Unpacking Climate Week: Neutral's 5 Key Insights

Just last month, Neutral was right at the heart of a whirlwind of Climate Week NYC. Our team, including Jim Jarman, VP of Product & Sustainability, and Lauren Brown, Senior Program Manager for Carbon Reduction Data & Analytics, were on the ground with our CEO, Marcus Lovell Smith, and Corey Blumenthal, the sustainability specialist at Shake Shack, one of Neutral’s foodservice partners. Here are our team’s top five takeaways from what they heard and discussed at Climate Week:

1. Elevated Discussions: A Demand for Focus and Credibility

Climate Week NYC witnessed a notable transformation in the character of sustainability discussions. The conversations are increasingly sophisticated, placing heightened demands on companies requiring more focus and attention to maintain credibility in this dynamic space.

2. The Bright Side: Informed and Engaged Audiences

A remarkable aspect was the engaged and well-informed audience, particularly in events focusing on net-zero supply chains and reducing scope 3 emissions. The engagement suggests a growing commitment from individuals and organizations to invest and address sustainability issues actively.

3. Confronting Complexity: Navigating Commitment Challenges

Many companies are grappling with the vast scale and complexity of their sustainability commitments. Some appear hesitant to fulfill their commitments out of the fear of falling short and complexities tied to finances and logistics and seem to be reconsidering their sustainability commitments altogether. Others are seen to be embracing the mounting external pressure and are actively embracing sweeping changes throughout their supply chain.

4. Transparency Matters: Now More Than Ever

There is an increased demand and expectation for transparency, specifically for science-driven and data-verified practices. Clear communication of sustainability practices is being called for to combat greenwashing and decision fatigue.

5. Collaborative Solutions: Unlocking Sustainability Challenges

Climate Week served as a testament to the power of partnerships in tackling the intricate issues surrounding sustainability and climate solutions. Collaboration can help tackle the complexities of sustainability solutions and accelerate the transitions across the value chain.