Allbirds: Decarbonizing Fashion
On July 23, 2022 by Ken PuckerHarvard Business Publishing: August 2021, Revised November 2021 Highly Commended Sustainability Case Study for 2022 by the Financial Times Allbirds is a footwear startup focused on simple design, comfort, and sustainable natural materials. The case describes the company’s product development process that works with suppliers to develop natural materials including wool and sugarcane to substitute […]
The Sustainability Story: Casting a Critical Eye at Sustainability Inc. and ESG Investing
On July 23, 2022 by Ken PuckerWe talk with Ken Pucker, Advisory Director at Berkshire Partners and a Senior Lecturer at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. We discuss Ken’s time at Timberland, where he was at the forefront of the company’s social responsibility movement. We talk about the challenges facing the sustainable finance, ESG investing and impact accounting. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/casting-a-critical-eye-at-sustainability-inc-and/id1581786457?i=1000549766038
A broken system needs urgent repairs by Henry Tricks
On July 22, 2022 by Ken PuckerThank you to the Economist for interviewing me for this piece. It is spot on. Speaking of ESG investing, the article notes “it has a negligible impact on carbon emissions, especially by the highest polluters. Its attempt to address social issues such as workplace diversity is hard to measure. As for governance, the ESG industry […]
Can Fashion Lower Its Climate Impact While Selling More Products?
On July 8, 2022 by Ken PuckerBusiness of Fashion “The narrative we’ve told ourselves around win-win solutions has deceived everyone into thinking there are no trade-offs,” said Kenneth Pucker, a senior lecturer at the Tufts Fletcher School and an advisory director at Berkshire Partners. “There are huge trade offs.” * Decoupling = green growth. Attractive conceptually. Very hard practically. Especially post elimination […]
Decarbonizing the Runway – The Nuance
On July 6, 2022 by Ken Pucker“Market based solutions in fashion have proven ineffective.” In reality, consumers had little to no influence over the business direction of fashion brands, leaving companies to operate as they wished with minimal oversight or accountability. Pucker explained that carbon emissions in the fashion industry have more than doubled in this timeframe. In 2000, the fashion […]