American Sustainable Business Network

Background

The American Sustainable Business Network is a partnership that advocates policies for policymakers, business leaders, and investors to transform the public and private sectors “toward a just and sustainable economy” in a way that is “stakeholder-driven.” The organization says that all stakeholder groups—as opposed to shareholders—must have “full and participatory access to decision making.” ¹

The American Sustainable Business Network resulted from the 2021 merger of the American Sustainable Business Council, established in 2009, and Social Venture Circle, established in 2018 with roots going back to 1987. ^{1 3}

The network says it represents more than 250,000 businesses, investors and organizations. ² ASBN member organizations include firms and organizations such as the New Jersey Sustainable Business Council, Avocado Green Brands, Okeanos, and Fluxus LLC. ^{4 5} Members of the network agreed to sign an agreement to incorporate integrity, values, respect and inclusion into their daily work. ¹

The organization says the foundation of doing business must be “justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion,” which it refers to as “JEDI.” The network says the implementation of JEDI practices is crucial for removing “barriers to capital and opportunity for Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian communities, women, and gender nonconforming.” ¹

Policy Agenda

The American Sustainable Business Network is a member of the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition, a left-leaning activist coalition that advocates electoral administration policy changes. ⁶

In July 2022, in the months leading up to the midterm election, the American Sustainable Business Network launched “Business for Democracy” as a national campaign to get small businesses to promote left-wing election-administration programs. ASBN created nine state Business for Democracy collaboratives composed of business organizations and individual businesses to lobby state legislators and members of Congress to support certain election-related legislation such as bills in Congress giving the federal government expansive control over running elections. State collaboratives were established in California, Arizona, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan and Georgia. Frank Knapp Jr., the CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, is the director of Business for Democracy at ASBN. ⁷

The American Sustainable Business Network advocates for businesses that provide flexible options to give employees time off to vote. It calls for employers to prioritize increasing voter turnout. The network also advocates for early voting, mail-in ballots, and extended voting hours. ⁸

On other fronts, the organizations policy issues include agriculture, climate change, energy, employment, and workplace issues. ²

In 2021, the American Sustainable Business Network backed the Build Back Better Act, a large-scale $2.2 trillion welfare-statist and environmentalist bill named after the campaign slogan of President Joe Biden. The measure passed the House but failed to gain sufficient support in the Senate. The organization supported it for its paid-leave mandate provisions, as well as increased farm subsidies, green energy subsidies, spending on electric vehicles, and the creation of the a Civilian Climate Corps. ⁹

Leadership

As of February 2023, Jeffrey Hollender was CEO and co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Network. Hollender was co-founder and CEO of Seventh Generation, a natural-products brand known for left-wing-aligned business practices. He also founded Sustain Natural, which markets sustainable feminine care products. He is a strategic advisor and former board chair of Greenpeace. He is an adjunct professor of sustainability and social entrepreneurship at the Stern Business School at New York University. ¹⁰

David Levine is the co-founder and president of the American Sustainable Business Network. He was the founding director of continuing education and public programs at The Graduate Center at the City University of New York. From 1984 to 1997, Levine was founder and executive director of the Learning Alliance. He is a principal partner at Miracle Springs Farm in the Hudson Valley. ¹⁰

Ali-Reza “A.R.” Vahabzadeh is the executive vice president at the American Sustainable Business Network. He is head of membership, the chief of staff and the environment social governance policy co-lead for the group. He has worked in business development and investor relations roles for companies including Morgan Stanley, Citigroup and J.P. Morgan Chase. ¹⁰