Meet journalist Esha Chhabra, who spent a decade exploring the world for examples of social ventures — businesses that blend profitability with creating equitable human outcomes — for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and other publications. In her new book, Working To Restore: Harnessing the Power of Regenerative Business to Heal the World, she describes her […]
It’s hard not to be aware of your environmental impact these days. But it can also feel hard to effectively limit it without leaving society entirely and taking to the trees. While there’s no need to do anything that drastic, partially opting out of industrial agribusiness by keeping a flock of chickens is a relatively accessible option for many people […]
The Food Donation Improvement Act (FDIA) made headlines in January when President Biden signed it into law, but you may wonder why it was necessary. Don’t businesses already donate unsold food? Unfortunately, due to confusing laws and liability concerns, significantly more food is wasted than donated. Food is lost or wasted during every step of the process from farm to […]
As the economy turns sour, do shoppers still value sustainability when making decisions about what to buy? We welcome back Dan Smythe, vice president of Retail and Hospitality Consulting at EPAM Continuum, to discuss the final installment of their Consumers Unmasked project. The four-part study of shoppers’ values and the important factors in their buying decisions has tracked consumer sentiment […]
When in the kitchen whipping up salads, soups, and stews, you typically pile up random scraps from freshly sliced veggies and fruits. Possibly, within that slurry of unwanted produce pieces, you have pits and seeds that could be the foundations for fresh new plants. Instead of tossing them, put them to work. Katie Elzer-Peters, an author with bachelor’s and master’s degrees […]
Lots of people grow flowers for their beauty or fragrance, but did you know that many varieties are also delicious to eat? Edible flowers add flavor and visual appeal to a wide variety of dishes, from salads and desserts to main courses and even beverages. Whether you are a seasoned chef looking for a unique twist to your dishes or […]
The future of modern life turns in large part on making the packaging and delivery of the food and products we buy more sustainable and, eventually, environmentally neutral or positive. Our guest today, Robert Lilienfeld, is the executive director of SPRING, the Sustainable Packaging Research, Information, and Networking Group, a Denver-based think tank that provides expert advice and commentary on […]
How can we eliminate food waste created by restaurants, institutional cafeterias, and retail grocers? According to the National Conference of State Legislators, food waste is a plague in our supply chains. Farms contribute 16% of total food waste and businesses another 39%, while households are responsible for 43% of food waste. Chris O’Brien joined the podcast to discuss processing food […]
Festive edible indulgences are ideal for treating your Valentine this February 14. While you’re at it, show some Valentine’s Day love to the Earth. DIY homemade Valentine’s desserts offer the opportunity to select recipes, ingredients, and products that are kind to the environment. So, slip into your apron, pull out a pretty display dish, and whip up something exciting. For your […]
For some, adopting a gluten-free lifestyle is a choice. For others, like those living with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten intolerance, eradicating sources of wheat, barley, rye, and sometimes oats becomes necessary for health reasons. When I was diagnosed with celiac disease in August 2022, I realized I had to make some big changes. I needed to rapidly adjust to […]