As we continue to make an impact in 2023, ASBN is excited to share our March highlights with members, partners, business leaders, investors and allies across the nation as we build a more equitable economy. ASBN is committed to working with and alongside our network to develop and elevate the policy solutions needed for inclusive and long-lasting systems change -- thank you all for your part in advancing our mission.

The Ampersand Group,  facilitator of multi-stakeholder economic ecosystems, connects the American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN), a movement builder organization committed to mobilizing business and investor communities toward a sustainable economy, alongside the National Supplier Diversity Institute (NSDI), a supplier diversity B2B/B2G marketplace that advances economic development pathways and local content compliance for suppliers and public-private buyers, to leverage partnerships, resources, and networks to support small/diverse businesses and diverse stakeholders within industries such as offshore wind, maritime, transportation and construction.  

“We are building a movement of business organizations and investors to create a more just and sustainable economy and society.” – David Levine, ASBN Co-Founder, and President. “This work that we do – although broad and diverse – is driven by our 30+ State Affiliates, more than 12 working groups, and our broad community that impacts change. Being able to impart education within the business community, engaging BIPOC business owners, and partnering with community stakeholders builds the case for how we can move towards a more sustainable economy”. 

ASBN IN THE NEWS

ASBN's Derek Peebles, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy Featured on Between 2Bs Podcast
In "The Economics of Compassion: Why Good Works Make Good Business". Derek is joined by Christopher Johnson of Wells Fargo as they discuss how to better create and sustain inclusive and expansive small business growth.  Listen HERE. 

ASBN's Board Chair, Seungah Jeong is Featured in the 2023 MO 100 Impact Ranking of Top CEOs
In addition to her service on ASBN's Board, Seungah is also CEO of MPOWERED Inc.  The CEOs on the list champion a new vision of capitalism, demonstrating that every transaction represents an opportunity to create positive outcomes for all stakeholders. 

ASBN Attends the Conservation in Action Summit
ASBN Policy Associate Abby Maxwell was thrilled to be at the Conservation in Action Summit on March 21st, hosted by the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Department of the Interior. President Biden's commitments to conservation are groundbreaking and make progress on promises to learn from Indigenous knowledge to conserve lands and waters across the US for protections of people and the planet.


ASBN Says That The Senate’s Vote to Overturn the Clean Water Restoration Rule is Bad for Business
ASBN strongly disapproves of the Senate’s vote to overturn the EPA’s 2022 Clean Water Restoration Rule. This decision comes on the heels of the House voting to overturn the rule earlier in March. On March 8th, before the vote in the House, ASBN member Rick Baumann, founder and owner of Murrells Inlet Seafood, testified at the “Small Business Perspectives on the Impacts of the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule” hearing to share how a repeal of the rule would negatively impact his, and other small businesses across the United States. Read his testimony and our entire statement here. 


ASBN Applauds President Biden Veto of the Department of Labor’s Final Ruling
The American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) applauds President Biden’s Veto of the Congressional Review Act (CRA) that would nullify the Department of Labor’s final ruling that allows ERISA fiduciaries to consider financially relevant ESG factors on behalf of retirement savers. Read more here.

Business Leaders Say Willow Project Undermines Clean Energy Economy
The Biden administration has approved a controversial $8bn drilling project on Alaska’s North Slope. The ConocoPhillips Willow project will be one of the largest of its kind on US soil, involving drilling for oil and gas at three sites for multiple decades on the 23m-acre National Petroleum Reserve which is owned by the federal government and is the largest tract of undisturbed public land in the US. The project will emit the same amount of carbon as 76 coal fired power plants. Read our entire statement here.

ASBN Invites Members to Support Indigenous-Led Economic Development
ASBN invites businesses, foundations, impact investors, Indigenous-led businesses, Indigenous-led foundations, Native-led financial institutions, and Tribal Leaders to participate in our DOI Public-Private Partnership Working Group. If you're interested in learning more, please complete the interest form. Contact David Levine at [email protected] or Terrius Harris, at [email protected] if you have additional questions.

Please note, this is a member-only working group

Member News 

HigherRing
HigherRing Inc. is now Climate Neutral Certified!
HigherRing has met its goal and has become carbon-neutral, to
continue on its mission to put the planet and people first as of March 2023, they secured their status as a carbon-neutral company through certification with the nonprofit Climate Neutral. As a B Corp, 1% for the Planet member, and American Sustainable Business
Network (ASBN) member, this was the clear next step for HigherRing to use business as a force for good.

Allbirds Reveals World's First Carbon Zero Shoe
Allbirds has created the world’s first net-zero-carbon shoe, the M0.0NSHOT. Its landmark carbon footprint, or lack thereof  was achieved without relying on offsets, after Allbirds completely reimagined the way it makes products.  M0.0NSHOT will launch in June when Allbirds presents the shoe for the first time at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen; it will be available for purchase in Spring 2024.


Career Opportunities with ASBN

Circular Economy Policy Fellowship
Corporate Responsibility Policy Fellowship
Corporate Responsibility Policy Fellowship
Vice President for Policy & Government Affairs
Alaska Indigenous Policy Coordinator
Non-Profit Controller
Pennsylvania Sustainable Business Statewide Coordinator

Social Venture Institute Women Virtual | JUNE 14-16 2023
Applications are now open for Social Venture Institute Women Virtual! Come create community in the potent, highly curated, and brave space of SVIW. Hear True Confessions from leaders like Caryl Levine of Lotus Foods, Inc and Chrystel Cornelius (Ojibwa/Oneida), President & CEO of Oweesta Corporation.  Share your real time business struggles, problem solve with other women & non binary business leaders, and generate innovative ideas and solutions.  As women and non-binary entrepreneurs, we will gather for ourselves, for our businesses, for each other, and for the change we wish to see in the world. Save 15% off with early bird registration until April 15! Or save 10% with code SVIW2023 hollyhock.ca/sviw

GREENWASHING: A Conversation Between ASBN and ALLBIRDS
April 13, 2023 | 5:30pm to 7:30pm PT, San Francisco, CA
>This event is exclusive to ASBN Members and Hanson Bridgett staff and clients only<
Join us for a discussion on GREENWASHING between the American Sustainable Business Network and Allbirds. 

“Greenwashing” is the act or practice of making a product, service, organization, or policy appear more environmentally-friendly or less environmentally harmful than it actually is.

When companies greenwash their products and reputations, they're creating the false or misleading impression that the use of such products and/or support of those businesses makes a meaningful contribution to environmental progress and ecological sustainability. Sometimes this perception is inadvertently created. More often, it's a deliberate attempt to exploit public concerns for the purpose of enhancing profits and/or deliberately direct attention away from ongoing crimes against the planet.

In this discussion, you'll learn where greenwashing comes from, what it looks like, and how to avoid it.

SPEAKERS: Jeffrey Hollender (CEO & Co-Founder, American Sustainable Business Network; former CEO & Co-Founder, Seventh Generation), Hana Kajimura (Head of Sustainability, Allbirds), Stephanie Erwin (VP of Impact, Strategy & People, American Sustainable Business Network)

For more on member's only and upcoming in-person and virtual events, visit ASBN's 2023 events calendar. Please contact Thulasi Sivalingam at [email protected] with any questions.