The status quo is always being challenged. Whatever dominates is always being criticized and derogated. The mainstream is never the only thing. Trends invite counter-trends.
A story late last year in The New York Times about the proliferation of classes at elite business schools teaching “corporate social obligations and how to rethink capitalism” is emblematic of what has taken place with corporate social purpose over the past decade. Purpose has gone from an insurgent idea challenging capitalism to a mainstream part of 21st century capitalistic thinking. Purpose has gone mainstream.
In its latest earnings call, Beyond Meat articulated a three-step turnaround plan.
There has been a lot in the news about “The Great Reset” when it comes to converting from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Brands should also consider another kind of “reset” … one that deals with marketing themselves as sustainable. There’s no doubt that a greater emphasis on sustainability is here to stay and will affect how business responds, especially when it comes to marketing themselves. But the right response is no longer whether your...
The barrier for sustainability is price. Typically, this is blamed on consumers. Marketers say to themselves that consumers are not living up to their values, because if they were, they’d prioritize sustainability and pay for it. So, the job for brands is defined as getting consumers to follow through on good intentions. This involves segmenting consumers by sustainability attitudes to develop marketing appeals.
