Month: September 2026

Originally published by Fast Company. 

The world only needs so many park benches. 

Back in 2015, we launched an industry-first biopharma recycling program to address the new and fast-growing challenge of single-use plastics. At the time, the industry was shifting away from stainless-steel manufacturing systems toward single-use technologies, such as disposable bioreactor bags, filters, and assemblies used to produce life-saving therapies. 

Sustainability drove this transition, even if it didn’t look that way at first glance. 

Continue reading on Fast Company. 

With school back in session, students everywhere are looking for additional income. For a college student or young adult, the idea of starting a business can sound expensive before it even begins. 

There’s the website. Branding. Software. Advertising. Equipment. Maybe inventory. And if you start looking into funding, you can quickly find yourself reading about loans, investors and business credit cards. 

But what if you don’t need most of that yet? 

If you’re turning a skill, hobby or side project into a way to make money, the first goal isn’t to build a fully-fledged business overnight. It’s to find out whether someone is willing to pay you for what you can offer. 

That distinction can make starting feel a lot less intimidating. 

What do you need to start a business as a college student? 

Think about the simplest version of the business you could start in the next 30 days. 

If you’re a hobbyist photographer, for example, you might offer graduation photos. If you design graphics in your spare time, you could create social media content for a local business. If you’re good at shooting video, you could make short-form content for a restaurant or student organization. 

In each case, your initial needs may be surprisingly simple: 

• Something people are willing to pay for 
• A clear explanation of what you’re offering 
• A few examples of your work 
• A way for people to contact you 
• A way to get paid 

That’s your starting point. 

You probably don’t need a custom office, expensive advertising campaign or dozens of branded products before you’ve made your first sale. 

Even your online presence doesn’t have to be complicated. A domain and simple website can give you an owned place to show your work, explain your services and give potential customers a way to take the next step. Tools such as GoDaddy Airo can help simplify getting that online presence up and running, so you can spend more time testing the idea itself. 

What are the things you should consider when starting a business if you don’t have much money? 

One of the easiest ways to overspend is to treat every possible business expense as a day-one expense. 

Instead, make two lists. 

• Need now: the things required to actually offer and deliver your product or service. 
• Can wait: the things that might make the business more polished but aren’t necessary to get your first customer. 

A professional logo might be nice. A basic, clean website may be enough for now. 

Paid advertising might eventually help. Sharing your work with classmates, friends-of-friends, social media channels, local businesses or people in your community could be the better first step. 

Premium software might save time later. If you’re only serving a handful of customers, you may be able to start with tools you already have. 

The point isn’t to avoid spending money. It’s to make sure every early expense has a job. 

How much should you budget to start a business? 

If you’re still in school or working your first job, you probably don’t have unlimited money to experiment with. That’s not necessarily a disadvantage. 

Give yourself a small, defined budget for the first 30 days. 

Write down what you’ll spend to get the idea in front of real people. Then ask yourself what would have to happen before you’re comfortable spending more. 

Maybe your rule is: I won’t invest in paid advertising until I’ve made my first $500. 

Or: I won’t buy additional equipment until I’ve booked five customers. 

Those aren’t universal rules, but creating your own milestones can keep a promising idea from turning into an expensive experiment before you’ve established that there’s demand. 

There may also be costs you can’t simply postpone. Depending on what you’re doing and where you operate, business registration, licenses, insurance, taxes or specialized equipment may be necessary. Those are worth researching before you start taking customers. 

How do you know if people will actually pay for your business idea? 

For a college student or young entrepreneur testing a business idea, the most valuable thing you can buy isn’t necessarily something that makes the business look bigger. 

It’s something that helps you learn whether the business can work. 

Can you get someone to book you? Will someone be willing to pay your price? Do people understand what you’re offering easily? Can you deliver the product or offering without spending more than you make? 

Those answers are more important early on than whether your business has perfect branding or an elaborate marketing strategy. 

Starting small doesn’t mean you’re not serious. It means you’re giving yourself room to learn before making a bigger commitment. 

And if your idea works, you can reinvest what you earn into making it better. 

You don’t have to build the whole business today. You just need to spend enough to give the idea a real chance. 

What free resources are there for college students who want to start a business?

For college students who are ready to launch their brand or start their business, GoDaddy Empower is offering a free domain and access to website building tools for three years.*  

To learn more, visit www.godaddy.com/godaddy-for-good/empower.  

 

^{*Offer only available in U.S. higher education institutions at this time.} 

The sustainability pushback tracked in this newsletter in the past few years often targets companies — their emissions and diversity goals, their ESG reports, and their compliance with reporting mandates. The news we present in this issue aims, instead, at the “gatekeepers” of the sustainability disclosure ecosystem.

Institutions in the crosshairs this week include regulators in the EU, auditing teams at Big Four accounting firms, U.S. states with EPR programs, and standard-setters like ISSB, TCFD, CDP, SBTi. Read on to see how each one responded.

As reported by ESG Dive, the U.S. Ambassador to the EU said that the late-2025 Omnibus Package of reforms to the CSRD — which has been calculated to remove roughly 90% of companies from scope — “failed to fully address U.S. concerns.” The Ambassador indicated that Washington “will take any actions necessary,” with double materiality named among U.S. objections.

Meanwhile, attorneys general from 16 states questioned Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC over their ties to the TCFD, the ISSB, and a net-zero alliance that ceased operating in January 2026, Responsible Investor reports.

The courts are the scene of an ongoing confrontation over packaging. Packaging Dive reports that the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, in a case led by 17 states’ attorneys general, is seeking a preliminary injunction against California’s SB 54. But a federal trial about Oregon’s EPR program, also brought by the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, concluded in July, and the judge ruled on August 27  that the program is not unconstitutional, reports Practical ESG. We understand that this is the first U.S. federal trial court decision upholding a state’s EPR packaging statute against constitutional challenges. The outcome gives new weight to a comment from Foley & Lardner: “While Oregon is the bellwether, California is the main event.” We’ll be watching to see if, indeed, California’s EPR program also survives the test. Producers navigating the shifting regulatory map can lean on our EPR support team.

A new analysis released this week showcases what happens when companies proceed despite political headwinds. G&A published Trends in Climate Risk Reporting, which presents fresh, first-of-its-kind research with Ceres of the 154 climate-risk reports filed voluntarily under California’s SB 261. We consider them “voluntary” despite the mandatory nature of the law, because litigation has paused enforcement, and more than 150 companies filed anyway.

Assessment of the initial SB 261 submissions points to a sizeable gap between the business risks exacerbated by climate change, and an estimate of their financial impact. Investors describe the same gap. Responsible Investor’s inaugural Climate Risk and Resilience Survey cites the head of climate at Amundi calling most corporate disclosure on climate-related risk “qualitative at best” and “extremely difficult to benchmark.”

The ISSB — one of the initiatives named in the attorneys general’s letter — has its next five years funded. ESG Today reports that the IFRS Foundation approved five-year operating and financing plans that secure the Board’s resources through 2031 and add a Geneva office in 2027. More than 45 jurisdictions now use the ISSB’s standards, – IFRS S1 and IFRS S2.

Other stories in the issue examine how the disclosure system is evolving: Responsible Investor asks what CDP’s restructuring and SBTi’s revised net-zero standard mean for investors — developments that our CDP response and SBTi target-setting teams know well. ESG Dive reports a UC Berkeley finding that S&P 500 companies that kept their DEI commitments performed as well as or better than peers that rolled them back.

From the G&A team: a new blog on the finalized EU Deforestation Regulation and its first compliance deadline coming up in four months, our Side by Side research with Ropes & Gray, and our issue brief on Responsible AI Due Diligence.

Come talk about all of this with us! Registration is open for Resilient Leadership, our September 16 webinar with S&P Global on what 25 years of sustainability disclosure and the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) teach about what comes next.

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News

It’s time to stop sleeping on sandwiches—these lunchtime staples have a lot going for them. You have to appreciate the efficiency of packing all the food groups between two slices of bread. And a sandwich is not a lazy or lesser meal. In fact, it’s one of the easiest ways to get yourself a balanced meal in three minutes flat. Here’s how…

The Sandwich Solution for a Healthy Meal

Putting together a sandwich can be a great exercise in thoughtful food preparation. For one, you’re prompted to think about the components as you’re layering them. And this puts you in a good position to make intentional ingredient choices. Here’s what each main component provides:

• Bread or wrap: carbohydrates, whole grains, fiber, vitamins, and minerals
• Spread: fat and some vitamins (could also provide some fiber depending on what you use)
• Animal or plant-based filling: protein, vitamins, and minerals (and maybe some fiber depending on plants used)
• Vegetables: fiber and a slew of vitamins, minerals, and other phytonutrients

Build a Healthy, Balanced Sandwich

To assemble a sandwich or wrap, of course you’ll first consider which ingredients you prefer for their taste. Then look at all the options that can take your meal from boring and basic to balanced and brilliant. Level up each layer of your sandwich so that together they make a delicious and balanced meal.

The Bread or Wrap

Here’s a chance to make the major carbohydrate aspect of your sandwich do some heavy lifting. Look for a bread that provides at least 3-4 grams of fiber per slice (6+ grams for a wrap). Look for options that list whole grain flours as the first ingredient, and don’t forget that tortillas made with legumes or flax can make good wraps too (although they may not be as pliable as wheat-based versions). Nuts and seeds in a bread or wrap may also slightly increase its fiber as well as protein. Short on time to read all the labels in the bread aisle? Let Guiding Stars show you the way to a delicious, higher-fiber, Star-earning bread or wrap.

The Spread

There are so many things you can spread on bread for flavor and added moisture. Many of them are a source of fat—not necessarily a bad thing! Healthy fats are an important part of a balanced diet. Mayonnaise is a classic and yes, there are plenty of mayo options that earn three Guiding Stars for their use of healthy fats as the first ingredient (think avocado, safflower, canola, or soy oil) and limited additives to limit. Outside of mayonnaise-type spreads, consider these options that feature healthy fats:

• Mashed avocado or guacamole (consider making our Yogurt Guacamole)
• Hummus
• Pesto
• Tzatziki
• Greek yogurt mixed with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice
• Blended cottage cheese mixed with herbs and spices
• Your favorite hot sauce mixed with silken tofu or Greek yogurt
• Nut or seed butter

Condiments that don’t contribute healthy fats are not off-limits. However, they often lack redeeming nutritional qualities and contain substantial amounts of added sodium, sugars, and other ingredients you may want to avoid. This is why ketchup and mustard don’t earn Guiding Stars, for example. You can check whether or not your favorite condiments earn Guiding Stars by using the Food Finder tool.

The Filling

Give your sandwich some staying power with a protein-rich filling. Sliced meat or poultry, eggs, and fish-based fillings are common, and a veggie-based one can also provide adequate protein. Deli meats are typically high in sodium, but some low-sodium brands are available (check at the deli counter). To avoid the extra additives sometimes found in sliced deli meat, consider using meat or poultry you’ve cooked at home (such as roasted chicken or turkey breast). Even leftover proteins like boneless pork tenderloin or baked fish can make a good sandwich filling.

If a plant-based option is preferable, try a bean filling. Mashed chickpeas are a good choice (like in this Buffalo Chickpea Salad Wrap or this Garbanzo Salad filling). Edamame or white beans also work well, as do lentils (such as in this Spicy Lentil Wrap with Tahini Sauce). If you’re interested in soy-based protein options, try seasoned tofu or tempeh. And layering on a bunch of your favorite vegetables can provide a hearty meal, like with this Green Goddess Sandwich. To boost the protein in plant-based sandwiches, select a higher-protein bread or wrap.

The Vegetables

That sad, wilted lettuce leaf and lone tomato slice don’t contribute much in the way of taste or nutrition. It’s time to bump up the flavor, texture, and nutrients by packing your sandwich with plenty of produce. Go for veggie volume by adding a substantial layer—they’ll count for something and balance out the other ingredients! Use whatever vegetables suit your taste. For something different, try shredded slaw vegetable mix (no dressing) or leftover roasted or grilled vegetables. Any (undressed) vegetable salad will work too. Or just load that sandwich up with plenty of colorful and crunchy seasonal fresh vegetables. They’re best when thinly sliced for stacking or cut into matchsticks (nice for wraps). And while you’re at it, don’t forget fresh herbs like basil, parsley, tarragon, dill, and chives. They’ll bump up the flavor as well as add nutrients.

About Guiding Stars

Guiding Stars is an objective, evidence-based, nutrition guidance program that evaluates foods and beverages to make nutritious choices simple. Products that meet transparent nutrition criteria earn a 1, 2, or 3 star rating for good, better, and best nutrition. Guiding Stars can be found in more than 2,000 grocery stores, in Circana’ Attribute Marketplace, and through the Guiding Stars Food Finder app.

Photo: Blackened Salmon Sandwich – 3 Guiding Stars