According to the US Department of Labor, more than 2 million children in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire work in hazardous conditions growing cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate 1. While some companies have begun tracing their supply chains to prevent child labor, the vast majority of the 3 million tons of cocoa produced each year come from small farms in West Africa, where farmers and their children live on less than $1 per day2.

A Chocolate Scorecard on Sustainability

This scorecard will help you find ethically sourced sweets and understand what the certification labels on cocoa actually mean. This is, of course, not a comprehensive list of ethically sourced chocolate companies; however, the scorecard features companies who are also Green Business Network members, as Green America has screened them for their environmental, social justice, and human rights practices. Chocolate bars with an "A" rating are addressing farmer income and child labor issues, and are organic and/or non-GMO certified.

Most major chocolate companies have commitments to source more sustainable cocoa. In fact, many of them have plans to have 100% certified cocoa in their supply chain by 2020. Although this is an important step in the right direction, certification programs alone are not enough to solve the underlying issues that contribute to child labor in cocoa, including farmer poverty and a lack of infrastructure.

With that in mind, last year we expanded our chocolate scorecard to go beyond commitments about certified chocolate to look at programs that support farmers and address child labor when it is found. Additionally, while the scorecard’s ratings are still heavily based on efforts to combat child labor, this year we’ve added a new category on deforestation. On top of a child labor problem, the cocoa industry has a huge negative impact on forests. In the Ivory Coast and Ghana, 90% of their forests have been lost and the cocoa industry is a big driver of that deforestation.  Much of that deforestation was caused by the largest cocoa companies, and, as a result of activist pressure, they worked with the World Cocoa Foundation to create the Cocoa and Forest Initiative to prevent further damage.  

A Chocolate Scorecard on Child Labor and Deforestation

With this updated scorecard, we are not only looking at how much certified cocoa a major chocolate company has, we are also looking to see if the company has innovative programs and projects in place to address some of the other underlying issues of child labor in cocoa and if the company is working to address deforestation. Although companies may have programs going beyond certification that sound similar, they can vary in practice in regards to how comprehensive and impactful they are, and the final grade reflects that.

Such programs include:

• Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation Systems, which work with communities and families to address why child labor is happening on farms;
• Farmer income generating programs;
• Traceability mechanisms for fuller supply chain transparency.

You can learn more about what went into the different grades here.

Click to here to download your own copy of Green America's Chocolate Scorecard

denotes members of Green America's Green Business Network.

Equal Exchange (EE) was founded to challenge the existing trade model, which often does not favor small scale farmers. EE’s chocolate at a minimum meets fair trade standards but is no longer actively certified, as EE found certifiers to be tailored to the needs of big corporations and through the expansion of certifiers, some of the original values of the fair trade movement were weakened. Equal Exchange aims to create market access for small scale farmers, which at times was at odds with large certifiers. All EE chocolate suppliers are regularly audited against fair trade standards, and all EE products are fully traceable. On average EE pays more for cocoa than even the fair trade premium requires.

Godiva has committed to "100% sustainable cocoa by 2020," but has not provided information about who is certifying its cocoa, nor shared any progress or plans regarding their commitment.

All figures come from publicly available company information and the Cocoa Barometer. This list is not exhaustive of all chocolate companies. If your favorite chocolate brand is not listed, consider calling the company to ask about its commitment to ethical sourcing.

What The Certification Labels Mean

Label	About
Fairtrade	Fairtrade standards prohibit forced labor, child labor, and discrimination. If child labor is detected in a supply chain, Fairtrade immediately enacts its child protection policy and implements remediation efforts. Certified farmers’ organizations receive at least the Fairtrade Minimum Price for their cocoa beans and a Fairtrade Premium that they use to invest in their communities and business. To use the FAIRTRADE certification mark on a product, all ingredients that can be certified must come from Fairtrade sources.
Fair Trade Certified	Fair Trade USA’s Fair Trade Certified standards prohibit forced labor, child labor, and discrimination, and protects freedom of association and collective bargaining rights. If child labor should surface, remediation guidelines are in place. Certified farmers are guaranteed a fair trade floor price for their cocoa beans as well as a social premium. Fair Trade Certified certifies farmer cooperatives as well as larger plantations. Only cocoa needs to be certified for the chocolate bar to receive the seal.
IMO Fair For Life	The IMO Fair for Life guarantees that smallholder farmers receive fair payment and that workers enjoy good and fair working conditions. The Fair for Life system prevents forced and child labor and also includes detailed environmental criteria. Fair For Life certified products must use Fair Trade ingredients if available, and regardless, 50% of all ingredients must be Fair Trade in order for a product to bear the seal.
Rainforest Alliance (RA)	RA standards prohibit the use of forced labor, child labor, and discrimination, and farmers have the right to oragnize. RA does not require buyers to pay a specific minimum floor price for cocoa beans. RA reasons that by producing higher quality and sustainable cocoa beans, farmers should be able to earn a higher price for their beans over time.
UTZ	UTZ certification prohibits forced labor, child labor, and discrimination and protects the right to organize and bargain collectively. In terms of pricing, UTZ states that premiums are paid to farmers for their certified products, but the price is solely based on negotiations between the buyers and farmers. Paying the legal minimum wage is required.

NOTE: In 2018, Rainforest Alliance and Utz merged. In 2019, Rainforest Alliance will release its new standards. Until then, Rainforest Alliance and Utz standards will continue to be applied.

Updated October 16, 2019

1. DOL/Tulane University’s 2013/14 Survey Research on Child Labor in the West African Cocoa Sector

2. 2018 Cocoa Barometer

Back to the Vote With Your Dollar Toolkit

DanoneWave to Advance Soil Health

Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions has been collaborating with DanoneWave (maker of dairy and plant-based products, coffee creamers, and beverages) to implement sustainable agriculture practices in its supply chain. DanoneWave has announced the launch of a soil health initiative which will help dairies and growers implement practices that improve soil health. DanoneWave is committing up to $6M for research on soil regeneration and enhancement of organic matter and soil fertility over the next five years. See their press release below.

In addition, DanoneWave has joined with Green America, The Carbon Underground and others to develop a global verification standard for food grown in a regenerative manner. The standard seeks to encourage farmers to restore the carbon cycle and build soil health, crop resilience, and nutrient density.

DanoneWave Puts a Stake in the Ground with Commitment to Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health Research Collaboration with Renowned Research Partners

Brings together a ‘dream team’ of expertise in the study of soil health, applicable to all agricultural systems in The Dannon Pledge portfolio of brands

• Begins with research that will spur transformation to support best-in-class soil health programs with experts and academics to benefit our farms and communities
• Builds on the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture as articulated in The Dannon Pledge
• Reinforces company commitment to sustainable agriculture, joining The Carbon Underground to inform the design and development of a new global certification standard for food grown in a regenerative way and exploring options to participate in the Regenerative Organic Alliance

White Plains, NY (March 7, 2018) – Today, DanoneWave puts a stake in the ground, launching a ground-breaking soil health initiative with renowned experts and academics to build best-in-class soil health programs to benefit our farms and communities. The company shared an ambition to commit up to $6M for the research program over the next five years. This program will begin with products involved in The Dannon Pledge, and may have impact in the future across the DanoneWave portfolio. The Dannon Pledge is the company’s commitment to a range of progressive practices focused on sustainable agriculture, transparency and naturality, and enables the company to offer consumers more yogurt choices. The flagship brands that are leading with Non-GMO Project verification as part of The Dannon Pledge include Dannon^®, Oikos^® and Danimals^®. Dannon is part of DanoneWave. To learn more about The Dannon Pledge, visit ExpoWest Booth 513 or dannonpledge.com.

“Soil is the foundation of our food system, with an estimated 95 percent[i] of food directly or indirectly reliant on soil.” said Ryan Sirolli, Agriculture Director, DanoneWave. “As America’s largest yogurt maker, we saw an opportunity to initiate this breakthrough research program with our supply chain. When we announced our Pledge, we committed to championing sustainable agriculture, which includes reaching for better soil health. We will evaluate soil on the farms of growers who provide feed for cows and on the dairy farms where we buy milk. The long-lasting relationships we have with our growers and dairy farmers, who have a passion for change and strive for continuous improvement, have empowered us to launch this program. We know this work requires collaboration to make a meaningful impact, and we are excited to bring together uniquely skilled partners to help us to continue to fulfill our ambition.”

DanoneWave will be advancing its soil health research program over the next 18 months. The aim of the soil health initiative is to identify ways to help regenerate soils, looking at enhancing organic matter and soil fertility with long-term benefits such as soil carbon sequestration, reduced chemicals use, soil water holding capacity, biodiversity and economic resilience of farmer communities. Key activities with participating grower and dairy farmer partners and third-party soil health experts will include soil sampling, review of yield, grower engagement, data collection and analysis, first reports and field days with farmers to provide training around soil health best practices.

 “A priority on my farm is stewardship of the land. When we steward the soil well, we have better yields and we help mother nature. I am looking forward to working with DanoneWave to continue to improve soil health, and I am excited to look at the outcomes of this research program to consider how it impacts my farm and our practices,” said Rick Clark, a grower of Non-GMO Project Verified feed for the supply chain that supports brands involved in The Dannon Pledge at Clark Land and Cattle in Williamsport, Indiana.

The partners DanoneWave is announcing today are:

• Dr. Rattan Lal and the Carbon Management and Sequestration Center at The Ohio State University will lead soil sampling across a set of grower and dairy farmer partners. The team will analyze the samples and provide data for analysis. The team will then look at the data to identify practices to help increase the carbon intake of soil.
• Dr. Harold van Es and the soil health team at Cornell University will partner on soil health analysis for the program. The team will use results to make recommendations to be implemented over the next five years with an aim to improve soil health with participating grower and dairy farmer partners.
• EcoPractices, working with EFC/Ag Solver as a service provider, will gather information from program partners to analyze and share reports that help to create an understanding of what the data means for many stakeholders – importantly, our farmer partners.

In addition to announcing partners for the soil health initiative, today DanoneWave is also proud to join The Carbon Underground, Green America and other food companies to inform the design and development of a new global certification standard for food grown in a regenerative way. The soil health initiative and the company’s work to support The Carbon Underground are two important next steps in DanoneWave’s overarching regenerative ambition. To learn more about The Carbon Underground, read the latest press release here.

“With all life beginning and ending in soil, there is urgency to promote agricultural practices that can help regenerate soils. As a soil scientist who has conducted research in this area for the last 50 years, I am privileged to work with DanoneWave, a company that is setting an example for the private sector with a commitment to become carbon neutral,” said Dr. Rattan Lal, The Ohio State University. “The support of the private sector will ensure we can make changes on a significant scale. I hope that others will be inspired by this work and consider options for becoming involved.”

“Working with the private sector to tackle the question of how to improve soil health will help us make an impact at large scale,” said Dr. Harold van Es, Cornell University. “I’ve spent my career exploring opportunities to improve soil health, and I look forward to working with DanoneWave and the soil health program research team to implement changes based on what we learn through the research.”

Finally, the company is exploring options to participate in the Regenerative Organic Alliance, a group working to develop a new standard, which will be known as Regenerative Organic Certification. The work with the Regenerative Organic Alliance would be complementary to the company’s continued commitment to the USDA Organic Standard through pioneering brands. DanoneWave seeks to understand how this proposed certification can benefit our planet and farming communities through soil health, animal welfare, social fairness, and offer more choices for our consumers and our business.

About DanoneWave
Headquartered in White Plains, New York, and Broomfield, Colorado, the mission of DanoneWave is to bring health through food to as many people as possible via its diverse offering of dairy and plant-based foods in high growth and evolving categories. The ambition of DanoneWave is to produce healthful foods that create economic and social value and nurture natural ecosystems through sustainable agriculture. Every time we eat and drink, we vote for the world we want. And as the largest public benefit corporation in the US, DanoneWave is taking bold steps for social good in North America. DanoneWave is a subsidiary of Danone and more information is available at www.DanoneWave.com.

###

Media Contact:

Alessandra Simkin

914-259-0263

alessandra.simkin@danone.com

Reports to: Executive Co-Director: Culture, Planning & Green Business Development
Salary: $95,000 - $105,000
Benefits: Excellent benefits including health care, dental care, paid leave, socially responsible retirement plan, friendly work environment, 4-day work week

Green America is a national, nonprofit, membership organization dedicated to creating a socially just and environmentally sustainable society by using economic strategies to help solve the many challenges facing our country and world. Green America's unique approach involves working with consumers, businesses, investors and supply chains to build an economy that serves people and the planet.    

The Green Business Network is a program of Green America. Comprised of nearly 2,000 businesses, the Green Business Network is home to both rising social and eco entrepreneurs and well-established green businesses. We provide the tools, information, and consumer base to help small to mid-sized businesses, and entrepreneurs, thrive in today’s competitive green marketplace.

The Green Business Network Director will be responsible for developing and implementing plans to bring the Network to the next level of its development, including reviewing and strengthening operations, expanding the membership base, growing programs, building community, increasing revenues and further strengthening the Network’s communications and benefits.

Responsibilities include: 

1. Oversee GBN’s Strategic Development: Working with the staff team, drive the process for catalyzing the next phase of GBN’s work, growth, and impact as a green economy leader. 
    
2. Lead Membership Growth: Develop print and digital strategies and communications, as well as networking opportunities and outreach plans, to attract new, diverse business members (single entrepreneurs and companies) to the Green Business Network. Business diversity includes race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, and more. Create new membership packages and partnerships as needed to identify, cultivate, and engage new members. Ensure membership is properly recorded, acknowledged, and that members receive all of their benefits.
    
3. Lead Membership Renewal Campaigns: Working with the Sr. Manager for GBN Marketing & Communications and the Membership Associate, develop and ensure the timely implementation of compelling membership renewal campaigns throughout the year, including mail, email, calls, and other approaches. Ensure membership renewals are properly recorded, acknowledged, and that members receive all of their benefits.
4. Lead Fundraising Initiatives: Develop communications and other benefits for Green Business Network Leaders, those who contribute financially beyond paying membership dues; identify and cultivate new Leaders; work with the GBN Editorial Associate to expand advertising by GBN members that have passed the GBN business certification, in print and digital Green America communications; develop higher dollar business sponsorships for certified GBN members. Review and implement the GBN membership benefits package to ensure all members receive compelling benefits that are useful to them and that build the green economy. Work with the Development Team on grants to build and advance GBN’s program.

5. Develop & Implement New Programs for Members: Working with Green America staff teams and allies, develop and implement programs that engage GBN members in actions and educational opportunities that build a diverse green economy. Examples include helping businesses take action on the climate crisis, responsible banking and investing, sound food and agriculture practices, fair labor initiatives, and programs that advance Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. Through webinars, action alerts, coalitional efforts, in-person and virtual gatherings, and more, educate & mobilize GBN members as a community to help advance Green America’s programmatic goals. Work with the Certification Manager to continue to upgrade our green business certification program and to engage more members in the certification process. Handle media calls, draft media releases, develop communications, and liaise with allies to build and promote GBN programs.

6. Review & Strengthen Operations: Review current systems for all aspects of membership, communications, and certification for areas in need of strengthening and work with the staff team on an implementation plan to test and implement improvements for greater effectiveness. Ensure GBN has top notch systems in place to attract, engage, cultivate, and renew and attract members. Systems include Salesforce, Survey Monkey, ActOn, Trello, Microsoft suite of products.

7.  Lead & Oversee the GBN Team: Directly oversee the work of the Sr. Manager of GBN Marketing & Communications and the Certification Manager; support the supervision of the Membership Associate and GBN Editorial Associate by the Sr. Manager of Marketing & Communications. Ensure annual reviews are conducted, team members receive professional support and opportunities for growth. Plan & facilitate team meetings, note-taking, and follow-up.

8.  Guide & Support the GBN Communications Strategy: Working with the Sr. Manager for Marketing & Communications, ensure the timely delivery of useful information to all GBN members via email, mail, and social media; ensure the inclusion of GBN content in the Green American magazine and Your Green Life resource.

9. Create & Manage GBN Budget & Annual Planning Processes:  Work with the GBN Team to create an annual budget and operating plans. High level plans are shared with the Green America staff team and board of directors.

10. Organizational Support: The success of our work and the strength of our organization depend on the voluntary participation of staff from all levels of the organization in various cross-departmental teams, in addition to the core responsibilities of each staff position. While staff members are not required to participate in a voluntary team every year, we do depend on volunteers throughout the year for teams such as: Operating Plan & Budget Team; Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Team; Pulse Survey Team; and the Fun Days Team. 

11. Other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Experience doesn't always look the same – skills are transferable, and passion is important. Please tell us how your experience can lead to success in this position. 

• Commitment to Green America’s mission.
• 10-plus years of management-level responsibility including team supervision.
• Experience in marketing and partnership development.
• Proven experience with member services and growing a membership program.
• Proven experience in developing programs, benefits, and sponsorship/fundraising opportunities.
• Ability to problem solve and improve systems and processes.
• Experience working with mission-driven entrepreneurs and businesses.
• Experience in advancing justice, equity, diversity and inclusion goals.
• Strong editing and writing skills.
• Experience working in coalitions.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and ensure a team meets deadlines.
• Experience with business certification a plus.

To Apply:

 Send your resume and a cover letter to GBNHire@greenamerica.org by January 5, 2024, and please indicate in your letter where you heard about the position. 

Green America is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination regarding: actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, or reproductive health disorders), age (18 years of age or older), marital status (including domestic partnership and parenthood), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, citizenship status, credit information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic is included as a form of discrimination and is strictly prohibited. 

Sarah is the Senior Director of Special Climate and Agriculture Programs within Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions.

Prior to joining Green America, Sarah provided business consulting services to enterprises working to create a more just and sustainable food system. Her clients included impact investors, food system entrepreneurs, and farmer advocacy organizations. Earlier in her career, Sarah directed a non-profit land conservation organization and led management consulting projects for fortune 500 companies.

Sarah holds an BA degree from Yale University and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.  

<p>This fall, Green America's People and Planet Award is celebrating businesses that represents the best of the green economy. Two winners will receive a $5,000 prize to support their business's green mission.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In addition to helping Green Americans, each finalist must also represent strong social and environmental leadership in order to win. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Please vote for your TWO favorite businesses by September 30, 2019&nbsp;at 6:00pm ET,</strong> and help us grow the green economy by awarding them with a prize.</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt">&nbsp;</p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt"><a class="green-btn" href="/people-and-planet-award-meet-finalists">Learn more about our finalists</a></p>

<hr />
<style type="text/css">/* ITEM 1 */
/* for each background url image, grab the thumbnail version of that image */
.form-item-choose-two-only-14348 {
background: url("https://www.greenamerica.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/publi…;) no-repeat top center;
padding: 20px 10px 5px 10px;
width: 18%;
height: 90px;
text-align:center;
}

/* ITEM 2 */
.form-item-choose-two-only-14347 {
background: url("https://www.greenamerica.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/publi…;) no-repeat top center;
padding: 20px 10px 5px 10px;
width: 18%;
height: 100px;
text-align:center;
}

/* ITEM3 */
.form-item-choose-two-only-14346 {
background: url("https://www.greenamerica.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/publi…;) no-repeat top center;
padding: 20px 10px 5px 10px;
width: 18%;
height: 100px;
text-align:center;
}

/* ITEM4 */
.form-item-choose-two-only-14345 {
background: url("https://www.greenamerica.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/publi…;) no-repeat top center;
padding: 20px 10px 5px 10px;
width: 18%;
height: 100px;
text-align:center;
}

/* ITEM5 */
.form-item-choose-two-only-14314 {
background: url("https://www.greenamerica.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/publi…;) no-repeat top center;
padding: 20px 10px 5px 10px;
width: 18%;
height: 100px;
text-align:center;
}

@media only screen
and (min-device-width: 320px)
and (max-device-width: 480px)
and (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) {

.webform-submission-vote-on-people-and-planet-awards-node-8793-form .webform-options-display-side-by-side .form-type-checkbox label {
width: 99%;
height: 100%;
padding: 40px 0 0 0;
}

input[type='checkbox'] {
-webkit-appearance:none;
width:20px;
height:20px;
border-radius:5px;
border:2px solid #555;
}

}
</style>

We put together similar looks from conventional clothing brands and from environmentally and socially responsible companies found in our Green Business Network, proving you don’t have to compromise ethics for style when shopping.

Draped Cardigan

H&M Ribbed Cardigan, Black 

Although the cardigan might be a great price, H&M has been caught in multiple scandals related to sweatshops and mistreatment of the employees who manufacture its clothing. Labor organizations accuse the company of paying workers low wages, pushing them to not join labor unions, and doing business with sweatshop suppliers. The cardigan is also 50 percent rayon and 50 percent acrylic. Rayon manufacture requires wood pulp, which may come from virgin forests, and toxic chemicals. And acrylic is a petroleum-based fabric. 

Remember: Conventional clothes may have toxic chemical finishes that provide stain-, water-, fire-, or wrinkle-proofing—and have been linked to health effects like hormone disruption and cancer. The effects of these toxins are the most serious for workers, but the finishes may also remain on clothes and affect wearers, according to GreenPeace.

Alternative: Orgotton Fall Cardigan 

Orgotton offers a similar fair trade cardigan made of 65 percent bamboo. The cardigan also contains 27 percent organic cotton and 8 percent spandex and uses no toxic dyes or finishes.

Green tip: Truly green clothing companies use eco-friendly dyes and inks and avoid chemical finishes. Ask the manufacturer, and look at the labels to ensure your clothes are toxin-free: A GOTS, bluesign, or Oeko-Tex 100 label means your clothing wasn’t exposed to chemical toxins across the supply chain. And beware of the “new clothing smell.” It’s often an indicator of toxic finishes.

Basic White Camisole

Gap Braided Halter Tank

Gap is another serious offender tied to sweatshop labor practices. In the past, the company has used manufacturers that hire children, pay workers less than a dollar an hour, and punish pregnant women by withholding maternity leave or simply firing them. This tank is made of 100 percent rayon, a water- and chemical-intensive fabric.

Remember: Conventional fabrics often come with a significant ecological footprint. Rayon and viscose are made from wood pulp that may come from virgin forests, and they require numerous potentially toxic chemicals to manufacture. Bamboo rayon is made from rapidly renewable bamboo but still requires a lot of chemicals. Nylon and polyester are petroleum-based and non-biodegradable. And cotton accounts for more than 14 percent of all agricultural insecticides, despite only using two percent of arable land. Conventional cotton also requires a tremendous amount of water. 

Green Alternative: Synergy Organic Ella Camisole (available here)

Synergy Organic focuses on making organic clothing without harming the planet. This camisole is made of 100 percent organic cotton with low-impact dyes. It’s also GOTS-certified organic. At $22.00, this tank’s cost is better than competitive with Gap’s $31.99 shirt. You pay less, especially when you consider Synergy’s clothing was manufactured ethically.

Green tip: Look for eco-fabrics when you shop. Certified organic cotton and other fibers are grown without synthetic chemicals or genetically modified seeds. Lyocell/TENCEL® is made from wood pulp from tainably managed forests—or sometimes rapidly renewable brown algae, bamboo, or eucalyptus—using a nontoxic process. MODAL® (be sure to look for the registered symbol) is an eco-friendly fabric made from beech trees. And silk is a low-toxicity fabric. “Peace silk” is made without killing the silk worm. 

Boho Embroidered Clutch

Forever 21 America and Beyond Crossbody Bag

Forever 21 tells us only that this bag is 100 percent cotton and made in India. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help you know much about the bag. What we do know from new reports is that the company is notorious for labor abuses. In August 2017, for example, the Los Angeles Times reported that workers have filed more than 300 claims with the state of California since 2007, alleging that Forever 21 supplier factories in Los Angeles owe them unpaid wages. 

Remember: A “made in the USA” label—like those that appear on some Forever 21 products—does carry some assurance that your clothing may have been manufactured in accordance with US labor laws. However, underground sweatshops do operate in the US, paying workers below the minimum wage, committing wage theft, and putting workers in sub-standard conditions.

Green Alternative: Fiesta Clutch, Lucia’s World Emporium 

This bag has the same fun style of embroidery as the Forever 21 bag but is from a fair trade business. It was made by Guatemalan artisans who are paid a living wage and work in healthy conditions. In addition, fair trade companies encourage workers to collectively bargain, and they pay artisans a premium to improve their communities. Lucia’s World Emporium is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, a trade organization that rigorously screens member businesses for a “360-degree commitment to fair trade.”

Green Tip: If your clothing and accessories come from outside the US, look for a fair trade or GOTS label. Both of these third-party, independent certifications require that workers who grow raw materials or who make clothing earn a living wage and labor under healthy conditions. In the fair trade system, workers also earn a premium for community development. For American-made clothing, buy from companies that are deeply committed to social and environmentally responsibility.

Men's Workout T-Shirt

UnderArmour Threadborne Streaker Men’s Running Shirt 

The UnderArmour shirt is made from polyester, a petroleum-based textile. It’s also made with the company’s “Threadborne Microtechnology” and “anti-odor” technology, though UnderArmour doesn’t elaborate on what those are. Clothes labeled “anti-odor” usually contain nanosilver, making it not very green. 

Remember: Nanosilver fabrics release miniscule silver particles when they are washed. Silver is a potent antibiotic, which can be used when a person has been resistant to other antibiotics. Releasing too much nanosilver into the environment could result in silver’s anti-bacterial qualities becoming less effective when society needs them most. One 2013 study did note that people absorb nanosilver through their skin when they sweat, and a 2014 study found that nanosilver may lead to development of cell-damaging free radicals. 

Green Alternative: Atayne Run Hard Tread Lightly Men’s REC T Elite

Atayne makes athletic and casual clothes for men and women that don’t sacrifice values

for performance. The material for this classic quick-dry workout shirt is 100 percent recycled polyester made from Oeko-Tex 100 certified yarn, and is treated with a bluesign-approved zinc-based anti-microbial, which will keep it from smelling bad. 

Green Tip:  Most shirts that have a moisture-wicking quality are made out of polyester. Unlike natural fibers, polyester is not biodegradable. Polyester clothes made from recycled materials keep the material out of landfills, and they prevent the need to extract more petroleum from the Earth. In addition, clothing from truly green companies will never contain nanoparticles. 

1. Lay off the fertilizer.

A 2015 study by the Appalachian State University in North Carolina found that highly manicured lawns actually give off nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that’s 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Why? Owners are more likely to dump lots of nitrogen-based fertilizer in concentrated patches, and that fertilizer breaks down into nitrous oxide. While more studies are needed to confirm the findings, it’s just common sense that dumping chemicals onto your yard is bad for the planet. So be a little lazy, and let your yard get a little wilder. And if your garden needs an extra boost, use compost or other organic fertilizer. 

2. Say no to pesticides and herbicides, too. 

Pesticides and herbicides can foster “superweeds” and hardier-than-thou bugs that have grown immune to them. Plus, they contaminate waterways and contribute to turning rich, carbon-sequestering soil into dead dirt. Keep your yard and garden organic. Rodale Books offers plenty of organic gardening books and magazines to help. 

3. Plant a Climate Victory Garden. 

Green America’s (Re)Store It! program aims to promote regenerative agriculture, a type of farming that builds healthy soil and turns it into a carbon sink. (See our updated “Living, Regenerated Soil vs. Dead Dirt” graphic for more on how.)  A worldwide switch to regenerative farming could significantly help reverse climate change. Now, you can get in on the action and get to know your neighbors by setting up a Climate Victory Garden.

Any food garden can be a Climate Victory Garden. Inspired by the Allied Victory Gardens in WWII, these gardens turn the dirt in your backyard into a restorative, climate-cooling patch of healthy soil.  The campaign asks gardeners to commit to ten regenerative gardening principles: grow edible plants, keep soils covered, encourage biodiversity, plant perennials, ditch chemicals, compost, integrate crops and animals (not a must, but integrating animal manure and possibly chickens can make soil richer), use people power and not mechanization, rotate plants and crops, and get to know their garden and understand its efficiency and what works best for it.

Following these principles leads to food production that supports the local economy and soil health, while curbing erosion, pollution, and pests, increasing water retention, and decreasing runoff.

4. Compost your organic waste.

Mix food scraps and yard waste together to create magic—in the form of rich compost that is an ideal organic fertilizer for your garden and house plants. Wondering which type to buy? Check out our article, “Pick a Composter, Any Composter.” If you don’t have a large enough yard—or any yard at all—you can start a worm composting bin and shove it under your sink. The worms will do all the work for you—no smell, no muss, no fuss. We promise, they won’t escape and take over your household. See our article on how to start a worm bin.

5. Choose a low-emission lawnmower. 

If your homeowners’ association won’t let you allow your yard to go wild, keep your grass trimmed in as eco-friendly of a manner as possible. All-electric mowers don’t release extra pollution, and if you power them with renewable energy, they’re zero-emission. If you have a small yard or are game for a creative way to exercise, consider an old-fashioned push mower. 

We ask Green America staff members share some of their favorite green cleaning products. We hope this list helps you maintain an eco-friendly hom!

“At our house, we use several Seventh Generation products, particularly the Dishwasher Detergent Packs. These pods aren’t messy to put in the dishwasher, and they clean without chlorine, phosphates, or synthetic fragrances.
—Rob Hanson, Membership Marketing Manager 

“Dr. Bronner’s  Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner is my favorite product for everything from washing the floors to washing my dishes. It’s gentle on the skin, is biodegradable, and just gets things nice and clean.”  
—Dana Christianson, Membership Marketing Director 

“For my secondhand antique furniture, I am in love with Howard products. The Feed-n-Wax Wood Polisher and Conditioner protects the wood but also ‘feeds’ it with essential oils to keep it strong. They also have a butcher block oil that is wonderful.” 
—Christy Schwengel, Major Gifts Officer 

“The Truce Pet Odor Remover Spray works like Febreze to get rid of the stink of dogs, but it doesn’t take a chemist to understand the ingredients. (Don’t use this if you have cats; they don’t like essential oils.)”
—Rachel Feldman, Business Partnerships Manager

“I use BioKleen’s Bac-Out for both stains on my clothes and when my cat gets sick on the carpet. It really works for smell and stain.”  
—Beth Porter, Better Paper Project Director

“The Seventh Generation Free and Clear Natural Laundry Stain Remover is a friend to anyone who is clumsy. I’ve used it for lipstick stains and coffee spills. Once I use this, I never see the stains again.” 
—Caroline Chen, Social Justice Programs Manager

“My stove has a ceramic top, and I’m constantly spilling or splattering things on it. EarthStone’s KitchenStone helps me get it clean without chemicals and without spending days scrubbing!” 
—Tracy Fernandez Rysavy, Editor-in-Chief

“Molly’s Suds Liquid Laundry Detergent doesn’t have any dyes or fragrances, which I prefer as someone sensitive to scents. It’s really concentrated, so you can use less to get your clothes clean. And because it’s in a bag with a spout instead of a heavy plastic jug, it has a smaller eco-footprint.”
—Kathy Harget, Development Director

Now more than ever we need to take advantage of every positive economic action we can to build an economy and society that works for people and the planet.

If you own company stock directly, be sure to add “proxy power” to your action list. Yes – you can vote to pressure companies to be more transparent about their conduct related to issues such as human rights, gun control, climate change, fair pay, corporate lobbying, and the diversity of corporate boards. Shareholders have a voice -- so by not voting your shares you could be making it easier for companies to continue unfair and harmful practices -- like underpaying women.

The main proxy voting season is in the spring, timed to shareholder meetings, so shareholders will soon receive their proxy materials and voting ballots via postal or electronic mail. Once again, approximately 400 resolutions, at dozens of companies, on crucial social, environmental, and corporate governance issues will be addressed.

Your vote matters – especially when it comes to supporting social and environmental issues that corporate managers typically urge shareholders to oppose on the ballot. Voting to increase corporate transparency on key issues affecting workers, communities, and natural resources is an important first step toward improving corporate behavior.

Voting your proxies makes a difference, as Andy Behar, publisher of the Proxy Preview notes: “….the Trump administration continues to weaken government regulations that protect citizens from environmental harms and provide basic social rights. More than ever, it is clear that investors who use their voices as a powerful force for positive change can make a difference at companies that want to thrive and survive in the future.”

If you want to better understand your proxy power – including recent shareholder resolution trends, the rise of new investor coalitions, and key themes in the 2018 proxy season, you’ll want your own copy of the 2018 Proxy Preview. Green America is proud to co-sponsor the Proxy Preview, a “must read” for anyone interested in the shareholder resolution process. You can download your free copy here.

The Proxy Preview explains shareholder resolutions in clear terms and provides context for understanding resolutions’ recent history, who filed the resolutions, as well as lists of companies and the types of resolutions filed at them by concerned shareholders.

Not sure how to read and vote your proxy ballot? Click here for Green America’s proxy voting tips.

Pay attention to your proxy materials – and vote your values!

Damiva is a women's health company making 100% natural products for a women. Damiva started when Chia Chia Sun was shocked to discover that the women's products on the drugstore shelf contained so many chemicals.

When she found out that 85% of women in menopause have vaginal dryness and that the dryness worsens over time, her obvious question was:

"What would I use for the next 30 years?"

She wanted a product that was safe, chemical free and hormone free, and when she realized that no such product existed, Chia Chia and Gardiner decided they would remedy the situation. Now it's become their shared passion and making healthy, 100% natural products for women's health and beauty at any age.

We have been making Sioux style Native American Tipis in beautiful Oregon since 1970. We offer exceptional craftsmanship and beautiful artwork. We are women owned and operated, with 85% women in the workforce. We only source organically grown cotton, use low VOC paint, recycle most of our by-products and support Native American causes via our ongoing 'WeCare' Projects. Nomadics pays living wages for everybody and offers above average benefits for its employees. 

Our tipis are used as a space for meditation or quiet time, as a backyard gathering place, as permanent shelters for off-the-grid living, as airbnb or glampinghub rentals, as well as at Campgrounds, Retreat Centers, Educational Centers or Glamping Sites. 

Why ArT Wine Preserver?

We believe you can enjoy & explore wine, without committing to the whole bottle in one night and without wasting a single drop.

We exist to reduce waste and give you the flexibility to drink wine on your terms.

Our engineering insight came from a background in the leading non-abrasive preservation technology in the food & wine industry.

YOUR BENEFITS

• Flexibility to open a bottle glass of wine with dinner on Tuesday
• Drink better wine
• Perfect wine gift for wine enthusiasts and lovers

WHO USES ART

• Wine enthusiasts who don't always commit to a whole bottle (if you drink wine, this is YOU)
• Singles & those with traveling spouses
• Wineries, Tasting Rooms, wine professionals to preserve fragile sample bottles and brand
• Restaurants with strong wine lists

DIRECTIONS

1. Open wine bottle
2. Drink as much or little as desired
3. Spray 1-2 seconds of ArT in the bottle
4. Re-cork the bottle using a wine stopper (DO NOT USE VACUUM STYLE - they do not seal well)
5. Store wine bottle upright in a cool dark place.

ECO-FRIENDLY

The packaging is fully recyclable (after it is empty) in most US states. Argon recycles itself back to the atmosphere.

Buy ArT Wine Preserver now to Enjoy Your Wine - Longer

Bed and Wood is a high end online store for mattresses made from cotton and latex. Based in Oakton, Va., the founders grew up sleeping on surfaces from natural fibers and now share the passion of bringing these sleep products to American bedrooms. Pillows, mattress protectors and toppers complete their natural collection.

There are many ways to pressure companies to improve their conduct. One important strategy is shareholder activism through the shareholder resolution process.

Every year concerned shareholders file resolutions on issues of concern related to important corporate practices and policies. These resolutions are an excellent way for corporate management to understand investor priorities on social, environmental, and corporate governance issues nationally and globally. Shareholder resolutions also help companies to identify reputational, financial, legal, or other risks that companies may face if the resolution is not addressed. Green America features examples of 2018 shareholder resolutions on issues like climate change and human rights, here.

Unfortunately, the shareholder resolution process is under attack by groups including the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable. They want to make it harder for investors concerned about corporate practices, especially those related to the well-being of people and planet, to be heard by corporate management. They seek to do this by making it harder for investors to resubmit shareholder resolutions over time. This means that corporate management wouldn’t have to face resolutions they typically oppose as frequently. And since the resolutions are disseminated to all shareholders, all investors would then be less informed about emerging risks to the company. The change would make it easier for corporate management to brush under the rug issues like pollution, human rights, and pay disparity.

On March 5, 2018 Green America sent a letter, excerpted below, to the Securities and Exchange Commission opposing the attack on shareholder rights and supporting of the shareholder resolution process currently in place.

We believe the rules that have successfully served the shareholder resolution process for decades continue to be effective and fair and are not in need of revision. Shareholder dialogues with corporate management and the submission of resolutions when warranted play an important corporate oversight role. The shareholder resolution process helps ensure the long-term value of US businesses by identifying potential risk and liability early on thereby supporting investor needs and the well-being of communities, consumers, workers, and the environment. Over the years, concerned shareholders have focused the attention of corporate management on crucial issues including risks associated with climate change, human rights, worker safety, corporate governance, and a wide range of other corporate responsibility and sustainability concerns.

At present, resolution resubmission thresholds of 3%, 6%, and 10% work well. Doubling or tripling these levels as requested, to 6%, 15%, and 30%, will only result in the loss of investor voice on key issues. The claim that continuing to put forward resolutions that receive under thirty percent is burdensome to companies is unproven. In fact, as of 2010, shareholders have resubmitted resolutions that earn less than 20% support for at least two years just 35 times and at only 26 corporations. Clearly there is no systemic problem or burden facing US companies on this issue.

Shareholders, as part-owners of the companies in which they invest, deserve an effective voice on the social, environmental, and corporate governance issues about which they care. Shareholder resolutions have improved corporate conduct and financial performance over the years and remain a useful tool for creating an economy that better serves us all. Green America urges the SEC to maintain the current shareholder resolutions resubmission thresholds.

As the 2018 shareholder proxy season gets underway, if you own company shares directly, be sure to vote your values on your proxies! For a quick look at how to read a proxy ballot, click here. Thank you for voting!

The National Geographic Society began using recycled paper in their publications, thanks to a collaboration with Green America’s Better Paper Project and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

In 2013, Green America and NRDC joined with National Geographic on the most rigorous study to date of the benefits of using recycled fiber versus virgin fiber in magazine publications. Conducted by Environ International Corporation, an independent third-party for National Geographic, the study found that recycled fiber is superior to virgin fiber in 14 out of 14 environmental categories, such as energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Since then, the groups have been working together to develop a plan to incorporate recycled content into the pages of the National Geographic magazines. 

Read the full Life Cycle Assessment of Deinked and Virgin Pulp for National Geographic Magazine here.

National Geographic’s use of recycled paper in their magazines demonstrates that publications with world-class photography can use recycled paper without any compromise on quality. That means there are no excuses for any publishers to use virgin-fiber paper any longer.

The National Geographic Society has committed to using as much recycled paper in their magazines as possible. Their initial switch to paper with five percent post-consumer recycled content will:

• Lower their wood use by an equivalent of 26,000 trees.
• Use less energy – the savings equivalent to approximately 145 homes.
• Reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 238 fewer cars each year.
• Lower their annual water consumption by about 19 Olympic sized swimming pools.
• Reduce their solid waste generation by about 33 fewer garbage trucks.

This is the fourth blog of a series describing the five methods that make up regenerative agriculture—perennial plants & diverse crops, zero/low tillage & mulching, cover cropping & crop rotation, composting, and managed grazing. Implementation of these methods is site specific and depends on soil characteristics, crops grown, and local climates. Practices are rooted in organic methods and can be integrated into farms and pastures transitioning from conventional to organic. They also have a role in smaller-scale climate gardens, where individuals do their part to sequester carbon and contribute to a local, sustainable food system.

Regenerative Agriculture and Carbon Sequestration

All agriculture sequesters carbon from the air through photosynthesis. Regenerative agriculture ensures more carbon is stored than released and keeps the drawn down carbon underground. This effectively reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increases the amount of soil carbon available for healthy crops.

Composting

Composting is another tenant of regenerative agriculture. There is major potential for composting to provide beneficial outcomes both for the climate and beyond. Many agricultural practices are site-specific, but composting is one fundamental element of organic and regenerative agriculture that can be adopted by anyone growing and/or eating food. It is a practice that can be used on any size and type of food-producing operation, which is why it is one of the methods we encourage the most in regenerative agriculture.

Compost is made up of rich organic material, the result of decomposed kitchen scraps, farm and crop residues, manures, and yard wastes. When added to agricultural fields or mixed with garden soils, compost supplies a variety of nutrients, provides food for soil microbes, and creates healthier soils and crops.

The Benefits of Composting

The benefits for farmers and fields range from reduced costly off-farm inputs to greater resistance to pests and plant diseases. Soils’ ability to retain moisture increases, which means less irrigation is needed and less precious soil is lost to wind and water erosion. This is a win for climate change too, since composting results in soils with living ecosystems of micro-organisms that capture and store excess carbon, taking it out of the atmosphere and sequestering it where it can be used to enhance a farm’s productivity. This reduces the need for adding harmful, energy-intensive petrochemical pesticides and fertilizers. Diverting organic wastes from landfills also results in fewer methane emissions, helping reduce another more potent greenhouse gas.

If you're a climate gardener, you are likely already composting (and if you’re not, there’s no time like the present)! Some larger operations might need to source compost commercially (many need up to 20 tons per acre), but gardens at the home level can often be treated with compost generated from just your household and yard wastes. You can even ask your friends and neighbors to “donate” their organic materials if you fall a bit short! (Fun fact: Green America has a compost bin for our home gardeners to collect materials to take home with them.) When you compost, not only are you reducing the waste leaving your property and immediate community, but you’re also reducing the amount of funds spent on synthetic inputs. This makes for healthier homes and neighborhoods, with less chemical exposure and more pennies saved.

There are so many ways to compost and innumerable sources out there to help you. You might use bins, piles, pits, or other ways to store and mix your composting materials. You may employ the assistance of worms to create vermicompost. You could consider making a strong “compost tea” that can be used as a sort of liquid fertilizer that can be pumped into irrigation lines. The main things to consider are keeping temperature, moisture, and oxygen balanced, so as to ensure you’re creating a hospitable environment for the beneficial fungi, protozoa, bacteria, and other members of your local soil biome. You’ll also hear a lot about balancing your “browns and greens”—which refers to your carbon to nitrogen ratio, things like leaves, straw, sticks, and paper (carbon) and fresh greens or kitchen scraps (nitrogen) to further ensure this balance.

Whether you’re a consumer, farmer, or climate gardener, composting is your friend. It is one of the most important tools of regenerative agriculture and climate gardening and brings many benefits to local ecosystems and the people involved from production to consumption.

Finding a Composting Program

Don’t have a garden or space to compost? There are still options! If you’re unable to implement these practices directly, use your consumer power and speak with your dollars to show your support for these important practices. Additionally, you can advocate for city-wide or neighborhood-level programs for compost to be picked up (like how recycling and garbage is collected). There are also private services like this bike-powered compost business in Santa Cruz, California. You can find a local farm or garden that accepts organic materials to add to their composts. Don’t forget to let your local restaurants and grocery stores know how you feel about composting food wastes as well!

Composting is a great way to get active and engage with your community and local food system. Without strong signals from consumers, few farmers and businesses will switch to these practices in the timeframe needed to reverse current climate trends that threaten food security and the future of our planet. 

LOS ANGELES (March 6, 2018) - The Carbon Underground and Green America, in partnership with Ben & Jerry’s (Unilever), DanoneWave, Annie’s (General Mills), and MegaFood have begun development of a global verification standard for food grown in a regenerative manner. The standard seeks to encourage farmers to restore the carbon cycle and build soil health, crop resilience, and nutrient density.

This work builds upon the Regenerative Agriculture Definition created in 2017 by The Carbon Underground, California State/Chico, and the Regenerative Agriculture Initiative that includes over 150 companies, organizations and scientists as signatories. The core

design team for the new standard also includes farmers, ranchers, soil scientists and certification experts and includes input and agreement from nearly 50 organizations on the goals of the new standard, which include:

• Ability to rapidly achieve impact
• Outcomes-based metrics, that can be verified and enforced
• Value, viability and flexibility for farmers, with credit for outcomes already achieved
• Clarity and transparency for supply chains
• Compatibility with related standards, such as Regenerative Organic, Organic, and Non-GMO. (Companies or growers who have invested in complementary standards will have those achievements recognized within this program, but they are not mandatory.)
• Flexibility for improvements as new data become available

“The goal of this new standard is not simply to restore soil, but to do it quickly,” said Larry Kopald, President and Co-Founder of The Carbon Underground. “The windows for avoiding catastrophic climate change and complete top soil loss are projected to close

in decades, not centuries.”

The key objective is to create a scalable, achievable standard that can work across the Global Supply Chain. Benefits of implementing these actions include greater food security, more stable supply chains, greater viability of farmers, and drawdown of

carbon from the atmosphere to mitigate climate change and rebalance the carbon cycle.

“By shifting to regenerative agricultural practices, which, by definition, work with nature, we can leverage photosynthesis to restore the water and carbon cycles,” said Dave Rapaport, Global Social Mission Officer at Ben & Jerry’s. “Working to avoid the

irreversible effects of climate change and the loss of our remaining top soil.”

For more information, or to sign up for updates, contact Randi Fiat atrfiat@thecarbonunderground.org or Ed Barker at ebarker@greenamerica.org.

About The Carbon Underground

The Carbon Underground was created to accelerate the restoration of soil and the transformation of agriculture to regenerative practices that will mitigate climate change, support farmers, and improve supply chains, food quality and food security around the

world. By working with businesses, scientists, governments and food producers The Carbon Underground creates and manages programs to reverse the threats of climate change, stop topsoil loss, and reduce supply chain stress.

www.thecarbonunderground.org

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 consumers, businesses and investors to solve today’s social and environmental problems. Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions brings together diverse groups of stakeholders to solve the complex sustainability problems that no individual business, organization, or leader can solve alone.

www.greenamerica.org

www.centerforsustainabilitysolutions.org

###

Leslie Samuelrich is the president of Green Century Capital Management, a socially responsible mutual fund company established in 1991 by a group of nonprofit advocacy organizations (specifically, eight state Public Interest Research Groups and the Fund for the Public Interest). Today, 100 percent of profits earned from its mutual funds belong to its nonprofit owners. Green Century’s funds are fossil-fuel-free and “invest in environmental innovators, while avoiding those that are environmentally negligent in their policies, processes, and products.”

Samuelrich’s article below was adapted, with permission, from a piece that first appeared in the November 2015 issue of Green Money Journal. Photo at right, from left to right: Erin Gray, marketing and strategic analysis; Leslie Samuelrich, president; and Wendy Wendlandt, board member and founding trustee. 

Companies that want to remain competitive must invest in women leaders. Several studies have confirmed that publicly traded companies with more women in leadership positions do better financially than companies with mostly male board members and executives. For example, Catalyst’s “Bottom Line” study, conducted from 2004-2008, found that “Fortune 500 companies with the highest representation of women board directors attained significantly higher financial performance, on average, that those with the lowest representation of women board directors.”

More recently, a 2014 study by Credit Suisse found that since 2005, companies with an above-average number of women on their boards outperformed companies with a below-average number by 3.7 percent on the stock market. Those results held true when Credit Suisse compared companies worldwide and within specific countries or regions.

A 2014 world survey conducted by human resources consulting firm DDI found that when women are in leadership positions in a company, not just at the top but throughout a company’s structure, those companies tend to perform better than companies whose structures are male-dominated. 

A February 2015 analysis by McKinsey & Company of 366 public companies across a range of industries in North America and the United Kingdom found that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity were 15 percent more likely to financially outperform those in the bottom quartile.  

Finally, the Barclays Women in Leadership Total Return Index is a broadly diversified bond index. Companies included in the index must have a female CEO or have women in at least 25 percent of their board positions. The index has outperformed the S&P 500 by 1.2 percent each year from July 2000 to July 2014. (The company offers an Exchange Traded Note that tracks this index.) 

Studies demonstrating the value of having women in leadership provide helpful data to concretely back up what many of us already know from our experience—women can be strong leaders, communicators, problem-solvers, and staff managers who can help a company not only survive, but thrive. And shareholders can help encourage companies to put and retain more women in their top roles.

Exerting Shareholder Pressure

One of the easiest ways to invest in women is through mutual funds that invest in companies with women in leadership. At Green Century, for example, we actively support women’s leadership in the companies in which we invest and want to press more companies to do the same. 

When Green Century analyzed its funds this summer, we found that the percentage of female directors and executives in the companies held by the Green Century Equity Fund and Balanced Fund handily surpassed the global average percentages of women on boards of directors and women in leadership positions. Women in leadership comprise 18.35 percent and 15.54 percent of the companies in the Green Century Equity Fund and the Green Century Balanced Fund, respectively, compared to a global average of 12.9 percent. The percentage of women on the boards of directors are 19.71 percent and 20.35 percent for the companies in the Green Century Equity Fund and the Green Century Balanced Fund, respectively. The global average of women on the boards of directors is 12.4 percent.

Mutual funds may also dialogue behind the scenes with companies and file or vote to support shareholder resolutions to encourage greater numbers of women in top positions. 

If you own stock, watch for shareholder resolutions around improving gender diversity on corporate boards and in corporate leadership—and vote to support them. If you own mutual funds, it’s the fund managers who vote on shareholder resolutions. If you’re unsure about how your fund may vote, contact its investor relations departments and let them know you want the fund to vote in favor of resolutions promoting greater board and leadership diversity.   

The Thirty Percent Coalition (see below), a national organization of more than 80 members committed to moving women into 30 percent of all board seats across publicly traded companies, filed 20 resolutions during 2015 aimed at including more women and people of color on corporate boards. In addition, Calvert Investments,Trillium Asset Management, and Walden Asset Management all filed resolutions requesting that companies report on existing or adopt new board-diversity policies. 

The Thirty Percent Coalition

The Thirty Percent Coalition is a national organization of more than 80 members “committed to the goal of women holding 30 percent of board seats across public companies.”

Coalition members use three key stakeholder groups to influence corporations to hire more women on their boards: institutional investors wielding financial power, government officials with public-policy power, and corporate leaders with persuasive power.  

The institutional-investor members have sent three rounds of letters to a list of publicly traded companies that have no women on their boards. They’ve also filed shareholder resolutions with companies that did not respond positively to the letters, calling on the companies to improve board diversity. Since the Coalition was created in 2011, more than 60 companies have appointed women to their boards as a result of Coalition efforts.  

Not surprisingly, several of the pioneering socially responsible investment firms in Green America’s Green Business Network® are 
coalition members, including Boston Common Asset Mgmt., Calvert Investments,Miller/Howard Investments, Pax World Funds, Trillium Asset Management, and Walden Asset Management.

Company Culture Matters 

One of the most important ways companies can attract and retain women leaders is to create a culture that makes it possible for women to fulfill their work obligations and their roles as caregivers at home, for those who have children or are responsible for aging parents.
In her September 2015 New York Times opinion piece, New America Foundation president Anne-Marie Slaughter outlines how, although the US has “unlocked” the talent of its women at the high school and college levels, the ranks of those women still thin significantly as they rise toward the top, from more than 50 percent at entry level to 10 to 20 percent in senior management. Slaughter writes that “far too many discover that what was once a manageable and enjoyable work-family balance can no longer be sustained—regardless of ambition, confidence, or even a partner who shares tasks equally.” 

She continues to drill down to a core problem that affects women, businesses, and our society: “Many women who started out with all the ambition in the world find themselves in a place they never expected to be. They do not choose to leave their jobs; they are shut out by the refusal of their bosses to make it possible for them to fit their family life and their work life together,” she writes.

At my prior job, at what would be easily considered a progressive organization with strong women leaders, there was no precedent or policy for parents to be able to work at home when I started there as a working mom. But we were doing such exciting work on corporate responsibility that I dug in to try to make the situation work. 

Over time and with a supportive board, which was 50 percent female, the organization has adopted the accommodations they eventually made for me as policy. The result? An international organization that has tripled its budget and retained much of its top female leadership as they became mothers, and is a living example of how promoting women is good for growth.

Green Century digs deeper when we are reviewing companies for inclusion in our funds or engaging with them around an issue or potential shareholder resolution, asking how they attract and retain women. For example: Do they have flexible work time? Is there an informal or formal mentorship program for women? How many women stay after they have some kind of caregiving responsibility? In other words, the numbers matter, but so do the policies, culture, and details.  

A Call to Action

It would seem that with all the information on the value of women in leadership, articles like this should be superfluous. Smart and strategic business leaders would have read these studies and already implemented plans that significantly increased the number of women in leadership. 

But the roadblocks come up when that “change contradicts something we’ve long held as important,” says Brendan Nyhan, a professor of political science at Dartmouth who has studied how change occurs. If one has come to consciously or subconsciously believe that men are just better at being in charge, it can be more difficult to accept the fact that women also can lead effectively. In the end, Nyhan asserts that some people “can’t change unless the perceived consensus among figures we see as opinion and thought leaders changes first.” 

If he is correct, then investors must attack this challenge together. And that means we must keep pushing. Pushing our firms, pushing our peers, pushing our boards, and pushing the companies in which we invest. We also need to support government policies that back the ideals with concrete support.

Why not start right now? As for why, I love paraphrasing the answer Canada’s new prime minister Justin Trudeau gave when asked why half of his cabinet is women: “It is 2015.”   

—Leslie Samuelrich, with additional research by Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

SEC compliance information: Stocks will fluctuate in response to factors that may affect a single company, industry, sector, or the market as a whole and may perform worse than the market. Bonds are subject to risks including interest rate, credit, and inflation. The Green Century Mutual Funds’ environmental criteria limit the investments available to the Funds compared to mutual funds that do not use environmental criteria.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. 

This information has been prepared from resources believed to be reliable. The views expressed are as of the date of this writing and are those of the Advisor to the Green Century Funds.
You should carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing. To obtain a Prospectus that contains this and other information about the Funds, please visit www.greencentury.com or e-mail info@greencentury.com or call 1-800-93-GREEN. Please read the Prospectus carefully before investing.

The Green Century Funds are distributed by UMB Distribution Services, LLC. 9/15
 

Common Interests is an independent Wealth Management Practice specializing in sustainable, responsible and impact investing (SRI). The firm is a certified BCorp, and signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investing. With a healthy attitude of humility and service, we stand by our Mission Statement: “To enhance the financial wellness of our clients in a socially responsible manner by bringing to bear years of experience, knowledge and integrity.”

We have no minimum investment requirements and are absolutely focused on solving our clients’ financial problems…of all kinds. We provide services in all aspects of Comprehensive Financial planning for individuals, families, nonprofits and small businesses, in addition to Portfolio Design and Management. As a result of more than 20 yrs. in practice, we work well with families on a multi-generational basis to help them come together, share their worries and concerns, and ultimately, set clear financial goals for the present as well as the future.

All costs issues are clearly delineated and openly discussed. we invite you to visit our website, www.commoninterestsfinancial.com where we practice radical transparency about our fees and services.  At Common Interests, financial planning is only the beginning. We are frequent speakers at national conferences, in university classrooms and local libraries. We firmly believe in being socially responsible in our investments decisions but also by treating others as we would want to be treated. An initial consultation with us is always complementary so that we can get to know one another, and work together to determine the best way forward.

Coming soon.

Shop green businesses that are certified members of our Green Business Network, so you know they care about people and the planet.