WBENC’s Post

Ever wondered about the environmental footprint of your wine choice? 🍷 We recently spoke to Paul Taylor, Founder and CEO of A Glass of®, who unveiled the untold story behind the bottle and its surprising carbon footprint. 🌍 "50% of the carbon footprint of a winemaker is the bottle…We're 90% more efficient than cans or bottles simply because of the amount of energy, the amount of water and the amount of CO2 required to produce our product in the first place!" A Glass of® innovatively fills a gap in the wine industry, providing consumers with the chance to enjoy high-end wines by the glass through eco-friendly pouches. 💥 Open to Wholesale and pre-approved investors, with a minimum investment of $5,000! Uncork the potential with A Glass of® 🚀 Invest now or find out more 👉 https://bit.ly/41cXYkh Always consider the offer document before investing. #VentureCrowd #FoodTech #Wineinnovation

"We die by being bold." Playing devil's advocate, let's understand why the adoption of reuse has been so slow among the companies Lauren mentioned, then explore the missing puzzle pieces to make it clear that there are no excuses to *not* adopt reuse. Emotions run wild when integrating new practices into operations. Anxiety, impatience, distraction—they all dance alongside the bottom line. While reuse is there, leaders ruminate: • What if things go awry, and we lose money in Q3 of 2024? • Sure, Lauren's ideas are intriguing, but we have way too many priorities to focus on *right now*. • Are our customers really clamoring for reuse? They seem content with compostable silverware. • Will shareholders approve? Should one shareholder with a significant equity stake pull out, we’ll face serious legal, financial, and operational ramifications. Lauren's crew has the functionality of reuse down, no doubt. But until companies confront their emotions, progress will remain sluggish. They’ll repeatedly tell her crew, "Wow, you've solved every challenge that comes with reusable packaging." Behind closed doors, they’ll say, "We don’t have the bandwidth for this. Let’s sideline it." They’ll flip Lauren’s words and insinuate: "We die by being bold." Yet, there's one undeniable, irreconcilable truth, as Lauren proclaimed: "We are bold, or we die." A movement is rapidly growing for reuse, offering social support to integrate it into your company. Trivium Packaging, in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), found that 74% of consumers crave products in refillable packaging [1]. That's a staggering number, and it's backed by a survey of 15,000 customers spanning 3 continents! Worried about financial losses? Lauren's team specializes in reuse logistics—they've got your back. Concerned about the time and effort involved? They're on it. "But what about the shareholders?" With the climate emergency, we stand at the brink of environmental, social, and economic upheaval. Let's not let short-term gains discussed behind closed doors blind us to the urgent need for change that Lauren and so many reuse advocates are proclaiming. Your chance to make a monumental impact is here. I join Lauren in extending the invitation to sweetgreen, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Starbucks, and all the rest to embrace reuse and pioneer a sustainable future. Edit: Added references.

Companies that are Certified B Corps come in all sizes and from all industries and geographies. KeHE Distributors is one of the largest companies to receive B Corp Certification but their ability to create social and environmental benefit alongside growth has lessons for all companies. Dive in to learn more in this compelling podcast featuring KeHE's own Laura McCord.

"We are bold, or we die" On International Women's Day, I noticed ads for the Cabrini movie and went to go see it the next day. Without spoiling it for those who haven't seen it (I recommend it), the movie and the woman it's based on tell the hard truth: in order to solve big problems, we need to think and act in big ways. We've invited big corporations to join us in doing that, and I appreciate that companies like Whole Foods Market, Toast, DoorDash, Uber, and others have joined us in creating a solution that could significantly reduce single-use packaging waste. Hundreds of restaurant operators in NYC, NJ, Colorado, LA, and the Bay Area have already chosen to join us...but there's a big gap that is becoming glaringly apparent: chains and big restaurant groups have been slow to adopt reusable packaging, even though they know that the compostable packaging they often choose instead is basically just greenwashing. We've had preliminary conversations with many chains, and during a call one of them even said something like "wow, you've solved for every challenge that comes with reusable packaging." And then, after telling us they would add all their locations in the New York metro area, that would-be partner ghosted. Here is the even colder, harder truth: big corporations assume that we will be there when they decide they're ready. That's not necessarily the case. Without commitments from partners who currently use the highest volumes of single-use packaging, we could die. So I'm choosing to be bold instead. We're ready to work with sweetgreen, Chopt Creative Salad Company, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Just Salad, Slutty Vegan, Panera Bread, Union Square Hospitality Group, Shake Shack, CAVA, Yum! Brands, Branded Hospitality Ventures, Modern Market Eatery, STARR Restaurants, Maman NYC, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, Starbucks, Wonder, Health Nut, and any other restaurant ready to better understand how reuse could fit into their operations. Reuse is easier than it seems, it's a great customer acquisition and retention strategy, and we've designed our system to be cost-effective, too. We're ready to show you.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the fourth edition of the Wine Future Conference, which addresses the challenges facing the wine industry today. This conference brings together the most influential and respected names in the wine business, as well as voices from other sectors and competing industries. Of the various panels I attended, I would highlight the “It’s Not Easy Being Green – Why Sustainability (and Transparency) is More Important than Ever” sponsored by Planet Future Foundation with the intervention of Prof Graham Miller, Anna Chilton, Martin Reyes MW, Eugeni Brotons and moderation on the part of Anne Burchett. In this debate, the priorities and expectations of today's consumers regarding product and industry transparency and authenticity were discussed, leading to the conclusion that sustainability and responsible business practices are extremely important to them. In addition, it was discussed how to communicate about sustainability in wine, without greenwashing and breaking trust. #winefuture #sogrape #sustainability

In a recent interview, Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket Inc., opened up about his journey into the produce and food supply chain industry. Starting in 2014, he observed many tech-driven companies enter this space with investor backing and a sense of purpose. However, he soon realized the critical importance of understanding the industry's intricacies and maintaining humility. Watch! - https://lnkd.in/dt_Q66CJ Listen! - https://lnkd.in/dcz65JTS In this insightful discussion, Mike stresses the significance of respecting the complexities of the food supply chain. His approach blends technological innovation with a profound appreciation for agricultural traditions, ensuring that new solutions truly address the industry's core needs. By collaborating with established companies like Craig Slate's SunFed, Mike highlights the value of partnerships in developing technology that benefits the entire supply chain. This method not only promotes growth but also enhances efficiency and sustainability across all levels. Explore how technology is transforming #efficiency and #sustainability in our latest episode. This conversation offers a glimpse into the future of food distribution. A big thank you to our episode sponsors: Born Farms, Art MX, Mucci Farms, Sev-Rend, Santos International, 4EARTH FARMS, SunFed, Zubelle Industries, IFCO SYSTEMS, and our beverage sponsor, Tehuacan Brillante for their support.

Understanding Best Practice within you retail category is a key part of taking your business “forward”. For value-add produce operators, US based Taylor Farms is a good example of “Best Practice”. Across its supply chain f and product innovation rom quality assurance through to sustainability, this company does it so very well. #producevalueadd #bestpractice #learningorganisation

Tea Rebellion: Anatomy of a Purpose-Driven Brand | Annabel Kalmar, founder of Tea Rebellion, a small direct-trade single-farm tea retailer, describes the DNA of a purpose-driven tea venture and the challenge of changing how tea is traded, marketed, and consumed. She says the goal is to be a sustainable, transparent, award-winning tea brand. Tea Rebellion, founded in 2017, does not sell blended or flavored tea. Farms are co-branded, and marketing draws attention to the farm and identity of growers. "To affect change, we need to credit the maker of the product," she says. "To drive impact, I choose to work with tea farmers with a clear goal of sustainability and impact in their communities. Several of these farmers are female-run or committed to the empowerment and well-being of women," she says. | Dan Bolton | Tea Biz Blog | Podcast | Episode 159 | #tea #teapower | https://lnkd.in/dpfUcx4P

Introducing the Updated Brew a Better World 2030 Goals For almost 160 years, we’ve been passionate about making a positive impact on the world. In April 2021 we launched our renewed sustainability strategy to drive progress towards a net zero, fairer, and more balanced world. We are now three years into developing and executing our Brew a Better World (BaBW) 2030 strategy and we can be proud of the results that we have achieved so far. From reducing our absolute carbon emissions across the value chain to increasing the percentage of women in senior management roles and growing the number of markets where we have a zero-alcohol option available, sustainability is being embedded in how we operate. And we know we still have more to do. Reflecting on our learnings, we’ve refined our approach and updated our BaBW goals to better address the progress. Here’s a quick overview of what’s changed:  • Added new goals on carbon and circularity. • Amended goals with a 2023 due date or where emphasis has changed. • Removed goals that were substantially reached, no longer required the same focus, or had open-ended statements. • Repositioned goals under different pillars for better coherence. This update sharpens our focus to drive better impact for the environment, society and our business. We'll continue to raise the bar on environmental and social sustainability, and to champion responsible consumption. For more information please check out our BaBW strategy booklet on the website: https://lnkd.in/ef3QAjzg Together, we can #BrewABetterWorld

🌍✨ Big News on the Horizon at Matche! 🌱💫 We're on the cusp of something groundbreaking, and we're thrilled to share a glimpse of our journey with you! As we grow and reach tea lovers around the globe, Matche is embracing a transformation that's not just about us—it's about our planet and community. 🌎🍵 Sustainability at Heart 🌿 We're stepping up our game with a commitment to more sustainable packaging. Our promise? To deliver the exceptional tea you love, in a way that's better for the Earth. This is our pledge to not just be a brand, but a beacon for positive change. ♻️💖 Global Connections, Local Flavors 🌐 Our journey doesn't stop with eco-friendly initiatives. We're expanding our horizons to bring you a taste of the world, connecting cultures and communities through the universal language of tea. 🤝🌍 What's staying the same? The unmatched quality and taste of our teas that you've come to know and love. We're just adding a dash of global inspiration and a commitment to the planet to the mix. 🍃☕️ The Future Brews Bright 🚀 This transformation is just the beginning. We're brewing a future where every sip supports a more sustainable and connected world. Stay tuned for sneak peeks and updates as we unfold this exciting chapter. 🌟 💬 We'd love to hear from you! What does sustainability mean to you? How do you celebrate global cultures in your daily life? Share your thoughts and let's start a conversation. 🌿💬 #SustainableSipping #GlobalTeaJourney #EcoFriendlyBrew #TeaForChange #MatcheEvolution #WorldOfTea #GreenerFuture #japan