What’s On Our Radar: 08.28.26
Every other week, we share five links that made us think in our popular sustainable business briefing. Sign up here to get the next edition delivered straight to your inbox.
Dolly Parton’s Other Legacy: A Fortune Given Away, Dollar by Dollar — The New York Times
So much has been said about Dolly Parton since her death was announced earlier this week. That extends into the world of social impact, and I enjoyed digging into this profile of her simple yet effective approach to philanthropy, which experts observed was “so much more significant and serious than what you see from other celebrities”. A legacy worth celebrating, one that will hopefully inspire other public figures. (4 mins, link, with to my mother-in-law Roohi for sparking the research!)
The Gargantuan Lie That is Collapsing The World’s Climate — Current Affairs
With help from a prolonged gourd metaphor (stick with it), film director and climate activist Adam McKay interrogates the insidious lie he blames for stalling urgent climate action. This “preferred lie of the ruling class, mainstream news media, and corporations" is one we'll all find familiar… and one we may even find ourselves complicit in once we consider its many forms. A hard but important read. (12 mins)
How PepsiCo redesigned its sustainability reporting for the AI era — Trellis
The AI boom is touching every part of sustainability reporting, from data collection to how reports get drafted and published. This piece zeroes in on a less-discussed piece of that shift: stakeholders using AI to assess companies based on their reports, and what companies can do with formatting and publishing to make sure those assessments are accurate. (3 mins)
Podcast: The tangible intangibles of sustainability events — Two Steps Forward
The latest episode of Joel Makower and Solitaire Townsend's podcast dropped at just the right time ahead of Climate Week NYC. Their conversation is a welcome reminder of the power of 1:1 connection for trust-building, the need to be thoughtful with commitments to avoid overstretching and the necessity of wearing flats and packing snacks (thanks Soli ). (42 mins)
Photography: Fashion Regenerated Photography Competition — Textile Exchange x Atmos
I lost a happy half hour in this shortlist of photographic entries to Textile Exchange’s annual photography competition run in partnership with Atmos. The images themselves are jaw-droppingly beautiful, though I noticed a real heaviness running through many of the entries. I found myself drawn to the lighter captures — a farmer's cheeky grin, a kid mid-jump on a trampoline, two sisters smiling as they work side by side — the types of images that make you feel the humanity and hopefulness of the solutions we’re all working towards. Take a scroll and let me know your favorites!