Sustainability In Progress (SIP‪)‬ Sustainability in Progress (SIP)

In our first episode of SIP Season 2, we chatted with David Uricoli, who spent 32 years at Ralph Lauren working on human rights and labor issues. While most of us are familiar with the environmental impacts of fashion supply chains, there is an often overlooked reality associated with the social and human impacts of apparel production. Our conversation delves into the important need for traceability, especially in regions like Xinjiang, China, where forced labor characterizes the supply chain. David helps break down the real-world challenges to social compliance as well as potential solutions to overcome these roadblocks.

In this episode, Laura chats with Jo Giessler, former Head of Global Citizenship at White & Case about the evolution of corporate sustainability over the last several years and how it has influenced the rise of ESG and Sustainable Investing. Along with its exponential growth, ESG Investing has come under scrutiny and has been forced to defend itself against claims of greenwashing amid a broader push for accountability and improved credibility in global markets. As a result, global regulatory regimes are increasingly requiring product labeling and disclosures, while the private sector and investors encourage greater transparency. As an executive who has worked in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Jo’s career focused on transforming corporate culture while ensuring economic value. This background provides us with a thoughtful insider’s view into a very complex and rapidly evolving industry. Tune in to hear the conversation!

For the second part of this episode, we shifted the conversation with Jenik Radon to focus on the food supply crisis that has been driven by an increase in fertilizer prices as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. When natural gas prices rise, so do fertilizer prices, leading to increased input costs for farmers and growers worldwide. Our global food system is under an existential threat as margins and profitability diminish. Meanwhile, diplomatic and economic measures are focused on political favour in Eastern Europe. Laura Negre’s conversation with Jenik asks a crucial question: what must be done to lessen the impact on the countries hit the hardest?

For the first part of a two-part episode, we sit down with Jenik Radon to talk about the war in Ukraine and its impact on energy supply and demand. His career in sustainable development and foreign policy provides a unique perspective on the crisis and its knock-on effects globally. Jenik discusses the opportunities and challenges facing Europe in its quest to establish a sustainable energy mix and achieve greater energy independence from resource-rich superpower Russia. We also discuss the wide-ranging implications for the energy transition and countries looking to address the climate crisis. Join our discussion to. Tune in to hear Jenik's thoughts on the current state of affairs and his easy-to-understand take on a very complex geopolitical crisis.

Welcome back for our first episode of 2023! In this episode, Laura Negre chats with Anne Bedarf, Global Packaging Sustainability Manager at Colgate-Palmolive, about the challenges and opportunities related to the recycling system in the United States. What can governments at the federal and state level do to incentivize circular economies? What can consumers do to increase recycling rates and minimize contamination? What can industry do to scale reuse and improve recycling rates? What are the latest and most exciting innovations revolutionizing recycling? Join our discussion to hear how we can tackle these issues and how you can make your next trip to the bin more thoughtful! 

Welcome back to our second episode of Sustainability in Progress, hosted by Laura Negre. For this episode, Laura sits down with Christoph Meinrenken, an associate research scientist at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, to discuss how to accurately account for total emissions across a vehicle’s lifecycle, even if they claim zero emissions at the tailpipe. For more information, please visit www.consiliencejournal.org.