Former Walmart CEO Lee Scott asked Andy Ruben to lead the retailer’s environmental strategy three times before he reluctantly agreed to become its first corporate social responsibility and sustainability chief in October 2004. Ruben, who supported Scott’s strategic planning work, had been angling for a traditional role with profit and loss responsibility, but his boss […]
For clues to where the carbon removals market is headed, keep an eye on the annual selection made by Milkywire, a Swedish company that helps businesses meet climate and nature commitments. Because the investments are designed to be catalytic, the focus is on emerging companies and approaches that show the biggest potential. This year, Milkywire […]
The 2024 emissions numbers released this past February by Nestlé would have been the envy of many companies. The world’s largest food manufacturer’s first milestone on its journey to net zero — a 20-percent emissions reduction relative to a 2018 baseline — was due to be reached this year. But the Swiss company, which generates […]
Trellis’ Chasing Net Zero series is about a simple question: How are companies faring on their net zero journeys? A question this important should be easy to answer. Many companies provide emissions data in their sustainability reports and in disclosures made to CDP, an independent clearinghouse for environmental data. In theory, these sources can be […]
The opinions expressed here by Trellis expert contributors are their own, not those of Trellis. Developing and implementing a strategic and aligned sustainability program across a large company is difficult enough. But when you’re a holding company — with dozens of wholly or partially owned subsidiaries under one umbrella — creating a successful ESG strategy […]
Climate tech innovation isn’t getting any easier in 2025. Political and economic uncertainty challenge founders and investors. Still, U.S. funding in the first half of 2025 was up 21% compared to the same period a year ago. The annual Trellis list of 25 Climate Tech Startups to Watch recognizes the most promising of these early […]
In March 2024, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) revealed it had removed 239 companies, including Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Walmart, from the list of those committed to setting net-zero targets. The companies had timed out: SBTi rules give businesses 24 months to submit targets for validation after the initiative finalizes a standard […]
The opinions expressed here by Trellis expert contributors are their own, not those of Trellis. Paper packaging is taking on new frontiers. Maybe you’ve seen paper across new formats such as dog food canisters, vitamin mix containers or even staples in your liquor cabinet. Consumers love paper packaging for its perceived environmental benefits, recyclability and […]
The U.S. budget reconciliation bill spared some tax incentives for solar and wind plants and carbon capture projects, but the rules have changed dramatically and a new executive order published July 7 will make it harder to qualify for credits. The new spending law enacted July 4, a.k.a. One Big Beautiful Bill Act, retains existing […]
A carbon removal buyers coalition founded by McKinsey, Google and others has backed a new approach to biomass energy that promises to provide always-on electricity while sequestering carbon dioxide deep underground. The Frontier coalition announced this week that it would spend $41 million on 116,000 removal credits from Arbor, a startup founded by a former […]