Working to Restore

January 30, 2023
Business “is a powerhouse that can steer the economy and consumer behavior, and the impact all that has on Mother Earth, in a direction for the better,” contends journalist Chhabra in her optimistic debut. She showcases companies that have developed ethical business models by prioritizing their “two major stakeholders”: Earth and its people. She profiles Barb Stegemann, founder of the Canadian 7 Virtues perfume company, whose insistence on developing a supply chain that offered dignity to all parties led her to contract with a rose blossom farmer in Afghanistan who desperately needed the financing after his orchard was devastated by warlords. Other businesses include a coffee company that pays high dividends to its Nicaraguan women employees, whose labor harvesting and processing coffee beans otherwise often goes unpaid; hoteliers whose facilities and tours of Flåm, Norway, provide eco-friendly alternatives to the cruise ships that pass through the town; and Indian engineers who developed a low-cost anemia diagnosis device for the country’s underserved rural population. Though Chhabra is clear-eyed about the broad, systemic changes needed to bring about a more just world, the uplifting stories she highlights show how individuals might create more equitable possibilities within the current system. Readers will be inspired.

February 1, 2023
An account of the new wave of innovative companies working to protect the environment, improve equity, and rewrite the rules of business. A freelance writer with a special interest in "mission-driven brands" who has received multiple fellowships from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, Chhabra chronicles her travels around the world conducting wide-ranging interviews with business leaders committed to sustainability. For example, she describes pioneering farming methods aimed at reversing soil degradation and companies that are dedicated to treating waste as a resource. She is particularly impressed by a company that collects discarded plastic from Amsterdam's canals and turns it into shoes and furniture and another that uses waste bread to brew boutique beer. Other companies are looking deeper, examining their supply chains, especially those that extend into developing countries, to ensure that their environmental impacts are minimal and workers are treated fairly. Novel business structures are emerging for firms that seek to combine social purpose with profitability, and they are finding solid customer bases. Chhabra is aware of the danger of "greenwashing," where companies claim to be environmentally responsible but actually do very little. It's important to look at the lifestyles of the company principal, which will reveal whether they are walking the walk. The author does not object to corporate philanthropy, but genuine engagement is more important than simply writing a check. She repeatedly returns to the point that consumers play a vital role. Much can be achieved by simply living with less stuff, thinking carefully about who you are buying from, and doing your best to recycle. Also, be ready to pay more for environmentally sustainable products; the price tag is not the only cost to consider. Chhabra avoids preachy rhetoric, and the overall tone of the book is optimistic. With wit and energy, Chhabra introduces us to an exciting new business landscape.

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