L'Oreal and the road to carbon-neutral cosmetics

Though it's increased its production over the past 10 years, L'Oreal says it's also cut carbon emissions by 56 percent. The French beauty brand has a goal of becoming a "carbon-balanced" company by 2020, by reducing emissions 60 percent, upping its use of renewable energy and generating "carbon gains" throughout its supply chain. Read more at GreenBiz...

Target tests food transparency ideas at Edina store

Target's Food + Future coLAB is testing some new transparency tools in one of its stores, including handwritten signs near produce, communicating how long it has been on the shelf, and "smart scales" that ask shoppers what information they would like to know about what they're buying. Read more at StarTribune...

In a switch, big food companies urge consumers to eat less

Mini sodas. Thin oreos. It may seem counterintuitive, but some big food companies like Mars are either directly or indirectly urging consumers to actually eat less of their junk food. "It has everything to do with survival," says Will Rosenzweig, the executive director of The Food Business School. Read more at USA Today...

Childhood obesity rates are still rising

Duke University researchers analyzed obesity data over the past 15 years and found that the prevalence of obesity has increased steadily each year from 1999 to 2014. Read more at Time...

Unilever tops food companies in Oxfam Sustainability Ranking

An annual ranking that evaluates 10 big food companies based on sustainability and human rights put Unilever at the top of the list, partially due to its increasing attention to climate change, followed by Nestle and Coca-Cola. Danone and Associated British Foods tied for last. Read more at Bloomberg...