Largest Sustainable Brands® Conference Kicks Off to Catalyze Brand Innovation

New research and partnerships to launch exclusively at SB’14 San Diego, June 2nd-5th
Jun 2, 2014 10:00 AM ET

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Sustainable Brands® largest community gathering kicks off today with Sustainable Brands ’14 San Diego at Paradise Point Resort & Spa. Over 2,500 community members from 27 countries around the globe are participating in the conference, Activation Hub and live stream. This year’s theme, Reimagine, Redesign, Regenerate, will explore innovative business models, product designs, employee and customer engagement programs, communications strategies and co-creative partnerships that are delivering solid business results while regenerating ecosystems, local and global economies, trust in brands, and hope for the future.

The event, which continues from today until June 5th, features over 180 influential speakers sparking conversation around current issues in brand and business strategy, stakeholder relationships, organizational development, communications, supply chain, and more. Exclusive announcements from the following companies will launch at the conference:

Mission Measurement. Building on the concept of a “social value proposition,” CEO Jason Saul will present a new generation of data enabling companies to drive and value consumer purchase behavior, particularly when it comes to non-traditional purchase factors related to the impact of brands on consumers’ lives. He will unveil a new way for companies to measure these “social value drivers” and find creative ways to use them to grow market share.

Cradle to Cradle Innovation Institute, Loomstate, Designtex, Shaw Industries will take part in unveiling results from new and original research facilitated by MDBC that identifies materials in fashion products preferred by the Cradle to CradleTM Program.

Panera Bread. Chief Concept Officer Scott Davis will announce a new set of actions the company is taking to elevate its sourcing requirements and discuss how these kinds of self-imposed constraints are influencing product innovation.

HP. Throughout the week, HP will explore the best ways to address environmental, economic and social challenges in the HP Living Progress Exchange inside the Activation Hub. Senior Director of Strategy and Communications Chris Librie will host a Twitter chat with CSRWire and Triple Pundit to discuss integration of citizenship, supply chain resiliency, collaboration and impact scaling, and employee engagement. HP will be releasing their Living Progress Report at the conference.

Sustainable Brands has partnered with WeSpire to launch a revitalized SB Bootcamp curriculum. This gamified curriculum includes videos, webinars and research report content that introduces employees to sustainability values and best practices.

Kuli Kuli. The nutrition bar brand is launching a new Moringa Powder designed for smoothies and snacks. At the same time, Kuli Kuli is re-branding as “Kuli Kuli Foods” instead of their previous brand around “Kuli Kuli Bar.” CEO Lisa Curtis will be showcasing the new Moringa Powder product during her panel, “The Responsible Entrepreneur”.

Forum for the Future. Chief Executive Sally Uren will share a new set of principles that characterize a “net positive” commitment. These principles, along with tips on making the business case, are currently being developed by a group including BT, Kingfisher and Coca-Cola Enterprises, among others. SB’14 San Diego will be the first international platform at which the principles will be discussed in person.

gDiapers. CEO Jason Graham-Nye will dissect the FTC's New Green Guides in practice through a detailed transparent account of the process gDiapers went through after the FTC found certain marketing claims gDiapers was making to be in violation. This will be the first time Jason will speak about his experience with the FTC in a public forum.

Pure Strategies. Managing Director Tim Greiner will discuss for the first time in a public setting the results of a recently-launched research report surveying 100 consumer product companies on best practices that generate the most value from product sustainability.

Sustainable Brands is announcing a partnership with Culture2 to design a project in support of normalizing social and environmental well-being and stewardship. Phase 1 of the project will be reported during the conference.

Fashion Revolution Day. USA Advisory Board member Marci Zaroff will be sharing early analysis of coverage, digital reach and consumer involvement linked to the Fashion Revolution Day campaign that recently ran globally.

Buycott. Founder Ivan Pardo will share a custom set of new consumer insights specially prepared for the Sustainable Brands community. Ivan will bring user analytics from the Buycott app looking at what issues and industries users are most active or vocal about, how buycotting plays out over time, and what aspects of corporate behavior seems to fire up Buycott users the most.

Activation Hub – the Expo at SB’14 San Diego
A new collaborative concept unveils this year and features brands and next generation business solutions working together to create positive impact in the world today. Over 90 participants are showcasing their innovations and partnerships this year including: BASF, HP, Nissan, Target, Coca-Cola, SAP, Target, Arrow Electronics, Fenton Communications, ecoATM, Schneider Electric, WeSpire, The Nature Conservancy, EDF and many more.  The Activation Hub is open Tuesday, June 3rd and Wednesday, June 4th from noon until 5pm. Thursday, June 5th from noon until 3pm. Registration is available onsite during these times and includes admission to conference breakout sessions in the Supply Chain and Procurement track on all three days between 2pm and 4:30pm.

Free Conference Live Stream
Once again, Sustainable Brands offers free access to 3 full days of live stream broadcast from the conference for those unable to attend. After registering, live stream viewers will receive access to the live simulcast of conference plenary sessions on Tuesday – Thursday mornings beginning at 9am PST. Interested viewers can learn more and register at www.SB14sd.com/live/register.

SB’14 San Diego and the Activation Hub are supported by Platinum sponsors BASF, Citizen Group, and Saatchi & Saatchi S. Gold sponsors are Target, Nissan, Arrow Electronics, HP, and Coca-Cola. High level supporting media partners include Guardian Sustainable Business and Mother Nature Network. For a list of attendees and a complete list of sponsors and speakers, please visit the conference website at www.SB14sd.com.

About Sustainable Brands
Sustainable Brands® is the premier global community of brand innovators who are shaping the future of commerce worldwide. Since 2006, our mission has been to inspire, engage and equip today’s business and brand leaders to prosper for the near and long term by leading the way to a better future. Digitally published news articles and issues-focused conversation topics, internationally known conferences and regional events, a robust e-learning library and peer-to-peer membership groups all facilitate community learning and engagement throughout the year. Sustainable Brands is hosted by Sustainable Brands Worldwide, a division of Sustainable Life Media headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

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