To celebrate Earth Day, we’re highlighting how companies are making real progress on sustainability, from water conservation and waste reduction to responsible sourcing.
Keep reading to learn how companies like MGM Resorts and PepsiCo are doing it and pick up best practices you can take back to your own organization.
1. MGM’s Approach to Water Stewardship
In the heart of one of the driest deserts in North America, MGM Resorts is making strides in water stewardship. In 2023, the company achieved its 2030 goal of a 35% reduction in water withdrawal intensity (from a 2007 baseline) seven years early.
ESG & CSR Board Chair Michael Gulich, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability and ESG Reporting at MGM Resorts, recently appeared on the WaterLoop podcast, where he shared how they achieved this goal through water-efficient design and partnerships that drive change
MGM has also worked closely with regional agencies and conservation groups to manage water use on the Las Vegas Strip while contributing to broader watershed resilience in the Colorado River Basin.
To learn how MGM Resorts is tackling waste reduction at large, check out our exclusive guide here.
2. How MasterCard is Powering a Greener Economy
Named one of TIME’s World’s Most Sustainable Companies in 2024, Mastercard is continuing to evolve how payments technology can enable sustainable consumption and circular business models.
At the North American Sustainability and Responsibility Summit (NASRS25), Chief Sustainability Officer Ellen Jackowski shared how payments tech can power more sustainable business models while helping consumers make lower-impact choices.
In her keynote, Ellen outlined how Mastercard’s tech infrastructure supports models like product-as-a-service, resale, and repair, helping partners and merchants shift toward more circular operations. She also emphasized the importance of consumer insights and education.
These efforts are a part of Mastercard’s broader ESG strategy, which includes reaching net-zero emissions by 2040 and expanding inclusive climate action across its global network.
3. Hard Rock’s Global Sound Waves Campaign Hits All the Right Notes
Last year, Hard Rock International partnered with Ocean Conservancy to launch Global Sound Waves, a sustainability campaign focused on reducing waste and advancing environmental action across more than 70 Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming properties.
The campaign featured four waves of impact:
- Employee education
- An operational waste innovation contest
- Donation campaigns
- Community cleanup events
It raised $75,000 through the ‘Change for Change’ program, engaged over 230 employees in global sustainability training, and mobilized local teams from Bali to Ottawa for cleanups and biodiversity projects—all with a focus on upstream waste management and data-informed goal setting.
ESG & CSR Board Member Christina Guerron-Orejuela, Sustainability Manager at Hard Rock, reflected on the energy and sense of shared purpose sparked by the campaign. She highlighted how the program united global teams through action, demonstrating the power of community to drive measurable impact and amplify the brand’s commitment to “Save the Planet.”
4. PepsiCo Invests in Watershed Health Across the U.S.
In March, PepsiCo launched four new watershed health projects in California, Colorado, and Texas, aimed at replenishing water in high-risk areas connected to its operations.
The company invested $1.8 million in 2024 to support region-specific efforts like floodplain restoration, aquifer protection, and habitat conservation. In California, its partnership with River Partners will help restore 7,000 acres of floodplain habitat in the Sacramento Valley— an effort expected to replenish 150 million gallons of water annually.
In Texas, PepsiCo is supporting a groundwater conservation program with the Edwards Aquifer Authority to ease agricultural pressure on the aquifer, protect aquatic ecosystems, and reduce emissions tied to water pumping.
Lawren Cooper, PepsiCo’s Sustainability Development Director, talked about these watershed replenishment efforts in an interview with The Shelby Report.
Partnerships like these are essential to our pep+ agenda to drive water stewardship at scale. By working alongside organizations like Trout Unlimited, Edwards Aquifer Authority, and River Partners, we can help restore critical waterways, protect essential habitats, and safeguard water resources for the communities and ecosystems that depend on them.
Lawren Cooper, Sustainability Deployment Director, PepsiCo U.S. Beverages
5. Estée Lauder Companies Puts Sustainability at the Center of Beauty
Estée Lauder Companies (ELC) used Earth Day 2025 to spotlight how sustainability shows up throughout its product lifecycle from ingredient sourcing to packaging and consumer engagement.
Last fiscal year, they published a corporate ingredient glossary covering over 100 key ingredients and expanded its use of green chemistry tools to guide lower-impact formulation decisions. Across its brands, ELC offers take-back and refill programs, carbon-neutral shipping in select markets, and sustainable packaging efforts.
The company’s sustainability work also includes long-standing partnerships like its 15-year collaboration with the Kutkabubba Aboriginal Community to support biodiversity and economic opportunity through Dutjahn Sandalwood Oils.
