While food isn’t always the flashiest sustainability topic, with agriculture being a significant driver of the climate crisis, strong sustainability communication is needed to educate and engage consumers to act. KIND is leading some cutting-edge work around regenerative agriculture – which comes with its own set of sustainability communication challenges. In this episode, Mike speaks with Lindsay Philpott, Sustainability Communication Manager at KIND to learn more about how the company navigates communicating complex sustainability topics to consumers.

• Connect with Lindsay Philpott on LinkedIn.
• Learn more about the KIND Almost Acres Initiative.

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The role of the CSO has changed significantly over the years, from a backroom marketing function to being key figures in their company’s business operation and growth. Roughly 183 public companies in the U.S. now employ a CSO, up from 29 in 2011, according to a recent report from recruiter Weinreb Group. Of those, more than three-quarters sit on the company’s leadership team while just over a third report directly to the CEO.

With this elevated status comes increasing responsibility for CSOs to be the chief communicator of a company's social and environmental efforts — both internally and externally. Yet with many CSOs coming from technical backgrounds, they aren’t always prepared to be the person behind the podium. In this episode, Mike connects with Ellen Weinreb, one of the world’s leading sustainability recruiters who has worked with countless CSOs over the years, to better understand the ever-evolving role of the CSO and what this means for sustainability communication.

• Connect with Ellen Weinreb on LinkedIn.
• Follow Weinreb Group Sustainability Recruiting on LinkedIn.
• Read "Sustainability Chiefs Say Their Roles Have Become More Complex and Relevant" on The Wall Street Journal.
• Read the 2023 Weinreb Group Chief Sustainability Officer report.

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Greenwashing law is still in its nascency, but recent regulations in Europe and case law in the U.S. is beginning to shape its future. In Europe, companies must prove that they aren’t greenwashing, while in the U.S. the burden is on the consumer to prove that a company is making false claims. As companies navigate this new legal landscape, they must tread carefully with their sustainability communication efforts. In this episode, Mike connects with legal and ESG expert Christine Uri to better understand this emerging legalese, and how sustainability communicators should proceed.

• Follow Christine Uri on LinkedIn.
• Read "EU Moves Closer To Regulating Greenwashing By Businesses In New Green Claims Directive" on Forbes

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• Visit the Hower Impact website.
• Email Mike at: mike@howerimpact.com