UN Global Compact Network USA Annual Summit convenes U.S. Business leaders to cultivate innovation & resiliency. Sep 25, 2026, 08:39 ET NEW YORK, Sept. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - More than 140 leaders from U.S. companies and the United Nations gathered in New York City for the UN Global Compact Network USA Annual Summit, the only UN General Assembly event dedicated to U.S. private sector leadership in sustainability. The Annual Summit has become a flagship gathering for American business leaders. Under the theme "The Room Where It Happens: Shaping the Next Era of Sustainability Leadership," this year's event, hosted at Citi's New York City headquarters, convened leading business voices to examine the opportunities and challenges shaping corporate sustainability in the United States. Amanda Gardiner, Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network USA, opened the event by highlighting the importance of peer engagement in finding practical ways to build stronger, more resilient businesses. Sessions explored newly published GlobeScan research on the state of corporate sustainability across North America, the factors driving corporate ESG commitments in 2026, and emerging tools and trends shaping the future of U.S. corporate sustainability. The Annual Summit concluded with a fireside chat, "Who Leads, Who Acts, Who Shapes the Future," featuring Andrew Winston, author, speaker, adviser, and driver of change, and Ann Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer at Colgate-Palmolive and Board Chair of UN Global Compact Network USA. The discussion highlighted the role of U.S. business in a rapidly changing global landscape, explored what it takes for business leaders to maintain ambition and lead through a period of change, and noted the influence American companies can have on driving progress across their supply chains. The Network USA Annual Summit serves as a forum for U.S. organizations to openly share challenges, perspectives, and practical approaches across industries, company sizes, and stages of their sustainability journey. By bringing leaders into the same room, the event creates opportunities to exchange ideas, build community, and identify approaches that can increase competitiveness while advancing sustainability. "As companies navigate rapid changes in technology, the environment, geopolitics, and regulation, new challenges and opportunities will continue to shape what responsible business looks like," said Gardiner. "Our Annual Summit convenes leaders to confront those realities, share what is working, and identify practical approaches to implementation. By creating space for candid dialogue and peer exchange, we can help shape the future of corporate responsibility in the United States." The Annual Summit was supported by Baker Hughes and Cisco, who hosted executive roundtables exploring energy resilience and circular business models. About UN Global Compact Network USA UN Global Compact Network USA (Network USA) is the U.S. Chapter of the United Nations Global Compact, the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world. Network USA is a powerful network of companies and stakeholders dedicated to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. By connecting partners with the resources of the greater UN, Network USA supports companies that are committed to fully integrating its principles of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption into their business strategies and operations. To learn more, visit GlobalCompactUSA.org. SOURCE UN Global Compact Network USA

Haleon is buying better shelf space, can the visibility help it against procter & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive? Haleon's improved shelf placement is driving US market-share gains, but investors must determine whether that growth can remain profitable without heavy promotional support. Published September 24, 2026 at 12:40 pm EDT Haleon plc (NYSE:HLN) is trying to win the US consumer-health market one shelf at a time. The Sensodyne and Advil owner has secured more prominent positions at Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), and other major retailers by offering improved commercial terms, including lower prices, stronger promotions, new products, and exclusivity. The strategy is already coinciding with market-share gains. Haleon's portion of the US consumer-health market increased from 11.4% in February to 12% by August, according to NielsenIQ data cited by Reuters. The challenge is determining how much of that growth reflects stronger underlying demand, and how much depends on promotional spending. Bull case. Better shelf placement can materially improve Haleon's (NYSE:HLN) visibility in crowded health and personal-care aisles. The company researched how shoppers search for its products and found that consumers generally look for brands first, followed by premium and new products within the branded section. Haleon used that research to recommend placing products at eye level or directly above its existing lineup. It also shared forecasts with retailers showing how the proposed changes could increase sales, helping persuade Walmart, Target, and other chains to adopt the new arrangements. You can also read about how Walmart and Target's Shelves are Becoming a Battleground for Budget-Conscious Shoppers in our recently published article. The strategy appears to be working across more than one category. Haleon said the shelf resets are supporting market-share gains in oral health, which includes Sensodyne, Aquafresh, and Polident. Its Centrum vitamins also benefited after retailers placed the products at eye level and supported them with promotions. Haleon's expanding US share compares favorably with some established competitors. Procter & Gamble's portion of the US healthcare market declined to approximately 10.8% in July, while Colgate-Palmolive's share of the oral-care, personal-care and household market remained flat at just under 5%, according to Bernstein's analysis of NielsenIQ data. These percentages cover differently defined markets and should not be treated as direct like-for-like comparisons, but they indicate that Haleon gained ground while some competitors were flat or declining. The company's portfolio is also well suited to a more cautious consumer environment. Toothpaste, pain relief, and vitamins are generally treated as practical purchases, potentially giving Haleon greater resilience as households prioritize essentials, and offering retailers exclusive products and innovations may strengthen these relationships further. Walmart and Target receive differentiated merchandise and promotional support, while Haleon secures the visibility needed to challenge larger established brands. Bear case. It is significant to note that Haleon is paying for that visibility through lower prices, promotions, exclusivity, and other favorable commercial terms. Although these concessions can increase volumes and market share, the company has not disclosed their effect on profitability. Promotional dependence is particularly important. More than 21% of Haleon's second-quarter US sales came from products sold with promotions, according to NielsenIQ data analyzed by Bernstein. That does not mean those sales were unprofitable, but it raises the possibility that some recent growth was encouraged by discounts rather than stronger full-price demand. The consumer environment creates another difficulty. Middle-class Americans have become increasingly cost-conscious as elevated fuel prices pressure household budgets. Even essential products must compete for limited spending, making price an increasingly important factor in purchasing decisions. Competitors can also respond. Haleon's shelf-space gains are not necessarily permanent, and rival consumer-health companies may offer retailers stronger discounts, new products or exclusivity of their own. Maintaining premium positions could therefore require continued commercial investment. The available figures do not prove that improved shelf placement alone caused Haleon's market-share increase. Product launches, pricing, brand demand, and promotional activity may also have contributed. Conclusion. Haleon's strategy is producing encouraging early evidence. Its US market share has increased, while improved placement is supporting oral-health and vitamin brands across some of the country's largest retailers. The central question is whether Haleon can retain those gains without sacrificing too much pricing or promotional spending. Better shelves can attract attention, but lasting value will depend on converting that visibility into repeat purchases and profitable growth.

Consumer goods giants launch consortium for sustainable paper-based packaging. Date of publication: September 22, 2026 Six major consumer goods companies - Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever - have formed the PaperFlex Consortium to advance the development of sustainable paper-based alternatives to flexible plastic packaging. This initiative, convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and managed by (RE)SET, aims to address the environmental impact of flexible plastic packaging, which is rapidly growing yet lacks effective recycling solutions. The consortium will target markets where flexible plastic packaging is prevalent but recycling systems are insufficient, focusing on creating alternatives that are recyclable as collection systems improve and biodegradable if they inadvertently enter the environment. Flexible plastic packaging, including items like sachets and pouches, is the fastest-growing segment of plastic packaging globally. The consortium plans to conduct collaborative trials to innovate in areas such as biodegradable coatings and enhance the performance of paper-based materials in manufacturing processes. By pooling resources for joint research and development, the consortium aims to accelerate the introduction of new packaging solutions to consumers while allowing each member to pursue independent packaging strategies. Sander Defruyt from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation emphasized the urgent need for responsible paper-based flexible packaging solutions that meet performance, scale, and cost requirements. The consortium's formation reflects a strong demand for such innovations. The PaperFlex Consortium is also open to other FMCG companies, innovators, suppliers, and investors interested in contributing to this initiative. More information can be found at paperflexconsortium.org.