Journey To Regeneration

Ken Pucker on Why Sustainable Fashion Keeps Failing

Thu, 28 May 2026 03:30:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Ken Pucker, former COO of Timberland and one of the most thoughtful critics of modern corporate sustainability. Drawing on his experience helping build Timberland into one of the earliest high-profile examples of responsible business, Pucker reflects on the evolution of sustainability over the past two decades. The conversation also explores why many mission-driven companies, including Allbirds and Everlane, struggled not because sustainability itself failed, but because of tensions between long-term purpose and growth-oriented business models shaped by venture capital and public markets. Pucker also examines the structural incentives that continue to reward overproduction, low costs, and environmental externalization across the fashion industry, while discussing the role of policy initiatives such as the New York Fashion Act in creating stronger accountability around emissions and supply chains. Throughout the episode, the discussion moves beyond simplistic “win-win” sustainability narratives to confront deeper questions about governance, capitalism, incentives, and whether current economic systems are capable of delivering the scale of transformation required for a livable future.

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Inside Prota Fiori’s Sustainable Footwear Innovations

Thu, 21 May 2026 08:05:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Jennifer Stucko, founder and CEO of Prota Fiori, a sustainable luxury footwear company working at the intersection of circular materials and Italian craftsmanship. Stucko explains how Prota Fiori emerged from a desire to rethink the environmental impacts embedded within traditional footwear supply chains while preserving the artisanal heritage of Made in Italy. The conversation explores the practical complexities of building luxury products with upcycled and regenerated materials, including apple-skin leather alternatives and circular manufacturing systems that require new supplier relationships, production methods, and quality standards. Stucko also reflects on the cultural challenges of introducing sustainability into traditional luxury manufacturing environments, the role of design and desirability in changing consumer behavior, and why craftsmanship may become even more valuable in an era increasingly shaped by AI and automation.

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Redesigning Business for Nature with Frieda Gormley from House of Hackney

Thu, 07 May 2026 05:58:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Frieda Gormley, co-founder of House of Hackney, about the company’s evolution from a design-led interiors brand into a business grounded in regenerative principles. Drawing on her background in fashion and her growing engagement with ecological thinking, Gormley reflects on the limitations of traditional sustainability models and the need to move beyond minimizing harm toward actively restoring natural systems. The conversation explores how this shift manifests in practice—from rethinking supply chains and pricing to reflect true ecological costs, to embedding nature directly into corporate governance through a “Mother Nature” board role. Gormley also discusses the cultural and philosophical dimensions of regeneration, including the influence of indigenous perspectives, long-term thinking, and the recognition that the economy is embedded within nature rather than separate from it. Together, they examine the tensions between growth and regeneration, the challenges of operating within conventional financial systems, and the emerging possibilities for redefining value, accountability, and business purpose in a rapidly changing world.

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Seventh Generation co-founder Jeffrey Hollender on Why Responsible Business Isn’t Enough

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 06:19:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of Seventh Generation and a leading voice in sustainable business, about the evolution—and limitations—of purpose-driven companies. In his new book “Built for a Better World: How Seventh Generation Pioneered a Movement That Changed the Purpose of Business,” Hollender reflects on building a brand that combined environmental responsibility, consumer education, and human health, while also experimenting with employee ownership and values-driven culture. Our conversation explores these topics and how business can move from minimizing harm to creating systemic value, the tensions between mission and capital, and the governance challenges that arise as companies scale. Hollender also discusses the role of NGOs, public policy, and large corporations like Unilever in driving broader change, offering a candid assessment of what it takes to move toward truly regenerative business. The episode ultimately raises a critical question: how can businesses operate differently within systems that still reward short-term extraction over long-term value?

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The Purpose Pledge: Les Szabo from Dr. Bronner’s on Redefining What It Means to Be a Good Company

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:43:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Les Szabo of personal care company Dr. Bronner’s, a long-time leader in regenerative and purpose-driven business, about the limits of philanthropy and policy in addressing systemic challenges and the need for business itself to take responsibility for its full impacts. Drawing on Dr. Bronner’s evolution—from organic sourcing to fair trade and regenerative organic certification—the conversation explores how deep supply chain engagement, stakeholder accountability, and community investment can reshape how value is created and distributed. Szabo also introduces the Purpose Pledge, a multi-stakeholder initiative that defines what it means to be a purpose-led company through ten integrated commitments spanning governance, compensation, supply chains, climate, and more. Rather than allowing selective storytelling, the pledge emphasizes transparency, operational rigor, and peer learning to address trade-offs across stakeholders. The episode ultimately reframes regeneration not as a set of isolated best practices, but as a systemic transformation requiring collective action, shared standards, and new forms of accountability across business ecosystems.

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Vivobarefoot: Rethinking Shoes, Rethinking Systems

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:57:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Galahad Clark, co-founder of Vivobarefoot, about rethinking business through the lens of human health, natural systems, and regenerative design. Drawing on a two-hundred-year family legacy in shoemaking shaped by Quaker values, Clark reflects on how industrialization and shareholder capitalism disrupted earlier models of purpose-driven enterprise—and how Vivobarefoot seeks to recover and reinterpret those principles today. The conversation explores the company’s challenge to conventional footwear design, arguing that many modern innovations address problems created by the industry itself, and examines how regeneration can be operationalized through circular models such as repair, refurbishment, and localized production. Clark also discusses the tensions between natural and synthetic materials, the limits of current recycling systems, and the difficulty of sustaining regenerative culture within a growing organization. Ultimately, the episode offers a nuanced view of regeneration as an ongoing process of realignment with living systems—one that reshapes not only products and supply chains, but also decision-making, organizational culture, and the broader purpose of business.

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Allagash Brewing: Rethinking Supply Chains from the Ground Up

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:20:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Rob Tod, founder of Allagash Brewing Company, about how a craft brewery can evolve into a model of long-term, community-embedded, and increasingly regenerative business practice. Tod reflects on the early days of the U.S. craft beer movement and his decision to pursue Belgian-style brewing as a way to create something distinctive rather than replicate existing market offerings. The conversation then turns to how sustainability becomes operational at scale—not through abstract commitments, but through disciplined attention to processes, from water efficiency and waste reduction to logistics optimization. A central focus is Allagash’s decade-long effort to rebuild a local grain economy in Maine, demonstrating how companies can reshape supply chains to generate environmental, economic, and community benefits simultaneously. Tod also discusses the role of ownership structure, culture, and transparency in enabling long-term decision-making, as well as the influence of B Corp certification in strengthening measurement and accountability. The episode ultimately highlights how regeneration emerges not from isolated initiatives, but from a consistent willingness to question assumptions, rethink systems, and align business practices with place-based value creation.

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How Meow Wolf Has Scaled Creativity Without Losing Its Soul

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:01:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Vince Kadlubek, co-founder of Meow Wolf, an immersive arts and entertainment company that has grown from a grassroots collective in Santa Fe into a multi-city creative enterprise. The conversation explores how Meow Wolf’s founding ethos—radical collaboration, open participation, and the belief that everyone is creative—has been translated into a scalable business model. Kadlubek reflects on the tensions between artistic freedom and organizational structure, including the trade-offs introduced by growth, investment, and operational complexity. He discusses how constraints can both limit and enhance creativity, how local context shapes each installation, and why maintaining authenticity requires deep engagement with community-based artists. The episode also examines broader questions about the role of business in sustaining creative ecosystems, and whether scaling necessarily dilutes purpose or can, under certain conditions, enable it. Ultimately, this conversation offers a nuanced perspective on imagination, collaboration, and the evolving relationship between creativity and capitalism.

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The Social Hub: Charlie MacGregor on Building Business Through Human Connection

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Charlie MacGregor, founder and CEO of The Social Hub, about rethinking hospitality as a platform for social and economic value creation. Originally launched as The Student Hotel, the company has evolved into a hybrid model that integrates student housing, hotels, co-working, and community spaces to foster interaction across diverse groups. MacGregor explains how regulatory constraints in housing led to an unexpected innovation in hospitality design, and how the company’s mission deepened through engagement with the European refugee crisis. The conversation explores how social connection can be operationalized as a business model, from talent development and local economic integration to measurable “social value” generated for cities. It also addresses the challenge of aligning investors with purpose-driven strategies and demonstrates how profitability and social impact can reinforce one another when embedded structurally. Ultimately, the episode offers a compelling case for viewing business not just as an economic actor, but as a builder of social infrastructure in an increasingly fragmented world.

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Robyn O’Brien on Fixing the Financial Roots of the Food System

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:15:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Robyn O’Brien, food system reform advocate, investor, and author of The Unhealthy Truth and Seeding Innovation. Drawing on her background as a financial analyst covering the food industry, O’Brien explains how structural incentives in capital markets and corporate governance have shaped modern food production, from ingredient choices in processed foods to the financial systems that lock farmers into chemical-dependent agricultural models. The conversation explores the hidden economics behind global food supply chains, the barriers farmers face when transitioning to regenerative agriculture, and the role of new financing mechanisms in enabling systemic change. O’Brien also reflects on the leadership and psychological dimensions of innovation, emphasizing the importance of courage, creativity, and aligned capital converge to build a healthier and more regenerative food economy.

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Stewardship, Craft and Regenerative Supply Chains at Johnston’s of Elgin

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:45:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Christopher Gaffney, CEO of Johnston’s of Elgin, a Scottish textile manufacturer with more than two centuries of history producing luxury cashmere and wool garments. Drawing on his background in manufacturing and finance—and his personal roots in the community where the company operates—Gaffney discusses how Johnston’s integrates craftsmanship, community responsibility, and environmental stewardship across its operations. The conversation explores the company’s vertically integrated production model, its commitment to training new generations of textile artisans, and its work with global supply chains that include cashmere herders in Mongolia and wool producers in Australia. Gaffney also reflects on Johnston’s decision to adopt B Corp certification and revise its corporate charter to explicitly recognize responsibilities to society and the environment alongside shareholders. Against the backdrop of fast fashion and synthetic textiles dominating global clothing production, the discussion highlights how long-lived natural fiber garments, repair and resale systems, and stronger accountability across supply chains may help move the fashion industry toward a more regenerative future.

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Why Patagonia Is Betting on Food, Not Just Jackets with Paul Lightfoot

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:54:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Paul Lightfoot, General Manager of Patagonia Provisions and former founder of BrightFarms, about how food can move beyond sustainability to become a cornerstone of a regenerative economy. Lightfoot explains why Patagonia expanded into food as an expression of its core mission, arguing that while apparel can minimize harm, agriculture—done differently—can actively restore soil, ecosystems, and human health. The conversation explores perennial grains like Kernza, the logic behind the Regenerative Organic Certification, and why fossil-fuel-based inputs are fundamentally incompatible with what “regenerative” mean. Lightfoot also discusses Patagonia’s seafood standards, including its rejection of farmed salmon and destructive fishing practices, and reflects on the role of consumer demand in reshaping farmland use in the United States. At a time when sustainability language is often diluted, this episode offers a clear-eyed examination of what regeneration requires in practice—and what it might take to realign agriculture with ecological limits and long-term societal well-being.

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Dopper’s Mission to End Packaged Water

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:10:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Merijn Everaarts, founder of Dopper, the Dutch social enterprise dedicated to ending packaged water. What began as a personal awakening about plastic waste grew into a global movement that combines product design, public activism, corporate partnerships, and policy engagement. Merijn explains how Dopper built its strategy by focusing on eliminating excuses for single-use bottled water—through modular bottle design, public tap installations, education campaigns, and collaborations such as mapping water refill points. He reflects on the company’s early adoption of Cradle to Cradle certification, its experience as one of the first B Corps in the Netherlands, and the tensions within today’s certification landscape. The conversation highlights a distinctive model of regenerative business: one that seeks not just to sell sustainable products, but to shift cultural norms and infrastructure toward systemic change. Ultimately, this episode asks what it means for a company to align profit, purpose, and public responsibility in a world where sustainable alternatives already exist—but habits remain difficult to break.

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Farming for Flavor: How Maker’s Mark Is Scaling Regenerative Agriculture

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:15:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Rob Samuels, eighth-generation whiskey maker and Managing Director of Kentucky bourbon brand Maker’s Mark, about embedding regeneration at the core of a global business. Samuels explains how Maker’s Mark connects its stewardship of soil health, grain varietals, water stewardship, and American white oak forestry directly to flavor and product integrity. The conversation explores the company’s transition to regenerative practices across 50,000 acres of partner farmland, and its investment in mapping the genome of American white oak to safeguard the future of bourbon barrels. Samuels also reflects on the firm’s “purposeful inefficiency”—from hand-dipping the tops of millions of bottles in the company’s iconic red wax to rotating barrels for consistency—and why operating with what he calls an infinite mindset reshapes decisions about people, community, and long-term value. The episode offers a concrete case of how regenerative principles can move beyond rhetoric and into supply chains, governance, and product design, suggesting a different model for resilience in legacy industries.

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Measuring What Matters: Inside Davines’ Regenerative Strategy

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Davide Bollati, Chairman of Davines, about what regeneration means for a global beauty company. Davide reflects on Davines’ evolution from performance-driven cosmetic chemistry toward a regenerative business model grounded in measurement, balance, and long-term purpose. The conversation explores decoupling growth from emissions, regenerative organic agriculture, packaging responsibility, and the role of pre-competitive collaboration in transforming the beauty industry. Davide also offers a philosophical view of regeneration as a pursuit of meaningful value creation—one that integrates environmental limits, social wellbeing, and cultural responsibility rather than chasing growth at any cost.

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Inside Rodale Institute’s Vision for Regenerative Change

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:52:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Jeff Tkach, CEO of Rodale Institute, about the roots, science, and future of regenerative organic agriculture. Drawing on Rodale’s decades-long research comparing organic and conventional farming systems, Jeff explains why soil health sits at the center of human health, farmer livelihoods, and climate resilience. The conversation examines how regeneration differs from sustainability, why organic practices are essential rather than optional, and how weak definitions of “regenerative” risk enabling greenwashing across the food industry. Jeff also reflects on Rodale’s growing engagement with major food companies and governments, highlighting both the opportunities and tensions involved in shifting large-scale supply chains. Ultimately, this episode reframes regeneration as a process of continuous improvement: one that challenges extractive models of agriculture and asks what it would mean for food systems to genuinely get better over time.

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Regenerative Organic Rice and the Power of the Long View at Lundberg Family Farms

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Brita Lundberg and Bryce Lundberg of Lundberg Family Farms, a fourth-generation family business and pioneer of organic and regenerative rice farming. They explain why organic is the baseline, not the endpoint, of responsible agriculture, and how Regenerative Organic Certification deepens commitments to soil health, biodiversity, and social fairness. Drawing on decades of experience, Brita and Bryce describe how rice farming practices like cover cropping, water-based weed management, and wetland restoration rebuild ecosystems while reducing climate impact. The conversation also explores generational thinking, risk-taking, and how communicating regeneration to consumers can help shift food systems toward long-term resilience rather than short-term extraction.

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Supply Chain Resilience Starts in the Soil: A Conversation with Salar Shemirani, CEO of Regenified

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 04:30:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, host Chris Marquis speaks with Salar Shemirani, co-founder and CEO of Regenified, about the difficult work of making “regenerative” mean something concrete in food and agriculture. Shemirani traces his shift from corporate finance to soil health after watching the documentary Kiss the Ground, and explains why he sees regeneration less as a fixed endpoint and more as a question of continuous improvement on whether a farm is adding to its landscape or extracting from it. Together, they explore the tension between rigor and scale: why binary certification models can remain niche, what it would take to build credible on-ramps for the current 99% of conventional acres, and how Regenified’s “6-3-4” framework attempts to ground claims in measurable ecosystem processes. The conversation also connects regenerative verification to business fundamentals, including risk, accountability, and supply chain resilience in the face of climate extremes, while asking what it would mean for markets to reward real progress without turning regeneration into another box-checking exercise.

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“Rescue, Transform, Donate”: Rethinking Circular Business with Elvis & Kresse

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 05:30:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Kresse Wesling, co-founder of Elvis & Kresse, about what it really takes to build a circular business that treats waste not as an inevitability but as a design failure. Wesling reflects on how encountering mountains of end-of-life industrial materials, beginning with decommissioned fire hoses, pushed her toward a model anchored in “rescue, transform, donate,” where product design, longevity, and shared value are built into the operating logic rather than added on later. The conversation explores why circularity cannot be reduced to recycling, how businesses can “sell better” through repair and resizing instead of simply selling more, and what it means to move beyond harm reduction toward a regenerative frame that prioritizes long-term system function. They also discuss the realities of collaborating with large brands, the role of policy tools like extended producer responsibility, and how to shift whole industries toward durable, accountable models that do not depend on perpetual waste.

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Market-Driven Regeneration: How Yerba Madre’s Business Model Delivers Net Positive Impact

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:15:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Christopher Marquis speaks with Ben Mand, CEO of Yerba Madre, about what it means to build a truly regenerative business. Ben introduces Yerba Madre’s model of market-driven regeneration, explaining how commercial success is used to deliver tangible benefits to Indigenous farmers, forest ecosystems, and supply chain partners across South America. The conversation explores living wages, biodiverse shade-grown agroforestry, third-party certifications, and why regeneration must extend beyond farming into governance, incentives, and value chain relationships. Ben also reflects on his own background in conventional agriculture and food manufacturing, and how those experiences shaped his conviction that business must move beyond sustainability toward systems that actively improve over time. Together, the episode offers a pragmatic blueprint for how regeneration can be embedded into how companies operate, grow, and lead.

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Regenerating Forests and Farms: Conservation Finance with Paul Young of Conservation Resources

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, Chris Marquis talks with Paul Young, CEO of Conservation Resources, about what it means to treat forests and farms as living systems rather than extractive assets. Drawing on his background in timber and alternative investments, Paul explains how Conservation Resources built a model that partners with conservation groups and ecologists to meet return targets while protecting high-value habitats. The conversation then widens to regenerative agriculture, native pollinators, and why healthier ecosystems become lower-risk, higher-value assets over time. Paul also shares his view on soil carbon and emerging biodiversity credits, the role of smart policy in making nature investable, and why, even with high tech advances like GIS, drones, and traceability tools, he still prioritizes “natural intelligence” in the field to generate hard evidence that regeneration is simply a better business model.’

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Shifting Cocoa Farming From Exploitation to Regeneration

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, host Christopher Marquis is joined by Douglas Lamont, CEO of Tony’s Chocolonely, the Dutch chocolate company born when journalists exposed widespread child labour in West Africa’s cocoa fields and set out to prove a fairer model was possible. Douglas breaks down how Tony’s rebuilt its supply chain around five core sourcing principles—paying a living-income price, long-term contracts, full traceability, strong farmer cooperatives, and improved farming practices—and how these have dramatically reduced child-labour risks, lifted farmers out of poverty, and cut incentives for deforestation. The episode also dives into Tony’s Open Chain Initiative, which invites other brands to adopt the same ethical sourcing model in pursuit of a 5% market share tipping point for industry-wide change. Douglas discusses Tony’s mission-lock structure, the UK’s Better Business Act, and how stronger company law and bold leadership can shift businesses from extractive to regenerative models.

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Reimagining Accountability: The Future of the B Corp Movement

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:20:00 -0000

In this week’s episode, host Christopher Marquis is joined by Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, to discuss the evolution of the B Corp movement and what it reveals about the changing expectations of business in the 21st century.

They explore the rise of B Corps in the UK, now numbering around 2,700 companies employing more than 200,000 people, and consider insights from B Lab UK’s Take 10 report, which brings together evidence on how certified companies are approaching environmental and social performance.

Chris outlines the aim of the Better Business Act, an initiative to amend the UK Companies Act so that every company has a legal duty to align shareholder interests with those of workers, communities, and the environment. He also reflects on the updated global B Corp standards and what raising the bar for responsible business may mean worldwide.

In this episode, we cover:

How B Lab UK has grown and how the B Corp community has evolved
Key findings from the Take 10 report
The goals of the Better Business Act and why governance reform matters
How updated B Corp standards and assurance processes aim to strengthen accountability
Why conversation, expectation-setting, and community play a central role in driving change

Together, the discussion offers a thoughtful look at how governance, standards, and collective action might help embed environmental and social purpose more deeply into the DNA of business.

Take 10: Celebrating 10 Years of the UK B Corp movement: https://bcorporation.uk/act-and-learn/campaigns/10-years-of-b-lab-uk/

Introducing B Impact: A better way to measure and manage impact: https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/programs-and-tools/b-impact/

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Shaping Sustainable Choices

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 04:30:00 -0000

In this week’s episode, host Christopher Marquis is joined by Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mastercard, to explore how the company is experimenting with ways to support more sustainable consumer choices. Positioned within a payments network that reaches 150 million merchants and billions of cardholders, Mastercard has a vantage point on everyday spending that can help inform how incentives and information are designed. They discuss a recent pilot at University College London, created with Rewild, that linked item-level purchases to emissions data and offered rewards for lower-carbon food options.

Early findings suggest that such incentives can influence purchasing decisions, offering useful insights into consumer behaviour. Ellen also highlights practical trials, from reusable cup systems in European cities to tap-and-go transit technologies, that aim to lower friction for more sustainable actions. A key theme throughout is Mastercard’s inspire, inform, enable framework, including tools like the Carbon Calculator and campaigns with public figures such as Gareth Bale, which seek to address the “say–do gap” by matching clearer information with convenience and rewards.

Together, these examples demonstrate how practical tools can facilitate a transition from sustainable intentions to more sustainable everyday choices.

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Driving Regeneration Through Chocolate

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 05:30:00 -0000

In this episode, Professor Chris Marquis is joined by Keith Bearden, CEO of Alter Eco, a pioneering chocolate company that supports smallholder cacao farmers—typically working 12–15 acre plots in Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Peru— in transitioning away from risky monocultures toward dynamic agroforestry systems. By interplanting cacao with limes, mangoes, passionfruit, avocados, plantains, and even new coconut plantings in the DR, these farmers are building diversified incomes and more resilient ecosystems: deeper roots that tap groundwater in droughts, richer soils, cooler canopy cover, and higher yields over time. Keith also explains the cooperative structures and hands-on agronomy support that make this shift possible and why financing is essential when you’re asking farmers to cut out a third of existing cacao and wait years for new trees to mature. He reflects on Alter Eco’s long-standing commitment to accountability, as an early B Corp (since 2009) and climate neutral company (since 2010), and its use of Fair for Life to pay roughly 30% premiums that reach farming families. Keith leaves listeners with a grounded call to action: that every purchase is a vote, and that choosing chocolate rooted in responsibility, farmer partnership, and ecosystem health can help transform an industry.

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Green Swans and Regenerative Business

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:12:00 -0000

In this episode, host Christopher Marquis is joined by John Elkington, author, advisor, and originator of the “triple bottom line.” John revisits how that idea took off in the 1990s, and why he later issued a “product recall” to refocus leaders on truly integrating people, planet, and profit. The episode explores his concept of “Green Swans” - system-positive shifts that outpace incremental change. From renewables and EVs to greener cities, John shows where technology, policy, and strategy are already bending the curve toward regeneration. He also reflects on the B Corp movement and how sustainability is spreading across the C-suite, uniting impact, risk, and return under one agenda. John leaves us with practical advice: get out into the world - visit farms, factories, and front-line communities where the future is being built. By seeing what’s possible, leaders can move from theory to transformation.

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Sustainability and Circularity

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:30:00 -0000

In this episode, Chris Marquis explores regenerative business practices with Juliet Scott-Croxford, President for the Americas at Brompton Bicycle.

Discover how the iconic folding bike company transforms urban mobility through their mission of "urban freedom for happier lives," connecting environmental sustainability with mental health and community design. Juliet reveals Brompton's rejection of throwaway culture through product longevity, repairability, and their innovative Brompton Renewed program—refurbishing second-hand bikes with seven-year guarantees. They discuss how Brompton views bicycles as systems interventions that create ripple effects across city infrastructure, public policy, and transportation narratives. As a newly certified B Corp, the company embeds ESG metrics into leadership accountability, demonstrating how purpose-driven governance drives innovation. This conversation illustrates that regeneration extends beyond environmental concerns - it's about creating systems that support dignity, mobility, and joy in urban life. A compelling example of how businesses can actively restore and enhance the natural and social systems they depend on for long-term success.

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Regenerative Business Pioneers - Natura

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:20:00 -0000

In this episode, Chris Marquis welcomes Ana Costa, Vice President for Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at Natura &Co, a pioneering beauty company rooted in Amazon conservation. They explore how Natura's Amazon origins have shaped their belief that regeneration is essential, not optional. Ana reveals how the company embeds regenerative practices across their entire value chain—supporting over 10,000 small-scale Amazonian producers, restoring biodiversity, and integrating social impact into core business operations. They discuss how Natura's unique approach to connecting local and global impact: investing in traditional knowledge systems and forest economies while influencing international standards through UN partnerships, B Corp networks, and climate coalitions. The company demonstrates how profitability and collective wellbeing can align through net-positive growth models and ecosystem restoration investments. Ana shares Natura's evolution from sustainability to full-spectrum regeneration, including groundbreaking governance innovations like their Integrated Profit and Loss Statement and stakeholder governance commitment. This conversation provides a practical blueprint for companies seeking to align purpose with power, showing how traditional businesses can adopt regenerative practices that restore natural and social systems while driving long-term success.

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Indigenous Business Wisdom and Regenerative Practices

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode, host Chris Marquis explores regenerative business practices with two inspiring leaders - Heidi Renata, co-founder of Innovate HQ and Māori entrepreneur, and Lisa Ferguson from The Nature Conservancy. Both guests emphasise that regenerative practices aren't new concepts—they're ancient wisdom being reapplied to modern challenges. Key themes include the importance of building trust, moving at the "speed of trust" rather than quarterly timelines, and recognising that true leadership means bringing others with you rather than controlling from above.

te ao - Māori world/worldview

curious wahine-preneur - this is more of a playful made up word versus a real one, which simply means, woman entrepreneur

Ōtepoti – Dunedin, NZ

marae – (verb) to be generous, hospitable, (noun) courtyard - the open area in front of the wharenui, where formal greetings and discussions take place. Often also used to include the complex of buildings around the marae.

whānau – (verb) to be born, give birth, (noun) extended family, family group, a familiar term to address a number of people – the primary economic unit of traditional Māori society

Manaakitanga – hospitality, kindness, generosity, support – the process of showing respect, generosity and care for others.

Kotahitanga – unity, togetherness and solidarity, collective action

Whanaungatanga - relationship, kinship, sense of family connection - a relationship through shared experiences and working together which provides people with a sense of belonging. It develops as a result of kinship rights and obligations, which also serve to strengthen each member of the kin group. It also extends to others to whom one develops a close familial, friendship or reciprocal relationship.

Tikanga – customs, practices and procedures i.e. the right way of doing things according to Maori values and traditions

Mātauranga – knowledge, understanding and wisdom

whakapha ngaungatanga - building authentic relationships rooted in genealogy and lineage

mokopuna's mokopuna - our children and our grandchildren's experiences

Mātauranga Māori – a Māori practice, much like a living operating system, which is holistic, adaptive, and respects relationships. Maori knowledge and ways of knowing

Tauiwi - non-Maori entities

whenua – primarily means land or earth i.e. the land that sustains life.

wairau – spirit, soul or essence of a person or thing

Te Tiriti – the Treaty”, specifically Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi). Te Tiriti - New Zealand’s founding document, was meant to be a partnership between Māori and the British Crown. Although it was intended to create unity, different understandings of the treaty, and breaches of it, have caused conflict. From the 1970s the general public gradually came to know more about the treaty, and efforts to honour the treaty and its principles expanded.

te reo Māori - Māori language

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Investing in Regeneration - The Capital Shift

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Join Chris Marquis and Sir Ronald Cohen, pioneering venture capitalist and co-founder of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment, as they explore the transformation of capitalism itself in this latest episode. They explore how we're entering the era of impact capitalism—where companies are valued not just by financial returns, but by their ability to create social and environmental good. Sir Ronald outlines his vision for rebalanced capitalism, introducing impact as the crucial third dimension alongside traditional risk and return metrics. They also discuss the revolutionary potential of impact-weighted accounts, transparency measures, and standardised impact measurement in holding companies accountable. Sir Ronald Cohen explains how advancing impact metrics can fundamentally shift markets, steering capital away from harm toward regeneration and restoration. Drawing from his pioneering work with social impact bonds and early impact investing, he demonstrates how these innovations are now influencing mainstream finance. He argues that the next generation of leaders must operate fluently in this tri-dimensional economy focused on impact, risk, and return. This episode provides both an intellectual framework and practical roadmap for redesigning financial markets around justice, restoration, and dignity—showing how the transition to regenerative capitalism is not only possible, but already underway.

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Policy Catalysts: Governments and Global Frameworks

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Christopher is joined by Nigel Topping, former UN Climate Champion for COP26 and one of the UK’s leading climate advocates. Drawing on his experience leading global coalitions like We Mean Business, Nigel shares how radical collaboration and systems leadership can accelerate the pace of change. From aligning business and policy to create positive “ambition loops,” to holding firms accountable for science-based targets and Scope 3 emissions, he makes a compelling case for urgent, coordinated action.

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From Giving to Regeneration: The 1% for the Planet Approach

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 08:41:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, host Chris Marquis speaks with Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, a global network that channels at least 1% of annual sales from member businesses and individuals to high-impact environmental nonprofits. Together, they explore how a simple commitment has grown into a worldwide movement, mobilising over $800 million in support of the planet. Kate explains how 1% for the Planet ensures credibility by rigorously vetting nonprofit partners and guiding members toward meaningful, impactful giving. More than philanthropy, she frames this model as a catalyst for deeper cultural and strategic shifts—helping businesses embed environmental responsibility into their operations. The conversation also highlights how generosity can spark broader systems change, as members move from giving to transforming supply chains, engaging employees, and advocating for policy. Kate offers an inspiring message: in the face of climate challenges, no action is too small to drive regeneration.

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Sustainable Agriculture

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Host Christopher Marquis speaks with Andrea Illy, Chairman of illycaffè and founder of the Regenerative Society Foundation, in this latest episode. As a third-generation leader of the iconic Italian coffee brand, Andrea shares how illycaffè is evolving from sustainability toward regeneration—embedding principles of beauty, quality, and shared value into its business model. With coffee as the starting point, Andrea explains how the company invests in soil health, farmer livelihoods, scientific research, and education across the global South. He highlights illycaffè’s long-term commitment to biodiversity, carbon neutrality, and smallholder resilience, showing how regeneration can be both an ecological and economic imperative. Andrea also tells the story of illycaffè’s work in Brazil, where regenerative practices like agroforestry and reduced agrochemicals have restored ecosystems while elevating coffee quality—producing award-winning beans that prove environmental renewal and excellence can go hand in hand.

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Rethinking Food Systems: From Soil to Soul

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 07:56:00 -0000

In this latest episode, Professor Chris Marquis is joined by Elizabeth Whitlow, founding Executive Director of the Regenerative Organic Alliance—the force behind the pioneering Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC). Elizabeth shares her inspiring journey from sustainability advocate to global leader in regenerative agriculture, offering a heartfelt and strategic take on what it truly means to heal land, empower farmers, and reshape food systems. She explains how ROC goes beyond traditional organic standards to integrate soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness into a holistic framework. The conversation explores the challenges of maintaining integrity in a commercial landscape, resisting greenwashing, and balancing scale with authenticity. Elizabeth also emphasizes the power of storytelling and deep relationships in shifting consumer understanding. Her message is clear: regeneration isn’t a label—it’s a movement rooted in partnership, tradition, and purpose. This episode is essential for anyone interested in agriculture, certification, and systems-level change.

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Rebuilding Business with Purpose and Values

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, host Professor Chris Marquis speaks with Dr. Bernice Pan, founder of British fashion brand DEPLOY, about transforming fashion through systems thinking and intentional design. Drawing on her academic background in architecture and fashion systems, Bernice shares how she reimagined every aspect of the clothing lifecycle—from fabric sourcing and modular design to ethical production and customer engagement. DEPLOY challenges the waste and inequality embedded in mainstream fashion by embedding regeneration into the very structure of its business. The result is a timeless, adaptable collection built on circular principles and long-term relationships. Bernice’s unique approach—what she calls “design thinking for systems change”—offers powerful lessons for any industry. Through her lens, sustainability becomes not just about better materials but about reengineering the whole system for lasting impact. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in systems-level change, fashion, regeneration, and purposeful innovation.

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The Challenge of Net Positive Business

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Journey to Regeneration, host Chris Marquis speaks with Andrew Winston, renowned sustainability strategist and co-author of Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take. Together, they explore how businesses can move beyond incremental improvements to embrace a bold, regenerative approach—one that restores natural and social systems while driving long-term success. Andrew challenges leaders to ask a pivotal question: Is the world better off because your business exists? Far from being a lofty ideal, he explains why adopting a net positive mindset is both ethically urgent and strategically smart in an era defined by climate disruption, social unrest, and declining trust in institutions. The conversation highlights how courageous leadership, systemic thinking, and coalition-building can help executives overcome resistance, align with investor expectations, and reimagine the very role of business in creating a thriving future.

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Why Business Should Care About Sustainability

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode, host Professor Chris Marquis speaks with Lindsay Hooper, CEO of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), about how businesses can move beyond traditional sustainability toward true regeneration. Lindsay shares CISL’s systems-level perspective on transforming markets to serve people, nature, and climate. She critiques current ESG efforts as insufficient and introduces the concept of competitive sustainability—a new framing that urges companies to adapt to systemic risks reshaping the business landscape. Together, they explore the need for bold innovation, policy engagement, and cross-sector collaboration, while examining the political and economic headwinds facing sustainable transformation. Lindsay offers candid insights and practical steps for business leaders ready to help redesign the systems they operate in. This episode is essential listening for anyone looking to make their organisation resilient, relevant, and regenerative in the face of climate disruption, resource constraints, and growing societal expectations.

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Regenerative Business Pioneers - Patagonia

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:47:00 -0000

In this episode, host Christopher Marquis speaks with Vincent Stanley, a long-time leader at Patagonia and co-author of The Future of the Responsible Company. Vincent offers a candid perspective on what it means for a business to act responsibly in an extractive global economy. He explains why Patagonia is cautious with terms like “regeneration,” applying it meaningfully in its food division but preferring “responsibility” in apparel—measuring impact product by product and working to shift supply chains away from fossil fuels. Vincent discusses Patagonia’s efforts to change consumer behavior through bold moves like the “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign, resale programmes, and mending initiatives. Collaboration is central to Patagonia’s ethos, as seen in its role co-founding the Regenerative Organic Certification. Reflecting on the future, Vincent emphasises localism, authenticity, and staying rooted in purpose—urging businesses to act with humility and protect what truly matters.

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Trailer

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:47:00 -0000

What if business didn't just sustain, but actually restored and renewed the world around us? Join Christopher Marquis from Cambridge Judge Business School for a new podcast exploring how business can be a force for positive systemic change socially, environmentally, and economically. Over the coming weeks, tune in to Cambridge Executive Business Insights - Journey to Regeneration to hear from pioneers at Patagonia, Natura, The Nature Conservancy, and more.

Subscribe now and join us as we explore what it really means to lead regeneratively.

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