The trouble with 'carbon neutral' — and what comes next
Solitaire Townsend and Joel Makower dive deep into the messy, confusing and often misleading world of corporate carbon claims. “Carbon neutral” once carried a certain promise. When Interface, the carpet company, popularized the phrase two decades ago, it felt like a step forward — an early signal that business could take responsibility for its role in the climate crisis. But as Soli and I explore, the term has since morphed into a hall pass for greenwash, a way for some companies to buy absolution without changing much.
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Why creative people may make better sustainability professionals
What is the connection between creativity and sustainability? That's the topic of the conversation between Joel and Soli this episode.To be clear, this isn’t just about those who can play an instrument, tell a story or paint a picture. Indeed, we challenged the popular notions of people as “creatives”or “influentials,” since these labels segment people unnecessarily. Instead, we emphasize that creativity is universal: from crafting bedtime stories to everyday problem-solving in supply chains or sustainability roles. Even repetitive jobs can involve improvisation, lateral thinking, negotiation and imaginative work behind the scenes.Also important, we discussed, is the role of humor and levity. For example, wordplay and punning can be a useful way of processing ideas and connecting — creative elements that make sustainability work more enjoyable and less depressing at times.
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Raz Godelnik – What future CSOs need to understand
Godelnik’s critique of current corporate efforts calls for moving beyond incrementalism and into systems-level transformation that prioritizes values over profits. “We’re living in an era where, for the most part, what we’re doing is tweaking the system rather than transforming the system,” he told us. “I call it sustainability as usual... grounded in the prioritization of profit maximization and growth, mostly short-term growth.”Godelnik described how external conditions — regulation, social pressure, policy — can accelerate or impede corporate sustainability, often more than internal ambition. This sharp distinction reflects a concern that compliance is crowding out creativity. True progress will require investment in bold, entrepreneurial approaches, he said.
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Live from London: Unilever’s CSO on moving from vision to execution
How does a corporate sustainability professional meet the moment?That’s one of the questions we posed to Unilever’s chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer Rebecca Marmot in a live-on-stage podcast recording session during this year’s London Climate Action Week.Marmot, who joined Unilever 18 years ago after stints at L’Oreal and in the U.K. government, discussed the some of the keys to success for today’s CSO.Also in this episode, Soli and I discuss how to think about artificial intelligence through the lens of sustainability.
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Inside Colgate’s quest for a circular supply chain
How much circularity can one company squeeze out of a toothpaste tube?That’s the mouthwatering challenge taken on by Colgate Palmolive, the iconic 220-year-old company whose chief sustainability officer, Ann Tracy, has been leading the charge to make Colgate toothpaste tubes not just recyclable, but potentially turned back into new tubes.It’s not just toothpaste, as Tracy told us. If the process works with toothpaste it can work with its other products, from household cleaners to skincare products and more.Also in this episode, we assess this moment in the sustainability profession, including the critical need for telling new and better stories.
About Two Steps Forward — Sustainability Meets Business Reality
Being a sustainable business professional is both exhilarating and terrifying. Lots of steps forward…and back. To succeed you need deep insights, real experience, lots of inspiration, maybe a few laughs. Each episode, sustainable business veterans Solitaire Townsend and Joel Makower delve into the complexities of the moment and introduce you to provocative and inspiring people you need to know.
Listen to Two Steps Forward — Sustainability Meets Business Reality, The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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