The Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which includes Nike, REI, Target, and Levi’s, has released its Higg Index, a new, online tool to help footwear and apparel developers measure the social impacts of their products. The trade group represents more than one third of the world’s footwear and apparel market.

Hormel Foods has announced its second set of five-year environmental goals to reduce water use, packaging, and waste. The company surpassed the goals on key metrics in its first five-year plan, reducing packaging by 22 million pounds and reducing water consumption by 15 percent.

Simpact Strategy Group has reported on its Social Return on Investment methodology as a way to value social outcomes. The Group’s report examines Social Impact Bonds, a new tool to finance social innovation, and how the company’s SROI methodology evaluates its multiple forms of value.

For more information on these and other stories, go to thecsrminute.com