Hower Impact

This Earth Day, I'm not writing about carbon emissions or wildlife population decline. Instead, I'm addressing something even more fundamental to sustainable business: the rule of law in America. Without the rule of law, all sustainability initiatives become meaningless. Businesses don't need a materiality assessment to understand this existential threat to our shared prosperity and innovation. My latest newsletter piece argues why corporate sustainability professionals must join millions of others in defending democracy, and why business—as a critical pillar of civil society—must use its influence against authoritarianism. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/d2cWSk8U

Next week, join Adriel Lubarsky and me to Make Webinars Great Again (MWGA?) as we come together to discuss the best and worst of sustainability reporting. We'll discuss practical tips for making sure your reporting is compelling, credible, and compliant in this complex sustainability environment we're operating in. Details: Thursday, April 17 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT Register here:

I'm excited to announce Impact Hour SF Climate Week 2025! To say the least, 2025 has been challenging for those committed to our planet's future. Political shifts, social resistance, and corporate greenhushing on sustainability initiatives have left many feeling isolated in their efforts. But we're stronger together. On Earth Day, join Hower Impact, Anthesis Group, ClimateVoice, NPV Associates, and Beehive Climate in San Francisco for an evening of meaningful connection with ~50 corporate sustainability, climate, and communications professionals. We'll engage in constructive conversations about business-led climate action and feature lightning talks on sustainability communication challenges in this complex landscape. You'll enjoy a fun networking experience complete with drinks, appetizers, and invaluable connections with other impact-driven professionals navigating similar challenges. Learn more and register here: https://lu.ma/e99gebk5 Hope to see you there! Deborah McNamara Michael Chasnow Sarah Gudernatch-Smith Colby Smith Emma Armstrong Adriel Lubarsky

Thank you to the 150+ people who joined Hower Impact's recent webinar on effective sustainability communication in today's challenging landscape! Some of the key takeaways: -Sustainability has become politicized – companies must adapt -Gen Z's demographics aren't what we expected -92% of CFOs plan to increase sustainability spending despite headwinds -The "three C's": compelling, credible, and compliant communications I also shared a practical Sustainability Comms Playbook any organization can implement: 1️⃣ Sustainability Storytelling Assessment 2️⃣ Communication Strategy 3️⃣ Claims Guide In a polarized world, effective sustainability communication isn't about avoiding tough topics—it's about becoming more strategic and intentional. In case you missed it, you can read the highlights and register to view the recording here: https://lnkd.in/g84t4BCA

I'm excited to announce the launch of the 2024 Berry Sustainability Report! Over the past six months, Hower Impact collaborated with the wonderful team at Berry Global, Inc. to deliver this comprehensive report from concept to completion. Our work encompassed creating the strategic framework and narrative, producing the full PDF with compelling copy and design, improving the web site communication, and orchestrating the launch strategy to effectively engage investors, customers, NGOs, and employees. As Robert Flores, SVP of Sustainability at Berry, emphasizes: "Sustainability is both a moral imperative and key business driver, where we focus on empowering customers to achieve their goals." Now, more than ever, we need companies loudly voicing these truths. Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/gafYyrsW Thanks Rob, Anna Zenker Nelson, Jack Stone, India Boddy, and others at Berry for the great partnership in making this happen. While Hower Impact continues to grow, we're now going toe-to-toe with larger consultancies and agencies in executing sophisticated sustainability reporting and communication initiatives. To support this, we're building out an informal network of elite, independent sustainability strategists, creatives, and communicators to deliver when others can't. We never take on more projects than I can personally oversee, ensuring dedicated, high-touch client service for organizations that prioritize quality over quantity. We're in this for the impact. Let me know if you think we can help.