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E186: Show Notes
Title: Exploring Careers in Sustainability In this episode, hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton explore the booming landscape of sustainability careers, a sector that has witnessed huge growth in the UK job market. With sustainability-focused roles accounting for 1/3 of UK job postings, the industry has become a focal point for professionals looking to make positive environmental impact. To delve into this topic, we are joined by Serrol Osman, Director of Verdant Search, a renowned firm specialising in Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and sustainability recruitment. Together, they unpack the evolving dynamics of the industry and provide invaluable insights, advice, and strategies for individuals looking to transition into sustainability careers.
1. Market Dynamics and Industry Disruption:
· Serrol reflects on the rapid growth of sustainability careers up to 2022, noting a slowdown due to global economic factors.
· The discussion covers shifts in salary structures, challenges in accommodating rising costs, and talent shortages at mid-level positions.
· Despite uncertainties, Serrol predicts continued growth driven by regulatory changes and corporate sustainability initiatives.
2. Confusion and Evolution in Job Descriptions:
· The podcast addresses confusion in job descriptions amidst the fast-paced evolution of sustainability roles.
· Serrol discusses challenges in finding the right talent, inconsistent salaries, and the need for clear job definitions to streamline recruitment processes.
3. Demand for Purpose-Led Companies:
· Both hosts emphasise candidates' desire to work for purpose-driven companies.
· Serrol underscores the importance of aligning company values with employee aspirations for enhanced retention and growth.
4. Evolution of Recruitment Profiles:
· Serrol predicts that, like digital transformation, specialised sustainability roles will be integrated into traditional business operations.
· The discussion highlights the role of sustainability leadership and reporting structures in driving meaningful organisational change.
5. AI and Future Job Trends:
· Serrol offers insights into AI's potential impact on green jobs, predicting shifts in productivity and new roles in design, research, and policy.
· Serrol stresses the significance of soft skills and emerging opportunities within the sustainability domain.
6. Advice for Aspiring Professionals:
· Serrol advises aspiring professionals to assess their skill sets and explore opportunities in education, voluntary sectors, and current companies.
· The discussion emphasises starting with broad sustainability concepts before specialisation and the value of diverse skill sets, including communication and adaptability.
Green Element Group is an environmental management consultancy offering a range of bespoke sustainability services, products, and resources to accelerate the just transition to a stable climate. The Group consists of Green Element Limited, Compare Your Footprint Limited, and Sustainability Solved Podcast and Resource Hub. Find out more about Green Element Group here and benefit from a 20% discount on the first year of subscription to Compare Your Footprint, the highest quality carbon footprint software for your organisation. When registering, click ‘Got a Coupon’ and enter code ‘PODCAST‘ to claim discount.
A big thank you to our sponsors!
This episode of Sustainability Solved is sponsored by Business Declares, a not-for-profit business network who inspire, encourage, and accelerate action within businesses to address the climate, ecological, and social emergency.
They are an active network of 100+ businesses who back our commitments to reach net-zero, restore and protect nature, and advocate for regulatory change.
Join Business Declares as a member to get help accelerating your...
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In this episode we look at the funny side of Climate Change with award winning comedian, podcaster and business speaker, Stuart Goldsmith. He grabbed the headlines at the Edinburgh Festival in 2023 with his show about Climate Change, called Spoilers. Stuart talks about his journey in stand-up over the last 20 years, and his mission to engage a wider audience on Climate Change through comedy.
Why did Stuart Goldsmith decide to make jokes about Climate Change?
Stuart talks about spending 10 years as a street performer and his increasing feeling of ‘eco-dread’. He acted on this feeling by writing and performing comedy about Climate Change. Stuart talks about the challenges of performing material about the Climate Crisis to audiences.How does Climate Change comedy compare to activism?
Charlie asks Stuart whether this was a form of activism. Stuart has attended Extinction Rebellion protests and a Just Stop Oil meeting. He respects their commitment but didn’t feel like these were his normal social group. Will highlights when we tackle a new way of sending a message, it is a kind of activism. Will compares it to when he worked in sustainability in the early days of his career. Stuart talks about his journey writing jokes on the Climate Crisis and soliciting climate confessions from the audience. But tries to go further and influence his more famous comedy friends to include the topic in their material. Stuart wants his audiences to feel more comfortable starting a conversion about Climate Change with friends. Stuart also shares a joke about flying business class.How does Stuart gather research?
Stuart talks about taking part in Climate Fresk, a workshop designed to teach the fundamental science behind Climate Change, and also playing EN-ROADS, an online simulator with the ability to test and explore cross-sector climate solutions. Will and Stuart discuss the impact of flying that’s both negative and positive to society. Stuart talks about interviewing people for his podcast, The Comedian’s Comedian, using one example of a global sustainability person for a huge US investment bank talking about Climate Change, politics, and Trump. This interviewee stressed that capital money has decided that [Climate Change] is real, so we can’t pretend it’s not real. Charlie offers the example of Trump supporting the reopening of coal mines, but none opened because no-one would invest in them. Stuart raises climate justice, and the fact people are already running for their lives. He asks what will humanity look like in the future? Charlie responds by quoting James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, where he recorded that if we hit an increase if 5-5 degrees above pre-industrial levels we could go from 8 billion people down to 1.5 billion living in the far North and far South.What’s the worst thing Stuart jokes about?
Stuart doesn’t communicate how horrible a topic is to his audience, or they will stop listening. He thinks we need to safeguard our mental health. Stuart talks about being a parent and offers a ‘worst thing’ joke related to his fellow playground dad’s... -
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Season 5, Episode 184: Sustainable Standstill: Why major housebuilders aren’t going green This episode we interview Ian Pritchett, the co-founder of Greencore Homes in Oxfordshire. They build airtight, energy-efficient, timber frame houses, from their factory in Bicester. Ian shines a spotlight on the challenges of the ‘business-as-usual’ housebuilding planning system and champions the need for a new national planning policy that is fit for the future.
The problem
· Charlie asked Ian what the planning system is doing to respond to climate change challenges and pressures around development.
· Ian is frustrated at the planning system. Trying to do something different and better is a challenge. It gets closer scrutiny and there is more bureaucracy.
· National Government and housebuilders are focused on volume, not sustainability. They are more interested in avoiding a housing crisis, than a climate crisis.
Environmental impact
· Ian reports that every time a new house is built it generates over one hundred tons of carbon emissions (CO2), plus the use of the house will emit carbon. The total carbon budget for Oxfordshire’s five local authorities is 26.3m tonnes of CO2 by 2050. With their plan to build 100,000 new homes in the next 10 years, they will use between 80-100% of that budget on new housing alone.
· Sustainability regulations are dumbed down to keep volumes up. It is a choice between the quantity or the quality of housing. Ian explains that we can have both.
· Charlie asks Ian if we can build our way out of a housing crisis and why does volume win Government votes.
· Ian explains that we are living longer, there are smaller households and spare housing is not where employment is concentrated, hence why the Southeast is the focus of housebuilding.
A planning system fit for our future
· Ian wants a new national planning policy that is fit for the future and focuses on more important areas such as energy, carbon, wildlife, biodiversity, and community.
· Greencore’s mission is to move the house building industry from an unsustainable to sustainable model answering questions such as can you lock up more carbon than you emit? Can you generate more energy than you use? Can you improve wildlife and biodiversity? · Ian talks about how Greencore works to the One Planet Living framework. It is building places where people want to live and can live sustainably, can live happily and healthily.
· Charlie and Ian discuss the issue of landowner wealth and a need to involve the local community to ensure they benefit.
Are greener houses more expensive? · Will talks about how Cardiff University proved that an environmentally friendly home could be more affordable than a normal home.
· Ian reports that there are some higher costs when building sustainably at a smaller scale. However, these costs will come down when building at volume.
· Charlie offers an example of one of his affordable housing projects and how lower running costs could be included in rent and mortgage agreements.
· Ian talks about the idea of houses built to encourage zero energy bills and the problems with this not being valued by residents.
The problem with parking space
· Ian is concerned about housing schemes being dominated by parking and car ownership. He sees a future where we make more use of shared sustainable transport and offer examples of where this is happening. Decisions also need to be made around green space vs car parking space.
· Charlie and Will discuss the pros and cons of electric car sharing in housing projects.
How to innovate faster
· Ian talks about how economics will drive innovation in this space faster. One way is to reduce stamp duty on low-carbon homes which would drive demand, supply, and legislation.
· Will and Charlie discuss getting a better mortgage for a low-carbon home, and Charlie uses the...
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In our latest episode, we sit down with hosts Will Richardson, CEO and Founder of Green Element Group, and Charlie Luxton, an architectural designer focusing on sustainability buildings. Will and Charlie kick off the new year by reflecting on their sustainability journeys, and discuss key trends in sustainability for the year 2024! The conversation touches on sustainable architecture, political shifts and media challenges impacting sustainability, technological advancements, diverse perspectives on environmental activism, and much more!
Starting 2024 with Sustainability:
Will and Charlie anticipate significant sustainability topics for the year, emphasising the urgency of addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. Will advocates for proactive climate action rather than waiting for legislative mandates.Charlie’s Sustainability Journey:
Charlie shares his early environmental interest, stemming from childhood experiences in Australia. His sustainability journey began with a realisation about the environmental impact of logging in the rainforest. Discussing his transition from TV hosting to sustainability, architecture, and history, Charlie highlights his recent project “The Great British Restoration Challenge” focused on converting non-houses into homes.Sustainable Architecture:
The conversation centres on integrating sustainability into architectural projects as a foundational aspect. Charlie emphasises the importance of taking risks in sustainable practices, often testing innovative ideas on personal projects before implementing them for clients. Both Will and Charlie discuss the significance of embodied carbon modelling in architectural projects. Charlie expresses his excitement in AI’s role in optimising buildings, focusing on structure, servicing, thermal design, and orientation.Embracing All Aspects of Sustainability
Both Will and Charlie share some diverse sustainability initiatives they have witnessed over the years, highlighting the importance of storytelling in showcasing complex sustainability scenarios. Will discusses an audit of an Eon site with diverse perspectives of environmental activism, while Charlie recalls an industrial symbiosis network in Denmark involving a coal-fired station, plasterboard production, and a fish farm.Political Shifts and Media Challenges
The hosts provide insights into political shifts, particularly in the US, and discuss potential impacts on sustainability. Charlie expresses concerns about the media prioritising clickable headlines over fact-checking, shaping public opinion on sustainability.Green Element Group is an environmental management consultancy offering a range of bespoke sustainability services, products, and resources to accelerate the just transition to a stable climate. The Group consists of Green Element Limited, Compare Your Footprint Limited, and
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In this episode, Andrew Griffiths, co-founder of the Carbon Accounting Alliance, sheds light on the Alliance’s mission to tackle sustainability challenges through collaboration. Backed by over 100 organisations and businesses, including Green Element and Compare Your Footprint, Andrew explains the Alliance's focus on promoting best practices and robust standards.
Interested businesses can easily join the Carbon Accounting Alliance by filling out a quick form. The process is open and accessible, aiming to create a supportive community without any current costs involved.
Highlights:
Carbon Accounting 101:
· Andrew simplifies carbon accounting, likening it to financial accounting – but with carbon instead of money! He explains the process of measuring carbon, the significance of carbon factors, and provides insights into achieving net-zero.
· Andrew discusses the Alliance’s primary objectives including policy alignment, standards, technical coherence, and communications to drive positive change.
· As of last month, the Carbon Accounting Alliance had measured a staggering 587,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and reported 6,000,000 tonnes of reductions.
Challenges and Solutions for Carbon Accounting:
Andrew delves into data collection as a barrier for organisations looking to manage their carbon footprint. He discusses governmental policy recommendations and initiatives like Project Perseus for seamless and automated data gathering.The UK government has shown genuine interest in the Alliance’s proposals, signalling a potential bridge between business-led action and policy change.The Carbon Accounting Alliance plans to streamline data collection, analysis, and assurance using technologies like open banking but for carbon data.Collaboration is Key:
Andrew drives home the importance of collaboration in the industry and creating a safe space for professionals to connect, collaborate, and share experiences openly.For the Carbon Accounting Alliance, success in the next 12 months relies on collaboration, influencing policy makers, and engaging with standards like ISO and net-zero guidelines to drive change.This episode of Sustainability Solved is sponsored by Business Declares, a not-for-profit business network who inspire, encourage, and accelerate action within businesses to address the climate, ecological, and social emergency.
They are an active network of 100+ businesses who back our commitments to reach net-zero, restore and protect nature, and advocate for regulatory change.
Join Business Declares as a member to get help accelerating your action on net-zero targets and on nature targets for your business from the network. Find out more here: Business Declares
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This month on the Sustainability Solved Podcast, our hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton delve into the world of sustainable brewing. Joining them from Berlin is Roland Pahl-Dobrick, the Beer Market Manager from Pall Filtration, to shed light on the intricacies and challenges of sustainability in brewing.
Brewing Process and Impact:
- Unlike wine filtration, beer filtration faces unique challenges due to its scale, volume, and sensitivity as a product.
- The conversation highlights the staggering waste generated by filtration processes in the brewing industry, estimated to reach tens of millions of tonnes.
- Traditional beer filtration using Diatomaceous Earth (DE), a fossilised algae, produces substantial waste, rendering it unfit for recycling or reuse, particularly problematic for large breweries.
Sustainability Challenges and Progress in Brewing:
- Roland discusses the industry’s movement away from DE filtration toward membrane-based filtration, which significantly curbs waste production by over 90%, leading to substantial water savings and reductions in carbon footprint.
- Advancements in brewing technology have notably slashed water usage by up to 80% from previous decades.
Future of Sustainable Brewing:
- Brewing companies are increasingly adopting robust sustainability programmes aimed at minimising waste, enhancing operational efficiency, and prioritising environmentally friendly production processes.
- Consumer preferences, particular amongst the younger demographic, are driving companies to embrace eco-friendly technologies, aligning with evolving market demands.
- Roland explains how attention is also being directed toward addressing the environmental impact of packaging, including efforts to lightweight materials, explore reusable packaging options, and consider more sustainable transportation methods.
This episode of Sustainability Solved is sponsored by Business Declares, a not-for-profit business network who inspire, encourage, and accelerate action within businesses to address the climate, ecological, and social emergency.
They are an active network of 100+ businesses who back our commitments to reach net-zero, restore and protect nature, and advocate for regulatory change.
Join Business Declares as a member to get help accelerating your action on net-zero targets and on nature targets for your business from the network. Find out more here: Business Declares
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Title: Breaking Down COP28: The Critical Climate Conference
Welcome to a special episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast!
In this episode, we introduce a brand-new co-host, Charlie Luxton, an architectural designer and TV presenter well-known for his passion for the built environmental and sustainability, as seen on Homes By The Sea and Building The Dream.
With COP28 just around the corner, we’ve invited guests with strong opinions to discuss one of the most significant events in the sustainability calendar. Our first guest is Georgia Elliot-Smith, environmental activist and the founder and managing director of sustainability consultancy Element Four. Joining us is Emma Littlewood, Strategy Director at Green Element Group, and creator of the comprehensive carbon footprinting platform, Compare Your Footprint.
Tune in as we dive deep into the inner workings of COP28, explore the impact of industry and capitalism, and discuss the prospects of revitalising this pivotal event for a sustainable future.
This episode of Sustainability Solved is sponsored by Business Declares, a not-for-profit business network who inspire, encourage, and accelerate action within businesses to address the climate, ecological, and social emergency.
They are an active network of 100+ businesses who back our commitments to reach net-zero, restore and protect nature, and advocate for regulatory change.
Join Business Declares as a member to get help on accelerating your action on net-zero targets and on nature targets for your business from the network. Find out more here: Business Declares
Highlights:
COP28 Explained
Our guests delve into what COP is, its evolution, how the agenda is developed, and key sustainability milestones like the Rio Summit in 1992, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement in 2015. Georgia shares her experience as an observer at COP, telling all about the ‘green zone’ for businesses and public, and the ‘blue zone’ – the heart of negotiations.Oil and Gas at COP28:
Emma exposes the staggering subsidies offered to the oil and gas industry and their involvement in COP28. Concerns are raised about this year’s COP28 host, the UAE, and their connections to the oil and gas industry. Georgia reveals that the UK have given £20 billion more to fossil fuels than renewables post Paris Agreement.Reviving COP:
We discuss how the merging of industry and governments is problematic in climate discussions, with our guests pushing for strict rules to limit corporate influence at COP. The guest’s desire for COP28 to fail to pave the way for a more effective future is... -
Two of the most pressing concerns of our generation are housing and the climate crisis. In the UK in particular, the housing stock is in desperate need of modernisation and improved insulation. But this problem isn’t limited to the UK; we need affordable housing that is better for the environment and more affordable to run. But how do we get there?
Today we are joined by two guests who are taking very different approaches to sustainable housing. Carl Gish is from Aro Homes, a US startup looking to replace existing dilapidated housing stock with new energy-efficient homes built off-site to Passivhaus standards. Marion Baeli is an architect, author, and board director of UK Passivhaus Trust. She has written about residential retrofits, and as a partner of Studio PDP, she worked on Princedale Road, the first Victorian residential retrofit in the UK to be certified in the Passivhaus Standard.
Highlights:
Retrofitting existing homes vs. creating new sustainable homes
· Marion explains how retrofitting existing homes addresses inefficiency, reduces energy demand, and supports the transition away from fossil fuels.
· Carl highlights the benefits of building new sustainable homes, including eliminating constraints associated with retrofitting.
· Carl emphasises the importance of constructing environmentally sound homes, given that around 23% of global carbon emissions come from single-family homes.
The net-zero challenge: balancing energy and emissions
· Achieving net-zero status for homes involves reducing embodied carbon, improving energy efficiency, and harnessing renewable energy sources.
· Both guests discuss the need for a unified approach to net-zero construction.
Cost considerations: retrofit vs. new construction
· Carl highlights how new constriction can offer efficiency advantages and cost savings.
· Marion discusses how step-by-step retrofitting is an option to spread costs over time and align with budgets.
· Marion emphasises the need for government policies and financial incentives to drive retrofitting initiatives on a larger scale.
Behavioural barriers and new technology
· Both guests highlight the importance of addressing behaviour as a barrier to retrofitting and the need to motivate homeowners to undergo disruptive home improvements.
· Carl introduces the concept of hydraloop technology, which recycles water in homes to reduce water wastage.
Resources: Passivhaus Standard Aro Homes Studio PDP Princedale Road; first Victorian residential retrofit in the UK Climate Change Committee Hydraloop Technology
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Title: Striking a Chord for the Planet: Music's Journey to Sustainability
Story:
Welcome to an exciting episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast, where our spotlight falls on an industry renowned for creativity and innovation: the music industry. The music industry has the power and influence to make huge strides in the environmental movement, but who is responsible for leading the change?
Our guests today have certainly struck a chord in the music industry for their leadership in sustainability: Lewis Jamieson, co-founder of Music Declares Emergency (MDE) and Hannah Cox, founder of Better Not Stop and author of the “More Than Music” report on sustainability at music festivals.
Together we explore how the music industry, artists, labels, fans, and governments hold key roles in steering the industry towards a more eco-conscious path.
This episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast is sponsored by Good Citizens.
Good Citizens is an eyewear brand like no other. Born to untrash the planet of single-use plastic. Good Citizens turns a discarded single-use plastic bottle into a pair of 100% recycled frames. It took them 752 days & 2500+ failed attempts to perfect the first pair of sunglasses. Even more unique, the modular system means you can repair each part in seconds. So, if your dog munches on them, it’s all fixable.
Use this discount code GREEN20 to get $20AUD off and help untrash the planet.
Highlights: · Lewis sheds light on the motivations behind Music Declares Emergency, an initiative uniting artists, labels, and fans to address climate challenges. · Hannah, founder of Better Not Stop, discusses the “More Than Music” report on sustainability at music festivals. She explains her inspiration and the challenges music festivals face in adopting sustainable practices. · Lewis and Hannah discuss Coldplay’s groundbreaking eco-friendly world tour. They highlight the significance of Coldplay’s efforts in advancing discussion around sustainability in the music industry.
· The conversation delves into the idea of virtual concerts as a potential solution to reduce carbon emissions.
· Lewis candidly discusses the challenges of securing funding for climate-related initiatives in the music industry. He emphasises the lack of commitment to sustainable causes.
· Music festivals often take place in remote areas, posing challenges for government-driven public transport improvements. Lewis and Hannah discuss solutions to these challenges.
· Sustainability is more than just a cost: Hannah highlights the advantages of adopting sustainable frameworks and what to include.
· Spotlight on trailblazers making a significant impact on sustainability within the music industry like EarthPercent, Vision 2025, and Blue Dot Festival.
· Uncover the concept of “Climate Shadow”, revealing that individual actions extend beyond personal consumer choices.
Resources: Music Declares Emergency Better Not Stop More Than Music Report Coldplay’s eco-friendly tour Kendall Calling Festival EarthPercent Vision 2025 Green Events Code Blue Dot Festival
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Australia is at the forefront of the climate change movement, facing the need to protect its biosecurity, enhance climate resilience, and overcome geographic isolation. Over the past five years Australia has made significant strides towards sustainability, particularly through its commitment to partnering with the private sector. Together, they aim to design out waste and pollution, promote material reuse, and work towards supporting the circular economy by 2023.
Join us in this month’s episode of our podcast as we delve into Australia’s role in tackling climate change and its unique sustainability challenges. Our special guests Dr. Mary Stewart and Arvind Sharma are renowned sustainability experts in Australia, bringing their valuable insights to the conversation. Dr. Mary Stewart is the CEO of Energetics, Australia’s leading specialist consultancy in energy and carbon management, and Arvind Sharma is the Executive Director and ESG and Sustainability Lead for Rennie Advisory. This episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast is sponsored by Good Citizens.
Good Citizens is an eyewear brand like no other. Born to untrash the planet of single-use plastic. Good Citizens turns a discarded single-use plastic bottle into a pair of 100% recycled frames. It took them 752 days & 2500+ failed attempts to perfect the first pair of sunglasses. Even more unique, the modular system means you can repair each part in seconds. So, if your dog munches on them, it’s all fixable.
Use this discount code GREEN20 to get $20AUD off and help untrash the planet.
Highlights: - Mary emphasises the vast potential of the circular economy in Australia, with a focus on resource recovery, utilising recycled materials, effective waste management, and transitioning to renewable energy resources.
- Australia’s distinct location and vulnerability to climate change posts unique sustainability challenges, coupled with the fragility of ecosystems that support its natural biodiversity. - Arvind sheds light on Australia’s revised sustainability targets under the Paris Agreement; it is evident that Australia is currently falling short of aligning with the 1.5°C pathway outlined by the IPCC.
- Mary and Arvind delve into how Australia has responded to the significant rise in electricity prices, with many companies opting for Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to manage
their energy price risks.
- We explore the sustainability skills gap as a significant barrier hindering the accelerated implementation of sustainability goals in Australia.
- Through their expertise, Mary and Arvind shed light on how Australia’s experiences can serve as valuable lessons for the rest of the world. They emphasise the importance of not blindly following others but instead tailoring sustainability approaches to fit specific countries.
- Australia has made impressive progress in embracing new energy sources and the rapid pace at which investments have been made; something the rest of the world can look to for inspiration.
Resources: Energetics Rennie Advisory Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) The Paris Agreement Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Australia Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) A Short Guide to the Circular Economy
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Small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) have a crucial role to play in sustainability, despite some thinking they are too small to make an impact. SMEs make up around 90% of businesses globally; while individual SMEs may have a smaller impact compared to larger corporations, their collective action can have a significant effect on environmental impact.
In this episode, our host Will Richardson explores the question: are you ever too small to make a difference? To shed light on this topic, he is joined by two experts who assist SMEs on their sustainability journeys: Sarah Whale, Managing Director of Profit Impact, and Andy Hawkins, Chief People, Planet, and Purpose Officer at Business on Purpose.
This episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast is sponsored by Good Citizens.
Good Citizens is an eyewear brand like no other. Born to untrash the planet of single-use plastic. Good Citizens turns a discarded single-use plastic bottle into a pair of 100% recycled frames. It took them 752 days & 2500+ failed attempts to perfect the first pair of sunglasses. Even more unique, the modular system means you can repair each part in seconds. So, if your dog munches on them, it’s all fixable.
Use this discount code GREEN20 to get $20AUD off and help untrash the planet.
Highlights:
Sarah and Andy both share the belief that no business is too small to make a difference. Sarah emphasises that it starts with individuals and their actions, regardless of whether they belong to a big corporation or work independently. Andy illustrates this by using an analogy of playing football without a goalkeeper, where even individual contributions add up to make a significant difference. He cites historical figures like Nelson Mandela and Florence Nightingale who made a tremendous impact despite being part of a bigger system. Many business owners find it challenging to make sustainability a top priority. Sarah and Andy agree that time restraints, prioritisation, and limited resources are common challenges for SMEs. Will points out that some businesses may consider financial constraints as a reason for not prioritising sustainability, however engaging in sustainable practices can strengthen a business’s financial position. Andy adds that B Corps have reported positive financial outcomes, trading at 28% above GDP. He plans to conduct research to further investigate these benefits and explore the barriers that prevent businesses from measuring and improving their social and environmental impact.Resources:
Profit Impact
Business on Purpose
B Corp Certification: Benefits and Requirements
B Lab...
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Title: Investing in Green Innovation
In the midst of a global economic downturn, sustainable businesses need to grow and innovate to survive in uncertain times. But just how easy is it to get investment? The EU recently announced the Green Deal industrial plan, aiming to fast track Net-Zero projects in Europe, making 250 billion euros available for greening industry. Alongside this, the US Inflation Reduction Act also includes a $369 billion package for clean energy projects, and there have been calls for a similar scheme to boost businesses in the UK.
Can UK businesses take advantage of the rush to go green? And if so, how? To help us answer this question, we are joined by Jon Dishotsky, an investment partner at Giant Ventures who builds and backs purpose-driven companies, and Wiktor Warchałowski, CEO and founder of Airly, who supply real-time air quality data for governments and businesses. This episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast is sponsored by Good Citizens.
Good Citizens is an eyewear brand like no other. Born to untrash the planet of single-use plastic. Good Citizens turns a discarded single-use plastic bottle into a pair of 100% recycled frames. It took them 752 days & 2500+ failed attempts to perfect the first pair of sunglasses. Even more unique, the modular system means you can repair each part in seconds. So, if your dog munches on them, it’s all fixable.
Use this discount code GREEN20 to get $20AUD off and help untrash the planet.
Highlights:
· More capital has been raised in the last 12-24 months than ever before by investors, however the pace of investment into companies has slowed down significantly.
· Wiktor tells us about his experience going through the investment process, and the multitude of benefits it has brought to his company.
· We discuss what types of questions are asked by investors and if this differed across various investment bodies. For Wiktor, his team built an FAQ list to be prepared for their next investment meeting as they noticed a reoccurring theme amongst questions.
· Jon gives us a detailed insight into the question: how much money should a business ask to have invested in them?
· We look at how investment can put pressure on companies to scale too quickly, consequently having negative impacts on the organisation’s progression.
· “Capital does not help you innovate”; Jon shares his findings from a study that shows that companies that raised less than $100 million outperformed their peers who raised 5x more, meaning they continued to innovate significantly over a long period of time.
· Wiktor discusses the importance of working with investors that align with your organisation’s values and goals.
· Jon and Wiktor share some eye-opening and raw advice about building a business, gaining investment, and prioritizing innovation.
Resources: The Inflation Reduction Act Green Deal Industrial Plan Giant Ventures Airly Sustainability Solved
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Over the last few years, Shelley Lawson and Rob Webbon have been on a journey to build sustainable businesses in their respective parts of the cycling industry. Rob’s journey hit a stumbling block earlier this year when the founding team of Presca Sportswear made the difficult decision to close the business. Whilst Shelley’s company Frog Bikes, that she founded with her husband Jerry, continues to grow.
Many of us dream of shaking up the existing capitalistic consumer model, and positively contributing to the people involved, but is the business model sustainable? In this podcast, we discuss the challenges and lessons learned on the journey to become a sustainable business.
Highlights
Shelley and Rob share their learnings from running a sustainable business and provide fantastic advice for current and future sustainable business owners. Rob shares with us the detrimental effects that the cost-of-living crisis had on Presca Sportswear, and the stark difference to their position this time last year. Frog Bikes is celebrating its 10th birthday; Shelley tells us the challenges the business has faced over the years and changes they have made to their business model to navigate the hurdles.We consider whether it is easier or more difficult for sustainable organisations to achieve funding and support.Shelley and Rob share their views on whether ethical supply chains are more expensive and slower in nature.A Product Life Cycle Analysis is a process that measures the environmental impact of a commercial product, accounting for all stages of the product's life cycle. We discuss the accessibility of conducting a product life cycle analysis for smaller organisations and how Rob and Shelley navigated reducing the environmental impacts of their products. Shelley explains how positive consumer experience encouraged Frog Bikes to work directly with cycling shops instead of selling online. Frog Bikes and Presca Sportswear embedded circular processes into their business models; Presca offered clothing repairs, and Frog Bikes offered warranties and MOTs for second-hand bikes.Resources
A Short Guide to Product Life Cycle Analyses Frog Bikes Ever Given Cargo ShipConfederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI)
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On this month’s episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast, we are talking about Britain’s favourite pet: dogs. Research estimates that there are 13 million dogs in UK homes, a number which grew significantly during lockdown; it is estimated that 3.2 million households in the UK acquired a pet during the pandemic. Despite our love for the growing canine population, we can’t ignore the environmental impacts that come with dog ownership.
We are joined by Stephen Jenkinson, a consultant who uses applied psychology to help people like landowners, property developers, councils, and national parks to influence where dog walkers go and what they do. Stephen specialises in how to promote the good things about dog ownership and dog walking whilst minimising any adverse effects on other people, wildlife, or farm animals.
Highlights:
Studies from the past 20 years have highlighted the positives of dog ownership, from better physical and mental health, to being more sociable. Stephen identified a gap in the market, realising that no one was talking about dog welfare and environmental welfare collectively. Stephen’s work is funded by organisations like the Kennel Club, the largest organisation in the UK devoted to dog health, welfare, and training. Their objective is to ensure dogs live healthy and happy lives whilst educating people on how to be responsible owners. One of the biggest environmental concerns with ownership is dog waste; not disposing of this in the correct manner can impact the natural environment (such as change in soil properties) and makes the natural environment increasingly unpleasant especially for those with mobility impairment using wheelchairs, prams, or any mode of transport with wheels. Stephen reveals that dog waste can go in most landfill waste bins, something that studies have shown more than 60% of dog owners are not aware of. Signage is incredibly important when it comes to dog waste bins; making clear where and how to dispose of dog waste can reduce the unpleasant impact on the environment. Making the switch to dog waste bags derived from corn-starch will ensure that your dog waste is completely compostable. With many returning to the office full time, commercial and professional dog walkers are being hired to look after dogs when their owners are at work. Stephen tells us about a project he worked on with Scottish Natural Heritage where he ran workshops for dog owners and commercial dog walkers, highlighting the environmental issues linked to dog walking and how to overcome this.Resources:
Rights of Way Act
One Health
Kennel Club
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In this episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast, we are looking into the environmental impact of something we may not usually give a second thought to – elevators.
Half of the world’s population lives in cities and that number is expected to increase to 70% in 2050. As pressure on city space continues to rise, we are increasingly building upwards for our office spaces and homes, meaning we need efficient vertical transportation that doesn’t cost the earth.
We are joined by Dr Paula Casares, Global Head of ESG at TK Elevator, and Mark Bashford, director of The Lift Consultancy, who explain the improvements made in the development of elevators to reduce their energy usage and environmental impact.
Highlights
Mark estimates that approximately 70% of the lifts in the UK market are using older technology and are therefore not energy efficient. Elevators transport over 1 million people every day and can account for up to 10% of the energy consumption of a building. Paula’s company launched a project to become the first ever organisation to retrofit an existing elevator to achieve net-zero energy. Mark tells us about destination dispatch, a system where everyone going to the same floor gets in the same lift to decrease the number of stops the elevator must make, therefore reducing energy usage. The elevator industry has responded to the growing need for sustainable solutions by developing elevator models that consume less energy. Additionally, new elevators are using less materials to make its construction lighter. Paula explains how sustainability and digitalisation are no longer separate entities, and how TK Elevator views digitalisation as one level further in its reduction of its carbon footprint.Resources
TK Elevator
The Lift Consultancy
EOX: TK Elevator’s new eco-efficient and digitally native elevator platform
The World’s Cities in 2016
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Title: Taking Trees Out of the Paper Supply Chain
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Let’s talk about paper – a product we all use in our businesses, no matter the size or speciality. Paper use in office spaces is declining but, in the UK, we still use 9.9 million tonnes of paper every year, with every tonne of fresh pulp requiring the felling of 24 trees.
In this podcast, we explore the idea of trees being removed from the production of paper entirely and the positive environmental impact this would have. We are joined by the fantastic Adam Huttly, founder of Red Inc, a sustainable office supplies company that has teamed up with Envopap, the world’s first eco-friendly and commercially viable pulp-free paper.
Highlights
· Adam founded Red Inc in 2008 with a vision: to be a disruptor in the paper industry and rewrite the rules. He wanted to create a low-impact business that was designed to innovate, create value, and make a positive difference.
· Red Inc has seen exponential growth from corporate companies targeting organisations in their supply chain to understand net-zero strategies and be aligned to science-based targets.
· Adam tells us how Covid-19 impacted the office products industry, and how being a transactional and traditional ‘pile it high, sell it cheap’ industry led to its downfall during the pandemic.
· Red Inc partnered with EnvoPAP to acquire EnvoCOPY, a paper created using a reclaimed waste product called bagasse which is a by-product of sugarcane farming. EnvoPAP have taken the by-product that would normally be burned or put in landfill and turned this into pulp to make paper.
· In 2016/2017, Red Inc started a campaign called ‘Fight Bright White’ to raise awareness to clients that insisted on using bright white paper to portray their business in a certain way, in turn rejecting eco-friendly alternatives.
· Adam explains that many organisations in the office products industry don’t know where to start on their environmental journey, let alone help their clients do their sustainability reporting. Red Inc is way ahead of the curve and passionate about continuing to rewrite the script on sustainability for office products.
Resources Red Inc EnvoPAP EnvoCopy B Corp Recycling Facts
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Holidays in 2023 – should you go eco-friendly?
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According to research by booking.com, 42% of people said that recent news about climate change had influenced them to make more sustainable travel choices. More than half (57%) said they wanted to travel more sustainably in the next 12 months!
In this episode of 'Sustainability Solved', we're discussing eco-friendly holidays and how to travel more responsibly. Our guests Maudie Tomlinson from The Conscious Travel Foundation and writer and journalist Holly Tuppen explain what sustainable travel looks like, and how to make informed decisions when booking your next holiday.
Highlights:
· The Conscious Travel Foundation is a global community, initially set up by a group of industry friends during the covid-19 pandemic, uniting members of the travel industry the impact of tourism on the world.
· Holly was inspired to write about sustainable travel after travelling around the world using slower and more environmentally friendly modes of transport such as trains, sailing, or cycling. As a result, she experienced and saw a lot more than if she had gone by plane!
· Holly highlights that tourism can play a huge role in financing conservation efforts and nature restoration; she worked for an organisation called The Long Run who works with over 40 different lodges and travel experiences around the world to protect 23 million acres of ecosystems.
· Maudie discusses if being more sustainable means higher costs for businesses; she highlights that reducing your organisation’s carbon footprint will save you money in the long run.
· Holly’s book Sustainable Travel provides an array of advice for travellers looking to be more environmentally-friendly and how to make informed choices when booking a holiday.
· The more people ask questions about sustainable travel and have this as a priority when booking a holiday, the more travel organisations will be likely to take action.
· Holly addresses that a lot of businesses are nervous to start their sustainability journey in fear of not doing it 100% correctly and getting caught up in greenwashing claims.
· Maudie and Holly tell us of their own eco-friendly travel plans for 2023 and give some fantastic suggestions for solo and family holidays!
Resources:
The Conscious Travel Foundation
Booking.com sustainable travel research
Green Traveller
Sustainability Hospitality Alliance
The Long Run
Holly’s book Sustainable Travel
B Corp...
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As the cost-of-living crisis bites, we ask how important environmental messaging is to consumer choice? Is sustainability a luxury for a few, or the only way ahead for brands?
We are joined by Will Thacker and Fran Docx of 20Something, the creative company behind Woolmark’s captivating Wear Wool Not Fossil Fuel campaign. In their powerful advert, figures emerge dazed from a pool of oil and strip off to reveal wool clothing underneath. The video aims to educate consumers about the environmental dangers of synthetic fibres.
Woolmark is a not-for-profit organisation working with Australia’s 60,000 woolgrowers to research, develop and certify Australian wool, and champion its eco-credentials over other materials.
Highlights:
· Oil-based synthetics fuel the fast fashion industry. One cannot exist without the other
· Synthetic fibres are bad for the environment because they are made from oil.
· Woolmark’s research shows that in the 1980s, around 17%, of all fibres were synthetic fibres. By 2030, synthetic fibres will be around 80%.
· 50 million barrels of oil per year are used to source the fashion industry.
· Fran tells us that most people know synthetic fibres are bad for the planet, but don’t make the connection with what they are wearing and the fact it comes from oil.
· According to Natural England survey results, those with a higher household income are more likely to agree that looking after the environment is important to them.
· Fran comments that people on lower incomes are forced to overuse resources to survive and are more likely to be impacted by the effects of climate change.
· Sustainability matters more to consumers when they are purchasing products that are consumed or put on their body.
· There are two forces at play in the young consumer market. An increase in interest in sustainable brands and the second-hand fashion market, but also a desire to wear different outfits via TikTok and other social platforms.
· Will Tacker explains that greenwashing in the apparel industry is rife, so consumers have a responsibility to do their homework on brands.
· Will Thacker talks about El Alto, sustainable outdoor clothing brand, who boycotted Black Friday by closing its stores and encouraging employees to get outdoors.
Resources:
Woolmark – Wear Wool Not Fossil Fuel
Natural England survey
addresspollution.org
El Alto | Socially Responsible Outdoor Clothing
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This month on the Sustainability Solved podcast we are delving into the topic of last-mile delivery, the final stage of an order process where an item is transported from a warehouse or fulfilment centre to the final delivery destination.
Our cities are packed with commercial vehicles that pollute our local areas and make it increasingly dangerous to navigate our streets. As cities move towards reducing CO2 emissions and air pollution, the commercial vehicle sector needs to be at the forefront of the movement to make way for a greener future.
We are joined by Chris Benson, CEO and Founder of Oxford-based Pedal and Post, and Co-founder of Pedal Me, Ben Knowles, who are both at the forefront of the greener delivery movement.
Highlights:
Studies with the University of Westminster found that cargo bikes could do 60% more deliveries at the same time as commercial vehicles on most shop deliveries around London.On top of working with national parcel carriers, Pedal and Post specialise in medical deliveries. They pioneered the first delivery service that delivers chemotherapy medication in Oxford. Larger companies can see that the future is going towards cargo bikes but have not been able to achieve the kind of scale of operations that will make a difference. Sustainable deliveries can work out-with cities. Ben highlights that there may need to be some changes to the design of the bikes to cover ground quicker.With the increase in climate awareness, consumers are increasingly looking for organisations to deliver on sustainability commitments, and businesses should be helping to educate consumers on greener delivery. Ben tells us of the positive reaction received by consumers when they see a cargo bike instead of a commercial vehicle, especially when he delivered a 15ft pink dodo sculpture!Resources:
Pedal Me
Pedal and Post
University of Westminster cargo bikes research overview
Ultra-Low Emissions Zone
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On this month’s episode, we're joined by Victoria Cushing, Product Director at KMI Brands. We take a look into their cosmetic brand Plantopia, a pending B-Corp that uses adaptogens and essential oils in its products to create positive change for people and planet health.
Victoria takes us on a journey through Plantopia’s pursuit of a sustainable production process, and the processes and outcomes of its comprehensive lifecycle assessment conducted by Green Element. Victoria gives some fantastic advice for organisations looking to improve their sustainability and production processes.
Highlights:
· The team at Plantopia spent four years developing their brand to achieve recognition as one of the most planet-friendly and people-friendly cosmetic brands.
· Plantopia became a member of the UEBT, Union of Ethical Bio Trade, to ensure from the very beginning that it had traceability of its raw ingredients, and that the team understood their entire supply chain.
· For Plantopia, transparency is key, and a very important aspect for its consumers. Plantopia conducted a survey with over 1000 of its customers to identify what mattered to them and included that in its published manifesto.
· With the help of Green Element, Plantopia conducted a comprehensive lifecycle analysis, which allowed their team to identify key areas where reduction was required.
· Victoria talks about some of the obstacles the team experienced during this process, and that working closely with their suppliers was key in the success of their environmental journey.
· Due to the success of the first life cycle analysis process, Plantopia now aims to conduct a life cycle analysis on all its products by the end of 2030!
Resources:
KMI Brands
Plantopia
Union of Ethical Bio Trade
Green Element’s Life Cycle Analysis Service
- Visa fler
