More than 7,000 brands took the opportunity to show solidarity with last week's Global Climate Strike. Writer Nicole Schuman spotlights some of the ways brands showed support, such as Patagonia and Ben & Jerry's closing to enable workers to protest, Etsy and Seventh Generation employees marched in protests, Lush Cosmetics and Burton took down e-commerce website services and posted climate change messaging and hundreds of new organizations pledged to post related news.

Etsy's original role as an online space for artists and artisans to sell their one-of-a-kind jewelry, ceramics, furniture and other pieces has remained the same, but the business model has been shifting since the company went public in 2015. Sellers who bought stock before the IPO stand to benefit as shareholders, but they're also challenged with higher fees to the company and new rules requiring them to offer free shipping.

Tech veteran Josh Silverman stepped into the CEO role at Etsy two years ago, and since then he has led a turnaround that has brought in more revenue while improving the customer experience and holding onto the e-commerce platform's network of sellers. Under Silverman, Etsy has improved its search function, payments, checkout and shipping, all while adhering to the company's mission of "keeping commerce human."

Like many organisations, e-commerce website Etsy is concerned about the company's impact on the environment. Since most items ship directly from sellers to buyers, it is nearly impossible for the retailer to reduce its carbon footprint. Instead, it has launched other initiatives, including a carbon offset program that supports a wind farm and solar developments in India and tree conservation in Minnesota. Read more from NRF's STORES magazine.