Author: Stuart Mitchell

SMFG and IFC Partner to Launch the World’s First Digital Inclusion Bond, Supporting Growth and Job Creation through MSMEs in Emerging Markets

Stuart Mitchell

To promote digitalization and jobs in emerging markets, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has partnered with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), one of the leading Japanese financial groups with a strong presence in Asia-Pacific, to launch the world’s first social bond exclusively dedicated to digital inclusion, including for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), totaling US$500 million. Expanding financial access for MSMEs through digital tools further supports their role as the primary driver of jobs in emerging markets. As an anchor investor, IFC collaborated with SMFG to…

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Amcor and University of Southern Indiana launch partnership to spark student-led packaging innovation

Stuart Mitchell

Amcor, a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, and the University of Southern Indiana (USI) have announced an innovative partnership designed to bring fresh thinking to real-world consumer packaging challenges while providing students with experiential learning and career development opportunities. Amcor and USI are piloting a semester-long internship program in Spring 2026 uniting USI students and faculty with Amcor professionals to co-create practical packaging concepts that address real industry needs. The project, coordinated through USI’s Center for Applied Research, has seven student participants supported by four faculty…

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ASA – Public want influencer ads to be clearly labelled, new research shows

Stuart Mitchell

The ASA/CAP have released a post called: Tread carefully: Public want influencer ads to be clearly labelled, new research shows, 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. Today, we’re publishing research showing that many people find it difficult to tell when influencer content is advertising, even though most want ads to be clearly labelled. Influencer ads are often confused with everyday posts and are harder to recognise than people expect. Influencer content…

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Tony’s Chocolonely wrestles cocoa exploitation in first-ever TV commercial, ‘There’s Fight in Every Bite’

Stuart Mitchell

Tony’s Chocolonely, the UK’s most ethical chocolate bar, is launching its first-ever TV commercial globally, across Sky channels, from 9 pm on 10th February. The campaign was planned and delivered in partnership with Sky Media to bring Tony’s purpose-led mission into living rooms aross the UK. The chocolate-challenger brand secured £500k worth of Sky Media advertising through the Sky Zero Footprint Fund, which returned for 2025 bigger, better, and greener, offering £2 million in advertising support to supercharge brands prioritising sustainability. Tony’s Chocolonely won the Champions category, designed to help…

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Charities raise serious concerns about government’s earned settlement proposals

Stuart Mitchell

Charities and voluntary organisations are raising serious concerns about government proposals to link volunteering to asylum settlement. The proposals form part of the government’s wider asylum and immigration reforms, which would allow volunteering to be used as a condition to obtain, or shorten the route to, settlement in the UK. Drawing on engagement with 314 organisations, NCVO’s findings show overwhelming concern across the voluntary sector. Respondents were in strong opposition to the proposed inclusion of volunteering to obtain or shorten the route to settlement for asylum seekers and refugees. Of…

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