Almost everyone comes in contact with some sort of textile, fabric or footwear, and these products often use chemicals during the manufacturing process - to achieve a function like water-repellency, adding texture or color. The wide use of chemicals, the large quantity of water and the presence of hazardous chemicals in the wastewater are some of reasons for the apparel and footwear sector to be regarded as one of the most environmentally polluting industries in the world, according to health and safety groups, as well as dangerous for workers and consumers.

Consumer appetites for organic foods are at an all-time high. As grocery shoppers buy more goods labeled as organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO and other attributes of healthier foods, food manufacturers need to adapt to the complex challenges of the organic products supply chain.

With the holiday shopping season under way, imports at the nation's major retail container ports are expected to be up 4.4 percent this month over the same time last year and should see a slightly larger increase next month, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.