• Fashion Industry Sustainability – Policy, Education, and Business Innovation

    In this episode, MBA candidate Erin Malaney interviews Michelle Gabriel, Director of Sustainable Fashion at IENYC, and Ken Pucker, former COO of Timberland and professor at Tufts University. They discuss why current sustainability approaches in fashion aren’t working, highlighting business models that prioritize profit over planet, lack of regulation, and externalized environmental costs. Both experts emphasize that policy is essential for meaningful change, as voluntary corporate sustainability efforts have proven insufficient. They also address the critical need for fashion education to include business strategy, climate science basics, and policy understanding to create effective industry change.

    https://leadthechange.bard.edu/podcast/fashion-industry-sustainability

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  • The Emperor’s New Clothes

    In this interview we take a look at the fashion industry from Pucker’s unique perspective and history as a fashion executive, university professor, writer, business advisor and counselor on fashion legislation. We examine the fashion industry’s system structure, reporting, and regulations. Today, like the fairy tale The Emperor’s New Clothes, we are in many ways being fooled about our own clothing. We are told what to believe, and we believe what we think everyone else believes. But, just like the child in the fairy tale, it’s the voices that soar above the accepting crowd that tell us the truth we need to hear.

     

     

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  • Fast Fashion: Shop or Stop?

    Fast fashion has taken over the fashion industry, but is less expensive, trendy clothing really worth the purchase? Those who say to “stop” argue fast fashion harms the environment in many ways and exploits workers in countries with lax regulations. Those who say “keep shopping” argue it’s up to shoppers to choose, as fast fashion offers affordable options, supports jobs, and boosts local economies. Now we debate: Fast Fashion: Shop or Stop?
    Arguing Stop: Kenneth Pucker, Former COO of Timberland; Professor at The Fletcher School at Tufts University
    Arguing Shop: Katherine Mangu-Ward, Editor-in-Chief at Reason
    Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/open-to-debate/id216713308?i=1000678619812

     

     

     

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  • MANUFACTURED: Crossover Moments

    In this episode, Dr. Divya Jyoti and Kim sit down with Ken Pucker, former Timberland COO turned sustainable fashion critic, who now works as a Professor of Practice at the Fletcher School. Fun fact: Ken’s career began in manufacturing, and at the time he joined Timberland, they were still producing much of their footwear.

    Though it wasn’t necessarily their intention at the outset – this episode ended up focusing on levers for change. Ken shares why he has chosen to focus on shifting the rules of the game through legislative action, but we also discuss the need for systemic change, or to rebuild the “whole house” – and the difficult task of shifting cultural beliefs needed to achieve this.

    Ken also reflects on his time at Timberland, and his realization that despite Timberland being a poster child for sustainability, the company’s environmental impact worsened under his watch. He shares how this led him to let go of ideas and assumptions based on infinite resources and growth. If you’re interested in learning more about Ken’s view, I highly suggest checking out his recent publication, “A Circle That Isn’t Easily Squared,” featured in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

    This episode is part of the “Crossover Moments” miniseries, where we explore key moments of personal transformation that led people to question and ultimately reject conventional approaches to sustainable fashion.

    98. Crossover Moments : Ken Pucker

     

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  • The Conscious Capitalists: Real Talk on ESG!

    Join us for a frank discussion on ESG, climate investing, and the need for government policy through taxes and subsidies to push companies into doing the right thing for the climate crisis. As our guest Ken Pucker, former COO of Timberland, says, ESG has no impact on saving the planet. Ken talks about the challenges for all of us in understanding when and where real Capital is invested in impacting climate change. Ken argues that better accounting on externalities alone is not enough. We need to price externalities to drive real behaviour change. Hence, the role of government policy is to play a role with taxation and subsidies to reward good behaviour and punish bad.  A Podcast by Tec Sounds.

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  • 33. Is ESG investing good for biodiversity?

    ESG is the latest buzzword in business & biodiversity circles, but it’s not actually new – only newly popular. And it’s one among many terms and acronyms in this field, which may be familiar but are often poorly understood – ESG stands for “environmental, social and governance” investing criteria. Understanding concepts like ESG is consequential because their success relies largely on convincing the general public of their value and their virtue. As we discuss in this episode, however, they are not necessarily all that they’re made out to be.

    To elucidate this topic with me is Ken Pucker. Ken is a professor at the Fletcher School at Tufts University and Advisory Director at the Boston-based Financial Services firm, Berkshire Partners. He was previously Chief Operating Officer of the outdoor footwear and apparel company, Timberland, one of the first companies to take an interest in sustainable production. He has written extensively on ESG and related issues in Harvard Business Review among other publications.

    https://www.case4conservation.com/post/33-does-esg-help-biodiversity-ken-pucker

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  • Important Problems with Andreas Feiner

    In this episode we speak with Ken Pucker, who is an advisor at Berkshire Partners, lectures about sustainability at the TUFTS university.
    You will get interesting insights in his career at Timberland and the pioneer role that Timberland took in regards to ESG.
    Ken will tell you why he decided to leave Timberland in the end and go to live with his family in Jerusalem for a while.
    Nowadays, Ken is a Professor of Practice at TUFTS University, where he lectures on ESG-related topics such as ESG investments and why companies urgently need to take ESG matters into account in order to remain or become attractive for investors.

    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-the-important-role-of-esg-for-companies-with/id1683622451?i=1000613984210

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  • The Unsustainable Truth About Fast Fashion

    Although most people do not typically associate the fashion industry with STEM or science policy, fashion and science are intricately tied to one another due to the detrimental effects the fast fashion industry has on the environment and public health. Not only does the fashion industry generate >92 million tonnes of textile waste and contribute to 10% of global CO2 emissions per year, the chemicals and heavy metals used in the dyeing process are also toxic to humans and aquatic life. Former COO of Timberland and sustainable investing expert, Ken Pucker, then discusses the hurdles of increasing sustainability in the fashion industry.

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  • Leading the Charge: Ken Pucker on the Future of Sustainable Fashion

    In this incredible episode, we are joined by seasoned professional and sustainability expert Ken Pucker. With a wealth of experience in the fashion industry, including serving as COO of Timberland, Ken offers a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the future of sustainable fashion. Whether you are looking to learn more about the challenges and opportunities in the industry, or simply want to hear from one of the most insightful voices in the field, this episode is a must-listen. So sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired by Ken’s incredible knowledge and expertise.

    https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/moda-m%C3%A9tiers/id1565826832?l=en&i=1000604277141

     

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