CPRT Expert Dialogue: Trade Association – Member Collaboration for Sustainability Policy: A New Model?

Trade associations are key players in helping businesses and industry sectors deliver on ambitious sustainability goals, stakeholder priorities, and an ultimate interest in a healthy environment. In these efforts, public policy is a critical lever. As a natural vehicle for industry advocacy on sustainability policy, trade associations lobby and sometimes make political contributions. Yet, specific views on sustainability issues are diverse, and some players will bear more of the cost of regulatory changes. How can trade associations navigate these diverse views without diluting ambition? How could a principled structure for political activities guide sustainability efforts and facilitate collaboration?

Please join us for our next Expert Dialogue with Renee Henze, Chief Sustainability Officer, International Flavors and Fragrances, and Nathan Sell, Senior Director, Sustainability, American Cleaning Institute, to explore how a principled structure for political activities guide sustainability efforts and facilitate collaboration among trade associations and their members.

In this interactive session, we will discuss:

• How is the American Cleaning Institute pursuing sustainability, and how is it collaborating with member organizations such as International Flavors and Fragrances
• What challenges are involved and what has been accomplished? How can trade associations weigh diverse views while maintaining a commitment to action around sustainability?
• Where does public policy fit into trade associations’ approach to sustainability?
• What does “political responsibility” look like for trade associations and their members?

As Chief Sustainability Officer at IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances), Renee Henze leads IFF’s Environmental, Social and Governance strategy, execution, and reporting functions, as well as the teams that drive sustainable innovation as it relates to customer engagement, sustainability communication and marketing, responsible sourcing, human rights due diligence and community impact.

Senior Director of Sustainability at the American Cleaning Institute Nathan Sell is responsible for leading, developing and executing all facets of ACI’s sustainability program, managing and directing internal, member focused, and public initiatives for sustainability regarding cleaning products.

The Corporate Political Responsibility Taskforce (CPRT) Expert Dialogues are in-depth, recorded conversations with academic experts, stakeholder advocates, and business practitioners to provide our members and other CPR champions with the expertise and context they need to develop principled, proactive CPR strategies.

Find more information on the CPRT website or contact Elizabeth Doty at [email protected].

This dialogue is designed for leaders in government affairs, diversity, equity and inclusion, and sustainability, as well as academic experts and stakeholder advocates. We invite those interested in a constructive, non-partisan, principles-based discussion.

The CPRT’s Expert Dialogue recordings are available by request as video modules, audio modules, or transcripts. Please email Taskforce Director Elizabeth Doty at [email protected] to request access.

The CPRT is strictly non-partisan and does not advocate, promote or support any poliical party or candidate. While speakers and participants in the Expert Dialogues may express their views freely, the CPRT does not endorse particular organizations, individuals, parties, policies or legislation.