Inside Seventh Generation’s playbook for supporting polluter-pay laws
Team up with community-centered policy experts
Both Orgain and Ogden are actively involved with Vermont policy and politics, through relationships with the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and Vermont Public Interest Group. That’s important for face-to-face and grassroots engagement.
“Building public support is super constructive, and having a company lobby for bills such as these goes a long way,” said Deborah McNamara, executive director of nonprofit ClimateVoice, which works with corporations on policy issues. “Companies are inherently involved with public policy, whether they like it or not. They are either obstructing consciously, keeping themselves on the sidelines or stepping out as leaders.”
Seventh Generation’s media budget for these sorts of activities is modest — much of its work is volunteer-driven — but when it does run ads it teams up with other companies and focuses on high-profile activities or comments suggested by organizers with lobbying expertise and strong community contacts.
“We are in a very small state that is leading on this work, and we answer the call when they ask us to show up,” Ogden said.
In New York, Seventh Generation became involved through NY Renews, a coalition of 380 environmental-justice and community groups. Getting businesses involved with the effort lent NY Renews more credibility, said Stephan Edel, executive director of the organization.