The American Sustainable Business Network's monthly newsletter highlighting news on policy, business, capital, and more. 


** MAKING AN IMPACT
------------------------------------------------------------

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.


** IN THIS ISSUE
------------------------------------------------------------

* TAKE NOTE & TAKE ACTION
* NEWS, STORIES & OPPORTUNITIES
* MEMBER UPDATES, REQUESTS & OPPORTUNITIES
* BECOME A NEW MEMBER!
* JOB POSTINGS
* GROWING GRASS UPDATES
* WORKING GROUP UPDATES
* INVESTORS CIRCLE CORNER
* OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST



** TAKE NOTE & TAKE ACTION
------------------------------------------------------------


** Take Note
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

Coming Together to Advance the Path Forward

Last Thursday, Camilla Taylor, ASBN Executive Director, shared a post-election message confirming, among other important messages, that “we are prepared to work across party lines, as we always have, on policy and advocacy to ensure that the policies that might lead to economic ruin for sustainable businesses and brands, small to large, do not get implemented.”

Thank you to our members, friends, and partners who donated in a show of solidarity, as well as to all who wrote emails with notes of support. Your contributions and kind words give vital strength to our efforts in this time of disconnect. If you missed it, we encourage you to read the post-election message ([link removed]) and share your thoughts with us on LinkedIn ([link removed]) .

Read the Message ([link removed])

Show Your Support ([link removed])
ASBC Texas Suit Update - Because everyone should have the freedom to invest in a just and sustainable future.

The American Sustainable Business Council’s ([link removed]) suit challenging SB 13 continues to garner media interest, now with a New York Times Letter to the Editor from ASBN’s President and Co-Founder, David Levine. See the latest highlights (from over 65 articles):
1. New York Times | Letters to the Editor: Re “Executives Have Found Defending Democracy Comes With Some Risks” ([link removed]) | Nov 4, 2024
2. The Bond Buyer | Texas Officials Seek Dismissal of Constitutional Challenge to Anti-ESG Law ([link removed]) | Oct 7, 2024
3. Law 360 | Texas Looks To Sink Suit Challenging Anti-ESG Law ([link removed]) | Oct 8, 2024

[link removed]

View the Complaint ([link removed]) , see the Press Release ([link removed]) and updates ([link removed]) .


** Take Action
------------------------------------------------------------

America Is All In

America Is All In is organizing a sign-on letter to release at COP29. The letter, which reaffirms commitment to the Paris Agreement, underscores the need for continued implementation of federal climate policies and investments, and calls for all-of-society collaboration in addressing climate change, will come at a critical time for climate advocacy. It’s critical that organizations from ASBN/C are represented – learn more ([link removed]) , and please sign on today! ([link removed])
Sign On ([link removed])

OSHA Heat Standard Sign-On

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a new proposed rule in the federal register called the Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings ([link removed]) standard. This proposed rule will ensure that employers take measures to protect workers from excessive heat conditions. The standard establishes requirements for rest breaks, available drinking water, and training to detect the signs of heat-related illness, among other requirements, to enhance workplace safety. Our partners at Climate Action Campaign (CAC) created a form to submit comments to OSHA on the proposed rule, calling on President Biden, Acting Secretary Su, and Assistant Secretary Parker to show strong support for the proposed OSHA rule. Submit a comment here ([link removed]) by December 2nd.
Comment ([link removed])
[link removed]

Provide Feedback on Draft Circularity Strategic Framework

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) recently announced a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit public comments on its draft strategic framework on Circularity for Secure and Sustainable Products and Materials by 5 PM ET on December 16, 2024. Learn more about the RFI and how to respond. ([link removed])
Learn More ([link removed])

Don’t miss out on the latest news! Join us by following ASBN across social media. Like and share some of our recent posts to voice your concerns and show your support for a more just and sustainable economy! It’s never been more important to stand together. We hope to see you there!
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]


** NEWS, STORIES & OPPORTUNITIES
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]

COP29 opened on Monday in Baku, Azerbaijan, providing a vital platform for US businesses to showcase their leadership in global climate efforts. Our Senior Advisor on Climate & Energy, Michael Green, is on the ground with a delegation of ASBN member businesses. Check out ASBN’s blog for insights from the first days of COP29. ([link removed])
[link removed]

Key topics include:
* The impact of the political shift in the US on climate negotiations. US leadership is absent, but heads of state from Europe and Central Asia have been on the offense with their own national policies and public commitments.
* Early talks on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and carbon credit trading. With carbon market language finally operationalized, countries seem inspired to move forward with new domestic policies. Countries from Kenya, Oman, Brazil and Indonesia are moving forward with their own domestic carbon pricing schemes
* The ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal aiming for $1 trillion in climate finance by 2030. The COP will spend the next week negotiating and deciding this in late-night sessions.

Discover what this means for US businesses and how we can all drive meaningful change!
Read More ([link removed])
[link removed]

Over the last century, supply chains in the U.S. agricultural sector have experienced extreme concentration as small and mid-sized slaughterhouses, grain mills, and other processing and aggregation businesses closed across the country. This “missing middle” ([link removed]) severely limits market access for independent farmers and ranchers, while also hindering opportunities for businesses creating new markets. Read our latest blog post ([link removed]) by ASBN’s RegenAg Fellow, Claire Duncombe, for insights into how initiatives like the Colorado Grain Chain and Growing GRASS are paving the way for a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural landscape.


** ASBN IN The News
------------------------------------------------------------

(Cipher News. Illustration by Nadya Nickels.)
* CSO Futures | Trump elected president: US sustainability leaders determined to ‘charge ahead’ ([link removed]) | Nov 6, 2024 - Features quotes from Mike Green, ASBN Senior Advisor on Climate & Energy and ASBN’s Business for Democracy initiative.
* The Business & Democracy Initiative | On The Eve of The Election, Business Leaders Unite in Call for a Safe & Accessible Election and to Ensure Every Vote is Counted ([link removed]) | Nov 4, 2024 - Features a quote from David Levine, ASBN President & Cofounder.
* Cipher News | Why cleantech is booming in GOP-led states ([link removed]) | Oct 30, 2024
* NJ.com | New resiliency rules protect N.J. residents and businesses from weather impacts | Opinion ([link removed]) (PDF version ([link removed]) ) | Oct 16, 2024
* Sustainable Brands | Embracing Complexity, Indigenous Wisdom and Regeneration for a Future-Proof Economy ([link removed]) | Oct 15, 2024
* AZ Family | Competing ballot measures to determine fate of primary elections in Arizona ([link removed]) | Oct 15, 2024 (Coverage from our Business for Democracy press conference in Phoenix)
* ASBN was listed as one of the organizations that endorse banning paraquat in Congressman Casar's press release ([link removed]) | Oct 8, 2024

ICYMI, listen in to Everything Co-op’s podcast interview with David Levine, ASBN/C President and Co-founder
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]


** MEMBER UPDATES, REQUESTS & OPPORTUNITIES
------------------------------------------------------------

New Report from member Forum for the Future: Learnings from the first-ever application of regenerative cotton protocols in the US

How can the transition to a regenerative cotton system in the US equitably and effectively support cotton growers and contribute to ecosystem regeneration and just outcomes for producers and their communities?

In this newly released report, Forum and the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium ([link removed]) (ESMC) share how their on-farm, producer-centric pilot project in the Southeastern US tested how best to finance the transition to regenerative production practices in the cotton sector. Read the report here ([link removed]) .

Member Business Legacy Fund: Apply to the Cohort!

Are you a retiring business owner seeking to secure your legacy and protect jobs? The Business Legacy Fund (BLF) is now accepting applications for its next cohort! BLF helps you transition your company to employee ownership, ensuring a fair-market value sale, tax advantages, and long-term stability. In this 3-month program, you’ll explore if worker ownership is right for your business, evaluate potential structures, and identify the operational changes needed for success. You’ll also receive a business valuation opinion and priority access to BLF capital for selling to employees. Apply by November 15 ([link removed]) to be considered! Visit their website to learn more. ([link removed])

Don’t Miss Member Green America’s Climate Smart Insurance Directory!

Looking for an insurer that isn’t driving the climate crisis? Check out Green America’sClimate Smart Insurance Directory ([link removed]) to connect consumers with insurance companies that do not underwrite fossil fuel projects or invest heavily in the fossil fuel industry while leaving homeowners in the lurch when climate disasters strike. With options in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, this first-of-its-kind directory lists local and regional home and auto insurance providers that offer competitive pricing and opportunities for policy-bundling, but without contributing to the climate crisis that is raising rates and limiting coverage options nationwide. Read more ([link removed]) .


** BECOME A NEW MEMBER!
------------------------------------------------------------

WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR BUSINESS TO BE FEATURED HERE AND REACH THOUSANDS OF ALIGNED BUSINESSES AND CONSUMERS? CONTACT OUR MEMBER TEAM (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=) TODAY.


** JOB POSTINGS
------------------------------------------------------------

The Buffalo Nation Grasslands Alliance (BNGA), one of our valued members, is expanding its team and currently has four job openings: Program Director, Grants Manager, Outreach & Engagement Program Officer, and Grasslands Specialist. If you’re interested in learning more and reviewing the full job descriptions, please visit BNGA Careers ([link removed]) .


** GROWING GRASS UPDATES
------------------------------------------------------------

In conjunction with Other Half Processing, the American Sustainable Business Institute is the grantee and administrative home of the Growing GRASS project. Growing GRASS ([link removed]) is a five-year, $35 million project funded by the USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant program, dedicated to improving the beef and buffalo byproduct supply chain. Contact Anna Straus (mailto:[email protected]) .
[link removed] To facilitate an autumn of outreach, the Growing GRASS team has developed materials to help stakeholders understand the project’s value.

The Growing GRASS project team and partners have really been on the move! To get the word out about the launch of farmer/rancher, processor, and brand engagement, partners have been attending conferences and meetings around the country this fall, including a USDA meeting in Hershey, PA; the Sustainable Brands conference in San Diego, CA; the Western Sustainability Exchange conference in Billings, MT; Land to Market’s Covering Ground conference in Asheville, NC; Regenerate in Denver CO, and the Textile Exchange conference in Los Angeles, CA.

To maximize the effectiveness of all this outreach, the team has developed print and digital informational materials so any stakeholder, no matter where they are on the byproduct supply chain, can easily understand how they fit into the project. As the project officially begins engaging with livestock producers, the team is conducting community outreach to close established contacts with the newly-launched screener survey; meanwhile, market partners in the pet food ([link removed]) and apparel ([link removed]) sectors will receive informational fliers to guide their procurement toward verified regenerative raw materials.


** WORKING GROUP UPDATES
------------------------------------------------------------

ASBN’s Working Groups and Task Forces allow members to shape and engage in policy work organized around significant issue areas and specific campaigns. Contact our Member Team (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=) to learn about working groups, how to get involved and other membership benefits.

ASBN-BizNGO Chemicals Policy

We engage in public policy initiatives for safer chemicals and sustainable materials

Business for Democracy

Believes that a strong democracy is essential for a vibrant entrepreneurial economy. Business for Democracy Collaboratives have been established in eight states to raise the voice of small businesses to protect democracy.

Circular Economy

Emphasizes recycling, reuse, sharing, repair, and remanufacturing, and the reduction of waste, pollution, and carbon emissions throughout the economy; meets the third Wednesday of each month.

Clean Water is Good For Business

The Clean Water is Good For Business: Delaware River Watershed Steering Committee works with businesses based in the Delaware River watershed to advocate for cleaner water.

Climate and Energy

Identifies key problems, solutions, and strategies to address our planet's climate and energy crisis.

Livable Planet Working Group

Dedicated to the shared mission of protecting and renewing life on planet Earth. LPWG is a place for learning, collaborating, and amplifying the good work happening in the world.

Regenerative Agriculture and Justice

Working with farmers and other agricultural stakeholders, we advocate for sustainable agriculture, environmental justice, and support for underserved and BIPOC farmers

To find out what you missed in recent calls and to get involved, contact our Member Team. (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=)


** INVESTORS CIRCLE CORNER
------------------------------------------------------------


** Investors Circle News
------------------------------------------------------------

Investors Circle ([link removed]) (IC) has an over 30-year legacy connecting angels and other investors with early-stage and for-profit impact companies focused on providing social and/or environmental impact and financial returns, fostering a community where profit meets purpose.

We encourage members of the ASBN family and community to consider being members of both ASBN and also to join IC's community of investor-members who have deployed over $275 million in over 350 companies over the years. Join our community ([link removed]) to participate, providing time, treasure and talent in service to businesses for good.

All upcoming Investors Circle events are posted online ([link removed]) . Please contact [email protected] to attend or for any questions.
* National Monthly Virtual Meeting: Held first Thursdays. November’s focus is on philanthropic Investing with an expert speaker and pitches from some early-stage opportunities. November’s speaker is Deb Parsons, Managing Director at Impact Assets on the topic: How Anyone Can Be a Philanthropic Impact Investor.”

THUR, Nov 21 12-2p ET

Contact [email protected] for the invite.

Partner Events:
* Food Funded NYC 2024: Food entrepreneur and investor fair themed around Boosting Access to Capital for BIPOC and Under-Represented Entrepreneurs.

TUES, Nov 19 | Workshop: 4-6p ET - Dinner: 6-8p ET

Register @ IC website events page ([link removed])
* NYC: Unlock Capital’s National Investors Showcase: Founder pitches, keynote speaker & networking. Investors Circle friends are invited to Unlock Capital's First National Investor Showcase, an invitation-only event organized by The Community Development Venture Capital Alliance. Unlock Capital is an accelerator focused on helping businesses traditionally overlooked by venture capital investors secure capital for growth.

FRI, Nov 22 | 4-7p @ Harvard Club of NYC

Learn more and register here ([link removed]) .

(NYC Impact Investing Breakfast and Learning Session hosted by Fordham University's Family Stewardship Council/Responsible Business Center)


** OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST
------------------------------------------------------------

​Newsweek is hosting a panel discussion event about the future of plastics on the evening of Wednesday, December 4, at its offices in the World Trade Center in New York. Newsweek’s panel of experts from industry and academia will explain the treaty’s impact and how some companies and communities are moving beyond plastic waste and toward a circular economy that keeps plastics in their proper place. Click here to register for in-person attendance (free) or to view the livestream broadcast. [link removed]

Are you a current ASBN Member receiving this email by mistake?

If so, please contact our Member Team (mailto:[email protected]?subject=&body=) so you can receive the members-only newsletter with more exclusive content and opportunities instead!
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

Copyright (C) 2024 American Sustainable Business Network. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email as someone who registered for an ASBN event or service, you have been a member, or you have communicated with ASBN previously.
Our mailing address is:
American Sustainable Business Network
712 H Street NE
PMB 42
Washington, DC 20002
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can
update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe ([link removed])