Christopher Marquis: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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)