Convincing CFOs to invest in sustainability takes more than passion — it requires timing, strategy, and a compelling case for value. In this candid conversation, Misti Hagy, Chief Financial Officer of Fawn Industries, explains how she evaluates proposals, what makes a pitch credible, and why return on investment should be measured beyond dollars to include customer trust, employee impact, and long-term social responsibility. Drawing from her own rise from a Baltimore public-school student to the C-suite, she shares how she’s led major organizational change, balanced family with ambition, mentored women in manufacturing, and transformed “human resources” into true people operations. Listeners will learn what really sways a CFO to say yes to bold ideas, how to build credibility through consistency, and why patience, self-advocacy, and empathy are essential to driving meaningful change inside any organization.

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Rental fashion, or fashion-as-a-service, has always been seen as a sustainable approach. You only get the clothes you need for a time and return them once you are done. It certainly frees up your closet and stops you from hoarding. However, this may not be as sustainable as you think, due to its hidden charges that are not-so sustainable. Christine Yeager presents the most practical way to make fashion-as-a-service as green as possible by finding that sweet spot between buying and renting clothes.

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The packaging in our food and products may be a normal everyday thing, but it makes up tons of waste around the world. Liz Helm leads the charge in innovating circular alternatives to Styrofoam and single-use plastics as the sustainability manager at TemperPack. In this conversation with Christine Yeager, she explains how focusing on a niche can move the needle of sustainability much faster despite the many challenges along the way. Liz also discusses the right way to handle resistance within your team by being curious and the immense power of doing incremental yet consistent change. This discussion breaks down the necessary mindset and perseverance you need to successfully embed sustainability everywhere you go.

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The textile EPR in the United States is lacking in many aspects. It does not have a widespread recycling infrastructure and faces a lot of technical barriers due to blended fabrics, making it one of the most wasteful and under-regulated sectors in the country. Christine Yeager explores what the United States can learn from France, a global leader in circular textile EPR. She explains the positive points of their policy that must be emulated, especially financial collection and job generation, as well as its facets that should be handled with cautious optimism, particularly their grueling manual sorting process.

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Accepting incremental progress doesn’t mean settling—it means building momentum for bigger change. In this episode, Mia Davis, Chief Impact Officer at Ollie and a longtime sustainability leader, shares how she balances intention with action in her work to create safer, more sustainable products. From her early efforts at Beauty Counter and Credo driving industry standards, to leading waste reduction and packaging innovation at Ollie, Mia highlights the power of collective action, transparency, and collaboration across industries. She unpacks the trade-offs behind packaging choices, the challenges of recycled content, and why pushing suppliers and peers together yields results no single brand could achieve alone. With her signature mix of pragmatism and urgency, Mia offers advice for sustainability professionals: embrace incremental wins, but never stop pushing for more.

Decoding the complexities of EPR reporting is essential for businesses navigating the circular economy. Christine Yeager tackles the sometimes "uncomfortable" but necessary shifts required, diving deep into material mapping challenges across diverse state regulations like Oregon, Colorado, and California. Learn about the nuances of reporting packaging components, the varying definitions of "obligated producer," and the hurdles of gaining visibility into sales data. Discover how embracing these compliance exercises can transform into strategic opportunities, from precise budgeting for EPR fees to fostering stronger relationships with retail partners and unlocking innovation pipelines.

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From neglected waste to a powerful resource for thriving communities, discover how we can harness composting to cultivate a greener future. Join Christine Yeager as she engages in a compelling conversation with Clinton Sander, Marketing Manager at A1 Organics, Colorado's largest commercial compost manufacturer. They delve into the critical importance of diverting hundreds of thousands of tons of organic waste from landfills annually, transforming it into nutrient-rich finished compost. This episode unveils the profound impact of emphasizing the end-use value of compost for soil health, water retention, and carbon sequestration, while also confronting the persistent challenges of contamination. Learn how consistent, transparent sustainability campaigns and a shift in community perception are essential to truly unlock the full potential of organics recycling and build healthier, more resilient environments.

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Circular economy policy is a critical lever for systemic change, but are policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), landfill bans, taxes, and deposit schemes truly the silver bullet we need? Join Christine Yeager as she dissects the complexities of these tools, uncovering their potential, pitfalls, and the delicate balance between environmental goals, business realities, and social equity. Discover how the right policy design can catalyze innovation and market development, and explore the global trends shaping a more sustainable future.

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