Sustainable Life Media launched their first online Sustainable Brands Boot Camp on Friday. Leading the first webinar, “Introduction to Opportunities in Sustainable Innovation”, was Gil Friend, President/CEO of Natural Logic and author of The Truth About Green Business. Friend spoke on sustainability focused design innovation and how companies can remain competitive in the midst of today’s environmental challenges. Friend provided valuable and practical recommendations on how companies can incorporate sustainability within their innovation process.

If business wants to regain the public’s trust, they’re going to have to be trustworthy, and employees are the key. Here are three basic steps to engage your employees, build social capital, and win stakeholder trust.

Corporate sustainability communicators are beginning to exploit social media to tell their stories and get quick feedback. Which new media offer you the greatest potential- what is their digital bottomline?

As consumer expectations rise and trust in corporations decline, the need for ethical business practices is greater than ever. Yet in a recession, companies seeking to cut costs will likely postpone important CSR initiatives or cut spending in favor of core business initiatives. But it doesn’t have to be either-or. Companies that consider social and environmental initiatives as potential innovation platforms and brand builders — not expenses — will come out ahead.