Few certainties come with starting and scaling a business. But there are two that you can almost always count on: Money is the lifeblood of growth, and we rarely have enough of it.

This special report will argue that waste generation is increasing too fast and needs to be decoupled from economic growth and rising living standards. That will require people to throw away less and reuse more—to make economies more “circular”, as campaigners say. This can only happen if people “equate the circular economy with making money”, claims Tom Szaky of Terracycle, which develops technologies to use hard-to-recycle materials. “Take, make, dispose” must now shift to “reduce, reuse, recycle”, he says.  

If you are like most of us, you probably look at your email and get stressed out. An email inbox represents a to do list that you have to do, but you really didn’t have control over. Other people are essentially deciding your schedule. For some people, they can spend an entire day replying to emails and not get any work done.

Goods and services evolve to meet the needs of the consumer, and laundry care is no exception. The mechanization of laundry care technologies quickly created a market for detergents, stain fighters and other consumer clothing care products that only expanded with the ubiquity of home washers and dryers. Today, laundry care is part of a market segment valued at $23,414 million, the largest piece of the home products sector and a recession resistant consumer staple bought frequently and year-round.

Today’s world is often a very different one than the one we grew up in. Children’s schedules are packed to the brim, and “go play outside” is easier said than done. While screens and school may seem like the safest, most efficient ways for kids to spend their time, unstructured playtime outside is essential for their imagination, creativity, bodies and relationships.

After a rather unpredictable and fickle summer, the promise of autumn is just around the corner! Cooler weather, more layers of clothes and new possibilities abound as time spent both indoors and outside with friends and family equals more reasons to get together. But with more activities, such as school, sports games/practices and community events, there are more opportunities for messes. And with more messes, there’s more waste. As the weather turns and changes, honor the planet with these eco-friendly ways to enjoy the season.

On foot, by bicycle, through water and combinations of the above, distance races such as marathons and ocean races are a global phenomenon. Running and cycling races have become a big business in recent years, due to the opportunity for sponsorship and the brand affinity that comes with it. Races including Tough Mudder, the Boston Marathon and the Tour de France have taken their place among sporting events such as the Super Bowl and the World Cup for the name recognition. But instead of paying to watch, fans are paying (and training) to play.

“Drink more water” is a prescription that for too many people around the world is easier said than done. As it stands, one in ten people (663 million people - twice the population of the United States) are currently living without access to safe water. Cited by the World Economic Forum as being the #1 global risk to society in terms of devastation and impact, this water crisis stands in the way of the health, safety and economic empowerment of people in both developing countries and first world nations.

As with most industries today, one of the personal care and beauty category’s fastest growing influences on consumer purchasing behavior are claims for sustainability. Sustainable sourcing of raw materials in cosmetics and “clean beauty” formulas are gaining popularity, and many cosmetics manufacturers and retailers have launched “take-back” recycling initiatives for packaging as the majority of cosmetics and skin care packaging, though all technically recyclable, is considered “difficult-to-recycle.”

Environmentalism and social good are often associated with the “bleeding heart” motif; in a world that values consumption above all, being green can be against the grain. In general, consumers want their goods as quickly and easily as possible, and when they’re done with them, they want to be done, the end-of-life of products and packaging far from mind. Conscious consumers pay premiums in money and time in support of sustainability, taking up a mantle that is often the path of most resistance.