General Motors is placing a $900 million bet on next‑gen EV batteries to cut costs and speed adoption — a high‑stakes move that could reshape fleet gifting and branded vehicle experiences (TechCrunch). [P]At the same time, a UNU analysis warns data center energy and water use will nearly double in four years, forcing companies to factor infrastructure footprint into sustainability claims (Boston Globe). Practical wins are cropping up — Waymo is donating used robotaxi batteries to community clean‑energy projects and Ingredion bought an upcycled prebiotic fiber from Benicaros — examples of reuse and upcycling that turn waste into storyworthy, trust-building products (Waymo donation, Ingredion acquisition). Risks ripple too: krill harvesting threatens marine food webs and Lake Mead at ~35% capacity spotlights looming water cuts, underscoring why supply‑chain traceability and ethical sourcing are shifting from nice‑to‑have to mission‑critical (krill story, Lake Mead, traceability).