5 min readOn a crisp, sunny April morning in New York, guests entered the 44th floor of Hearst Tower, where floor-to-ceiling windows flooded the space with light. Executives, editors, designers, chefs, activists, and supporters were gathering for the 5th annual Hearst Magazines Eco-Conscious Living Summit, presented by James Hardie.
Sustainability was already on guests’ minds. They had been invited to bring "1 Less Thing” to donate to Housing Works at the event’s 1 Hotels Giant Minibar and, upon arriving, they were encouraged to hang a tag on one of the 9-foot TimberTech trees—through the title sponsor’s relationship with One Tree Planted, a tree would be planted in their name.
As they mingled, attendees were fueled by a curated Organic Valley breakfast, bottomless carafes of Buena Vida Specialty Coffee straight from their regenerative farm in Costa Rica, and sustainable goodies and healthy snack jars at the 1 Hotels Giant Minibar. Zip Water’s free-standing water system ensured everyone remained hydrated with zero restrictions.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
PRESENTED BY James Hardie
IN PARNTERSHIP WITH 1 Hotels, Bloomeffects, California Design Den, Organic Valley, Zip Water
SPECIAL THANKS TO Buena Vida Specialty Coffee, Misen, Pipette, SeaVoir Wellness
Session 1 | Welcome to the Hearst Eco-Conscious Living Summit
Hillary Koota, executive director of strategic partnerships at Hearst Magazines, opened the program with a clear directive: “Sustainability is not just an option. It’s an imperative,” she said. What followed was a series of conversations exploring sustainable materials, responsible practices, and how industries and individuals are putting eco-conscious living into practice.
Session 2 | Partner Spotlight: Homes Built for a Changing World
Sam Toole, chief marketing officer at James Hardie, kicked off the first session by getting straight to the point: “Resilience is not this futuristic concept. It’s what we need today.” She highlighted the company’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity and its climate-engineered exterior products, designed to withstand weather while maintaining durability and beauty. Toole also noted the company’s efforts to reduce waste, recycle water, and integrate sustainability into its operations, emphasizing how these practices help craft homes that are built to last.
Session 3 | Beyond the Runway: Creating a More Responsible Fashion Industry
Fashion designer Gabriela Hearst spoke with Harper’s BAZAAR Executive Digital Director Lynette Nylander about building sustainability into every aspect of her eponymous brand. Hearst described her approach as “honest luxury,” emphasizing transparency, traceability, and longevity. She shared how deadstock fabrics became part of her latest collections, carbon-neutral runway shows served as real-world experiments, and low-energy store designs reduced their environmental footprint. Hearst stressed that sustainability is “work that’s never done” and highlighted the importance of careful investment in materials, production processes, and design choices—showing how every decision contributes to the durability and responsibility of her collections.
Session 4 | Resilient Beauty: The Next Generation of Forever Homes
Veranda Editor in Chief Steele Marcoux moderated a discussion on creating homes that are both beautiful and built to endure. Amanda Cimaglia, vice president of global sustainability at James Hardie, noted that “materials have really evolved” and “you don’t have to sacrifice design for performance,” emphasizing circularity in repairs, remodeling, and replacement to reduce construction and demolition waste. Actress and interior designer Brooklyn Decker described a forever home as “a living, breathing organism that grows with us,” highlighting the value of handmade furniture and adaptable spaces. Jaime Rummerfield, designer and preservation advocate, framed the forever home as a commitment to space and identity, pointing to Los Angeles’ rapid demolitions as “architectural crimes” that her work seeks to prevent. The conversation centered on how thoughtful materials, preservation, and local craftsmanship can reshape homes for resilience, longevity, and style, proving that durability and design are not mutually exclusive.
Session 5 | On the Menu: Community and Climate in the Kitchen
Maggie Baird—climate activist, founder of Support+Feed, and mother of music superstars Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell—explored how food can be a direct, everyday tool for climate action and equity. It’s “that intersection between climate change and food insecurity that you really don't hear a lot about,” she said, describing her organization’s work delivering more than 1.8 million meals and pantry items through community partnerships. One plant-based meal a day, Baird explained, can create meaningful impact while remaining approachable and delicious. The talk, led by Delish Editorial Director and House Beautiful Editor in Chief Joanna Saltz, also highlighted storytelling, culture, and Baird’s new show Climate Kitchen as tools for moving audiences from awareness to action. “I was very lucky that I had Billie’s and Finneas’s fan bases kind of joining me on Instagram,” Baird said. “They came for Billie and they stayed for the planet.” She closed with a reminder: “Our personal actions influence those decisions. So changing our own individual lives actually will make a difference.”
Session 6 | Intersection of Athletes and Action: Where Sport Meets Science
Bea Kim, Olympian and professional snowboarder, described how climate change is reshaping winter sports. “I can't turn a blind eye to the fact that winters are disappearing and it's becoming a lot more difficult to find snow and to train and for us to compete,” she said to Women’s Health Executive Editor Abigail Cuffey. Central to Kim’s advocacy is Protect Our Winters, an organization where athletes leverage their visibility and influence to drive real climate action. “I think one very special thing about Protect Our Winters is the fact that they work with athletes, and as athletes, we're used to being in very difficult situations,” Kim explained. She emphasized that determination, focus, and commitment can be applied by anyone to make a meaningful environmental impact.
Session 7 | Tap Into Water: From the Oceans to the Kitchen
Esquire Features Director Kevin Dupzyk moderated a conversation on water, wellness, and sustainability with blue tech founder Ashlan Cousteau, Zip Water’s Betsy Froelich, chef Edward Lee, and Beyond Petrochemicals’ Heather McTeer Toney. Cousteau, co-founder of SeaVoir Wellness and Voyacy Regen, stressed the urgency of water issues. “We just need to stop doing some really dumb things,” she said, noting growing awareness of what’s in our water. Froelich highlighted practical home solutions with Zip Water’s on-demand filtration systems, while Lee is focused on eliminating single-use plastics in restaurants to reduce waste. “When I think about water, I think about what's in it, how communities are interacting in it, what you're drinking,” said Toney, whose work at Beyond Petrochemicals aims to address the rapid expansion of U.S. petrochemical facilities. “How do we just protect people?” The panel connected global challenges to actionable choices, showing how thoughtful decisions in kitchens, homes, and policy can shape a healthier future water supply.
Session 8 | Weather Hunters: Forecasting the Future
Richard Dorment, editorial director of Men’s Health and Women’s Health, spoke with TODAY weather anchor Al Roker about how climate change is reshaping weather and the way we communicate it. Fresh from set, Roker emphasized clear, responsible reporting and shared his approach to educating the next generation through his PBS Kids series Weather Hunters. “The slogan of the show is ‘Whatever the weather, we're in it together.’ And so by teaching kids about climate in a non-frightening, non-threatening way, we're training that next generation of STEM leaders to take responsibility,” he said. Roker underscored the importance of building weather and climate literacy at home, showing how thoughtful guidance can help kids understand the world around them.
