde, arsenic, sulfides, and banned azo dyes—many of which are classified as carcinogens or highly hazardous chemicals by international health agencies (Cividep, 2023).  

• Safety regulations are frequently ignored or unenforced, leaving workers vulnerable to acute injuries such as acid burns, chemical splashes, and respiratory distress. Moreover, the workplace environment is physically taxing: nearly 80% of workers report exposure to harmful noise levels, and over 70% labor in sweltering heat and humidity without adequate ventilation (Cividep, 2023). 

• Chronic exposure to these chemicals causes a broad spectrum of severe health problems, including chronic skin conditions like dermatitis, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma, neurological damage, and several forms of cancer, particularly lung and bladder cancer.  It also contributes to significant mental health issues. 

• These conditions are compounded by low wages, with laborers, including child laborers earning irregular, informal, or seasonal pay. 

• A key factor enabling these conditions is the leather industry’s low transparency. A 2024 study found that only 17 out of 100 major leather brands publicly disclose suppliers beyond their top-tier factories (Together for Decent Leather). Certification programs like the Leather Working Group (LWG) focus primarily on water and chemical management, often overlooking critical labor rights and worker protections (SOMO, 2022). This loophole-filled system allows multinational brands to continue sourcing from factories and tanneries with documented abuses while marketing themselves as ethically responsible to consumers in the Global North. 

• The leather industry creates significant environmental impacts as well.   

• Bangladesh’s tanning sector produces substantial emissions—an estimated 65 to 110 kg CO₂ per square meter of leather, especially under chromium tanning (Research Gate).  

• Tanneries discharge heavy metals like hexavalent chromium that are absorbed into crops and fish, leading to bioaccumulation in the food chain and elevated cancer, liver, and kidney disease rates in nearby populations (Financial Express). 

To address child labor and other abuses documented in the report, corporations should adopt a strong due diligence program, support worker-driven social responsibility programs, adopt supply chain transparency, extend protections throughout the supply chain, collaborate on systemic improvements, and invest in ethical and renewable material alternatives.    

Consumers can also play a role in shifting the market to more responsible practices. Consumers actions include: Not buying new leather, purchasing vegetable-tanned leather with natural dyes, looking for ethical and renewable alternatives, and researching companies before purchasing.  

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ABOUT GREEN AMERICA 

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org 

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin for Green America, (703) 276-3255, or mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com.  

The leather sector is highly profitable, with the global leather goods market reaching $242.85 billion in 2022 and projected to surpass $400 billion by 2030.  

Leather production also subjects workers, communities, and the environment to multiple harms.  The leather production supply chain relies on more than 200 toxic chemicals, exposing workers of all ages to serious health risks. In tanneries and workshops, both adults and children suffer chemical burns, respiratory illnesses, chronic skin disease, and frequent injuries from unsafe machinery and hazardous materials. Local communities also experience harms from chemical run-off. 

Green America recently worked with a researcher in Bangladesh to document these impacts in that country, and in particular, the exposure of child laborers to harsh labor conditions, including toxic chemicals. 

With a population of more than 170 million people, roughly 14 percent of Bangladesh’s workforce depends on jobs linked to the leather industry, from large tanneries to informal workshops, and many of these workers enter the leather labor force as children.   

Detailing the experiences of children exposed to unsafe and exploitative labor conditions within the overall corporate, economic, and legal landscape in Bangladesh and Southeast Asia, we found: 

• In Bangladesh’s informal tannery sector, child labor is often an open secret. With weak labor inspections and little fear of penalties, employers routinely hire minors to perform the most dangerous jobs. 
• Bangladesh has some of the most hazardous tanning and dyeing operations in the world. Much of the semi-finished leather processed there is then shipped to China for further manufacturing into consumer goods destined for wealthy countries. 
• Leather tanning and processing in Bangladesh exposes workers to highly toxic chemicals without adequate protection. Workers routinely handle substances such as hexavalent chromium, formaldehyde, arsenic, sulfides, and banned azo dyes—many of which are classified as carcinogens or highly hazardous chemicals by international health agencies (Cividep, 2023).  
• Safety regulations are frequently ignored or unenforced, leaving workers vulnerable to acute injuries such as acid burns, chemical splashes, and respiratory distress. Moreover, the workplace environment is physically taxing: nearly 80% of workers report exposure to harmful noise levels, and over 70% labor in sweltering heat and humidity without adequate ventilation (Cividep, 2023). 
• Chronic exposure to these chemicals causes a broad spectrum of severe health problems, including chronic skin conditions like dermatitis, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma, neurological damage, and several forms of cancer, particularly lung and bladder cancer.  It also contributes to significant mental health issues. 
• These conditions are compounded by low wages, with laborers, including child laborers earning irregular, informal, or seasonal pay. 

• A key factor enabling these conditions is the leather industry’s low transparency. A 2024 study found that only 17 out of 100 major leather brands publicly disclose suppliers beyond their top-tier factories (Together for Decent Leather). Certification programs like the Leather Working Group (LWG) focus primarily on water and chemical management, often overlooking critical labor rights and worker protections (SOMO, 2022). This loophole-filled system allows multinational brands to continue sourcing from factories and tanneries with documented abuses while marketing themselves as ethically responsible to consumers in the Global North. 
• The leather industry creates significant environmental impacts as well.   
  • Bangladesh’s tanning sector produces substantial emissions—an estimated 65 to 110 kg CO₂ per square meter of leather, especially under chromium tanning (Research Gate).  
  • Tanneries discharge heavy metals like hexavalent chromium that are absorbed into crops and fish, leading to bioaccumulation in the food chain and elevated cancer, liver, and kidney disease rates in nearby populations (Financial Express). 

Corporate and Consumer Actions 

To address child labor and other abuses documented in the report, corporations should take the following actions: 

• Adopt a strong due diligence program to prevent young workers from being employed in hazardous conditions and immediately correct the situation if a violation is found. Due diligence processes must go beyond conventional social compliance auditing and include: effective grievance mechanisms, support for rights-training programs, and incentives for good performance by suppliers. 
• Support worker-driven social responsibility programs. Worker-driven social responsibility is a “bottom up” approach that can achieve superior results by embedding enforceable labor-rights agreements into companies’ contracts and giving workers a central role in monitoring and enforcement of these agreements. 
• Adopt supply chain transparency. One of the most important steps companies can take is to thoroughly map the networks of suppliers involved in their operations and disclose these connections. 
• Extend Protections throughout the supply chain. Buyers must extend due diligence and the accountability mechanisms of worker-driven sustainability efforts to suppliers and producers of inputs at deeper tiers of their supply chains.   
• Collaborate on systemic improvements. Buyers should conduct risk assessments to identify the biggest systemic problems in their supply chains and use the results to prioritize investment into solutions for systemic issues.   
• Invest in ethical and renewable material alternatives. Leather alternatives crafted from agricultural waste, plant fibers, and other renewable materials offer a promising path for companies to avoid the worst problems of the conventional leather industry and invest in more sustainable and ethical solutions.   

Consumers can also play a role in shifting the market to more responsible practices. Consumers actions include: 

• Not buying new leather:  Leather is a highly durable product, so consumers should look for used, recycled, or refurbished leather products where possible. 
• If purchasing new leather products, look for vegetable-tanned leather with natural dyes.  
• Looking for ethical, renewable alternatives: leather alternatives made from natural and renewable materials, such as those derived from plants, fungi, or microbial production, are increasingly available – but avoid fake leather made from petroleum products. 
• Researching companies before purchasing: To learn more about a company’s practices, consider reviewing its publicly available materials, such as its corporate social responsibility report or website, checking for information about the company’s leather sourcing before reaching out to companies via letter, email, chat, or phone.  If a company’s policies and practices are lacking, let them know via email, letter, or online chat, and tell them you are taking your business elsewhere and why. 

Read the Report

As Americans continue to face high grocery bills, President Donald Trump said Friday he was rolling back environmental rules laid out by the Biden administration on chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners, saying this would cut costs.

The restrictions were, in fact, a result of a 2020 bipartisan law Trump signed that year aimed at so-called "super pollutants" because of their effects on climate change, but the president said the new limits had driven up business costs, impacting consumers.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lee Zeldin said the HFC requirements, finalized in 2023, would be relaxed for grocery stores, AC companies, and semiconductor plants, potentially opening up $2.4 billion in savings.

Meta claims to be building massive data centers across the country in a way that is sustainable and beneficial to communities. 

The company spent over $6 million on ads trying to convince policymakers and the public that its data centers benefit communities, focused on a data center that it says is reviving Altoona, Iowa. 

But the facts speak otherwise. 

Meta’s All-Too-Real Impacts on the Ground 

1. Meta’s Hyperion Data Center in Richland, Louisiana, is resulting in the fast-tracking of seven new gas power plants in addition to three gas plants that were already approved in 2025.  This is despite extensive community pushbacks and a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists, documenting $90 billion in projected health and environmental damage from data center development in the state.  

2. Meta’s data center in Newton County, Georgia, uses so much water that it’s causing local taps to run dry, and the county is estimated to run a water deficit by 2030. 

3. Meta is proposing a 366 megawatt natural gas plant to run a data center in El Paso Texas despite local opposition.  

And the reality in Altoona, Iowa, the town featured in Meta’s $6 million ad buy, is more complicated than the company lets on.  Altoona is not the down-on-its-luck farm town the ad portrays, but a suburb of Des Moines.  And a local opposition group, Warren County Citizen’s for Responsible Development, posted a lengthy takedown of Meta’s charm offensive with local leaders over water and energy use, and noise pollution. 

The post concludes – “What’s being spun as “economic development” is actually a transfer of responsibility from corporations to citizens. What they built in Altoona should be a cautionary tale, not a blueprint. 

Welcome to the Wild West of Data Infrastructure.” 

Meta Needs to Change Course: 

We are asking Meta to Build Smart, Build Clean   

Data centers should go where they won’t harm communities. Many existing data centers create more noise, pollution, and congestion for underserved neighborhoods already dealing with unsafe and unhealthy conditions. Communities should be fully involved in the placement process to ensure everyone benefits from data center construction.   

Put Efficiency First   

Design AI programs to do more with less energy by taking advantage of the most efficient chips and processing.  

Zero Fossil Fuels, No Nukes, Period   

Every aspect of AI processing must run on clean energy—no coal, no gas, no nuclear. We don’t lack the right technology, and using renewable energy, with battery storage and  Virtual Power Production (VPPs), can meet the needs for peak demand while lowering the cost of energy for your company and consumers.  

Community Power   

Listen to families living near proposed data centers and power sources and give them a say – some communities would agree to data centers and the revenues they can bring if those centers are designed to address noise and air pollution, utilize renewable energy, minimize water usage, and provide benefits to homeowners.  

Transparency   

Meta is building data centers without being fully transparent about issues like the electricity and water needed to run them. Your company has the opportunity to be a good neighbor and address the concerns of community members, starting with energy bills and water usage.  

The investment Meta is making in developing data centers is in the billions. Meta needs to protect the communities it serves, and create benefit for the company, by ensuring it invests in powering AI with 100% renewable energy that creates community benefits. 

Green America’s campaigns urging Amazon, telecoms, and Comcast to adopt 100% renewable energy have scored big wins. 

Thanks to the support of hundreds of thousands of people taking action with us, joining extensive media and social media campaigns, we’ve pushed these enormous energy users to shift to solar, wind, and battery storage: 

• Amazon: our campaign led Amazon to commit to 100% renewable energy and reach that goal in 2023*, up from 0% renewables in 2012.  

• Telecom Sector: our campaign targeting the largest communications companies in the US achieved renewable commitments from all three major carriers – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile (all of which had been using less than 2% renewables):  

• AT&T reached 21% renewable energy use,  

• Verizon reached 50% renewable energy use and committed to 100% by 2030, and  

• T-Mobile achieved 100% renewable energy use.   

• Comcast: our campaign led to the communications giant (which also owns NBC Universal) to double its clean energy usage to 25% of its total energy.  

These companies collectively use as much energy as an entire US state or small country (Amazon is using enough clean energy to power 12 million homes and the three telecoms use enough energy to power over 3 million homes), so when they purchased renewable energy they are making the largest corporate commitments to solar and wind in history.   

And those purchases are helping drive down the cost of solar and wind power nationwide and around the world. 

Green America is now building on this progress by urging the largest tech companies to power their AI data centers with 100% renewable energy.  

*Note: after Amazon reached 100% renewable energy, it started building AI data centers, and like other tech giants – Google, Meta, and Microsoft – is now ramping up dirty energy sources again to power these massive data centers. Join us in pushing the tech sector to use renewable energy only. 

Global electronics brands are making measurable progress to reduce workers’ exposure to hazardous chemicals across their supply chains—protecting over 100,000 workers worldwide. 

Through the Toward Zero Exposure (TZE) program, launched by the Clean Electronics Production Network at Green America, major companies including Apple, Dell, HP, and Fairphone have committed to reducing exposure to some of the most hazardous chemicals used in electronics manufacturing. 

What changed 

• Over 800 manufacturing facilities across 29 countries have already eliminated or substituted the first round of priority hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives 

• More than 200 supplier companies have improved chemical safety practices 

• These changes are improving protections to well over 100,000 workers in electronics production 

• Fairphone became the first company to fully eliminate a second round of priority chemicals at relevant facilities 

Why this matters 

Workers in electronics manufacturing are routinely exposed to toxic chemicals linked to serious health risks. Historically, companies relied on protective equipment or ventilation systems—but these approaches don’t eliminate the hazard itself. 

TZE shifts the industry toward the most effective solution: removing hazardous chemicals entirely or replacing them with safer alternatives. This prevents exposure at every stage of the production process, rather than attempting to manage it after the fact. 

Scaling industry-wide change 

The program is now aligned with the Responsible Business Alliance’s Chemical Management Leadership Program, helping standardize best practices across the sector. Participating companies are also increasing transparency by sharing their Manufacturing Restricted Substances Lists (MRSLs), creating a more coordinated industry response. 

The bigger picture 

This is how systemic change happens: when major brands commit, entire supply chains follow. What began with a handful of companies is now influencing hundreds of suppliers and facilities globally—and setting a new baseline for worker safety in the electronics industry. 

Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions helped bring together companies, labor advocates, and environmental experts to drive this progress—proving that collaboration can move whole industries toward safer, more responsible practices. 

The victory gardens of the World War I and II era were practical: grow food to sustain the health and well-being of the homefront while so much of the workforce was serving overseas and industry was focused on the war effort.

Now, a new generation of gardeners are embracing the victory garden concept and growing fruits and vegetables for very 21st century reasons.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 10, 2026 – In a new letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Soil & Climate Alliance’s Regen Policy Initiative offered recommendations to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on how to allocate the $700 million in funding for its Regenerative Pilot Program, which launched in December 2025.

The letter outlines a series of targeted recommendations that would help the program more effectively improve soil health. These recommendations address core aspects of the program–planning, outcomes and testing, practices, and education:

• NRCS staffing capacity and skills to undertake whole farm planning
• Analyzing outcomes and testing, including consistent methodologies and data sharing
• Identifying impactful practices, including additions to the approved list
• Improved education and TA, including an internal train-the-trainer program and peer education

Jessica Hulse Dillon, Senior Director of Soil & Climate Alliance, said: “It’s critical for the USDA to consider valuable input from key stakeholders with industry-leading experience and insight. We are grateful that its leadership recognizes the importance of regenerative agriculture practices and soil health to U.S. agriculture, and we look forward to helping to create real change for our food systems.”

35 organizations and farmers signed on to the letter, including Applegate, Seven Sundays, MegaFood, EarthJustice, Green America, Nutrient Density Initiative, InCommon Group, Land Core, American Sustainable Business Network, Carbon180, Farmer’s Footprint, The Non-GMO Project, Regenerative Agriculture Coalition, Latino Farmers & Ranchers International, TIFS (Transformational Investing in Food Systems), US Composting Council, GC Revolve LLC, CA Association of Compost Producers, Naturepedic Organic Mattresses, and more.

Ayesha Ali, Co-Founder and Partner at InCommon, said: “Farmers and consumers across the country have been asking for real support from the USDA to help producers transition to regenerative agriculture; we are pleased to see USDA and NRCS leadership respond with a program that has the potential to provide that. Now, addressing NRCS capacity and creating broadly available educational opportunities about soil health practices will be instrumental to ensuring measurable, long-term success for the program.”

Adam Chappell of Chappell Brothers Farm, said: “This funding could be an important first step for many farmers, towards a better way of practicing agriculture and away from a system that is no longer serving us as producers, or the consumers. If adopted, these recommendations would mean farmers could access transformative support, allowing them to create real and positive change for our farmers, our food, and our communities”

The full letter can be found here: https://www.soilclimatealliance.org/regen-policy-initiative  

The Soil & Climate Alliance is a Green America initiative focused on advancing regenerative agriculture and soil health solutions.

###

ABOUT

Soil & Climate Alliance is a collaborative hub driving innovation in agriculture to create a resilient, equitable, and inclusive food system. We focus on regenerating soil health, sequestering carbon, and revitalizing rural economies — while improving water quality, biodiversity, food security, and nutrition. For more information, go to https://www.soilclimatealliance.org/.  

MEDIA CONTACT:  Max Karlin at (703) 276-3255, mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com.

The Maryland legislature passed, and the Governor recently signed, The Utility RELIEF Act, which includes important protections for consumers, communities, and the environment on AI Data Centers that are proposed across the state. 

There are some important wins on data centers that Green America and allies supported: 

• The definition of hyperscale data centers was expanded to include smaller data centers (25 MW and up). 

• New Voluntary Clean Capacity Rating Program. This is an incentive program that encourages data centers to bring and pay for their own clean energy to include battery storage and non-emitting sources. 

• Ratepayer protections. Data centers will pay for transmission, distribution, interconnection, and new capacity costs. 

• Prohibits the construction of data centers in low-income communities in Baltimore City. 

Green America joined allies, including Nature Forward and Chesapeake Climate Action Network, in urging the Maryland Legislature to put protections in place for proposed AI data centers in the state before they get built – and the resulting legislation is an important first step – for Maryland and for other states working to limit harms and increase benefits from data centers. 

In particular, the Voluntary Clean Capacity Rating Program includes a number of provisions that are in line with Green America’s Community Partnership Model for Data Centers – a roadmap for building data centers that support communities instead of harming them. 

But, on the minus side: 

• The incentive program for clean energy for data centers won’t take effect until the program is enacted by the Public Service Commission in December 2027.  In the meantime there is no incentive for using clean energy to power data centers. 

• There are incentives for nuclear power, which is counted as a non-emitting source, with costs borne by ratepayers. 

• The data center provisions are part of the overall energy bill that includes extensive cuts to the Maryland EmPOWER program, which provides rebates and incentives for homeowners to adopt energy efficiency, and electrification, and assists low-income households.  The program is a driver of the state meeting its climate goals, and these reductions will imperil meeting these goals. (Green America supported the inclusion of the data center regulations but not the overall energy bill for this reason). 

What’s next? Ensure that AI Data Centers do not harm Maryland Communities.  Green America will: 

• Work with counties and municipalities throughout the state to ensure that any data centers built support communities – in addition to our Community Partnership Model, we are sharing our new guide: 10 Steps to Ensure an AI Data Center Benefits Your Community, and advocating with our members to ensure community participation in and benefit from data centers. 

• Continue to pressure the largest tech companies – Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta to end their use of polluting energy sources for data centers that are devastating communities nationwide. 

• Ensure that only renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and battery backup are the only sources of energy for data centers, and that nuclear power is not counted as clean energy in any data center project. 

• Encourage any data center that is built to include Virtual Power Production (VPPs) that will enable homeowners to sell energy to data centers from battery storage (including from electric vehicles) at their home and are paid for this energy. 

Green America’s free guide, “10 Steps to Ensure an AI Data Center Benefits Your Community,” shows you how to take action early—protecting your community, demanding transparency, and ensuring real benefits before decisions are made. 

Our regenerative farming work just hit a major milestone — and you'll be able to see it next time you shop.

Whole Foods Market has approved Green America's Soil & Climate Initiative as one of their trusted certifications. When you shop at Whole Foods, you'll start seeing products carrying the Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified™ label — meaning the ingredients were grown by farmers rebuilding healthy soil, reducing carbon in the atmosphere, protecting water quality, and increasing nutrients in our food. Brands like PACHA and Root Chips are already on shelves.

This is what real market transformation looks like.

Since 2019, we've partnered with over 165 farms across 27 states, covering more than 350,000 acres. What sets our program apart is how it combines deep farmer relationships with innovative technology. We don't just certify farms—we work side-by-side with farmers, providing hands-on support to help them transition to practices that are better for their land and their livelihoods. We help farmers test their soil, plan their transition, and connect with food companies looking for regeneratively grown ingredients. Every farm goes through independent verification to ensure the standards are real and credible.

John Strohfus, a Minnesota farmer in our program, told us we're "the most approachable regenerative certification available today." That matters, because if we want more farmers to adopt these practices, we need to make it realistic and economically viable for them.

When major retailers like Whole Foods recognize programs like ours, it creates real economic incentives for farmers to farm differently. It tells the market that consumers care about how their food is grown. And it helps build the infrastructure needed to scale up regenerative agriculture across the country.

This is how we create systemic change: support farmers, educate consumers, build market demand for food that's good for people and the planet. We're proud of this milestone and grateful to everyone who's helped make it possible.

In February 2026, Green America tested five of the most popular beers in the U.S. for the harmful pesticide glyphosate, as well as aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), a breakdown product of glyphosate.

Independent laboratory results showed all five tested positive. These results are concerning given the amount of beer consumed on average in the U.S. and how much people are exposed to these chemicals from farmers to consumers.

Even small exposures matter because they can increase cumulative risk – people are exposed to a wide range of harmful pesticides through their daily diets. Additionally, U.S. regulations defining “acceptable levels” of glyphosate in food and beverages don’t reflect current scientific understanding of risk.

Summary

• What is glyphosate: A widely used herbicide and an active ingredient in agricultural Roundup and other products that can result in residues on food crops.
• What we tested: Five (5) major beers: Budweiser, Bud Light, Corona, Heineken, Michelob Ultra
• What we found: Glyphosate and AMPA were detected in all five samples (see results table). AMPA is the primary breakdown product of glyphosate.
  • Range detected: Glyphosate: 0.25–2.93 ng/g; AMPA: 0.23–0.71 ng/g; Effective glyphosate level: 0.60–3.33 ng/g.
• Why it matters: Beer is widely consumed; residues can reflect farming practices for barley, wheat, and other grains.  Farmers, farmworkers, and rural communities may be exposed, and local environments may be contaminated with glyphosate.
• What should change: Companies should set supplier standards, test routinely, and transition sourcing away from glyphosate-dependent practices as part of an overall plan to reduce and then eliminate toxic pesticides in their supply chains.

Small Exposures to Glyphosate Matter

Glyphosate, which is an active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup, is the most common weed killer in the U.S. It’s used so heavily on crops that residues show up in many foods and beverages. Bayer recently removed glyphosate from consumer Roundup products, but it is still used widely in agriculture.

Many health advocates argue that all exposure to pesticides should be minimized—while the amount in one glass of beer will not cause immediate harm, it contributes to the broader reality that people are routinely exposed to a mixture of chemicals and pesticides through their diets and the environment. There are growing scientific concerns about low-dose effects, vulnerable populations, and real-world exposure to multiple chemicals.

Many cities, states, and countries have banned glyphosate or are in the process of banning or restricting it. However, regulators, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), still allow legal residue levels that are concerning.

• Why even low levels of exposure can be concerning: Even low-level residues can matter because pesticide exposure is cumulative across diet and environment. Studies have shown that lower dose, repeated exposures are likely more harmful than acute exposures. A recent study done on mice found that “glyphosate exposure at doses approximating the U.S. Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) significantly impacts gut microbiota composition.” Essentially, it means supposedly “safe” amounts of glyphosate can still alter the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut.  Another study found multi-generational impacts of low doses of glyphosate when tested on mice.  Taken together, these findings suggest that even low, repeated exposures—though individually small—may have cumulative and longer-term biological effects that warrant concern.
• Evidence of cancer links and corporate interference: Over the past decade, scientific research has increasingly tied glyphosate exposure to cancer. In addition, the 20+ year-old study that supposedly demonstrated the safety of glyphosate was recently retracted because it came to light that the original publication was largely ghost written by Monsanto scientists. In the retraction, Martin van den Berg, co–editor-in-chief of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, noted, “the lack of clarity regarding which parts of the article were authored by Monsanto employees creates uncertainty about the integrity of the conclusions drawn.” The leading global authority on cancer classification, led by independent scientists—the International Agency for Research on Cancer—classifies glyphosate as a probable carcinogen.

• EPA allows higher levels of glyphosate on our food than the EU: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not fully account for cumulative, long-term exposure or the potential effects of chemical mixtures over time. The EPA’s position that glyphosate does not pose harmful risks to human health when used according to label instructions and is unlikely to be carcinogenic has been the subject of sustained criticism, including documented concerns about regulatory capture and industry influence (e.g. Merchants of Poison)—such as reliance on industry-funded studies. In contrast, the legal limits for residue levels for glyphosate in food in the European Union are substantially lower—in some cases orders of magnitude lower—than those permitted in the U.S.

Why We Tested Beer

Green America launched its Better Beer campaign in the fall of 2025. On average, Americans drink 26.5 gallons of beer/year, and that high consumption rate and broad reach means many people experience a substantial cumulative exposure to pesticides in beer. Furthermore, the U.S. is the #1 exporter of hops (unless you count the EU as a whole) and the U.S. is the #7 exporter of barley. Given beer’s popularity, this could potentially harm millions of Americans and beer-drinkers worldwide, and pesticide applications to crops used in beer could expose growers, farmworkers, beer producers, local communities, and the environment to toxic pesticides as well.

While the main ingredients in beer—barley, wheat, and hops—are treated with different problematic pesticides, glyphosate is pervasive in our environment and food system. Researchers have even found glyphosate in the rain.

In 2019, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) tested 20 beers and wines, 19 of which contained glyphosate. We wanted to re-test some of those beers to see if the companies had improved their supply chains since the PIRG study. Our 2025 study found glyphosate present in all the beers we tested.

The State of Pesticides in Beer

Previous studies have found that there are many pesticides used on the crops that go into beer. For example, Green America’s ally, Beyond Pesticides, found 58 pesticides on barley alone! While the brewing process reduces concentrations of some pesticides, there are several that survive the process at higher levels.

One study, “Comprehensive Review on Monitoring, Behavior, and Impact of Pesticide Residues during Beer-Making” found: “Specifically, nine pesticides were identified as remaining at high levels in beer due to their high water solubility (log KOW below 2): methamidophos (retaining ~80%), 2-(1-naphthyl)acetamide and imazaquin (70–80%), and fluoroxypyr, flumetsulam, thiamethoxam, imibenconazole-desbenzyl, imidacloprid, and tebuthiuron (60–70%)”

Another study, “Fate of Pesticide Residues in Beer and Its By-products,” found that over 80% of glyphosate is transferred from the sweet wort—liquid extracted from mash during the brewing process—into the final beer.

As noted above, a PIRG study previously found[1] glyphosate present in 19 of the 20 tested beers and wines, including in organic beverages; the supply chains of organic beverages may have been contaminated by residues found in water, fertilizers, or compost, since glyphosate is prohibited in organic production.

Findings

On February 5, 2026, the five beers tested were delivered directly to Health Research Institute (HRI), a High Complexity CLIA Certified clinical laboratory and an ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 Accredited analytical laboratory.  The beers were delivered in their original containers, and opened and tested by HRI on February 15, 2026, with findings reported on February 18, 2026.

Lab results summary (ng/g or ppb):

Note: The lab reports “Effective glyphosate level” using the FAO residue definition: total glyphosate residue = glyphosate + 1.5 × AMPA.

What these numbers mean: The Health Research Institute reports residues in ng/g (nanograms per gram), which is the same as parts per billion (ppb). In this set of five beers, glyphosate was detected in every sample, and the highest “effective glyphosate level” reported was 3.33 ng/g (Heineken). These are low concentrations—below levels the EPA allows—but they matter because beer is widely consumed and because people may be exposed to glyphosate residues from many foods and drinks—not just one product. And since we are all exposed to multiple pesticides every day, small exposures to any one pesticide contribute to an overall cumulative exposure to pesticides in general.

As noted above, there is also a growing body of research demonstrating that low levels of chronic exposure to glyphosate may be harmful to human health. Recent research demonstrates that counties with the highest usage of glyphosate demonstrate higher incidence rates of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The fact that glyphosate is present in all five beers tested indicates that the crops used to brew the beer were treated with the chemical. The people most exposed are those who work and live near where those crops were grown—local communities, farmers, and farmworkers, as well as the environment.

Methodology

• Sampling: 5 beers (Budweiser, Bud Light, Corona, Heineken, Michelob Ultra). Sampling date: 2026-2-05. Sample description: Beer.
• Laboratory: Health Research Institute (HRI Labs), Fairfield, Iowa. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited (Accreditation # 92657).
• Analytical method: LC-MS/MS. Testing date: 2026-02-15. Report date: 2026-02-18. Method listed as HRI Method TM #7 “Glyphosate in Water, Cation H method.”
• Analytes: Glyphosate and AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid).
• Limits: Glyphosate LOQ = 0.025 ppb; LOD = 0.007 ppb. AMPA LOQ = 0.025 ppb; LOD = 0.014 ppb. (“Trace” = between LOD and LOQ; “ND” < LOD.)
• Effective glyphosate: Calculated per FAO residue definition: glyphosate + 1.5 × AMPA.
• Method basis: Sample preparation/analysis employed modifications of methods described in Chamkasem et al. (2016) and Jensen et al. (2016). Measurement uncertainties are available from the lab upon request. In this project, the lab analyzed beer using LC‑MS/MS, a highly sensitive testing method commonly used to measure pesticide residues.

Why This Matters

For many people, beer isn’t an occasional product—it’s a regular purchase. When a pesticide residue shows up in a commonly consumed drink, it raises questions that go beyond individual exposure: What agricultural practices are being used upstream? Are major brands verifying their supply chains and testing ingredients in general? And are regulatory thresholds keeping pace with the most cautious interpretations of the science—especially for chemicals used at massive scale?

• Population exposure: Beer adds to overall dietary exposure to pesticides and chemicals; residues across many foods can accumulate.
• Consumer expectations: Many consumers assume beverages are “cleaner” than raw commodities; our findings contradict that assumption.  Nearly 86% of global consumers say they view natural flavors positively in beer — a signal that transparent brewing is becoming an “expectation,” not an exception, states the report. Two out of three shoppers say they are also very likely to pay attention to the use and callout of natural flavors on beer labels.
• Occupational and environmental links: Residues in products can reflect broader patterns affecting farmworkers, soil and water, and biodiversity.
• Regulatory disconnect: The tolerances/“legal” levels set by the EPA can be far higher than what advocates consider acceptable based on precaution and evolving science.
• Market signal: Testing can push transparency and safer sourcing across the industry. Beer producers will only address toxic chemicals in their supply chains if they are aware and their consumer audience is also concerned.

What These Beer-Producing Companies Should Do

• Make a time-bound commitment to eliminate harmful pesticides: Set a clear deadline to phase out harmful pesticides from supply chains, starting with high-impact ingredients like barley and hops.
• Work with suppliers to implement better farming systems: Partner with growers to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) and expand organic farming practices.
• Set ingredient standards and prohibit high-residue practices: Require suppliers to avoid practices that drive higher residues (including pre-harvest glyphosate applications, where relevant) and to document pesticide use.
• Ensure complete supply chain transparency: Publicly disclose pesticide policies, supplier standards, and regular progress updates.
• Support farmers and farmworkers in the transition: Provide funding, technical assistance, training, and protections to help move toward regenerative and organic agriculture.
• Fund substantial assistance for pesticide-free methods: Offer meaningful financial support (e.g., cost-sharing, longer-term contracts, transition premiums) for suppliers adopting pesticide-free farming methods.
• Use third-party verified measurement and verification: Implement routine third-party testing and independent verification to measure performance and demonstrate a commitment to health and quality.
• Collaborate with environmental organizations and use science-based approaches: Work with credible partners to prioritize evidence-based standards, monitoring, and continuous improvement.

What You Can Do as a Consumer: Take Action and Protect Yourself

• Choose organic: Certified organic beers tend to have the lowest levels of glyphosate and are already working to end pesticide use and improve agricultural practices in the supply chain.
• Ask questions: Contact brands and local breweries to ask where they source barley/wheat from. Do they restrict pre-harvest glyphosate? Do they test for glyphosate/AMPA?
• Support better agriculture: Buy from producers using verified organic and regenerative practices that restrict pesticide reliance.
• Advocate: Sign onto Green America’s action to halt the use of toxic pesticides in beer production, submit comments to regulators, support policy proposals that lower tolerances and require more robust, independent testing.
• Share information: Help others understand that “legal” does not always mean “safe,” and that repeated low-dose exposure is a key concern. You can learn more about problematic pesticides here.
• Reduce overall exposure: Consider broader dietary shifts (more organic where feasible) and filter drinking water if relevant to your area.

References

1. Barnett, J. A., Josephson, J. K., Yuzbashian, E., Haskey, N., Hart, M. M., Soma, K. K., Verdugo, A., McComb, C. J., Bandy, M. L., Ghosh, S., Letef, C., Copp, A., Ishida, R., Gibon, J., Ye, J., Giebelhaus, R. T., Murch, S. J., Jung, M. M., & Gibson, D. L. (2025). Prenatal exposure to dietary levels of glyphosate disrupts metabolic, immune, and behavioral markers across generations in mice. Science of the Total Environment, 1002, Article 180437.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180437
2. Chamkasem, N., Morris, C., & Harmon, T. 2016. “Direct Determination of Glyphosate, Glufosinate, and AMPA in Milk by Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry.” Journal of Regulatory Science 3(2): 20–26.
3. Cook, K. (2019). Glyphosate Pesticide in Beer and Wine [Review of Glyphosate Pesticide in Beer and Wine]. In US PIRG Education Fund. https://publicinterestnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/WEB_USP_Glyphosate-pesticide-beer-and-wine_REPORT_022619-2.pdf
4. ‌Food Ingredients First. (2026, February 16). Beer innovation trends: Kalsec reveals what's driving consumer choices. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/news/beer-innovation-trends-kalsec-reveals-whats-driving-consumer-choices.html
5. Hakme E, Kallehauge Nielsen I, Fermina Madsen J, Storkehave LM, Skjold Elmelund Pedersen M, Schulz BL, Poulsen ME, Hobley TJ, Duedahl-Olesen L. Fate of pesticide residues in beer and its by-products. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2024 Jan;41(1):45-59. doi: 10.1080/19440049.2023.2282557. Epub 2024 Jan 17. PMID: 38039344.
6. Health Research Institute (HRI Labs). 2026. COA 4 V1.8 Certificate of Analysis: Beer—Glyphosate & AMPA (Samples S14163–S14167). Report date: 2026-02-18. (On file with authors.)
7. Jensen, P. K., Wujcik, C. E., McGuire, M. K., & McGuire, M. A. 2016. “Validation of Reliable and Selective Methods for Direct Determination of Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid in Milk and Urine Using LC-MS/MS.” Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B 51(4): 254–259.
8. Leasca, S. (2026, March 26). High glyphosate use, higher cancer rates? A new report raises questions. Food & Wine. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://www.foodandwine.com/high-glyphosate-use-higher-cancer-rates-report-11932542
9. Lehman, P. C., Cady, N., Ghimire, S., Shahi, S. K., Shrode, R. L., Lehmler, H.-J., & Mangalam, A. K. (2023). Low-dose glyphosate exposure alters gut microbiota composition and modulates gut homeostasis. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 100, Article 104149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2023.104149
10. Malkan, S., with Klein, K., & Lappé, A. (2022, December). Merchants of poison: How Monsanto sold the world on a toxic pesticide: A case study in disinformation, corrupted science, and manufactured doubt about glyphosate [Report]. U.S. Right to Know. https://usrtk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Merchants_of_Poison_Report_final_120522.pdf
11. Pall Corporation. (2024, April). The future of beer: Sustainability and consumer demand. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://www.pall.com/en/food-beverage/blog/beer-consumer-survey.html
12. Pérez-Lucas G, Navarro G, Navarro S. Comprehensive Review on Monitoring, Behavior, and Impact of Pesticide Residues during Beer-Making. J Agric Food Chem. 2023 Feb 1;71(4):1820-1836. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c07830. Epub 2023 Jan 18. PMID: 36651341; PMCID: PMC9896562.

[1] Note: The 2019 PIRG study used an ELISA immunoassay, while in 2026 Green America worked with HRI lab, which used the LC-MS/MS assay, which is generally considered a more precise and accurate method. ELISA can sometimes overestimate results, which offers an explanation why the PIRG study found somewhat higher levels of glyphosate than Green America’s study.

Synthetic pesticides are widely used in industrial agriculture and on lawns, school grounds, and public spaces across the country. These chemical-intensive methods have serious consequences for environmental and human health.  

The impacts of this pesticide problem are far-reaching.  Herbicides like those containing glyphosate have been linked to cancer in major lawsuits, while chemicals like atrazine can cause developmental defects in babies when mothers are exposed through contaminated drinking water.  And neonicotinoids are toxic to bees. 

What’s more, the US allows many pesticides, such as paraquat, that are banned in other countries.   

If we don't transition away from synthetic chemicals in agriculture and landscaping, communities will continue facing health crises—from cancer to birth defects—while our soil, water, and climate deteriorate. Farming families experience these devastating effects firsthand, and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by environmental contamination. 

The pesticide crisis is an enormous threat to people, pollinators, and the planet, but it also presents an opportunity to build a truly regenerative food system that works for all.  

We have Solutions to the Pesticide Problem

Green America is fighting back by asking major beer companies, B&G (Green Giant), and ConAgra (Orville Redenbacher popcorn) to: 

1. Make a time-bound commitment to eliminate problematic pesticides from their supply chains 

2. Work with suppliers to implement integrated pest management and organic farming practices  

3. Ensure complete supply chain transparency by publicly disclosing pesticide policies and progress  

4. Support farmers and farmworkers in transitioning to regenerative, organic agriculture practices  

5. Collaborate with environmental organizations and prioritize science-based approaches  

6. Fund substantial assistance for suppliers adopting pesticide-free farming methods 

7. Use third party verified measurement and verification to demonstrate a commitment to health & quality. 

What You Can Do about Pesticides 

You can help fight the problem of pesticides by: 

• Supporting organic and regenerative farming practices, which restore soil health, sequester carbon, and grow nutritious food that doesn't poison our bodies or the Earth. 

• Creating a Climate Victory Garden  

• Support your local farmers and talk to them  

• Let your voice be heard.  Take Green America’s actions telling the 6 major beer companies, B&G (Green Giant), and ConAgra (popcorn) to eliminate harmful pesticides from their supply chains.  

• Look for regenerative-certified products from the Soil and Climate Initiative’s label—now at Whole Foods Markets.  More products will be added to the label in the upcoming year! 

Together, we can turn the tide on the pesticide problem and create solutions that heal soil, the planet, and our bodies. 

TAKE ACTION

Since the government is not ending the use of dangerous pesticides, itSince the government is not ending the use of dangerous pesticides, it’s up to us to hold corporations accountable. You can help fight the problem of pesticides by taking action with Green America to get pesticides out of these popular foods.

Beer

Take Action

B&G/Green Giant

Take Action

Popcorn

Take Action

The green living journey is one full of starts and stops, learning new habits, and imperfect growth. But there's one big way you can have a say demanding for a better world that doesn't require constant work—switching your bank. Because megabanks are bad news.

Ten of the largest banks worldwide are U.S.-based and the top two alone, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America contributed $100 billion to fossil fuels in 2024, with environmentally damaging investments growing year over year. It doesn't matter if you have $50 or $500,000 in your bank—moving your money from these megabanks to a credit union or community development financial institution gives them less funds to invest in a future you don't believe in.

This is what Green American Jussara Lee realized when she changed her bank, but that's not all: changing your insurance is similarly effective, and Green America helped Lee with that, too. Lee is a fashion designer and environmental activist. Our conversation below shows how straight-forward and empowering this change is.

Anya Crittenton: When and how did you first realize you needed to change your bank / property insurance? 

Jussara Lee: It was during Trump’s first mandate when I read an article by Lennox Yearwood Jr. from Hip Hop Caucus and Bill McKibben from Stop The Money Pipeline about investments in the fossil fuel industries by the big banks. I had been a Chase customer since I was a college student, proud of knowing my bank account number by heart, and completely oblivious to how financial institutions operated. Until then, I had never questioned what they did with my deposits. 

Only when I watched two Green America webinars, on Greening Your Finances and the encore edition, did I understand how my bank deposits and insurance policy purchases were used to fund fossil fuel expansion. I am a nature lover who grieves the loss and the continuous plundering of our planet. That awakening lead me to switch to banks and insurance companies that align with my interests.

Crittenton: What was your process for weighing new bank and credit union / insurance options? 

Lee: Once I learned my deposits were helping fund destruction, I felt a certain urgency to move my money to a different bank and ended up making the mistake of switching to TD Bank around 2014. For some reason it was important to see their branches everywhere. It gave them clout and convinced me my money would be safe there. I was also told they didn’t invest in fossil fuels, but some years later I saw the bank’s name at the bottom of a list of banks that did invest in “natural” gas and pipeline expansions. Once I learned this, I started taking the next steps to move banks again. 

What scares people the most, is the idea of safety. Once they understand the safety the big banks exude is smoke and mirrors, I believe it makes it easier to switch banks.

Crittenton: How did you make sure your new bank or credit union / insurance option met all of your needs? 

Lee: After watching the webinars offered by Green America ( thank you!) and studying the map ( thank you again!), I found a bank that had a branch near where I live in Manhattan. I visited the branch, asked questions and felt they were able to provide everything I needed. I am also financially savvier than I was when I first started to “follow the money” and realize that much of the big banks’ allure is based on marketing tactics that give the public the preconceived notion that our money is safer there. This false image also disguises their wrongdoing. 

I also similarly used Green America's Climate Smart Insurance Directory to find a new insurance provider.

Crittenton: Okay, you’ve picked a new institution. What steps did you take to make the switch and what was the level of difficulty? 

Lee: Once I chose the mission-driven bank that best suited my needs, I visited the branch with a blank check and my ID. Then I simply opened a personal account and made a deposit while closing the old bank account. The B Corp accreditation also gave me an extra peace of mind.

My determination to switch banks and insurance companies led me to chat with the representatives. I was charged with a sense of purpose that was motivating to achieve my goals so the simpler lobby and less flamboyant building didn’t make a dent on my decision. It actually made sense that the mission driven institutions didn’t have a lavish space since they were not working with the powerful industries that destroy the environment to make money.

Crittenton: Did you let your former bank / insurance company know why you left? If so, what did you say? 

Lee: My bank agent asked the reason I was closing the accounts, and I told him that I was switching to a bank that didn’t invest in fossil fuel.

The letter provided on your website was very helpful as a template.

Crittenton: What would you say to people navigating this process or who have hesitations about switching their financial institutions or insurance companies?

Lee: What scares people the most, is the idea of safety. Once they understand the safety the big banks exude is smoke and mirrors, I believe it makes it easier to switch banks. The mission-driven banks also have deposits up to $250K FDIC insured. The remaining hesitation is probably based on people’s dependence on convenience. But once they are better informed, people tend to get motivated to break the shackles with the institutions that are financing the destruction of the planet we live.

I encourage people who want to line up their beliefs with their finances to make the switch. They will sleep better knowing their money is being used for the greater good. It is also empowering to make a dent in a cruel system that only enriches the greedy people of the fossil fuel industries.

Crittenton: What have you learned about financial institutions, insurance companies, and the environment throughout all of this?

Lee: I learned that the big banks exude false confidence, that they fund the most destructive projects and can’t be trusted specially with our money. I learned that we actually have more power than we are aware of and can exercise it and make a positive impact based on how we use our money.

Crittenton: What excites you most about your new bank/credit union/insurance company? 

Lee: I am excited about not financing bad behavior! I'm thrilled my money is not being used on fossil fuel expansion and armaments. I wish I could say the same about my taxes…

Crittenton: That's the next crusade.

Anyone can switch their bank or insurance provider and it's easier thank you think. Find your new bank or credit union from hundreds of options at Get a Better Bank now and a new insurance provider with the Climate Smart Insurance Directory.

How welcoming insects into your garden creates a more resilient, lower-maintenance outdoor space

It might seem counterintuitive, but one of the most powerful things you can do for your garden is to make it attractive to insects. A garden rich in biodiversity — including the crawling, flying, and burrowing creatures most of us cringe at — is better equipped to handle the challenges of a changing climate. And, perhaps more surprisingly, it often means less work for you.

"The truth of the matter is that building natural biodiversity in your outside space will be a key tactic against the more volatile weather of the climate-changed future. A much more naturalistic, low-maintenance space is less work for [the gardener] and is better able to withstand the vagaries of our future weather."

— Sally Morgan & Kim Stoddart, The Climate Change Garden

When a wide variety of species share your garden, it becomes much harder for any single problematic one to take over. And with milder winters giving harmful pests more opportunity to thrive, encouraging beneficial insects — like ladybugs that feast on aphids — is more important than ever. (We've written before about leaving your leaves and dried up plants as a simple first step.)

Plant for the whole season

A steady supply of nectar from spring through late autumn gives insects what they need to thrive — and to overwinter successfully. Aim for a mixture of flowering plants, as native as possible, that bloom at different points in the season. Don't be too tidy with your vegetable patch either: letting some crops bolt and flower attracts pollinators early in the spring, exactly when they need it. 

Simple habitat ideas

🪵Log and leaf piles

A humble pile of leaves or logs is a surprisingly rich habitat. Helpful pollinators shelter here, as do garden allies like frogs, toads, and ground beetles.

🌿Be careful when mowing

Long grass offers daytime shelter for amphibians and moths. If you have a lawn, consider leaving patches uncut — a strategic strip of tall grass can make a real difference.

🏨Build a bug hotel

Morgan and Stoddart are enthusiastic advocates of the bug hotel. Stack old pallets to create layers and fill the gaps with recycled materials — bamboo canes, bricks, clay pipes, bits of wood. The nooks and crannies become perfect homes for insects, spiders, and even amphibians. The more variety of materials, the greater the diversity of guests.

A spotlight on solitary bees

Honeybees get most of the attention, but solitary bees are some of the most effective pollinators in any garden. Unlike their hive-dwelling cousins, they don't sting aggressively, and they're remarkably easy to welcome.

Carpenter bee, an excellent pollinator

These industrious bees drill into wood to lay their eggs. You can encourage them by placing a piece of soft, untreated wood somewhere sheltered from rain — a simple invitation that costs almost nothing.  If your own house is made of wood, providing them with an alternative wood supply will help keep them away from your home. 

Mason bee, 100-120× more effective than honeybees

Mason bees are extraordinary pollinators. They are more effective than honeybees, because they carry dry pollen on their bellies rather than in baskets.  To attract them, roll up paper towel or toilet paper tubes and bundle them together in a sheltered spot. That's genuinely all it takes to build them a home they'll use.

Remember:  A garden that works with nature rather than against it is one that looks after itself. The less we try to control every corner, the more resilient — and alive — it becomes.

From Half-Barrel Gardens to a Thriving Micro-Farm: Lisa's Oak Spring Farm

Oak Spring Farm, an organic farm in Freeland, MD is proof that you don't need hundreds of acres to make a real impact. On less than two acres of cultivated land, Lisa has built something remarkable — a community-rooted farm that has sustained her family for over a decade and grown from the seeds of a lifelong love of the outdoors.

"I was just always an outdoor farm kid," Lisa recalls, thinking back to her childhood in central New York, where she helped her father tend the family garden on their few acres of land. That early connection to the earth never left her — not even when she traded rural life for Los Angeles at 19. There, she kept half-barrel gardens on whatever patch of space she could find, nurturing that instinct to grow something of her own.

A Move to Maryland

It was a move to Maryland, though, that changed everything. After years of being spoiled by the vibrant, fresh food culture of Southern California farmers' markets, Lisa found herself underwhelmed by what the local grocery store had to offer. So she did what came naturally: she started growing her own.

One thing led to another. What began as a backyard garden gradually expanded into a small CSA, first serving friends, family, and the local mom's club she was part of. "That was almost 20 years ago," she says. From there, the momentum only grew — helping launch the Hereford Farmers Market in 2012, completing the Beginner Farmer Training program through Future Harvest CASA—a year-long training program that teaches farmers to use sustainable and regenerative practices—and steadily building Oak Spring Farm into the operation it is today.

Oak Spring Farm is a certified-organic farm.  Lisa explained that the farm’s soil is tested every year to retain its organic certification.  In twenty years, Lisa was able to completely transform the soil from nearly all clay to high organic matter with a high nutrient profile.  This high organic matter helps Oak Spring Farm be resilient in the face of more frequent flooding and warmer temperatures. 

The farm's story is one of quiet tenacity. For more than ten years, Oak Spring Farm supported Lisa and her three children — a feat made all the more striking given that the entire operation takes place on less than two cultivated acres. "It's amazing what you can do with a little bit of space," as Lisa put it.  

Planting Seeds of Knowledge: CSALove

For Lisa, farming was never just about what she could grow — it was about what she could teach. Before Oak Spring Farm, she spent six years as a high school biology teacher, and that love of teaching never left her. Over the years, she mentored beginner farmers through Future Harvest/CASA's training program; ran an informal intern program on the farm; took on volunteers; and taught gardening classes. "I feel like people were always looking for a farmer that would take them under their wing," she says.

That spirit of mentorship has now evolved into something bigger:  CSALove, her full-time coaching and consulting business. After becoming a certified business and marketing coach, Lisa began formally working with aspiring and early-stage farmers, as well as backyard gardeners who dream of turning their passion into something more. "CSALove comes from believing that you can run a small, profitable farm and be happy," she says. "You can be a happy CSA farmer."

Her approach fills a specific gap in the farming education landscape. While there's no shortage of resources on how to grow food, Lisa focuses on what comes next — the business side of small farming that often trips people up. She helps clients figure out the right crop mix, craft marketing strategies to attract and retain CSA members, and prepare for their first farmers' market. Currently working with about half a dozen clients, she offers in-person consultations for those in the Mid-Atlantic region and Zoom coaching sessions for those further afield.

But her work isn't purely practical. Lisa is equally focused on mindset. "Entrepreneurs wear all the hats," she notes, "and mindset is a big part of it." Whether she's working with a first-time CSA farmer or a home gardener tempted to just buy their vegetables at the grocery store, Lisa's goal is the same: to help people recognize how fulfilling it is to grow their own food — and to empower them to keep going.

Looking ahead, she's building out resources on her website, csalove.com, and has plans for webinars and an online course. "I just want to share my knowledge and empower people," she says simply.

For Lisa, the philosophy behind her farming has always been inseparable from her identity as an environmentalist. From those half-barrel gardens in LA to the fields of Freeland and now to CSALove, her work has been guided by a belief that how we grow our food matters — for the land, for the community, and for the future.

Oak Spring Farm — and now CSALove — is a reminder that big change can take root in small places.

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Green America harnesses economic power — the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace — to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Together, we can protect our beautiful planet and all its people!

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Big fast-food companies are employing children as young as ten years old to work in dangerous conditions. They also work hours so long that it negatively impacts their education.

Thanks to the pressure of hundreds and thousands of Green Americans, chocolate companies have taken actions to address child labor.

Child labor in the US is a growing problem. From 2015 to 2022, the number of minors employed in violation of child labor laws rose by 283%.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers are spreading nationwide – driving air and noise pollution; causing water shortages; and raising energy bills for millions of Americans. 

Green America’s Dirty Data campaign is calling attention to the role of Big Tech companies in driving the development of AI data centers and calling on these multibillion-dollar companies to power AI with 100% renewable energy. 

Green America’s Community Partnership research demonstrates it is possible to not only power AI data centers with renewable energy, but to also create community benefits by sourcing energy from local homeowners who provide battery backup to the data center through Virtual Power Plants (VPPs).  Big Tech would pay homeowners to install battery backup systems, solar energy, and further electrify their homes and then pay these homeowners for the energy used. 

Data centers get clean, reliable power that meets peak as well as baseload demands.  Homeowners get compensation for providing energy instead of increased energy bills.  Communities get cleaner air.  And the climate is protected.  All at no cost to taxpayers or ratepayers. 

We developed our Community Partnership Model for Maryland, a state that is looking to scale up data centers to help meet budget shortfalls.  But Marylanders are pushing back against these proposed data centers, based on the documented health and environmental impacts of data centers in Virginia – which has the largest number of data centers of any state in the US. 

Our detailed financial analysis for a data center proposed in Prince George's county in Maryland, where a 820 MW data center was proposed, shows the potential benefits of powering AI data centers with renewable energy and VPPs for every 100 MW needed: 

• $1.2 billion in cost savings for the data center (60% reduction over 20 years); they bear all of the costs and reach profitability in years 3 - 4 

• $668 million in community economic benefit  

• $24,000-34,000 per household over 10 years for 1,000 LMI households in Prince George's County nearest the center who volunteer to participate  

• 150-200 permanent jobs with 60-80% local hiring 

• 95%+ renewable energy (10 million tons CO₂ avoided) 

• No cost to taxpayers or ratepayers  

While the paper focuses on the opportunity for Maryland, the analysis applies to the development of data centers nationwide.  All data centers could be developed using 100% renewable energy and create community benefits. 

Do you know the largest source of climate pollution comes from supermarkets? You might be surprised to learn it comes from how these stores preserve our food.  

Most supermarkets currently use HFCs, refrigerants that are major climate pollutants with thousands of times the global warming potential of CO2. When these refrigerants inevitably leak from cooling systems, they are major drivers of the climate crisis. 

While many groceries are switching to Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), they’re actually trading one harm for another. HFOs do cause less climate change than HFCs, but when HFOs leak into our soil and water, they eventually break down into trifluoroacetate (TFA), a forever chemical linked to reproductive and cardiac issues and cancers. So, this new “solution” actually creates pollutants that risk our health!  

But there's a better choice: natural refrigerants – like CO2, ammonia, and propane. They have a very low climate footprint, are safe, and save money in the long run. 

Green America is working to shift the entire grocery industry to natural refrigerants in all stores and distribution centers nationwide to protect the planet and human health. You can take action with us to urge large chains to do better. 

Unfortunately, many large grocery chains are slow to adopt natural refrigerants. They say that making the switch is too expensive. But there are local and regional grocers disproving those claims by making the shift and saving money over time.  

They are using natural refrigerants as part of their overall commitment to the wellbeing of their communities and the environment, while providing a great shopping experience for their customers. Many of these stores are also strong supporters of organic, regenerative, and local sourcing to provide customers with safe and nutritious foods.  

We’re seeing first-hand how caring for our communities and the planet aligns with making a profit. Click on a region below to find a climate-leading store near you to support. 

Green America investigates refrigerant leaks at major Sacramento supermarkets, revealing progress and ongoing climate pollution risks.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY       

Refrigerant leaks are major short-term drivers of climate change. 

And as a major source of refrigerant leaks, supermarkets can’t afford to ignore how those leaks are their primary source of direct climate emissions. 

Green America monitors refrigerant leaks from stores run by the country’s largest supermarket chains as part of our efforts to encourage these corporations to reduce their carbon footprints. 

We recently revisited supermarkets in Sacramento, California, where we previously discovered refrigerant leaks that we reported to the corporate headquarters of supermarkets and to the California state regulator.  

We found refrigerant leaks in 5 out of 11 stores in 2024, but in only 1 out of 11 stores in 2026.  

In 2024, we found leaks at Albertsons/Safeway, Walmart, Kroger, and Save Mart stores. 

In 2026, we only found a leak at 1 Walmart store. However, that one leak found in 2026 (20 ppm) was greater than any leak detected in 2024. 

The reduction in leaks detected overall could have resulted from increased regulation of supermarkets, pressure from nonprofit organizations such as Green America, and/or supermarkets working to reduce expenses affiliated with refrigerant leaks. 

Green America will continue to investigate leaks at grocery stores in locations around the country and provide reports on our findings. 

INTRO 

Refrigerants are essential to modern life, but the most common refrigerants are greenhouse gases called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which intensify the climate crisis. 

These harmful, human-made gases are leaking out of refrigeration systems and rapidly entering our atmosphere. As part of the crucial work of cutting CO2 emissions, we must also address dangerous, extremely potent HFCs. 

Eliminating HFCs and adopting climate-friendly natural refrigerants like CO2, ammonia, or propane is a top solution to address the climate crisis that can prevent nearly half a degree of global warming. Natural refrigerants all have a very low global warming potential (GWP), meaning they contribute very little to climate change. Better cooling can help prevent 460 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years. 

Supermarkets are major drivers of refrigerant pollutants.  A typical supermarket consumes 4,000 pounds of refrigerants each year; a quarter of that amount regularly leaks out due to faulty systems. 

Refrigerant leaks from US supermarkets emit 45 million metric tons of greenhouse gases every year—the equivalent of 9.5 million cars on the road.  

To address this issue, Green America is calling on all supermarkets to commit to:  

• Using only natural refrigerant (HFC-free systems) in all new locations; 

• Releasing concrete timelines to phase out HFCs and transition to natural refrigerants in all stores and facilities by 2030;  

• Not adopting HFO refrigerants being pushed as an alternative by chemical companies, which have a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) than HFCs, but breakdown into PFAS chemicals when released to the environment; 

• Rapidly repairing refrigerant leaks and publishing annual leak rates; 

• And ensuring responsible refrigerant disposal to reduce emissions.   

Preventing HFC refrigerants leaks in supermarkets is essential while we urge stores to adopt natural refrigerants as doing both helps protect our climate. But many supermarket chains continue to allow extensive refrigerant leaks. 

FINDINGS 

Green America staff visited 11 stores in Sacramento, California, in February 2026 and took three separate readings of potential refrigerant leaks at each store. 

We visited the same 11 stores in July of 2024.  

Overall, we found the rate of leaks decreased between 2024 and 2026 at the stores we visited, with most stores that had significant leaks in 2024 demonstrating no leaks in 2026. 

The Walmart store where we found a leak in 2026 is using R-407a refrigerant, an HFC refrigerant with a GWP of 2,107, while CO2 has a GWP of one.  This means that every kilogram of R-407a refrigerant that leaks is equal to nearly two tons of leaked CO2. 

INTERPRETATION 

The number of leaks at the 11 stores decreased significantly between 2024 and 2026.  We found a total of five leaks in 2024 and only found one leak at a single store in 2026, though that single leak is significant.   

The decrease in leaks detected overall could be due to several factors: 

1. Increased regulation by the federal government and State of California requiring improved refrigerant leak management may have pushed several major grocery chains to increase leak detection in their stores.  

2. Advocacy by nonprofit organizations, including Green America, and consumers has put pressure on companies to increase their leak detection and better address refrigerant leaks. Several major grocery chains have documented that they are prioritizing refrigerant leak reductions in their corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports in recent years. 

3. The average grocery store leaks 25% of its refrigerants each year, creating unnecessary expenses. Across the grocery sector, tightening refrigerant leaks can save the industry millions of dollars per year. Stores may be proactively addressing leaks to save money.  A number of supermarket chains are instituting infrared leak detectors in stores to find and eliminate leaks more promptly. 

4. Green America and allies reported leaks we found at stores in 2024 to their headquarters as well as to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which regulates and investigates refrigerant leaks in the state. It is possible that these reports resulted in improved leak management at the specific stores we visited. 

METHODOLOGY 

We performed three separate tests of refrigerant leaks at each supermarket we investigated. The most recent testing was performed in February 2026. Prior testing was performed in July of 2024. 

For a detected leak to be considered significant, it needed to exceed 2 ppm.   

At the one supermarket where a leak was detected in 2026, three separate significant readings were obtained. 

Different leak detectors were used in the 2024 and 2026 testing, but both have an accuracy of +/- 1 ppm. 

In 2024, we employed the Bacharach PGM-IR Bagless Portable Refrigerant Monitor, which can detect over 60 different refrigerants, including various chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and HFCs. The machine compares the infrared (IR) signatures of the air sample to the preprogrammed signature for the selected refrigerant. The device has an accuracy of +/-1 ppm for most HFCs and +/-10 or +/-15% for HCFC-22 

In 2026, we employed the Inficon D-TEK Stratus Refrigerant Leak Detector and Portable Monitor, which can detect all CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, hydrofluoroolefins, blends and CO2. The Inficon D-TEK Stratus does not require the user to look for a specific refrigerant. Instead, the device references a library of IR signatures and outputs a ppm value if the intake matches any of the signatures in the reference library. The device has an accuracy of +/-1 ppm or 10% of its reading 

REGULATION 

Increased regulation of refrigerant leaks by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of California could play a role in reducing the number of leaks we detected in 2026. Supermarket chains may be anticipating the impacts of increased regulation and complying in advance. 

The EPA’s HFC Management Rules came into effect on January 1, 2026, and require refrigerant management systems with a charge size of 15 pounds of refrigerants or greater to take proactive measures to address leaks and requires automatic leak detection on systems with a charge size of 1,500 pounds or greater.  However, the current EPA has also proposed delays in the phase out of HFC refrigerants, which Green America opposes, since it will also delay replacing HFC refrigerants with natural refrigerants. 

The CARB Refrigerant Management Program (RMP) has regulated refrigerant leaks since 2009 and “requires facilities with refrigeration systems containing more than 50 pounds of high-GWP refrigerant to conduct and report periodic leak inspections, promptly repair leaks; and keep service records on site.”  

Failure to comply can result in significant penalties. CARB investigations of refrigerant leaks in supermarkets resulted in settlements of $1,014,125 with H-Mart and $1,592,500 with Save Mart respectively in 2024; over $5 million with Albertsons in 2021; and $60,000 with Walmart in 2021.  These settlements may act as a deterrent. At the same time, with thousands of refrigerant systems statewide, increased resources for CARB enforcement of the RMP are likely needed to ensure greater compliance statewide.  

In addition, California’s new Corporate GHG Disclosure Program will require any company with over $1 billion in revenue to report refrigerant leaks across all their locations. The penalty for missing or incorrect reporting can reach $500,000 annually. 

NEXT STEPS 

Green America will continue to investigate grocery store refrigerant leaks in California and other states to assess the leak rates of various supermarket chains and see if state regulation has had any impact. 

Take Action

There is no green economy without protection for workers.

WASHINGTON, DC – March 4, 2026 – More than 40,000 gardens are now participating in Green America’s Climate Victory Gardens campaign, which promotes gardening practices that build healthy soil and draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Launched in 2018, the campaign was inspired by the “Victory Gardens” campaigns during WWI and WWII that produced 40% of the fresh produce consumed in the U.S. at the time. 

Averaging 2233 square feet per garden with a median size of 200 square feet, the 40,694 Climate Victory Gardens represent an estimated 5,214 tons in sequestered carbon, roughly equivalent to offsetting the emissions of 4,046 cars for one year.  

“People love Climate Victory Gardens because they can be self-reliant, grow incredible food and plants, and feel great about what they’re doing,” said Emma Kriss, Food Campaigns Manager at Green America. “We’re excited about the new programming and resources we have in store for Climate Victory Gardeners in the coming year.” 

The global food system contributes up to 29% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, however, food grown using regenerative methods can be part of the climate change solution, with the potential to sequester vast amounts of carbon dioxide. 

Green America provides a variety of free resources, including 5 Steps for Starting a Climate Victory Garden, Manuals for Beginners, Seasoned Gardeners, a Tips, Guides & Tools Index, and more.  

On March 5, Green America will hold a Garden Planning Workshop with gardener and forager Jada Bee, which will cover mapping out this season’s garden, turning ideas into organized planting plans and charts, aligning space with goals for food, beauty, and sustainability, and starting the growing season prepared and inspired. 

On March 11, a workshop called Start Your Climate Victory Garden this Spring! will feature author Nicky Schauder and cover the basics of Climate Victory Gardening. 

A playlist of previous Climate Victory Garden webinars is available here.  

To add your own Climate Victory Garden to Green America’s searchable map, visit: https://greenam.org/garden. 

ABOUT GREEN AMERICA 

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org 

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin for Green America, (703) 276-3255, or mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com.  

This work could look like handling pesticides on a cocoa farm or cleaning dangerous equipment in a slaughterhouse.  

The facts: 

• There are 138 million child laborers globally. nearly half of which are performing hazardous work.  

• Nearly 40% of child laborers are in hazardous work.  

• 61% of child labor is in the agriculture sector 

• 57% of child laborers are between the ages of 5 – 11  

Child labor and poverty are inextricably linked. Children are often pushed into dangerous work due to poverty. And, child laborers often miss out on an education which may have enabled them to get out of poverty. It is a vicious cycle and one we have a responsibility to act on.  

Child Labor in the United States 

Child labor is on the rise in the United States.  

• An estimated 300,000 to 500,000 children are working in the US agriculture industry alone.   

• From 2015 to 2022, the number of minors employed in violation of child labor laws rose by 283%. 

• Since 2021, 31 states have introduced laws to weaken child labor protections. 

Meatpacking 

Major U.S. corporations are putting children as young as 13 to work in dangerous jobs they are too young to perform and that are hazardous to their health. In the meatpacking industry, children are working hazardous conditions on cleaning crews in slaughterhouses – surrounded by dangerous machinery that can easily rip off a person’s arm.  

This is exactly the type of work children should never be exposed to – but, the largest meatpackers, JBS, Perdue, Cargill, and Tyson Foods, all have documented cases of child labor in their operations in recent years.   

Fast food restaurants 

Big fast-food companies are employing children as young as ten years old to work hours so long that it negatively impacts their education or in dangerous conditions, including manually operating deep fryers and loading trash compactors. And, there have been nearly six times as many child labor law violations in the food service industry in the last ten years. 

Major fast-food companies, including McDonald’s, Jersey Mike’s, Sonic Drive-In, Baskin-Robbins, and Chick-fil-A, have documented cases of child labor at franchises locations.  

Child Labor in Cocoa 

Child laborers in cocoa carry heavy loads, work with dangerous tools, and are exposed to hazardous agrichemicals – all of which negatively impact their health. 

Child labor takes a big toll on the health and development of children. A 2020 study on the prevalence of child labor in the West African cocoa sector found: 

• More than 40% of children interviewed reported feeling very tired or exhausted because of child labor. 

• 34% of children were in very bad pain. 

• 25% felt very sick. 

• 12% had to receive medical treatment. 

 Of the children surveyed, 50% were only 5-11 years old. 57% of the child laborers were boys and 43% were girls. 

Looking for better chocolate options?

While the major chocolate companies still have work to do to address child labor in their supply chains, many smaller brands already offer fair trade chocolate options—which means they have long-term, direct relationships with their farmers and guarantee a minimum price. Check out these brands. 

The Chemical Industry is promoting a false solution to climate change and this time it is double the trouble: driving climate change and forever chemicals.

At Green America, we’re sadly familiar with corporations offering solutions to the climate crisis that benefit their bottom line more than our health and our planet. In the 1980s, chemical manufacturers fought regulation of their ozone-depleting coolants before offering hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as more “environmentally safe” replacements. But as we now know, HFCs are a potent form of greenhouse gas and because of their use in cooling systems worldwide, they are some of the biggest drivers of climate change. 

This is why Green America is working hard to convince large grocery store chains to replace HFCs with natural refrigerants in their cooling systems. Unlike HFCs, natural refrigerants like carbon dioxide (CO2), ammonia, and propane have a low environmental impact and are proven to work well in supermarkets nationwide and around the world.  

But while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of HFCs, it is now attempting to weaken those rules in ways that might delay the adoption of natural refrigerants and relax restrictions on artificial ones. And the chemical industry is acting on that opportunity. 

Chemical manufacturers are pushing supermarkets to use hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) or HFO/HFC blends, rather than natural refrigerants. They claim HFOs, which do have a lower climate impact, have a lower environmental impact overall than HFCs.  

However, there’s a big catch—HFOs can break down into per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” polluting the groundwater we drink and the soil we grow our food in. They have been linked to reproductive problems, cardiovascular issues, certain types of cancer, and other medical issues. And they may also still transform into greenhouse gases contributing to climate change as well. The climate impacts of HFO/HFC blends in particular are much higher than those of natural refrigerants. 

When HFOs enter the environment, they transform into trifluoroacetate (TFA), a form of “forever chemical” that may be linked to human health impacts. Other countries have quickly responded to the potential dangers—Germany’s chemical regulator is seeking to classify TFA as “reprotoxic, meaning it can harm human reproductive function, fertility and fetal development.” And both Denmark and Germany have set limits on the amounts of TFA allowed in drinking water. 

While the full scope of TFA’s effects is still being studied, as a form of “forever chemical,” the chemical industry’s determination to promote HFOs despite the potential impacts on our health and the environment is deeply troubling. As with other “forever chemicals,” TFA is difficult to remove once it’s been introduced to the environment, and it’s currently unregulated in the U.S. on a national scale.  

Additionally, HFOs still may end up contributing to the climate crisis, despite chemical producers’ claims they are “better for the environment.”  A 2021 study by the University of New South Wales found that once in the atmosphere, some HFOs may turn into a potentially potent form of HFCs “with over 14,000 [times] the global warming power of carbon dioxide.” 

This means that Green America’s campaign urging the adoption of natural refrigerants in supermarkets’ cooling systems is an opportunity to not only reduce greenhouse gases affecting our climate but also to help avoid the proliferation of other problematic “forever chemicals” spreading through our soil and water.   

Chemical manufacturers stand to profit immensely if the HFOs they make are used in the supermarkets and grocery stores we buy our food from. Time and again, they’ve proven that we can’t trust them to do the right thing for our health and a sustainable environment on their own if they think it won’t increase their profits.  

And while the EPA had previously sought to greatly reduce our exposure to “forever chemicals” in our drinking water, the current administration is not only deliberately walking back those efforts, but they’re also relaxing a decade’s worth of reporting requirements, making it easier for companies to avoid responsibility for the “forever chemicals” their products leave behind. 

We need to demand that supermarkets and grocery stores stand with their customers and reject the false climate solutions being pushed by chemical manufacturers by using safer, natural refrigerants like CO2, ammonia, or propane. Doing so will also create more jobs in U.S. industries and for HVAC professionals, helping to grow the economy while protecting the environment. And using natural refrigerants can save grocery stores money, since these systems reduce energy use and cost over time.  

It’s not unreasonable to expect companies to better understand the potential harm their products might cause. Despite what the chemical industry may claim, it’s not “good business” to chase short-term profits at the expense of our health and our planet. 

CEPN's Toward Zero Exposure (TZE) program unites leaders in the electronics industry working to reduce worker exposure to hazardous chemicals by focusing on the elimination or substitution of priority chemicals in the electronics supply chain.

In the 4th year of the TZE program, founding Signatories Apple, Dell Technologies, HP Inc. and Fairphone have furthered their efforts to improve worker chemical safety in the following ways:

• Over 800 facilities in the Signatories’ manufacturing supply chains are estimated to have already substituted the 1st Round of Priority Chemicals.

• Well over 100,000 employees work in production in those facilities.

• More than 200 distinct supplier companies have been influenced to improve worker chemical safety by TZE Signatories.

• Signatory and program influence extends to facilities in at least 29 countries.

“We are honored to collaborate with our Founding Signatories, whose leadership and dedication have accelerated the Toward Zero Exposure program,” said Pamela Brody-Heine, Senior Director of CEPN. “They are raising the bar for chemical safety across the electronics supply chain—and helping better protect workers—and we look forward to welcoming more companies committed to this shared vision.”

Read more in the 4th Annual Toward Zero Exposure report and learn more about the Clean Electronics Production Network on the organization’s website.

About CEPN

The Clean Electronics Production Network—part of the Center for Sustainability Solutions at Green America—addresses complex workplace health and safety challenges in the electronics supply chain. The Network unites diverse stakeholders, including electronics industry brands and suppliers, labor and environmental advocates, governments, and other leading experts. In August 2021, CEPN members launched the Toward Zero Exposure program to integrate and accelerate the work being done by leaders in the electronics industry with the tools developed by the Network.

Contact: Pamela Brody-Heine

pbrody-heine@cleanelectronicsproduction.org

Washington, DC – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced Thursday its approval of Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier Communications, after the telecommunications giant committed to a series of investments that align with the state’s diversity, equity and inclusion policies and laws. This is a historic win for diversity advocates and consumers who have been outspoken for months about the benefits of DEI programs for consumers, employees, and profitability. This resolution punctuates the business incentive of DEI and represents the first time a state agency has successfully held a major corporation accountable for retreating from DEI commitments and secured concrete, enforceable solutions with independent oversight. 

Verizon committed $500 million to hire small businesses through California’s small business program and established a $10 million partnership with California State University to create recruitment pipelines for underrepresented communities. CPUC will hire an independent compliance monitor to ensure the company continues to comply with these diversity, equity and inclusion commitments.  

In response, a coalition of national advocates issued the following statements:  

Nadine Smith, President and CEO of Color Of Change: 

“This announcement is a powerful reminder that when communities organize and state leaders do their jobs, corporations can be held accountable to the people they serve. A $500 million investment in diverse suppliers is not just a win for equity, but it’s also a signal that public institutions can and should demand real commitments that expand opportunity for working people and Black communities. Color Of Change has been proud to stand alongside state officials pushing for accountability, and we will continue to mobilize to ensure corporate promises translate into lasting impact.”  

Alphonso David, President and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum: 

“This decision shows what is possible when regulators center the public interest and resist political agendas. The California Public Utilities Commission made clear that growth and consolidation cannot come at the expense of working people, low-income families, rural communities, or tribal nations. By attaching enforceable conditions around affordability, broadband access, workforce and supplier diversity, and small-business participation, California affirmed that economic opportunity and consumer protection are not competing values—they are mutually reinforcing. This is exactly the kind of accountable governance the Forum has been advocating for, and it sets an important standard for how businesses, state, and local governments can navigate the current political climate.” 

Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow: 

“Verizon’s shareholders applaud the California Public Utilities Commission’s decision. We have analyzed data from over 1,600 companies spanning five years and know that greater workforce diversity leads to financial outperformance.  Investors have long asked Verizon to be a leader in this area; this decision will ensure that we build a culture that attracts and retains the best and the brightest employees who can rise through the ranks based on merit without bias. We see this as an example that will raise the bar for Verizon’s competitors and for all public companies.” 

Glenn Harris, President of Race Forward: 

“At Race Forward, we have always known real change can happen when public institutions have been transformed for equity and are in partnership with community to ensure the policies of corporations and other institutions are inclusive.  We commend The California Public Utilities Commission for its win in holding a major, national corporation accountable to its stated commitment on diversity, equity, and inclusion and to federal and state law.  This win signals that progress is still possible even in the face of pushback and opposition. We work with members of our Government Alliance on Race and Equity on systemic transformation by building capacity across sectors to advance equity and justice in policies and practices so all people have the opportunity to prosper. 
 

Lisa Graves, Founder and Executive Director of True North Research: 

“This is an important win for diversity, equity, and inclusion. California has shown that states can stand up for workers and consumers and resist Trump’s efforts to undermine employees' and customers' rights. More states and companies should follow suit to show they won’t be bullied into abandoning equal opportunity.”  

Roberto Thornton, Managing Director of Investments & Impact at Adasina Social Capital:  

“Verizon’s agreement with the California Public Utilities Commission to recommit to diversity in supplier sourcing and community training —  aptly announced on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday — reaffirms a truth we have been amplifying at Adasina Social Capital: diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic business asset. California’s response to this matter represents exactly the regulatory oversight we need nationwide. This news is a win for California, a win for Verizon, and a win for the future of DEI.” 

Dan Howells, Climate Campaigns Director of Green America: 

“The California Public Utility Commission's action shows Verizon - and companies like it - can be held accountable when they don't value the public they serve. Now instead of backtracking on diversity, equity and inclusion, Verizon will move forward with policies that benefit everyone. This sends a message to companies that want to participate in the 4th largest economy in the world: they need to respect the diversity that is the United States.”

WASHINGTON, DC — January 14, 2026 — Whole Foods Market has approved Green America's Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) as a regenerative agriculture certification program, expanding market opportunities for farmers and suppliers committed to soil health and climate resilience. The leading natural and organic foods retailer is adding SCI, a leading nonprofit regenerative agriculture program, to its roster of approved certifications, welcoming more growers and brands into the regenerative marketplace while strengthening accountability and transparency.

SCI joins Regenerative Organic Certified, Regenified, Ecological Outcome Verification, and Certified Regenerative by AGW in Whole Foods Market’s roster of trusted certifications. Under Whole Foods Market's Regenerative Agriculture Claims Policy, SCI-verified products may make regenerative product claims and display the distinctive Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified™ label, helping shoppers easily identify products sourced from regeneratively grown ingredients.

What sets SCI apart is how it combines deep farmer relationships with innovative technology to deliver lasting outcomes and powerful data for brands and retailers investing in regenerative supply chains. SCI works side-by-side with growers, providing hands-on agronomic support while streamlining administrative complexity through leading program equivalencies and real-time data tools. And because all products undergo third-party certification from SCS Global Services, supply chain partners and CPGs can invest with confidence, knowing the claims they’re backing are credible.

Launched in 2019 through collaboration among 150+ farmers, soil scientists, food companies, and NGOs, SCI has refined its approach across over 165 farms managing 350,000+ acres in 27 states. The program's Soil & Climate Health Commitment & Verification Standard translates on-the-ground regenerative practices into measurable, credible outcomes. Through comprehensive soil health testing, independent third-party audits, and rigorous verification, SCI ensures the integrity of the process, so consumers can trust that “regenerative” delivers real results on the land and in the products they purchase.

Adam Kotin, SCI's Managing Director, said the Whole Foods approval validates the program's approach. "We've designed a transition program that meets farmers where they are while providing clear and rigorous implementation of milestones and audits that meet the true third-party certification standards that retailers and consumers expect," he explained. "Our commitment to program equivalency and use of technology streamlines the processes for farmers and supply chains, making it more cost effective and efficient for program participants. That flexibility is absolutely critical for farmer adoption, and farmer adoption is how we create real impact and scalability across the supply chain."

John Strohfus, Founder & CEO of Field Theory Foods and an SCI-verified farmer managing 1,000 acres in Minnesota, has helped build regenerative supply chains for brands such as PACHA, Seven Sundays, and Simple Mills. He describes SCI as “the most approachable regenerative certification available today.” Having worked with multiple programs, Strohfus noted that SCI “meets you where you are, measuring on-farm progress rather than imposing prescriptive requirements with steep initial barriers to entry. The Whole Foods Market approval opens premium market access for our farm, as well as the growers and brand customers Field Theory works with. It’s uplifting that they recognize the work SCI does every day, working in partnership with farmers doing real work to improve soil health and create these regenerative supply chains.”

Ann Marie Hourigan, Quality Standards Principal Advisor for Agricultural Programs at Whole Foods Market, welcomed the addition, “We are delighted to recognize the Soil & Climate Initiative as a rigorous third-party verification that supports Whole Foods Market's commitment to regenerative agriculture. SCI's holistic program provides consumers with the confidence that regenerative claims are backed by tangible improvements on the land.”

Products using SCI-verified ingredients can carry the Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified™ label on packaging at Whole Foods Market stores, joining brands like PACHA and Root Chips already on shelves.

Brands, suppliers, and farmers interested in enrollment can contact SCI here: www.soilclimateinitiative.org

ABOUT SOIL & CLIMATE INITIATIVE

Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) is a nonprofit originally launched in 2018 (formerly the Soil Carbon Initiative) in collaboration with farms, companies, NGOs, and soil scientists. Its mission is to accelerate the transition of agricultural acres under regenerative management by supporting and engaging every link in the supply chain. SCI offers a holistic suite of regenerative transition services, such as farm planning and agronomic support, soil testing, supply chain engagement, reporting, and third-party verification. These efforts help drive measurable improvements in soil health outcomes, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, water quality, climate resilience, food security, farm profitability, and the overall well-being of rural communities. Alongside its sister programs—the Soil & Climate Alliance and the Nutrient Density Initiative—SCI is helping build an ecosystem that scales soil health, climate resilience, and nutrition from the ground up. www.soilclimateinitiative.org

ABOUT SCS GLOBAL SERVICES

SCS Global Services is an international leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, and standards development. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business.  www.scsglobalservices.com

ABOUT FIELD THEORY

Field Theory is helping redefine how brands and consumers think about ingredients—and the food system as a whole. They specialize in connecting brands with supply chain transparency and are charting a new path forward within food and agriculture. Starting with soil health, crop diversity, and regenerative growing practices, they are pioneering both bulk ingredients and consumer packaged goods. Field Theory has built a trusted network of regenerative agriculture–focused growers for many crops, including sunflowers, buckwheat, oats, Kernza®, and more. As an industry leader in regenerative farming, Field Theory is proud to bring some of the first-ever verified regenerative products to market through the Soil & Climate Initiative program. www.fieldtheoryfoods.com

ABOUT WHOLE FOODS MARKET

Founded in 1980, Austin-based Whole Foods Market is the world’s leading natural and organic foods retailer and the first certified organic national grocer in the United States. Part of Amazon’s Worldwide Grocery Stores, Whole Foods Market serves customers in more than 545 stores across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. www.wholefoodsmarket.com

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Soil & Climate Initiative 
Max Karlin 
703-276-3255 
mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com