Month: January 2026

One Year Into Trump Administration, HRC Releases Campaign Playbook to Go On Offense For Equality in 2026 Midterms and Beat Anti-Trans Attacks

Stuart Mitchell

After a presidential election cycle marked by relentless anti-trans attacks and one year of a Trump-Vance administration weaponizing government against LGBTQ+ people’s health and safety, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recently unveiled a messaging playbook for pro-equality campaigns to effectively define themselves early, fight back against anti-trans attacks, and go on offense with their pro-equality values. Post election analysis and polling from HRC and Global Strategy Group show clear trends: battleground district voters overwhelmingly support nondiscrimination and equality, are weary of politicians inserting themselves in people’s personal lives while ignoring…

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UK marketing budgets hold firm during turbulent final quarter

Stuart Mitchell

Following two consecutive quarters of upward revisions to total marketing budgets, the year ended on a neutral note, with the net balance registering at 0.0% (down from +3.6% in Q3), according to the Q4 2025 IPA Bellwether Report published recently (15 January 2026). The majority of Bellwether respondents (57.4%) left their marketing budgets unchanged over the course of the quarter, while the remaining panellists were evenly split, between those reporting an increase and those implementing cuts. According to anecdotal evidence from Bellwether respondents, cost pressures, muted economic activity and budget…

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Vattenfall highlighted as a driving force in new sustainability analysis

Stuart Mitchell

The Strategic Brand Radar, based on data from the Sustainable Brand Index between 2011 and 2025, identifies Vattenfall as one of Sweden’s strongest examples of how consumer confidence in sustainability efforts has increased. “Vattenfall is a clear example of how a company can succeed in turning public opinion around and strengthening its position. This positive development shows that change is possible when ambition and action go hand in hand”, says Erik Elvingsson Hedén, CEO and founder of SB Insight, the organisation behind the Sustainable Brand Index. Leading the transition forward…

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CAP – A CAP Icesight into ads for the Winter Olympics

Stuart Mitchell

The ASA/CAP have released a post called: Tread carefully: A CAP Icesight into ads for the Winter Olympics, but please have a look at the ASA/CAP site as there are lots of things of interest to anyone with an interest in Ethical Marketing. With Milano Cortina 2026 just days away, sharpen-up your compliance skates and ensure your ads (bob)slay without overstepping the mark. Two for the price of one That’s right people, it’s that time where we all get excited about the prospect of seeing not one, but two men…

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eBay Expands Circular Fashion Fund Across Europe and North America

Stuart Mitchell

eBay is expanding its Circular Fashion Fund in 2026, opening applications to businesses and startups across the EU, Switzerland, and Canada for the first time. Eight selected businesses will each receive $50,000 in funding, alongside mentoring to develop innovative solutions that extend the life of clothing and reduce textile waste. The annual program, first launched in 2022, supports entrepreneurs tackling the fashion and textile industry’s environmental footprint, from production to end-of-life. One standout business will also be named the Global Winner of the Circular Fashion Fund and will have the…

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