Esha Chhabra
Journalist & Author of Working to Restore

From our conversation

“When I asked entrepreneurs, ‘How do you define sustainability?’ they would say, ‘We don’t use that word because what are we sustaining?’ and they would instead use words like transparency, equity, restoration, and then, regeneration.”

Biography

Esha Chhabra has been a writer and journalist focused on global development, the environment and business for over a decade. Her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, Economist, Guardian, Forbes, The Washington Post, Fast Company, Wired and Time. She goes beyond the greenwashing to question if companies are actually pushing the needle, what regeneration means, how regenerative agriculture works for farmers as well as brands and if mission-driven companies can be profitable. Esha’s reporting has been supported by the UN Foundation and the Pulitzer Center in Washington, DC. Over the years, she’s been hired by companies including Levi’s, Pottery Barn and Danone to help with editorial projects on sustainability and provide guidance on any of their ongoing impact projects.

Interview

Showcasing Regenerative Business Models in Action: Esha Chhabra
In this conversation, Esha reflects on her 15-year journey covering corporate social responsibility and regenerative business models, culminating in the research behind her book Working to Restore. Esha describes examples of brands like Veja that are integrating regenerative business practices into their core business models, rather than engaging in one-off individual "regenerative" collections or campaigns. Her insights illuminate the unique role fashion brands can play in accelerating positive change when they lead with humility and establish long-term supplier relationships.