A Sustainability Playbook on the Day the World’s Largest Iceberg was Born

One of the first initiatives of the recently formed Adweek Sustainability Council, co-chaired by myself and Marc Pritchard, chief brand officer of Procter & Gamble, was to help brands understand, embrace and integrate the United Nation’s (UN) 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) as part of their brand growth strategy, as opposed to treating sustainability as a cost center. Why? Not only is our entire planet in crisis from climate to human inequities–Sustainability includes DEI–but consumers are demanding brands become more responsible and are casting their votes on the brands that will endure with their voices and their wallets. As much as we all believe it is the right thing to do, let’s face it, the UN’s SDGs are complicated and not broadly understood, either by brands or consumers. Across the 17 SDGs, 8 are planet-oriented, 8 are people-oriented as intricately linked for success. SDG #17 is all about partnerships for impact. To put things into perspective, on the climate topic alone, the public sector is so behind in their commitments to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees that three months ago, the UN issued an alarming report serving as Red Alert for our planet. Secretary-General António Guterres was quoted “Today’s interim report from the UNFCCC is a red alert for our planet. It shows governments are nowhere close to the level of ambition needed to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.” What needs to happen? Guterres continued, “The science is clear, to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, we must cut global emission by 45 percent by 2030, from 2010 levels”. What will happen if we miss the goal? We are on path for massive planetary meltdown, literally. Even if we hit the goal, some scientists warn at the maximum 2 degrees Celsius line it may still trigger a tailspin to 4 or 5 degrees warmer rendering cities like Venice, New York, Tokyo and Sydney uninhabitable due flooding and cities like Las Vegas uninhabitable due to extreme heat and drought. Today’s news underscores it all. The world’s largest iceberg just broke off an Antarctic ice shelf. “The floating mass is bigger than Rhode Island and covers an area more than 70 times that of Manhattan.” So, speaking of today, what can we all do? Well we are all consumers, so we can think about the next time we leave the heat on, how we wash our clothes, turning off the water while we brush our teeth and so much more. But as brands and marketers, it is critical we leverage our influence and action to accelerate our collective progress. To help all of us get grounded in the 17 UN SDGs, please find the Adweek Sustainability Playbook from the recent Sustainability and DEI Summit. In it, you will find incredible guidance from some of the world’s top CSOs, CMOs, CBOs and Industry leaders. SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS P&G’s Marc Pritchard, UN’s Maher Nasser Talk Sustainability and DEIAntonio Lucio Shares 3 Keys for Fostering DEI in a Large Marketing OperationVerizon Rolls Out Comprehensive DEI Plan for Its Companywide MarketingHow P&G and Estée Lauder Bring Sustainability Alignment InternallyHow AB InBev and e.l.f. Cosmetics Are Cultivating Purpose-Filled PartnershipsUnilever Rolls Out New Sustainability Plan and Discusses MeasurementHow Brands Are Enrolling Consumers Into Their Sustainability StrategiesDiversity and Inclusion: What’s Changed and What Hasn’t SDG PLAYS SDG 1: No Poverty with Kinda Lincoln, CEO, Raven + LilySDG 2: Zero Hunger with Rupen Desai, Global CMO, DoleSDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being with Lina Polimeni, Chief Media Officer of Lilly USA, Eli Lilly and CompanySDG 4: Quality Education with Julie Fleischer, Chief Growth Officer, EncantosSDG 5: Gender Equality with CEO Shelley Zalis and Chief Innovation Officer Ronda Carnegie, The Female QuotientSDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation with Omar Mitchell, VP of Sustainable Infrastructure and Growth Initiatives, National Hockey LeagueSDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy with Dean Aragón, CEO & Vice-Chairman, Shell Brands International AGSDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth with Arielle Gross Samuels, Head of Global Business Strategy and Engagement, FacebookSDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure with Joy Tan, SVP Public Affairs, Huawei Technologies USASDG 10: Reduced Inequalities with Frank Cooper III, CMO, BlackRockSDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities with Shin-pei Tsay, Global Head of Cities and Transportation Policy, UberSDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production with Elmis Medina, Head of Product Sustainability, Restaurant Brands InternationalSDG 13: Climate Action with Ashley Orgain, Head of Advocacy and Sustainability, Seventh GenerationSDG 14: Life Below Water with Mike Cessario, Co-founder and CEO, Liquid Death Mountain WaterSDG 15: Life on Land with Amy Senter, VP, Chief Sustainability Officer, Kellogg'sSDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions with Chris Miller, Head of Global Activism Strategy, Ben & Jerry'sSDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals with Ezgi Barcenas, Head of Sustainability, AB InBev and Kory Marchisotto, CMO, e.l.f. Cosmetics

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A Sustainability Playbook on the Day the World’s Largest Iceberg was Born

The world’s top CSOs, CMOs, CBOs and Industry leaders share how their brands are tackling the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals

Nadine Dietz

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Nadine Dietz