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Curated experts in sustainability fields who can thoroughly elaborate their view based on their accumulated knowledge and experience

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Christopher Marquis

Professor
University of Cambridge

About

Christopher Marquis is the Sinyi Professor of Chinese Management at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and the author of the award-winning books Better Business: How the B Corp Movement is Remaking Capitalism and Mao and Markets: The Communist Roots of Chinese Enterprise.

Chris has written over 20 peer-reviewed academic articles and published over 50 Harvard Business cases. He received a PhD in Sociology and Business Administration from the University of Michigan and served as Vice President and Technology Manager at JP Morgan Chase before returning to academia.
Passionate about how academic research can help people around the world address our most significant challenges, he examines how some of the biggest crises of our day —climate change, inequality, and racism — are intimately connected with how our current form of capitalism has prioritized accumulating and concentrating wealth for the few affects the concerns and needs of everyone and everything else. His research and writing focus on the need to rebalance the interactions between corporations, governments, and civil society to deliver socially and environmentally beneficial outcomes to all. 

September 29, 2025

Labels, Treaties, Accountability: This Week's Regeneration in the Headlines

Labels, Treaties, Accountability: This Week's Regeneration in the Headlines

 What Caught My Eye: Readings and reflections on regenerative finance, farming, and the forces reshaping sustainability.

 This week’s headlines spotlight the tug-of-war between regenerative ambition and the risks of greenwashing. The stories show how innovation and governance can unlock pathways for ecological renewal, while also underscoring how credibility and enforcement are crucial to ensuring those pathways deliver real impact.

The pieces below dig into the contested terrain of regenerative labels, the uneven landscape of corporate net-zero pledges, and the urgent need to define what “regeneration” actually means. They also highlight systemic levers—school meal programs tied to climate policy, scaling up regenerative organic farming across millions of acres, and consumer demand for authenticity—that could make regeneration more than just rhetoric. Together, they point to how regeneration’s future depends on both bold action and rigorous standards.

Here’s a roundup of articles and insights that dive deeper into these issues:

  • Whisky Waste Regeneration – Biotech startup turns distillery by-products into Omega-3 algae

  • Regenerative Label Risks – Why Regenified’s for-profit, in-house model threatens credibility

  • Net Zero Greenwashing – Many corporate net-zero pledges prove symbolic, not actionable

  • High Seas Treaty Milestone – Landmark ocean treaty enters into force in 2026 to protect biodiversity beyond national waters

  • Regenerative School Meals – Rockefeller pushes climate-aligned school nutrition

  • Defining Regeneration – Competing labels fuel confusion and greenwashing risks

  • Scaling Regenerative Organic – 320+ brands and 67,000 farms show that Regenerative Organic certification can scale

  • Beyond Sustainability – Next-gen consumers are demanding more than sustainability

Whisky Waste Regeneration

Scottish biotech startup MiAlgae is transforming whisky distillery by-products into microalgae rich in Omega-3s, creating a circular and regenerative alternative to fish-derived oils. By using waste streams to grow algae in renewable-powered bioreactors, the company reduces reliance on wild-caught fish, protects marine biodiversity, and develops a scalable, localized supply chain for aquaculture, pet food, and beyond.

Read more: From Whisky Waste to Sustainable Omega-3s: Cheers to Circularity (Sustainable Brands)

Regenerative Label Risks

This opinion piece critiques the Regenified certification, arguing that its for-profit structure, lack of transparency, and in-house verification undermine credibility in regenerative agriculture. Without independent governance and impartial standards, such labels risk enabling greenwashing and eroding consumer trust in genuinely regenerative practices.

Read more: The regenified label risks credibility of regenerative agriculture (Food Safety News)

Net Zero Greenwashing

A University of Birmingham study finds that many corporate net-zero pledges serve as symbolic reputation tools rather than genuine pollution-reduction strategies. By analyzing 1,200 sustainability reports, researchers showed that companies often lack concrete plans, leaning instead on image management, which risks fueling greenwashing unless backed by measurable, enforceable action.

Read more: New study uncovers major corporations’ deceitful practices: ‘Often used as a symbolic tool’ (The Cool Down)

High Seas Treaty Milestone

The High Seas Treaty has reached the required 60 ratifications and will come into force in January 2026, marking a landmark step in protecting international waters. The agreement sets binding rules to conserve marine biodiversity and create marine protected areas, aiming to restore ecosystems damaged by overfishing, pollution, and climate change. It is the first international treaty focused on safeguarding biodiversity in the two-thirds of the ocean that lie beyond national borders.

Read more: Key oceans treaty crosses threshold to come into force (BBC News)

Regenerative School Meals

The Rockefeller Foundation, alongside governments and global partners, is calling for school meal programs to be integrated into national climate policies and sourced through regenerative farming. By linking nutrition to ecosystem health, the initiative aims to improve child well-being, empower local farmers, and build climate-resilient food systems that sustain soil, water, and biodiversity.

Read more: Rockefeller Foundation Joins Call to Action to Integrate Regenerative School Meals into National Climate Policies (Rockefeller Foundation)

Defining Regeneration

This piece explores the battle over what “regenerative agriculture” means, centering on whether organic practices should be a non-negotiable baseline. It contrasts certification schemes (ROC, Regenified, A Greener World, Land to Market), highlighting debates over chemical inputs, tillage, and third-party verification, and how retailers like Whole Foods filter claims to curb greenwashing. With no single definition, it leaves farmers, retailers, and consumers navigating a fragmented system that risks both greenwashing and confusion.

Read more: The Battle Over ‘Regenerative’: Why Agriculture’s Hottest Term Has No Clear Definition (Observer)

Scaling Regenerative Organic 

A coalition of 320+ brands and 67,000 smallholder farms across 46 countries is proving that Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) farming can scale to deliver climate impact while boosting financial performance. With nearly 20 million acres under ROC practices, companies like Lundberg Family Farms and Dr. Bronner’s show how regenerative organic methods rebuild soil, cut chemical use, enhance biodiversity, and attract fast-growing consumer demand.

Read more: How Regenerative Organic Can Save The Planet—And The Food Industry (Forbes)

Beyond Sustainability 

In a Q&A with Gary Hirshberg, cofounder of Stonyfield Farm (a leading U.S. organic yogurt brand), the case is made that younger consumers now demand more than “sustainable” branding—they expect companies to actively regenerate soils, ecosystems, and communities. He argues that only Regenerative Organic certification, with its strict standards for soil health, animal welfare, and third-party verification, can deliver genuine climate impact and cut through greenwashing.

Read more: Why consumers are demanding more than just “sustainable” (Fast Company)

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August 20, 2025

Land, Livelihoods, Legacy: This Week's Regeneration in the Headlines

Land, Livelihoods, Legacy: This Week's Regeneration in the Headlines

What Caught My Eye: Readings and reflections on regenerative finance, farming, and the forces reshaping sustainability.

Regeneration is showing up in unexpected places—from the vineyards of Bordeaux, to citizen science platforms to AI-powered almond farms. I’ve been tracking how these shifts unfold across sectors, revealing both promising breakthroughs and persistent blind spots.

This week’s selection underscores the need to ground regenerative transitions in place-based, participatory approaches—whether in farming, energy, or finance. From food company scorecards that bring much-needed transparency to regenerative claims, to renewable energy projects that must do more to respect ecosystems and communities, these stories reveal the fine line between “green” and regenerative.

Here are this week’s highlights—curated in the hope that one or two might resonate, challenge, or inspire.

  • Regenerative Food Grading – How a new report scores food giants on real outcomes, transparency, and farmer support

  • Rethinking Renewables – How poor planning puts biodiversity at risk—and why local input matters

  • Regenerative Investment Model – DSM Land’s “Tree Model” ties conservation to accessible, purpose-driven finance

  • Citizen-Powered Regeneration – How iNaturalist users are helping rediscover species and restore ecosystems

  • Regenerative Terroir – Why winemakers are embracing soil-first practices for resilient, expressive vines

  • Soil Science for Resilience – Minnesota’s research shows regenerative practices rebuild soil and climate stability

  • Heat Threatens Pollinators – Rising heat kills key beetles, putting Indonesia’s palm oil at risk

  • Pollinators for Resilience – Regenerative cocoa practices boost yields and climate resilience without expansion

If you see any stories of note about these themes, please do be in touch!

Regenerative Food Grading

This report by As You Sow evaluates how 20 major food companies are implementing regenerative agriculture across their supply chains. It identifies a lack of universal standards as a key barrier to accountability and investor clarity, and introduces a scorecard assessing company transparency, farmer support, and measurable outcomes. The report aims to benchmark regenerative strategies and highlight best practices that contribute to healthier soils, biodiversity, and food systems.

Read more: From the Ground Up: Transparent Pathways to Regenerative Food Systems

Rethinking Renewables

This article calls for a more regenerative and localized approach to the energy transition, highlighting the unintended environmental and social harms of poorly planned renewable energy projects. In Spain, for instance, solar installations threaten olive groves, while offshore wind projects disrupt marine ecosystems. Experts advocate for participatory planning that safeguards traditional land uses and biodiversity, ensuring renewable energy is deployed with ecological sensitivity.

Read more: Experts urge rethink on renewable energy and its hidden environmental impact

Regenerative Investment Model

DSM Land’s “Tree Model” reimagines land ownership and investment as an ecosystem rooted in regeneration. Through a trunk-and-branches structure, it supports long-term conservation while incubating purpose-driven ventures—such as agroforestry, equine therapy, and youth education—that restore degraded land and serve communities. By lowering the barrier to entry and enabling investments from $100, DSM Land makes regenerative finance accessible while aligning capital with ecological restoration and community well-being.

Read more: DSM Land Launches Funding Campaign to Expand Revolutionary Tree-Based Investment Model that Combines Profit with Purpose

Citizen-Powered Regeneration

A new international study reveals how citizen-contributed wildlife photos on iNaturalist are transforming biodiversity research and conservation. By documenting species' ranges, behaviors, and even rediscovering lost species, the platform enables regenerative science that leverages everyday observations to restore ecosystems and protect biodiversity. Researchers highlight the vast, underutilized potential of this global crowdsourced data to support ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation.

Read more: Your nature photo might be a scientific breakthrough in disguise

Regenerative Terroir

Regenerative agriculture is gaining traction in the global wine industry, with vintners embracing soil-first practices like cover cropping, no-till farming, and agroforestry to build resilient ecosystems and enhance grape quality. From Bordeaux to California, winemakers report stronger vines, improved water retention, and more expressive wines—while organizations like the Regenerative Organic Alliance are scaling certification efforts. The movement redefines terroir to include the entire ecosystem, linking ecological restoration with premium wine.

Read more: Viniculture’s New Frontier: Regenerative Agriculture

Soil Science for Resilience

The University of Minnesota is spearheading regenerative agriculture research to restore soil health, enhance climate resilience, and improve water quality across the state’s farmland. Through initiatives like Forever Green and the Long-Term Agricultural Research Network, scientists are testing perennial crops, diverse rotations, and integrated livestock systems that rebuild the soil's physical, biological, and chemical integrity. Their work shows regenerative practices not only withstand extreme weather but also offer economic and ecological solutions for future farming.

Read more: Healthy soils, healthy environment

Heat Threatens Pollinators

Indonesia’s palm oil yields are under threat as rising temperatures endanger Elaeidobius kamerunicus, the key beetle species responsible for oil palm pollination. Researchers at ICOPE 2025 warn that heatwaves exceeding 43°C kill beetle larvae and disrupt pollination, jeopardizing a cost-effective, natural system. Experts advocate for regenerative practices such as habitat preservation and reduced pesticide use to protect pollinators and support long-term plantation health.

Read more: Indonesia’s Palm Oil at Risk as Rising Temperatures Kill Pollinating Beetles

Pollinators for Resilience

A new Oxford-led study shows that enhancing pollination through regenerative practices like maintaining leaf litter, reducing chemical inputs, and providing shade can boost cocoa yields by 20% while building climate resilience. Conducted across Brazil, Ghana, and Indonesia, the research highlights how biodiversity-centered strategies can future-proof cocoa production without expanding plantations, offering a nature-based solution to global chocolate supply threats.

Read more: New study highlights ways to future-proof cocoa production


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July 25, 2025

This Week's Regeneration in the Headlines

This Week's Regeneration in the Headlines

What Caught My Eye: Readings and reflections on regenerative finance, farming, and the forces reshaping sustainability

Every week, I come across stories, insights, and case studies that sharpen how I think about regenerative processes across domains such as agriculture, climate accountability, and systemic change. Below are some that offer provocative, practical, and/or insightful ideas worth a closer look.

From Africa’s push for sovereignty in its green transition to the quiet revolution in lab-grown chocolate; from Hawaii’s Indigenous-informed regenerative tourism framework to the EU’s proposed nature credits—the pieces below highlight efforts to embed equity, circularity, and authenticity into sustainability. They remind us that regenerative futures are as much about justice and governance as they are about tech and ecosystems.

Read below for highlights and links on the following topics. I hope one or two spark something for you too.

  • Africa’s Sustainability Struggle – Why ecological regeneration must also mean autonomy and justice for African nations

  • Lab-Grown Chocolate – How cellular agriculture could end cacao-linked deforestation and child labor

  • Regenerative Tourism Rethink – Hawaii’s Indigenous-informed statute shows what travel transformation could look like

  • Tech-Powered Regeneration – Deep tech as a partner—not a replacement—for microbial life and on-the-ground resilience

  • 10-Year Soil Reboot – A blueprint for U.S. farm revival through syntropic systems, antitrust reform, and carbon markets

  • Nature Credits Blueprint – The EU’s emerging biodiversity market and its stakes for Indigenous participation

  • Regenerative Hops – How a seventh-generation Oregon farm is transforming the craft beer supply chain

  • Circular Battery Blueprint – CATL and Ellen MacArthur Foundation team up to rewire the battery economy for reuse and recycling

If you see any stories of note about these themes, please do be in touch!

Africa’s Sustainability Struggle

Africa’s environmental and economic future is undermined by colonial legacies, extractive transnational corporations, and neocolonial monetary systems. While countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo produce the majority of global cobalt—vital for green tech—wealth largely flows to firms like Tesla and Glencore, not local communities. The piece calls for African autonomy, ethical trade models, and stronger unions to ensure that sustainability in Africa means both ecological regeneration and social justice.

Read more: Building a sustainable Africa from the ground up (The Boar)

Lab-Grown Chocolate

Faced with climate disruption, labor abuses, and toxic contaminants in conventional cacao farming, startups like California Cultured are cultivating lab-grown chocolate to build a cleaner, more resilient supply chain. Using cacao cells, they aim to eliminate deforestation, child labor, and unstable yields while meeting growing demand.

Read more: Can We Cultivate Sustainable Supply Chains for Chocolate? (Sustainable Brands)

Regenerative Tourism Rethink

At Newsweek’s travel summit, Hawaii was spotlighted as a leader in redefining regenerative travel beyond greenwashing. Despite lacking a clear legal definition, Hawaii’s regenerative tourism statute pushes for a holistic, Indigenous-informed approach that restores ecosystems and communities. Experts warned against both greenwashing (overstating sustainability) and green hushing (downplaying it out of fear), urging businesses to embed regeneration into their operational DNA.

Read more: Hawaii Defining Regenerative Travel, Skipping Greenwashing (Newsweek)

Tech-Powered Regeneration

Rather than replacing nature, deep tech is being harnessed to accelerate regenerative agriculture by enhancing biological processes—like using AI to speed up climate-adapted plant breeding, precision tools to reduce external inputs, and “ecosystem oracles” trained on real-world ecological data. Farmers, chefs, and experts advocate for tech that supports microbial soil health and resilience, not extractive efficiency.

Read more: Deep tech in regenerative agriculture: essential ally or unnecessary intrusion? (AgFunderNews)

10-Year Soil Reboot

A nationwide transition to regenerative farming—anchored in no-till planting, diverse cover crops, holistic grazing, seed saving, and syntropic agroforestry—can rebuild topsoil, cut chemical inputs by over 50%, and boost farm profitability. With targeted subsidies, carbon credit markets, and antitrust reform, these practices promise not only ecological renewal but also economic liberation for U.S. farmers and rural communities.

Read more: Growing Prosperity: The Economic Case for a 10-Year Regenerative Transition (Daily Kos)

Nature Credits Blueprint

The EU plans to launch a biodiversity credit market by 2027, enabling verified nature-positive practices—such as restoring wetlands, removing invasive species, and practicing organic farming—to generate tradable credits. These “nature credits” must demonstrate additionality, permanence, and measurable biodiversity gains, with potential integration into permitting, supply chains, and finance, while also opening doors for Indigenous benefit-sharing.

Read more: An EU Biodiversity Market by 2027? The new EU’s Roadmap towards Nature Credits (Covington & Burling LLP)

Regenerative Hops

Westwood Farms in Oregon is bringing regenerative agriculture to craft brewing with its new brand rooted in no-till farming, cover cropping, and habitat restoration. Producing over 400,000 pounds of Salmon-Safe certified hops, the seventh-generation farm supports ecosystem health while supplying high-demand varieties like Citra® and Mosaic®—and aims to expand into barley, fruit, and nuts.

Read more: Regenerative Roots: Westwood Farms debuts new brand focused on sustainable hop farming (Craft Brewing Business)

Circular Battery Blueprint

Battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation are working to decouple battery production from virgin raw materials by embedding circularity into every stage of the battery value chain. Their strategy includes extending battery lifespan, designing for reuse, deploying 10,000+ swap stations, and operating the world’s largest battery takeback network—with over 130,000 tons recycled in 2024 alone.

Read more: CATL, Ellen MacArthur Foundation aim to accelerate circular battery economy (Recycling Today)



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June 26, 2025

Where Old Materials Find New Purpose: Rethinking the Built Environment

enerative Insights Where Old Materials Find New Purpose: Rethinking the Built Environment

This week, we turn to the built environment—a sector historically responsible for massive carbon emissions, yet increasingly home to some of the most innovative climate solutions. Our featured article, Breaking Down Silos: How Bergmeyer’s Design Collaborative Tackles Sustainability, spotlights a Boston-based firm that’s rethinking design from the ground up. By weaving environmental thinking into every stage of architecture, interiors, branding, and material choice, Bergmeyer proves that good design and climate action aren’t at odds—they’re mutually reinforcing.

This week’s Essential Reads take us from the deserts of the UAE to the floating docks of Rotterdam, from a London timber workshop to an Indian container home. In every case, designers are turning constraints—like heat, space, waste, or water—into catalysts for creativity.

In Research Corner, we explore how green innovation in manufacturing doesn’t emerge from siloed R&D, but from recombining relational and technical capabilities across suppliers, customers, and production. It’s a compelling reminder that transforming systems means transforming how we work together.

Let’s dive into this week’s stories of climate-forward design—where old materials find new purpose, architecture nurtures ecosystems, and regeneration is built into the blueprint.

Featured Article:

In this Forbes article, I examine how Bergmeyer, a Boston-based design collaborative, is reimagining sustainability in the built environment by dismantling disciplinary silos and embedding environmental thinking into every stage of design. Rather than treating sustainability as an add-on, Bergmeyer fuses architecture, interiors, branding, and material science into one co-creative process—yielding adaptive reuse projects that preserve embodied carbon, community identity, and client values.

Led by CEO Rachel Zsembery and CSR Director Peter Nobile, Bergmeyer has recently become a Certified B Corp and a Massachusetts benefit corporation, formalizing its long-standing commitment to balancing environmental impact with social responsibility. From renovating historic buildings like Boston’s RH retail space to electrifying campus dining centers at UMass Amherst, the firm prioritizes reuse, carbon-conscious material choices, and stakeholder-driven solutions—all tracked through tools like BIM and aligned with frameworks such as the AIA 2030 Commitment.

Bergmeyer’s model demonstrates how values-aligned firms can help clients turn ESG pledges into real-world, regenerative spaces—proving that climate action and good design are not only compatible, but mutually reinforcing.

Read more: Breaking Down Silos: How Bergmeyer’s Design Collaborative Tackles Sustainability

Essential Reads:

Rooted in Resilience

Across the UAE and Middle East, architects are turning to centuries-old desert design to meet modern sustainability goals. Wind towers (barjeel), thick mudbrick walls, and shaded courtyards—once common in Gulf homes—are being revived and reimagined to reduce energy use in the face of rising temperatures.

Read more: Embrace Eco-Friendly Elegance: Where Traditional Design Meets Sustainability

Floating Forward

In Rotterdam’s Rijnhaven, the Floating Office is redefining what sustainability looks like—on water. Designed by Powerhouse Company for the Global Centre on Adaptation, this carbon-negative, energy-positive structure floats atop 15 concrete pontoons and is built almost entirely from modular timber. Powered by solar panels and cooled with river water, the three-story office merges circular design, biodiversity, and climate resilience into one elegant solution.

Read more: Floating Office Rotterdam: A Carbon-Negative, Energy-Positive Experiment in Sustainable Architecture

Built to Belong

In northwest London, New Wave London and Thomas-McBrien Architects expanded a two-storey industrial building into a sustainable timber pavilion—by building the entire extension on-site. Using their ground-floor workshop, the team created glulam beams, windows, and joinery by reusing every offcut and salvaging materials from previous projects. The result is a low-tech, low-waste workspace that increased floor area by 40% while cutting energy use by 25%.

Read more: This Ingenious London Office Expansion Was Built in an On-Site Workshop

Designing with Intention

In Melbourne’s Fitzroy, Crop salad bar redefines fast food through design rooted in circularity. Created by Olaver Architecture, the space features hemp board cabinetry, recycled bricks, reclaimed timber, and splashbacks made from construction waste—all reinforcing Crop’s commitment to regenerative agriculture and low-waste living.

Read more: Crop: Designed With Impact

Boxed In, Built Out

Architect Akash Dudhe of SAGI Architects champions adaptive reuse, mobility, and modularity among India’s building landscape—one shipping container at a time. Using insulated, repurposed containers, Dudhe crafts low-impact, high-function spaces suited to leased land, hot climates, and shifting needs. With each build, he proves scrap can be structure—and sustainability doesn’t have to sacrifice style.

Read more: Meet the Architect Using Old Shipping Containers to Build Homes, Offices & Restaurants

Living Materials, Living Future

From algae bricks and oyster shell renders to fungi panels and straw-bale homes, Australia is testing the limits—and potential—of biomaterials in sustainable construction. Architects, designers, and researchers across the country are working with everything from seaweed-based breeze blocks to living walls that thrive on rain. Though barriers like cost, regulation, and scalability persist, these materials signal a shift toward a built environment that breathes, grows, and connects us back to nature.

Read more: Algae Bricks and Oyster Shell Walls: What’s on the Horizon for Eco-Friendly Building in Australia?

Mediterranean Minimalism Meets Parisian Heritage

Mango has reopened its flagship store on Boulevard des Capucines, Paris—its first in the city—after a major sustainability-focused renovation. Circularity is built in: the store offers a clothing recycling box, RFID-enabled inventory tracking, and eco-conscious materials throughout. Part of Mango’s 4E Strategic Plan, this is one of six refurbishments and four new store openings planned in France for 2025.

Read more: Mango Strengthens Its Presence in France with Sustainable Store Revamps

Research Corner:

This Strategic Management Journal article reframes sustainable innovation as a product of orchestrated technical and relational capabilities rather than isolated efforts. Through comparative case analysis of U.S. motorhome manufacturers, the authors distinguish between component innovation (e.g., solar panels) and full product innovation (entirely new green models), showing how each relies on distinct capability combinations.

Supplier ties drive modular upgrades, while manufacturing strength and customer engagement enable deeper transformation. By mapping how firms recombine these assets in response to environmental pressures, the article advances a dynamic, capability-based view of green innovation strategy.

Quick Takeaways:

  • Desert wisdom returns: Gulf architects revive passive cooling for low-energy living.
  • Timber floats: Rotterdam office pairs modular wood with solar and water cooling.

  • Waste to warmth: London studio builds with reclaimed timber and zero offcuts.

  • Circular eats: Melbourne salad bar uses hemp, brick waste, and reclaimed wood.

  • Scrap to shelter: Indian architect turns shipping containers into mobile eco-homes.

  • Living walls rise: Australia experiments with algae bricks, fungi panels, straw homes.

  • Retail revamp: Mango fuses fashion, circularity, and tech in Paris store relaunch.

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April 4, 2025

From Discard to Design: Closing Loops


How we process waste—whether industrial, municipal, or household—continues to shape the boundaries of sustainability and regenerative innovation. This week, we spotlight a compelling example from the cosmetics industry, where Lush is rethinking manufacturing through circular design. Our Featured Article takes you inside Lush’s Green Hub, where waste becomes a resource through hands-on reuse, recycling, and recovery strategies. It’s a case that shows how businesses can build regenerative systems from the ground up.

In Essential Reads, we explore a range of waste-related challenges and breakthroughs—from the emissions problem with energy-from-waste in China to innovative food redistribution efforts in Georgian cities. Cases like Connecticut’s infrastructure grants and the global shift in plastic recycling via irradiation further highlight the wide spectrum of action now underway to handle waste more intelligently and responsibly.

The Research Corner draws attention to the long-term impact of sustainability roles inspired by social movements. A study from Administrative Science Quarterly shows how recycling coordinators helped institutionalize environmental values—yet their roles gradually disappeared, reminding us of the importance of structural change.

Let’s delve into how waste, when processed with intention, can become a resource—and a catalyst for broader regenerative transformation.

Featured Article:

Circular Beauty in Action

In this Forbes article, Innovations In Waste Processing At Lush Cosmetics, I explore how Lush is rethinking sustainability through its innovative manufacturing and waste practices. During my visit to Lush’s Green Hub in Poole, UK, I observed firsthand how the company is integrating circular economy principles into its core operations—from product formulation to packaging recovery. Lush’s unique approach to “fresh manufacturing” mimics food production, emphasizing short shelf lives, decentralized facilities, and ingredient integrity. This model not only improves product efficacy but also significantly reduces overproduction and waste.

A highlight of Lush’s circular strategy is the Green Hub, a centralized facility where waste is processed under five guiding principles: re-use, recycle, repurpose, recover, and repair. This hub recycled 81% of the company’s UK manufacturing waste last year and donated thousands of surplus products. Lush’s closed-loop systems and hands-on practices set a strong example for how businesses can embed regenerative design across their operations, especially in an industry with traditionally high environmental impact.

Read more: Innovations In Waste Processing At Lush Cosmetics

Essential Reads:

Everyday Reuse

The Petaluma Reusable Cup Project was the first U.S. citywide initiative to offer free reusable to-go cups. Partnering with brands like Starbucks, the program replaced single-use cups at 30 businesses. Over 220,000 cups were returned in three months, showing that a community-led reuse model can deliver measurable environmental impact and scale across other cities.

Read more: Making Reuse an Everyday Reality: Insights and Impact from the Petaluma Reusable Cup Project

Food Fight

Urban areas are key to tackling food waste. Georgia leads by example, enacting a national law to cut food loss and promote food donation. With FAO and EU support, municipalities like Tbilisi and Tskaltubo are piloting food banks and redistribution networks. The initiative includes legal frameworks, awareness efforts, and local waste assessments to foster sustainability and food security.

Read more: Recover and redistribute: Georgia’s cities lead food loss & waste fight

Debris Removal Fiasco

Homeowners impacted by wildfires face confusion as the County reverses its debris removal policy days before the March 31 opt-in/opt-out deadline. Those opting out now must wait for USACE to remove hazardous waste, despite prior approval for private contractors. This sudden change leaves many in limbo with expensive, unusable contracts and no clear removal timeline.

Read more: Chaos reigns over debris removal process

Vintage Waste

An employee discovered a pristine IBM Model M keyboard in their office e-waste bin—an item worth up to $200. The disposal shocked Redditors, highlighting how unaware people can be of the value in old electronics. This wastefulness adds to the $57 billion in annual e-waste losses and underscores the need for smarter recycling and resale habits.

Read more: Employee floored after discovering shocking item in waste bin at their office: 'Sad'

Irradiation Breakthrough

Plastic recycling is heavily critiqued for being more hype than reality. But that does not mean we should not still look for innovation in this area. Radiation technology is transforming plastic recycling by making it possible to convert hard-to-recycle waste into durable, high-performance materials. Through gamma and electron beams, irradiation enhances recycling purity, complements chemical processes, and even enables bio-based plastic production. The IAEA’s NUTEC Plastics initiative is driving this innovation globally, aiming to tackle plastic pollution from land to sea.

Read more: Revolutionizing Plastic Recycling Through Irradiation

Grant Boost

Connecticut’s DEEP awarded $15 million in grants to support waste management infrastructure, aiming to lower disposal costs and increase recycling and food scrap diversion. The funds will develop composting systems, sorting facilities, and reuse exchanges across several municipalities. This is the state’s largest waste infrastructure investment, fostering sustainable, cost-effective solutions for local communities.

Read more: DEEP awards $15M in grants for waste management

Waste Repatriation

The UK has sent the second of three high-level radioactive waste shipments to Germany. Seven vitrified waste flasks from Sellafield were transported to the Isar interim storage facility. This move fulfills international agreements and supports Germany's post-nuclear transition. One final shipment remains to complete the decades-long waste return process from UK and French reprocessing.

Read more: Second-last high level waste shipment departs UK for Germany

Research Corner:

This new Administrative Science Quarterly study explores what happens after organizations respond to social movement pressure—particularly how such movements influence long-term organizational change. By analyzing 25 years of online discussions among over 1,000 recycling coordinators in higher education, the authors show how these professionals helped embed environmental values within institutions. Despite their success in advancing sustainability, the occupation itself faded, highlighting the fragile nature of movement-backed roles.

Read more: Wasted? The Downstream Effects of Social Movement–Backed Occupations

Quick Takeaways:

  • Cup reuse push: Community return systems work.

  • Plastic sorting priority: Sort plastics and upgrade technology.

  • Tackle food waste: Support local food donation systems.

  • Clarify disaster rules: Ensure consistent debris removal policies.

  • Value old tech: Avoid tossing reusable electronics.

  • Boost recycling: Use irradiation to improve plastic reuse.

  • Fund local solutions: Invest in composting and reuse infrastructure.

  • Honor waste deals: Complete international waste return agreements.


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July 2025 (1)

July 25 2025

This Week's Regeneration in the Headlines
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April 4 2025

From Discard to Design: Closing Loops

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