| | | NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
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| Hi, friends,
We've been working really hard over the past few months, reflecting deeply on the challenges facing our country, and have decided that there is a new impact area that needs the responsible business voice leading it – immigration.
This is the moment of change where we need the voice of the sustainable business community shaping immigration policy that takes it where it needs to be. We believe there is a path forward, and for that to happen, our community needs to be front and center.
You’ll be hearing more from us soon about the direction we’re taking with this new impact area and how you can get involved to make change. For now, read ASBN’s statement and blog post, tell your story, watch the video below, then take our quick poll.
I’m excited for you to join us on this journey! |
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| | Supporting Smart Immigration Reform
Mass deportations are creating economic turmoil across our communities. Workers are afraid to show up to work, consumer spending is pulling back, and our sustainable local and national economy is suffering. That's why ASBN has joined forces with a number of other organizations including Small Business Majority, Simply Living, Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce, SC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania Sustainable Business Network and the SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce to co-found the Secure Growth Initiative and the launch of our shared immigration campaign.
Our Four Guiding Principles: • Replace mass deportation with EARNED permanent legal status (pay restitution, pass background checks, pay outstanding taxes) • Create comprehensive workforce reform with visa programs for businesses of all sizes • Secure the border and deport undocumented individuals with violent criminal records • Hold the federal government accountable for economic losses from mass deportation policies.
Take Our Quick Two-Question Poll - Your Voice Matters: |
| | If you have been impacted by the recent immigration policies, please Tell Your Story here.
Care about immigration and worker rights? Help Us Continue This Work. Fund our campaign to push Congress toward better immigration policy. Your donation supports resources needed to create legal pathways for current undocumented residents to become citizens. |
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| We are excited to invite our community members to Policy in Action: ASBN's Quarterly Amplifier Meeting!
Join us for timely policy insights, actionable engagement opportunities, and space for meaningful connection. Attendees will leave with a clear picture of where policy stands, how ASBN is shaping the conversation, and where their voice can make a difference. As a community member, you`ll learn what ASBN is working on and meet some of our members and partners! 📆 Tuesday, July 8 at 2 PM ET 🔐All are welcome - If you have a colleague or a partner interested in engaging in policy to advance a regenerative economy, please feel free to bring them! What to Expect: Policy Updates – Key developments from ASBN’s policy experts Engagement Opportunities – Concrete ways to take action on current campaigns Q&A + Networking – A chance to ask questions, share ideas, and join small-group discussions with members and partners by area of interest
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| Join us October 21-23, 2025, for an actionable 3-day virtual conference designed to mobilize local business voices and prepare leaders to vote their values in state and local elections.
Through keynotes, interactive breakouts, and powerful storytelling, we’ll spotlight how businesses can drive democratic resilience, champion inclusive economic policies, and build community power.
Together, we’ll cover:
🗳️ Strategies to engage meaningfully in local elections 🤝 Connections with other purpose-driven business leaders 📊 Tools to align your business values with civic action 🎯 Framework for responsible community influence 💡Insights on navigating business-civic intersections
Whether you're an established entrepreneur or emerging leader, this conference will equip you to leverage your business for democratic good.
We’ve extended our early bird pricing! Take advantage of our lowest early bird pricing; register by July 20th! |
| | Pssst… ASBN members attend for free! You must have an active membership upon registration and at conference time to take advantage of this benefit. Not a member? Become a member today! |
| | See all of our upcoming events on the ASBN Events page of our website, and look for an upcoming engagement opportunities email with more detailed information about upcoming events. |
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| | If it becomes law, businesses across the country will face: Rising costs and fewer resources Delayed projects and slowed growth Strained local services that support operations and hiring.
The Senate very narrowly passed their version, with a 51-50 vote after VP JD Vance broke the tie.
The Senate version of the bill is worse than anyone expected: ✅ Deeper cuts to Medicaid ✅ Rollbacks of clean energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and workforce investments ✅ Estimated $4.1 trillion added to the national debt over the next decade
The House is moving quickly, although many legislators are expressing frustration over the Senate text that was delivered back to them. A contentious overnight debate, which began on Wednesday, July 2nd, and continued into Thursday, July 3rd, ended in a 219-213 procedural vote to move the bill forward. It is likely that a final vote will be held in the House today to meet the President’s self-imposed July 4th deadline to sign the bill into law.
This is your last chance to call your representative and express your concerns. |
| | | | | Our newly reformatted engagement opportunities ensure that wherever you are in your advocacy journey, there’s a place for you. Watch the video below to hear the latest updates from ASBN’s team of topic experts. |
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| Resources & Actions Mentioned:
Regenerative Agriculture & Clean Water Initiatives
Safer Chemicals & Circular Economy Climate & Energy Policy EPA Rollbacks & Environmental Standards Upcoming Policy Brief: July 24th, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET
Small Business & Local Economy |
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| Interested in getting involved?! Become a member to join a policy brief, steering committee, or quarterly call to amplify the collective voice of business and boost your impact!
Contact our Member Team to discover engagement opportunities and explore other membership benefits.
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| Help Protect Immigrant Workers & Business Resilience!
Democracy thrives on the consent and participation of its people. What we're witnessing across the country reveals the consequences when democratic institutions fail to represent the will of the people they serve. Sustainable change requires engagement that extends beyond protests and into the boardrooms and economic decisions that shape our society.
America's economic future depends on immigration reform that reflects our highest values. For sustainable businesses, this isn't just a moral imperative—it's an economic necessity. Our workforce, innovation capacity, and competitive advantage all rely on comprehensive, humane immigration policies.
Have recent federal immigration actions or policies affected your business? We want to hear from you. |
| | Have a different story than on immigration to tell? Federal policy changes are hitting businesses hard across a wide range of issues—tell us yours We want to hear from ASBN members how these policy changes, both planned and implemented, impact your businesses, your employees, and your community. By speaking out, you can help shape smarter policy, strengthen cross-sector solidarity, and advance a stakeholder-driven economy rooted in sustainability and equity. |
| | | | | June Policy Forum Recap: Solar at a Crossroads - Navigating Tax Credits, Tariffs & Your Bottom Line
During ASBN’s "Solar at a Crossroads" Policy Forum, we had a critical discussion on the instability facing the solar energy sector due to fluctuating tax credits and tariffs. Guest Speakers Ed Detwiler of NPC, a business undertaking a large solar project, and Jon Bunyaratapan of Envinity, a solar developer, highlighted how this uncertainty makes long-term planning and justifying return on investment (ROI) |
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| incredibly difficult for businesses. Businesses like NPC rely heavily on incentives such as tax credits, REAP Grants, and Act 129 incentives, and the potential reduction or removal of these means that future capital improvements or expansion plans are uncertain. The discussion emphasized that policymakers often misunderstand how these decisions limit tools for energy independence and make businesses less competitive. The key takeaway stressed the urgent need for stability, advocacy, and the promotion of robust state and local initiatives to ensure the continued growth and viability of solar adoption
Couldn’t attend the forum? Get involved by telling us your story: |
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| It’s Plastic-Free July, and we're spending the month focusing on the lifecycle of plastics and sustainable solutions. Plastics have revolutionized modern life—offering durability, versatility, and affordability across industries from healthcare to transportation. Yet their very strengths have led to several global environmental challenges. This webinar explores the full lifecycle of plastics: from their innovative beginnings to the mounting crises of toxicity, pollution, and the evolving strategies for reduction, reuse, recovery and recycling. Policy Forums are usually ASBN member-only events, but we’d like to extend a warm welcome to our community to join us for this timely and crucial discussion on plastics.
📆 Join us on July 30 at 1 PM ET |
| | | Stay Connected & Make an Impact! Follow ASBN on social media for the latest updates and opportunities for sustainable business to drive a just and regenerative economy. Engage with our posts, share your voice, and help amplify the movement. Now more than ever, collective action matters—join us today! |
| | | | NEWS, STORIES & OPPORTUNITIES |
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| CASE UPDATE The case challenging Texas’ business blacklist law had an important hearing on June 18, which was held virtually, during which the court considered arguments in support of our motion for summary judgment and the state’s motion to dismiss the case.
The hearing is pivotal in determining the outcome of the case, initiated on August 29, 2024, by the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), which was acting on behalf of its members, including Etho Capital and Sphere. The case challenges the constitutionality of SB 13 for violating the free speech and association rights protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The lawsuit filed in the Western District of Texas’s Austin Division contends that SB 13 discriminates against companies that speak out against fossil fuels, including those that use environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) metrics in their investing and business practices. ASBC is being represented by Democracy Forward, Emery Celli Abady Brinckerhoff Ward & Maazel LLP, and Guerrero & Whittle PLLC.
View the complaint, see the press release and past updates. |
| | ASBN & MEMBERS IN THE NEWS |
| | Natural Refrigerants | California Drops F-Gases from PFAS Bill, Bowing to Industry Pressure | June 27, 2025 | California’s recent decision to narrow its PFAS ban by dropping restrictions on F-gases under Senate Bill 682 highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing industry pressure with public health and environmental safety. As a leading voice for responsible business, ASBN supports science-based policies that protect communities and promote sustainable alternatives. This development highlights the importance of ASBN’s advocacy for stronger environmental regulations and corporate accountability, particularly in areas such as PFAS pollution, which impacts public health and climate. |
| | Times Union | Wetlands don't just protect the natural environment. They're part of the business ecosystem, too. | June 26, 2025 | In this powerful op-ed, ASBN’s own Liza LaManna explains why protecting wetlands is essential not just for the environment, but for New York’s economy. From tourism to storm damage mitigation, wetlands support small businesses and communities. As federal agencies move to rewrite water rules, Liza urges businesses to speak up for strong, state-level protections. |
| | SC Small Business Chamber of Commerce | Main Street Journal Publisher Michael Shuman talks with Frank Knapp | June 26, 2025 | ASBN board member Frank Knapp highlights his decades of advocacy for small businesses, from cutting utility hikes to defending immigrant entrepreneurs. He spotlights the Secure Growth Initiative, launched alongside ASBN, which calls for practical immigration reform to protect the stability of small businesses and meet their workforce needs. The conversation reinforces our commitment to policies that support immigrants, uplift small businesses, and advance our shared vision toward a regenerative economy. |
| | Secure Growth Initiative | Small businesses paying the financial price of the ICE charade of arresting “the worst of the worst” | June 25, 2025 | The American Sustainable Business Network is a leading co-founder of the Secure Growth Initiative, which is raising the small business voice for comprehensive immigration reform that does not cause financial loss to small businesses by arresting undocumented workers, intimidating other immigrant employees, and creating fear in the immigrant community resulting in less consumer spending with local small businesses. ASBN recognizes that immigrants are integral to thriving, sustainable economies. |
| | Chemical Watch | Key departures signal changes ahead for US EPA Safer Choice programme | June 17, 2025 | The recent departure of key leaders from the EPA’s Safer Choice program has raised concerns among business and advocacy groups about the program’s future and capacity. ASBN's President & Co-Founder, David Levine, emphasized the loss of irreplaceable expertise and urged businesses to advocate for continued support of Safer Choice and similar initiatives. |
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| | Sierra Club | Labor & Civil Society Groups Detail Shared Priorities for USMCA Review | June 13, 2025 | Alongside a coalition of 683 labor and civil society groups, ASBN has called on U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to reform the USMCA during its upcoming six-year review. They urge stronger protections for jobs, wages, communities, and the environment. Our involvement reflects our commitment to sustainable, inclusive trade policies that benefit people and the planet. |
| | Bloomberg Law | June 11, 2025 | Trump’s Approach to US Research Seen as Leaving Nation Blind | Cuts to EPA research funding and staff, including the possible elimination of the Office of Research and Development, threaten vital science for public health, the environment, and sustainable business. David Levine, ASBN's President & Co-Founder, warns these cuts will broadly weaken the government’s ability to support informed decisions and sustainable growth. |
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| “I appreciate the good work of ASBN to harness the power of good business to shift policy in a positive direction. Monitoring legislation is not what I do during the day; I am very glad that there is ASBN to do that on our behalf while marshalling the power of a network of sustainable businesses to effect legislative outcomes that protect people and the planet.”
- Brad Michaels, SociaLab Founder & Director |
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| inTruth Technologies inTruth Technologies is pioneering the world's first Emotion Language Model (ELM), enabling real-time, objective tracking of human emotions through AI and wearable technology. By translating emotional states into measurable data, inTruth empowers individuals and organizations to enhance emotional intelligence, improve decision-making, and foster deeper connections. |
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| King Arthur Baking Company King Arthur Baking Company is a 100% employee-owned, benefit corporation. Committed to building a more just and sustainable food system, they source high-quality ingredients with care, support regenerative farming practices, and invest in their people and the planet. Their website offers recipes, tools, and classes to empower bakers at every level. Proof that doing good and baking well can rise together. |
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| One Small Planet One Small Planet is a vital capital group dedicated to realigning the economy with its true purpose: caring for people and the planet. Through four interconnected pillars—Land Stewardship, Venture, Philanthropy, and Community—they invest in regenerative projects, restore ecosystems, and support innovations that harmonize environmental and economic wealth. |
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| | ASBN Members Go Further Did you know our newsletters reach over 25,000 like-minded subscribers?! Interested in having your updates, articles, or opportunities highlighted here? Become a member today! Contact our team at [email protected]. |
| | | Member One Small Planet is Hiring
ASBN member One Small Planet is hiring for two key roles — Investment Analyst/Associate and Philanthropic Program Manager — to support its mission of building regenerative systems through values-aligned capital.
Investment Analyst / Associate This role supports our planet-focused investment funds across all OSP vehicles. We’re seeking someone with: A strong background in finance or economics Skills in financial statement analysis and Excel modeling A passion for climate solutions and values-aligned investing The ability to think both holistically and with technical precision
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| | | Philanthropic Program Manager This position supports our philanthropic operations, focusing on backend organization, field building, and capacity building. Ideal candidates will bring experience in: Philanthropy and community engagement Biocultural conservation and regeneration; working with Indigenous and grassroots groups Familiarity with Brazil and North America contexts
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| | | Do you have member news to share? Reach out to [email protected] with your latest news for consideration. |
| | | | Do you know of an aligned business that should join ASBN?
Help us grow the momentum towards a more sustainable and just economy! Feel free to forward this email to them or invite them to contact our Member Team.
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| | | | Investors Circle News
Investors Circle (IC) is a community bringing together angel investors and others who are backing early-stage entrepreneurs building companies that generate both strong financial returns and meaningful social or environmental impact—where profit meets purpose. ASBN members can be part of both ASBN and IC by joining IC as an IC Associate member at this link at a discounted rate. We welcome investors and other potential members to "Be Our Guest" and visit before making a membership decision. Please go to our events page and register if you would like to register for and attend an IC gathering. |
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| Register now and be part of the movement to invest in the future we believe in. |
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| Please join us on July 16, where we are combining our IC National Virtual Meeting with our Investing Through Philanthropy: Impact Showcase, 2:00-3:30 pm ET, a virtual event spotlighting a powerful new way to fund impact and change. Investors Circle is at the forefront of philanthropic investing—where donor-advised funds (DAFs) fuel bold ventures with real returns. In this meeting you will meet three inspiring founders, one a member of our sister organization SVN, raising capital through the CataCap platform: |
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