The Net Zero Business Podcast

Green Business Pioneer Nick Brown of Nikwax, Paramo and Green Levers

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This week, I chat to Nick Brown, founder of waterproofing brand Nikwax, the outdoor clothing brand Paramo and his latest venture Green Levers. We talk about fighting pushback from vested interests, embedding biomimicry principles in product design and how Paramo gave Colombian prostitutes not only an escape from the streets but a path to being company owners. Fascinating stuff!

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Micromobility, the Sharing Economy and Giant Sequoias with Laura Elms, Forest Bikes

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:00:00 GMT

On this episode of the pod, I talk to Laura Elms, Sustainability Manager at Forest Bikes. We delve into how public bike share works, the sharing economy, why some schemes survive and some disappeared, how Forest tackle their scope 1-3 emissions, and their project to plant Giant Sequoias in Wales. And, yes, I ask why not native trees – and there's a good answer!

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Build a climate resilient value chain

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

The 10th of my 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability is build a climate resilient value chain – as always there are a few ways of doing this to maximise the effectiveness of your efforts and exploit co-benefits and I run through some of the best approaches I have found working with clients.

The pdf version of 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability can be downloaded from the Terra Infirma website.

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Heat Pump It Up! with Martin Fahey, Mitsubishi UK

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

With electrification winning the race to Net Zero, this week we delve into the world of heat pumps with Martin Fahey, Head Of Sustainability at Mitsubishi Electric UK. We talk about how heat pumps work (think heat, not temperature!), how the market is developing and why costs aren't falling the way that those of, say, solar are. We go on to air conditioning, including refrigerants, before talk about Mitsubishi's own Net Zero targets and the challenges of meeting them.

Martin mentions the Uxbridge Fallacy episode which can be heard here.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Top Sustainability Trends for 2026 with Andrew Griffiths, PlanetMark

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This week on the pod, I ask Andrew Griffiths of PlanetMark about the big trends in Sustainability for the year ahead. We talk about upheaval in the reporting standards sector, whether Net Zero should be retired as a brand and the ins and outs of engagement. Plenty to chew on!

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to Life

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Transformers: the hidden workhorses of Net Zero with Ayah Alfawaris, Wilson Power Systems

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:00:00 GMT

If we didn't have transformers on our electricity grid to step up and step down voltages then we would get nothing out of it; everything would be lost in transmission. Those dull grey boxes are essential to modern life and critical to Net Zero as they enable renewable energy generation, electric vehicle charging and battery storage systems. On the other hand ageing transformers are 'silent energy guzzlers'; across Europe they lose 3 times the electricity consumption of Denmark. In this fascinating episode of the pod, Ayah Alfawaris, Marketing and Sustainability Director of Wilson Power Systems explains all.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Learn to Love Offsetting

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This is the ninth of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide '10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability' where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I cover Rule 9: Learn to Love Offsetting.

Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

The Matteo Deidda episode can be found here.

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Turning Trauma into Purpose with Stuart Green

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In 2017, Stuart Green suffered the kind of loss we all dread. His wife Mia, a human rights and environmental lawyer, was brutally murdered by a hit squad in front of their three children near their home in the Philippines. As a scientist, Stuart decided to research how best to recover from trauma and, after reading 500 pieces of literature, realised that the answer was to abandon the past and embrace the future.

His book, the Regenerate Leap, provides a template for organisations to not just survive but thrive in a turbulent world. He rejects the idea of 'resilience' as that is backwards looking, preferring to think about having the mental agility to adapt to the new reality. In this inspirational episode of the pod, Stuart and I discuss how to apply regenerative thinking to organisations facing the transition to the low carbon economy.

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The State of the Sustainability Profession with Sarah Mukherjee, CEO of ISEP

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Who better to talk about the Sustainability Profession than Sarah Mukherjee MBE, CEO of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals or ISEP? Sarah and I talk about:

What counts as a 'green job'?
Why IEMA was rebranded as ISEP
What membership of a professional institute gives you
The shocking state of diversity in the profession
Making Sustainability relevant to the average person.

Full disclosure: I'm a Fellow of ISEP.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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He's an EV Lover: Jordan Marsden, the EV Guy

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Another fantastic interview for you this week with the EV Guy himself, Jordan Marsden. In a wide ranging discussion, we cover:

• The state of the global car industry

• Mythbusting and taking on the trolls

• How range anxiety is a thing of the past

• Does an EV save you money?

• Is charging infrastructure tracking EV sales?

• How organisations can support employees and customers

• New business models including collaborative charging, free charging tariffs and V2G

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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The Circular Economy is about Raw Materials, not Waste Management

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This is the eighth of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide '10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability' where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I cover Rule 8: The Circular Economy is About Raw Materials, not Waste Management

Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

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Power to the People – Delivering Community Renewable Energy with Damian Tow, Brighton Energy Co-op

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This week I'm joined by Damian Tow, Director of the Brighton Energy Co-op, to discuss how community based energy systems can thrive in a commercial environment. We discuss:

• The definition of community energy

• How the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) model works

• Community energy's USP/added social value

• Scale: how small/large can community schemes go

• Skills required

• Government policy (or lack thereof)

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Net Zero and the Waste Sector with Dr Adam Read MBE, SUEZ

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This week, Chief Sustainability & External Affairs Officer at Suez UK Dr Adam Read MBE joins me for a freewheeling and fun conversation broadly around waste/resources management and Net Zero. We talk about:

The evolution of waste policy
Public understanding, engagement and behaviour
The practicalities of a circular economy
How infrastructure can evolve from linear to circular applications
Selling green jobs to future generations
The power of yes

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Driving decarbonisation with Data, Freddie House, Sweep

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

This week I'm joined by Freddie House of the Sustainability data management platform Sweep to talk data. We discuss:

The connection between Sustainability and employee engagement
Reducing the data/reporting burden
AI: risks and opportunities
Current volatility in ESG
The importance of auditability
Sweep's Climate Contribution Framework and the power of league tables

A white paper on the Climate Contribution Framework can be found here.

This episode is brought to your by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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My Five Net Zero Predictions for 2026

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Happy New Year! In today's episode of the pod, I make five predictions for Net Zero in 2026 and, spoiler alert, they are much more optimistic than you might expect!

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd, Bringing Sustainability to Life

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The Uxbridge Fallacy: How the UK's political consensus on Net Zero was shattered

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This Twixmas I share my pet political theory: that the over-interpretation of the 2023 Uxbridge by-election has led to some terrible and self-defeating decision-making by the UK's Conservative Party and the shattering of the UK's long-held political consensus on climate action. Enjoy - if it's not too painful...

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Design the Future YOU Want to See

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This is the seventh of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide '10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability' where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk about a personal passion of mine as it covers the subject of my first proper Sustainability job, Rule 7: Design the Future You Want to See.

Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

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2025: The Year in Sustainability with Lucy Siegle and James Murray

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

It's that time of year to have a look back at the previous 12 months and reflect on what has happened in the world of Sustainability. I'm joined by James Murray, Editor in Chief of Business Green and Lucy Siegle (The One Show, books, magazine articles, podcasts and more), and we try not to just scream into the void in despair, but pick over the pieces of 2025 to find a way forward for the Sustainability movement in the face of a wave of populism. We also pick our heroes and villains of 2025 and look forward to what might unfold in 2026.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Designing a better world with Vicky Lofthouse, EN:ABLE Sustainability

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 06:00:00 GMT

One of my favourite quotes comes from Mike Monteiro: "the world is not broken, it is working exactly how we designed it to." To discuss how to redesign the world along Sustainable lines, I'm joined by Vicky Lofthouse of EN:ABLE Sustainability to chew over the power of design, how to drive innovation, the role of product-service systems, industrial symbiosis and so much more. Vicky tells me "context is key", we need to work with the existing situation, not against it.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Managing England's Green and Pleasant Land with Duncan Peake, Raby Estates

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This week, I'm joined by Duncan Peake, CEO of Raby Estates, to talk about Sustainability and land management. We cover a huge range of topics, including Green tourism, regenerative farming, peat upland management, forestry, retrofitting heritage buildings – all the things that are involved in running a large estate. One cross-cutting theme is that the various stakeholders involved – employees, tenant farmers, local authorities – are driving this agenda forward proactively rather than needing much persuading, which is highly encouraging!

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd, Bringing Sustainability to Life

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What I've Learnt in Year 2 of the Pod

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This is the 104th episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, making it our second birthday! To be honest, I wasn't expecting for it to go on so long, I originally started doing the interviews to get content for an as yet unwritten book and thought, hey, it's 2023, why not put them out as a podcast? The pod took over!

This time last year, I listed 5 lessons I'd learnt from the first year of the pod. This time, I review those 5 and add 5 more from year 2.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to Life

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Why Net Zero must be people-led, with Prof Marcelle McManus

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Professor Marcelle McManus has a huge range of clean technology research projects under her leadership at Bath University, but believes strongly that they must be cognisant of the very people that we expect to adopt them. In this episode, she explains the type of work her People-Led Net Zero centre is undertaking, before we talk through some of the technologies she's involved with including hydrogen, CCS, carbon removals and Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). However, the conversation keeps coming back to that core, vital message – people matter.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Truckin' on (bio)Gas with Philip Fjeld, CEO of ReFuels

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

While much of transport is going electric, Philip Fjeld, CEO of ReFuels, believes that biogas has a major role in decarbonising heavy goods vehicles. In this episode we discuss the business model for the sourcing and supply of bioCNG, the economics of bioCNG vs diesel vs electric drive chains, market penetration of CNGs and a fascinating dive into the complexities of developing new infrastructure in response to or anticipation of rising demand. All of us consume stuff that has been on an HGV on a daily basis both at work and at home, so this episode should be of interest to anyone involved in climate issues.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Who says you can't put a heat pump in a 16th Century farmhouse? asks Alex Hilton

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

By day, Alex Hilton is Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Beyondly, a compliance scheme and consultancy which supports businesses with environmental legislation such as the extended packaging regulations. But in the evening he heads home to his 16th Century farmhouse which he has retrofitted with a heat pump, solar panels and a battery. Yes, 16th Century, you read that right!

Alex and I chat through his impressive career, which includes trying to deliver sustainability in a war zone, before digging into the whys and wherefores of retrofitting a supposedly impossible-to-treat house. Inspiring stuff!

The Zero Bills Homes episode with Emma Fletcher of Octopus can be found here.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Leadership must own Sustainability Strategy

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This is the sixth of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide '10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability' where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk through what is probably the most important of the ten rules, Rule 6: Leadership must own your Sustainability Strategy

The biggest threat to your Sustainability programme is a disconnect between intention and action at the highest levels in the organisation. In this episode I explain how I ensure that my clients' leadership takes true ownership of Sustainability.

Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

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How we planted 100 million trees, launched a clothing brand and built a nature-based solutions platform with Derrick Emsley

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Derrick Emsley started his career in nature restoration in Canada as a teenager, before launching the TenTree clothing brand (ten trees planted for every product bought) and then building the Veritree verification platform for nature-based solutions. All of this has led to the planting of a whopping 100 million trees. In this episode, Derrick and I chew over the whys and wherefores of nature-based solutions, how his ventures have developed and the lessons he has learned. This is a guy who thinks big, very big – an inspiration for us all.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to Life

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Sustainable Business in Zimbabwe with Maureen Vere

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

I'm always very conscious that the pod tends to feature European or US guests, so this week I'm delighted to reach across the equator to Zimbabwe to talk to sustainable entrepreneur Maureen Vere. Maureen's company Verager grows cowpeas alongside maize as a living mulch to protect the latter from climate impacts, and then processes those cowpeas into a range of vegan food products, all the while promoting women in agriculture.

As well as digging into that clever green business model, Maureen and I discuss the Sustainability environment in Zimbabwe including the surging uptake of solar + battery domestic energy systems.

Finally, Maureen lists her key advice for people working in Sustainable business – very wise words indeed!

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Can Sustainability Make Us Happy? with Richard Lupo

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Impending doom, eco-anxiety, sackcloth and ashes – Sustainability is often portrayed in very negative terms, but are Sustainable organisations happier organisations? Who better to ask than Richard Lupo, a Sustainability Consultant and the author of the book "Happiness by Numbers"? Here's what we discuss:

Happiness by numbers – measuring well being
Sustainability and Maslow's hierarchy of needs
The effect of happiness hormones
Sustainability, levels of employee engagement and co performance
Making Sustainability fun
Happiness and the built environment

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd, Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Don't try to convert people to Sustainability; use Green Jujitsu

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This is the fifth of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide '10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability' where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk through what is probably the most important of the ten rules, Rule 5: Don't try to convert people; find buttons to press

Most attempts at Sustainability engagement fall into the 'preaching to the choir' category; most attempts fail to make a real difference. About 15 years ago I started developing an alternative approach, Green Jujitsu, which is about finding the sweetspot between the existing culture in the organisation and Sustainability, and starting there. In this episode I give examples in three different sectors. Green Jujitsu works!

Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

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Can offsetting drive your Net Zero programme? with Matteo Deidda

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Offsetting is often described as a distraction from decarbonisation, or, worse, a scam or greenwash. At best, organisations often say "we will concentrate on carbon reductions first and only offset what we can't get rid of." But what if we've got it all wrong? Can 100% offsetting drive your Net Zero programme by acting as an internal carbon tax? Matteo Deidda of Tide, the all-in-one finance platform with a customer base of 1.5 million small and medium size businesses (SMEs) explains all. Here's what we discuss:

Tide's three Net Zero pledges
The benefits of investing in 100% carbon removals up front
Pros and cons of different forms of carbon removal
Why Tide has chosen biochar as a carbon removal mechanism
Decarbonising the fintech sector
Supporting SME customers in their decarbonisation efforts
The importance of data in the age of AI

I mention the episode featuring Heather Buchanan of Bankers for Net Zero (apologies for dropping a clanger!)

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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How green is your website? with James Chudley

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT

If the internet was a country, it would be one of the top 5 polluters. What's that got to do with you? Well, if you have a website, then part of that is part of your carbon footprint. In this wide ranging conversation with Digital Sustainability expert James Chudley, we cover:

Building your Sustainability career on non-Sustainability skills
Trends in the digital and their impact on global emissions
The power of design for good and ill
Why 'page weight' matters
User experience: 'good for the user' usually means 'good for the planet'

James' website, full of resources to help you, can be found here.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Jeremy Leggett: Solar and Rewilding Pioneer

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT

When Jeremy Leggett decided to abandon the fossil fuel industry in favour of fighting climate change, he didn't take half measures. Cutting his teeth in Greenpeace, he founded the Solar Century business, the associated charity SolarAid, sat on a huge range of advisory panels and most recently founded Highlands Rewilding to bring nature based solutions into the mix. No wonder he was awarded the prestigious 2025 Blue Planet award.

Here's what we discuss:

Setting up a solar company when solar was expensive
Bringing light to the desperately poor via SolarAid
Navigating the post-truth world
Peak oil in an age of fracking
The need for carbon removals and the scope for nature based solutions
Monetising natural solutions amid the offsetting controversy

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life.

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Words of Wisdom: Sustainability Changemakers

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Through August the podcast will feature themed compilation episodes featuring hot takes from our wonderful guests over the last year. This week the theme is leading change for Sustainability featuring the combined wisdom of a stunning cast of characters:

Profs Knut Hanaess and Julia Binder of IMD on 'head, heart and hands' and future-back thinking
Solitaire Townsend of Futerra on the march of the Solutionists
Abby Chicken of Openreach on 'make friends first, change second'
Richard Smith of PS Planet on the impact of Blue Planet II and other TV programmes
Lucy Siegle on fixing the failures of international leadership

Click on the links for the full interviews.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Words of Wisdom: The Clean Energy Revolution

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Through August the podcast will feature themed compilation episodes featuring hot takes from our wonderful guests over the last year. This week the theme is clean energy – production, distribution and consumption – featuring the combined wisdom of a stunning cast of characters:

Richard Black of Ember on the Future of Energy
Michael Liebreich on why the hydrogen economy has never taken off (disagreeing with Richard!)
Adam Bell of Stonehaven on the prospects for a nuclear energy renaissance in the UK
Paul Glendinning of Northern Powergrid on whether the grid is ready for Net Zero
Emma Fletcher of Octopus on 'zero bills homes'
Prof Jan Rosenow on the electrication of industrial processes

Click on the links for the full interviews.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Words of Wisdom: Sustainability and Small Business

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 05:40:58 GMT

Through August the podcast will feature themed compilation episodes featuring hot takes from our wonderful guests over the last year. This week the theme is small/medium sized businesses (SMEs), featuring the combined wisdom of:

Jo Holmes and David Knight on the challenges faced by small businesses and the upsides and downsides of Sustainability frameworks for smaller companies
Jasper Steinhausen on why he aimed his recent Sustainabilitybook at small businesses and the sweetspot of opportunities for those companies
Don Golden on engaging typically Donald Trump supporting US small business owners through their mutual faith
Emma Burlow on her experiences as a fractional CSO of a small business disrupting a market with a circular business model

Click on the links for the full interviews.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Words of Wisdom: ESG Investing

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Through August the podcast will feature themed compilation episodes featuring hot takes from our wonderful guests over the last year. This week the theme is ESG Investing, featuring:

Georgia Hall on the definition of ESG and separating the signal from the noise
Marga Hoek on the Trillion Dollar opportunity presented by the Sustainable Development Goals
John Friedman on why ESG investing increases in times of uncertainty
Claudine Blaney of Aviva on how they bring Net Zero to their investment portfolio

Click on the links for the full interviews.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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In Sustainability, culture and strategy are two sides of the same coin

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This is the fourth of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk through what is probably the most important of the ten rules, Rule 4: Culture and strategy are two sides of the same coin.

What many Sustainability professionals fail to understand is that actually delivering Sustainability is about change (not ISO standards etc), and change is about psychology. In this episode I explain how I fuse strategy development and engagement together from the very start of the process, to produce a strategy that key decision makers actually want to deliver.

Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

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Some Like It (Very) Hot: Prof Jan Rosenow on Decarbonising 'Hard to Abate' Industries

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

If we broadly know how to decarbonise surface transport and domestic heating, what about the 'hard to abate' sectors such as steel making and chemicals? Today I'm joined by the (freshly be-chaired) Professor Jan Rosenow of Oxford University to talk through the decarbonisation of these sectors and, in particular, their scope for electrification. Here's what we discuss:

The scope for electrification of low, medium and high temperature processes
Novel technologies including high temperature heat pumps and electro-thermal storage
Energy efficiency and the rebound effect (aka Jevons Paradox)
How electrification can be 4-5x more efficient than gas but how the 'spark gap' is hindering progress
Jan's top 4 policy asks to decarbonise heavy industry

The excellent Some Like It Hot report that Jan co-wrote (and I used as a cheat sheet during our discussion) is available here.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Decarbonising the Net with Abby Chicken, Openreach

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Late last year, UK digital network provider Openreach placed the largest order for EVs in history, making a huge leap forward not only in meeting its Net Zero ambitions, but normalising clean transport for others too. This week on the pod, Openreach's Head of Sustainability Abby Chicken joins me to talk through EVs and a whole range of other issues, including:

• How Sustainability is largely a matter of change management

• The energy footprint of data vs dematerialising the economy

• Switching to EVs across a large and distributed workforce

• Overcoming myths and misinformation

• Removing and recycling redundant systems

• Building infrastructure in a nature positive way

• Meaningful employee engagement, by focussing on task-level asks

• "Make friends first, make change later"

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd, Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Engaging the the public on e-waste using the mighty Hypnocat with Scott Butler

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

If your senses have ever been assaulted by a psychedelic pink cat rapping about recycling your electronics, then Scott Butler, Executive Director at Material Focus, must take some of the blame. This week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, we talk about the world of electronic waste, including:

The importance of recycling waste electrical and electronic equipments (WEEE)
The challenges of fast tech, disposable vapes and electronic tat
The two key aspects of public engagement: facilities and motivation
The story behind Hypnocat
How negative experiences outweigh positive experience
Critical minerals and the circular economy.

The circular electronic fund Scott mentions can be found here.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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There's no point in doing the wrong thing well

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This is the third of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk through Rule 3: There's no point in doing the wrong thing well. What I mean by this is certain products and services will have no place in a low carbon economy (eg internal combustion engines, gas boilers etc), no matter what you do on cutting your organisational carbon footprint. If this applies to you, you will need to pivot to a low carbon business model or face bankruptcy.

Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

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Carbon literacy, circular business models and the power of listening with Emma Burlow

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This week on the pod, I catch up with Sustainability Consultant, Fractional CSO and fellow podcaster, Emma Burlow of Lighthouse Sustainability Ltd. Here's what we cover in our discussion:

The circular economy as a value generator
Disrupting markets with circular business models
The psychology of the word 'waste'
What is Carbon Literacy and why does it matter
Generational attitudes to climate change
Pushing back on misinformation
From awareness to action
The power of listening

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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A nuclear energy renaissance for the UK? with Adam Bell, Stonehaven

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This week I'm joined by nuclear whizz Adam Bell of Stonehaven to discuss last week's UK Spending Review which invested a lot of money and political capital to rejuvenate the UK's fast dwindling fleet of nuclear power stations. We discuss the following:

• Why did the building of nuclear reactors (almost) grief to a halt in 1989?

• The risks of China and Russia dominating the nuclear industry

• Why the construction Hinkley C is running over budget and behind schedule

• Small modular reactor technology and use cases

• The role of nuclear in meeting the Government's clean power objectives

• Renewables today or nuclear next decade? Opportunity cost tensions

• The changing role of GB Energy

• Is the nuclear announcement intended to provide the Government with political cover for Net Zero?

• Public opinion of nuclear energy

• Fuel availability and waste disposal

Phew! The density of information and insight packed into this episode could power a small grid by itself.

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Decarbonising Eastenders, Manchester University and Stonehenge with Richard Smith, PS Planet

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This week on the pod, I'm joined by Richard Smith of PS Planet, who I first met at the launch of 'Albert', the carbon calculator/assessment system he initially developed for the BBC and then for all broadcasters via BAFTA. In a freewheeling conversation, we discuss:

Helping the broadcasting sector decarbonise through the 'Albert' carbon platform
Sustainability in TV programming, from Eastenders to Blue Planet II
Zero carbon versus net zero, and the area under the curve
Matching your language to the audience (green jujitsu!)
Sustainability challenges in Universities and visitor attractions
The importance of joy, imagination and creativity in Sustainability

You can find Richard on LinkedIn here.

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On Sustainability, stretch yourself, but not too far

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This is the second of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk through Rule 2: Stretch yourself, but not too far – the need for ambitious yet pragmatic targets with an emphasis on the timing of targets.

Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

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Sustainability Accreditation for Small Business with Jo Holmes and David Knight

Fri, 30 May 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this week's episode, I talk to David Knight of Investors in the Environment (iiE) and Jo Holmes of Genee who co-ordinates iiE in the North East and North West of England. Here's what we cover:

• How Investors in the Environment works

• Sustainability challenges and opportunities faced by small businesses

• Taking the jargon out of the Sustainability conversation

• Scope 3 carbon emissions: data burdens, the limitations of 'spend data' and the need for standardisation

• How small business should aproach 'Social Value' in UK public procurement

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The Challenges of a Just Transition with Dr Simona Capisani

Fri, 23 May 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In any transition, there are inevitably winners and losers, but can we make a fossil fuel-free future fair, or as fair as possible while still delivering change at the necessary pace? To dig deep into this conundrum, I'm joined by Dr Simona Capisani, Assistant Professor of Environmental Philosophy at Durham University. Here's what we discuss:

Defining a just transition
Given the global poor will bear the brunt of climate change, is any transition a 'just transition'?
Can just transition issues be used as a cover for 'predatory delay' by bad actors?
Selling fairness in an age of political populism
How sustainability managers should address just transition within their organisation's climate strategy.

Simona refers to the Australian Community Power Agency and the US Climate & Community Institute for more guidance.

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The Future of Energy (it's electrifying!) with Richard Black, Ember

Fri, 16 May 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This week I'm joined by the legendary Richard Black, former BBC environment editor, founder of the ECIU and now Director of Strategy and Policy at Ember. We cover a huge amount of ground, including

• The rise and fall (and rise again) of the climate contrarians

• Media narratives vs public opinion

• The state of play in global power generation

• Five technologies to save the planet

• Coal mine methane, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage

You can find Richard's book, The Future of Energy, here.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life - if you need help, give us a shout.

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Rule 1 of Corporate Sustainability: Understand YOUR Business Case

Fri, 09 May 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This is the first of 10 special episodes to mark the publication of my guide 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability where I sum up the lessons I have learnt delivering Sustainability over the last 25+ years. In this episode, I talk through Rule 1: Understand the business case as it applies to your business (the emphasis on the last bit cannot be under emphasised).

Click here to download 10 Rules for Corporate Sustainability

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Neuroscience, Sustainability and all that jazz with Gerald J. Leonard

Fri, 02 May 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to business coach, author and professional jazz bassist Gerald J Leonard. We talk about:

• Business lessons from the world of music

• Pivoting to Sustainability through customer demand

• How neuroscience guides our decision making and how it can help deliver Sustainability

• Selling Sustainability in turbulent political times

Make sure you listen to the end for a snippet of Gerard's single, Vertigo. You can hear all his music, including the recent Beatles on Bass EP, on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/05YHiJl8BdEfq6M7AQKLYy

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Three Deadly Net Zero Fallacies

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This week, I go on a bit of a rant about three fallacies that afflict Net Zero and the low carbon transition. These are:

The Not Me Guv Fallacy
The 1% Fallacy
The Relatively Good Fallacy

Do you recognise any of them?

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Can renewables reduce home energy bills to zero? Octopus Energy's Emma Fletcher explains how

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Emma Fletcher is one of those quite extraordinary people whose ability to get things done is unparalleled. She led a community project to develop a 100 home zero carbon heat network in her village in her spare time. This in turn attracted the attention of Octopus Energy founder Greg Jackson who offered her the role of Low Carbon Homes Director, and when they say 'low carbon', they're not talking about tinkering around the edges!

Here's what we discuss:

How Octopus is effectively a data company
How the Kraken platform allows Octopus to disrupt the energy market
The home retrofit challenge and how Octopus takes inspiration from Formula 1 to bring down costs
The evolving economics of low carbon homes
Octopus's mission to build 100,000 zero carbon/zero bills homes

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Is ESG really dead? Sorting the signal from the noise with Georgia Hall

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 05:00:00 GMT

If you listen to the press and pundits, you'd think ESG investing is dead as a doorknob. But what's the reality? In this week's episode, I catch up with Georgia Hall, ESG & Investment Director, Listed Infrastructure at Maple-Brown Abbott, to help us separate the signal from all that noise. Here are some of the things we cover:

What is ESG investing and is it really in decline?
How stranded high carbon assets are a genuine risk to investors
Why the US is highly unlikely to see a 'coal rush' no matter what President Trump thinks.
Key growth areas for ESG investing
How the added scrutiny of the ESG sector is shaking out the greenwash

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The Pod does God: Faith, Sustainability and Small Business with Don Golden

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Don is almost certainly the first ordained minister I've had on the Net Zero Business Podcast, he's also a Sustainability consultant whose core audience is small business owners in Mid West USA – ie likely Donald Trump voters. For me, as an atheist, this was a fascinating and sometimes deeply philosophical discussion of personal values, business and our relationship with nature. Don's humanity, wisdom and insights should be an inspiration to us all.

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It ain't easy being green...

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This week on the pod, I discuss a simple precondition of sustainable behaviour in the public and/or employees – you have to make it easy for people to do what you want them to do. That might sound obvious, but in practice being green is often made rather difficult. I give three examples from my life and career that make the point, plus ways to discourage us green behaviour – and how to identify those barriers.

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Marga Hoek on Capital, Technology & Inspiration: the 3 keys to unlock Sustainability

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This week on the pod, I'm joined by Marga Hoek, entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Trillion Dollar Shift and Tech for Good. The former book sets out the trillion dollar investment opportunity presented by the Sustainable Development Goals while the latter looks at the Sustainability opportunities set out by innovations such as AI, blockchain and robotics. We discuss these two topics along with Marga's collaboration with Imagine5 on storytelling to inspire change for good, creating a triumvirate of planks to build the bridge to Sustainability. "We are playing a new game with old rules" is just one quote from Marga which I will be musing on for a very long time.

This episode is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to life.

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Vet Zero: Sustainability at the Royal Veterinary College with Rachel Ward

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In this fascinating chat with Rachel Ward, Sustainability Manager at the Royal Veterinary College, London, I think we cover more issues than any other episode - not surprising given the wide variety of activity at the College: teaching buildings, 400 student rooms, a veterinary hospital and a farm with 200 head of cattle. Here's a taste of what we cover:

Facilitating reuse between generations of students and charities
Low carbon anaesthesia
Smart bins to boost recycling rates
Sustainable agriculture: biodiversity, soil carbon and climate adaptation
Using quirky stories to capture people's imaginations
Becoming hedgehog friendly
Decarbonising listed buildings and using novel building technologies

My only regret about this episode is bringing it to a close – Rachel kept providing more and more insights, so I should have kept things going...

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Sustainability in the C-suite with Jennifer Geary

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This week I'm joined by Jennifer Geary, award winning author of a set of books on how to be a C-level executive, including co-authoring How to be a Chief Sustainability Officer. Here's what we cover:

Leadership in difficult political times
Connecting Sustainability to the company purpose
Should the CSO be a standalone role or integrated into other C-roles
Ownership of Sustainability, including Green Jujitsu (my smart engagement technique)
AI and reducing the data burden in reporting

If you want a deep dive into 'How to be a CSO', check out my episode with Jennifer's co-author Anna Krotova.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life.

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The biggest barrier to Sustainability is just 6 inches wide...

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode of the podcast, I talk about the need to start casting off mental baggage that is holding back the transition to a low carbon economy. I give some policy examples, but I also take a few pot shots at those in the Sustainability sector who resist innovation in our methods. We need to keep doing things better!

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"Is the electricity grid ready for Net Zero?" with Paul Glendinning, Northern Powergrid

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT

With electrification emerging as the prime route to the decarbonisation of transport, space heating and many industrial processes, the gazillion dollar question is, can the electricity grid deliver sufficient zero carbon electricity to make this happen? To get some answers, this week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, I caught up with Paul Glendinning, Energy Systems Director of Northern Powergrid (NPG) – we discuss the following:

The remarkable decarbonisation of the UK electricity grid to date
Paul's prediction that NPG will hit Net Zero by 2028
"What if the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow?"
How market reform is unlocking clean energy projects
Smart grids, AI and vehicle to grid (V2G) technology

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to life

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The Art of Sustainability Communications with Helen Neal

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, I'm joined by Helen Neal of HN Communications. We cover a huge number of topics including:

Ethics in the PR Industry
The importance of leadership commitment
Brandmapping to create a compelling Sustainability story
Building trust through sharing the positives and difficulties
Focussing on what you have done rather than what you plan to do
Green claims and the nuances of greenwash
Progress > perfection
The pros and cons of the BCorp scheme

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Brining Sustainability to Life

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Unpicking the Politics of Net Zero with Michael Liebreich

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT

This week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk politics with Michael Liebreich, one of the foremost commentators and advisors on the clean energy transition, a former Olympic skier and co-host of Cleaning Up, my second favourite podcast.

Here's a selection of what we cover:

How the UK Labour Government has fared on its commitment to green growth (we recorded before the Heathrow announcement)
The imperative of driving down consumer electricity bills
Why Michael told the Conservative party to commit to Net Zero or die
Trump's petrostate vision, vs China's electrostate
Whether hydrogen and CCS are distractions
Dirty money in politics and the PR industry

The episode of Cleaning Up with Michael and Adair Turner can be found here.

This podcast is brought to your by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Demand: the one word that will save the planet

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This week I muse on the magic that demand brings to the economy: plummeting prices, rising quality and security of supply. Therefore it follows that to accelerate the creation of a sustainable economy, we must be focussing on ways of stimulating demand for renewable energy, electric vehicles and secondary materials to name but three. I talk about how individuals, organisations and policy makers can do their bit.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Brining Sustainability to Life.

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Business Leadership & Sustainability: Head, Heart & Hands with Profs Julia Binder & Knut Haanaes

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, I'm joined by the two editors/lead authors on a new book 'Leading the Sustainable Business Transformation', Prof Julia Binder and Prof Knut Haanaes from IMD. We discuss the importance of 'head, heart and hands', dig into the importance and power of "future-back thinking" (aka backcasting) and explore the two Profs' favourite case studies.

We also cover a wide range of Sustainability topics including the risks of the low carbon transformation (using the auto industry as a case in point), product-service systems, the circular economy and the importance of design. I thoroughly enjoyed delving into these issues with two such esteemed thinkers!

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Why Sustainability Will Survive Trump, welcoming the backlash and the Batman paradox - John Friedman

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

This week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, I'm joined by leading US Sustainability thinker, author and fractional CSO John Friedman. We cover a huge range of issues including the impending Trump administration, why we are getting a backlash and John's Batman analogy. We also cover why your employees should be your primary audience, what a fractional CSO is, and talk about John's book, Managing Sustainability: First Steps to First Class.

This podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Adapt or die: why decarbonisation is no longer enough with Rupert Read

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Climate adaptation is the Cinderella of climate action, but increasing extreme weather events make it all too clear that we not only have to mitigate climate change (through carbon reductions) but prepare for the impacts already baked into the system. Rupert Read, author of Transformative Adaptation and former Extinction Rebellion Spokesperson, joins me to talk about the need to go beyond "shallow, defensive" adaptation and 'green bling' to build true resilience into our global value chains, and how adaptation can be a pathway to decarbonisation rather than an either or. Rupert is a fascinating analyst of the climate debate who will challenge many of your assumptions.

Rupert's book, Transformative Adaptation can be bought here.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Sustainability in 2025: Predicting the Unpredictable

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 05:02:02 GMT

Happy New Year!

It is traditional at this time of year to dust off the old crystal ball and look forward to the next 12 months, so here's my take on global emissions, the increasing need for adaptation, UK politics, US politics and COP30.

Join us on 15 Jan 2025 for our 12½ Kick Ass Sustainability Ideas for 2025 webinar and get your year off to a flying start. You'll not only get the best of Sustainability thinking, but you will produce an action plan to implement the ideas that resonate best for you.

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Twixmas musings: blade flicker, learning from Trump, the cost of not zero, Blockbuster vs Netflix, touching grass

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 05:43:45 GMT

Hope you had a good Christmas. I was going to take a break from the pod, but a number of thoughts kept bouncing around my head, so I thought I would share. What happened to 'blade flicker', what Donald Trump can teach us about engagement, why the cost of not zero is critical, business choice between Blockbuster and Netflix, and young people telling each other 'go touch grass'.

This will be the very last pod before the Net Zero Business Academy 2025 early bird offer closes - click here to secure your place.

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The Vital Role of Soils in the Climate Battle with Prof Karen Johnson

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 05:03:01 GMT

There is huge interest in nature-based solutions for climate change, and the success of these mainly comes down to carbon retention in soil. In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to award-winning Professor of Environmental Engineering Karen Johnson (who also happens to be my partner of 30+ years and, yes, this is the kind of thing we discuss over breakfast) about how soil holds (or loses) carbon, the scope for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the soil, and why it is much more complicated than people think.

since we uploaded the episode, Karen has noticed she misspoke on adding waste to soils - she meant to say she fully approves of doing so.

The early bird offer for Net Zero Business Academy can be found here:

https://www.terrainfirma.co.uk/net-zero-business-academy-2025-early-bird-offer-open/

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The new Net Zero Carbon Building Standard with Will Arnold, IStructE

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 05:45:51 GMT

We won't get to Net Zero without Net Zero buildings. So it's not before time that a Net Zero Carbon Building Standard has been drafted by a cross-section of all the major construction sector groups in the UK. In this episode, I'm talked through the new standard by Will Arnold of the Institution of Structural Engineers who served on the standard's Technical Steering Group.

The pilot Net Zero Carbon Building Standard can be downloaded here.

Click here for details on Net Zero Business Academy 2025.

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2024: The Year in Sustainability with Lucy Siegle and James Murray

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 06:00:16 GMT

As we come to the end of a tumultuous 2024, I'm joined by a crack team of pundits – 'OG' Sustainability Superstar Lucy Siegle and the ever-wise Executive Editor of BusinessGreen.com, James Murray – to pick over the key events including elections and COPs, nominate our climate heroes and villains, and we make some predictions for 2025. And, of course, we talk about what we think of Jaguar's big pink car.

For the Net Zero Business Academy early bird offer click here.

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Five Big Sustainability Lessons from the first year of the Net Zero Business Podcast

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 06:00:12 GMT

Blimey. It has been a year since I first launched the Net Zero Business Podcast. In this special birthday episode, I explain exactly why I started the podcast, before drawing out five big things I have learnt over the last year and 50+ episodes. It is a subjective list, regular listeners may have other learning points or respond to some of mine with a 'duh'. If you have feedback or an issue you would like me to cover let me know here.

I reference quite a few interviews, so instead of a huge list here, it's easier to browse them all via this link:

https://shows.acast.com/the-net-zero-business-podcast/episodes

Looking forward to the next year of the pod!

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Designing Regenerative Buildings with David Cheshire

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 06:00:23 GMT

This week's episode features a fascinating exploration of regenerative buildings with David Cheshire, UK Sustainability Director of infrastructure consultants AECOM and author of Regenerative by Design: Creating living buildings and cities published by RIBA. We dig into what a 'net positive' building would look and feel like, how they work in practice and how the market is responding to new possibilities. Make sure you listen to the end!

This episode is brought to you by Net Zero Business Academy, our unique programme of online training webinars. The very early bird offer of a 50% discount expires on 30 November 2024 – click here for more details.

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Solitaire Townsend on the March of the Solutionists

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 05:26:13 GMT

Thoroughly enjoyed this chat with Solitaire Townsend, Founder and Chief Solutionist of Futerra, and author of the fab new(ish) book, The Solutionists. We discuss what a Solutionist is, positivity vs doom, greenwash, creativity and engaging leaders in Sustainability. Don't miss this one!

More the Net Zero Business Academy 2025 early bird offer here.

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"Act Local": Place-based Sustainability with Florian Wupperfeld

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 05:22:28 GMT

Ever since the 1992 Earth Summit, we have been urged to "Think Global, Act Local". All too often this slogan has manifested itself in small scale projects, but what about creating sustainable cities? In this episode I talk place-based Sustainability with Florian Wupperfeld, world-leading placemaking/social sustainability expert and CEO of LCD Ventures, a UK-based data-driven urban innovation company offering placemaking services and socially sustainable solutions.

This podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd. For full details of Net Zero Business Academy 2025 and our generous very early bird discount click here.

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Are your Sustainability messages falling on deaf ears?

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 05:56:12 GMT

Management Peter Drucker said "culture eats strategy for breakfast" and nowhere is this more true than in Sustainability. You can have the best strategy in the world, but if people aren't bought into Sustainability then nothing will change. Here I explain why so many people fail to engage with Sustainability and why standard engagement techniques often fail. I call my approach Green Jujitsu and I explain how the idea developed over many years of experience.

For more on Green Jujitsu, check out our on demand course on Udemy: Green Jujitsu: Smart Employee Engagement for Sustainability

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Healthy People, Healthy Planet with Dr Matt Sawyer and Dr Mike Tomson

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 05:30:21 GMT

In this episode, I'm joined by two hugely experienced doctors and Sustainability champions Matt Sawyer and Mike Tomson who have edited a new book, Environmentally Sustainable Primary Care. Our discussion takes in the huge and complex overlap between healthcare and planetary care, how to engage busy people and the challenges/opportunities for small businesses to embrace Sustainability.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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Can AI eliminate the Sustainability Reporting burden? with Louis Frank

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 05:08:09 GMT

With booming numbers of reporting regimes – CSRD, EU Taxonomy, Double Materiality, SFDR etc – Sustainability teams increasingly find themselves slogging in the data mines rather than delivering the Net Zero wins they actually want to report on. Given the sudden blossoming of AI, can this new technology alleviate the reporting burden and, if so, at what cost? In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I dig into the details with Louis Frank, CEO and founder of Fingreen.ai.

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Putting the world to rights with Brendan May

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 04:33:06 GMT

Frankly, I'm struggling to sum this episode up! Brendan May of Robertsbridge has been one of the leading voices on Sustainability for decades and in this conversation we cover the current UK political context, the difficulties with transition, the threat of culture war populism, the unintended consequences of not doing things (eg offsetting, nuclear, palm oil), the success and failure of NGO campaigns and deep sea mining of transition metals.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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The Litmus Test of Sustainability

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 04:30:24 GMT

In this episode, I lay out what I call the Litmus Test of Sustainability. No spoilers, you will have to listen to hear what it is!

If you want help to pass the test, please check out my Executive Coaching programme.

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The Guardian's Fiona Harvey on Labour's first three months in (clean) power, international climate politics and COP29

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 04:56:19 GMT

Keir Starmer's Labour Party won a crushing victory in July's UK General Election on the back of a 'green growth' economic strategy, but how is this measuring up in practice? Fresh from the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Fiona Harvey, the Guardian's multi-award-winning Environment Editor, joins me to run the rule over the new Government's policies both national and international, which leads us neatly on to preview the coming COP29 climate change summit in Azerbaijan. Fiona has been attending COPs since 2004, so is the perfect person to cover everything from the complexities of climate finance to who's best dressed.

As always, the Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - brining Sustainability to Life

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Can Regenerative Farming Save the Planet? with Doug Wanstall, Beyond Zero

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 05:27:54 GMT

With agriculture being responsible for 11% of the UK's carbon emissions, declining biodiversity and polluted water course, is there a Sustainable alternative to modern industrial agriculture? Doug Wanstall of Beyond Zero joins me to explain how regenerative agriculture works, how he is funding projects via voluntary carbon credits and what the forthcoming UK carbon code is intended to do.

This episode is brought to your by Terra Infirma Ltd - Brining Sustainability to Life

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Is the future uninsurable? with Claudine Blamey, CSO, Aviva

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 04:19:18 GMT

Is the future uninsurable? In this episode, Claudine Blamey, Chief Sustainability Officer of insurance giant Aviva, explains that the warning signs are there to be seen with some insurers starting to pull out of areas hit by extreme weather. We also delve into Aviva's breakthrough temperate rainforest restoration project as a form of offsetting, the importance of leadership, the power of volunteering, and the risks and opportunities of the climate transition.

As always, the Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma - Bringing Sustainability to Life.

Podcast branding by Avery & Brown.

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Sustainability and Small Business with Jasper Steinhausen

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 04:02:44 GMT

And after our August compilation episodes of the Net Zero Business Podcast, we are back with a bang in the form of Jasper Steinhausen, author of Making Sustainability Profitable, aimed at Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the manufacturing sector. I felt a real meeting of minds as we compare and contrast Jasper's sustainability sweetspot with mine and delve into mindsets, unleashing creativity and the circular economy. Almost everything Jasper says is not only very wise but eminently quotable and I thoroughly enjoyed re-listening during the production process.

If you want to take up Jasper's special offer of one of three gifts then click here.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life

Podcast branding courtesy of Avery & Brown.

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Words of Wisdom: The Mental Challenge of Delivering Sustainability

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 04:30:18 GMT

Delivering Sustainability is far from easy and takes its mental toll on practitioners. In the final Words of Wisdom compilation episode of this summer, we look at the mental aspects of delivering Sustainability with these fantastic contributions:

Eco-anxiety and me – Anna-Lisa Mills, Smart Carbon
How declaring a climate emergency saved me from jail – James Dixon, Newcastle Hospitals Trust
Pessimism, optimism and faith – Amir Sokolowski, CDP
Meditation, innovation and Sustainability – Mark Shayler, Ape

The full interviews can be heard by clicking the links.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to life.

Podcast branding courtesy of Avery & Brown.

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Words of Wisdom: Offsetting/Voluntary Carbon Markets

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 06:39:39 GMT

During August, we are publishing a series of compilation episodes featuring the best bits of our interviews on a particular theme. This time we are looking at that most controversial of topics, offsetting aka voluntary carbon credits. Does it work? Is it a distraction? Is it greenwash? Before you make up your mind, check out these contributions:

The state of play in offsetting – Nic Alexander of Thallo (full interview here)
The hidden risk of relying on offsets – Mel Blackmore of Blackmore's (full interview here)
Alternatives to offsetting #1: insetting – Alex Herridge of Skanska/Anglian Water (full interview here)
Alternatives to offsetting #2: social offsetting – Olli Jones of Cundall (full interview here)

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to life.

Podcast branding courtesy of Avery & Brown.

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Words of Wisdom: Sustainable Supply Chains

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 05:02:54 GMT

During August, we are publishing a series of compilation episodes featuring the best bits of our interviews on a particular theme. This time I've collated four clips about the different aspects of the supply chain which I think are very insightful:

The state of play in Supply Chain Sustainability – Shaun McCarthy OBE, Supply Chain Sustainability School (full interview here)
Collaborating with competitors to improve Supply Chain capacity – Alex Roberts, Vistry Group (full interview here)
Turning a disgraced supply chain around through radical change – Aida Greenbury (full interview here)
How the supply chain is choking the EV industry – Prof Colin Herron (full interview here)

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to life.

Podcast branding courtesy of Avery & Brown.

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Words of Wisdom: Sustainable Design and Innovation

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 04:51:13 GMT

During August, we are publishing a series of compilation episodes featuring the best bits of our interviews on a particular theme. As the old cliché goes, we won't fix climate change and other environmental problems with the same thinking that created them, so this episode is all about design and innovation. The clips I have picked are:

The importance of design from Alex Herridge of Skanska/Anglia Water (full interview here)
Eco-design and cost from Rich Deaville of Balfour Beatty (full interview here)
Biomimicry: The Factory as a Forest by Lisa Conway of Interface (full interview here)
Insect protein in an industrial ecology-style cluster by Tobias Webb of the Innovation Forum (full interview here).

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to life.

Podcast branding courtesy of Avery & Brown.

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Words of Wisdom: Engagement for Sustainability

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 04:46:37 GMT

During August, we are publishing a series of compilation episodes featuring the best bits of our interviews on a particular topic. First up is the crucial area of engagement, featuring the following contributions:

Engaging the public on the BBC - Lucy Siegle
B2B green marketing - Russ Avery of Avery & Brown
Internal engagement using Green Jujitsu - Elisa Gasperini of Ahsell
Gamification: making Sustainability fun - Dr Paula Owen

Click on the links to get the full interview in each case.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to life.

Podcast branding courtesy of Avery & Brown.

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3 Reasons Why Your Net Zero Strategy is Failing

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 05:11:58 GMT

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I run through the 3 most common failures that lead to a Net Zero Strategy failing. For each, I explain how I avoid these elephant traps when I'm developing Net Zero Strategies with my clients.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – check out our Net Zero Accelerator if you need help with your strategy.

Podcast logo courtesy of Avery & Brown.

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Building trust in green marketing with Russ Avery, Avery and Brown

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 06:34:41 GMT

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Russ Avery of the Avery & Brown marketing agency about his Sustainability career, his views on green marketing and other interests, notably AI. Here's the highlights:

• Purpose driven business

• How clichéd images betray an inability to tell a story.

• Avoiding greenwash, greenhushing and the danger of big numbers

• Becoming a BCorp as a small business

• AI for good

As always, the podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shining a light on offsetting with Nic Alexander, Thallo

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 08:05:28 GMT

This week I speak to Nic Alexander of Thallo about Sustainability's most controversial topic, offsetting. We talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the current market for voluntary carbon credits (to use offsetting's Sunday name) and what is being done to address the weakness. Along the way we bust some of the lazy myths of offsetting and talk about why more businesses are embracing it.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Brining Sustainability to Life

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How to be a Chief Sustainability Officer with Anna Krotova

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 04:00:16 GMT

In this week's edition of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Anna Krotova, co-author of a great new book entitled How to be a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). As I say, this is one of the best books I've read on Sustainability and Leadership (second only to my own Green Executive 😉). Watch and learn all about the hot new role in Sustainability.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

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How to sell Sustainability to just about anybody

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 04:00:06 GMT

This week's podcast is a long version of a response I gave to a client in a workshop recently. I lay out how I open every workshop I do with a new audience to bring them on board and my subjective assessment is that it works 99%+ of the time! Like all my change management for Sustainability, I employ approaches that take into consideration human psychology - one of my maxims is that the biggest barrier to Sustainability is just six inches wide, the space between our ears.

If you want to embrace this approach but feel you need some support, go to Terra Infirma Ltd and drop me a line!

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Aida Greenbury on turning an environmental pariah into a Sustainability pioneer

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 06:30:15 GMT

In 2012, Greenpeace launched a boycott of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), endorsed by a huge number of brands from Gucci to Staples. In this edition of the Net Zero Business Podcast, the then Sustainability Manager of APP, Aida Greenbury, tells the story of how she led the company through a Damascene conversion to deforestation-free status. We also discuss Aida's 30 years' experience in sustainable agriculture and forestry and the lessons she has learnt along the way.

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Lucy Siegle on communicating Sustainability in the media, the sewage scandal and ultra fast fashion

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 07:05:30 GMT

This week I talk to the wonderful Lucy Siegle (BBC TV, Guardian, Observer and many more) on communicating Sustainability through mainstream media and her particular interests in sewage and Sustainable fashion. Laced with gossip and hard hitting realities, we discuss:

Why recycling is such a critical engagement point with the public
Standing up to intimidation from vested interest groups
The influence of Blue Planet II on the public's perception of plastic
Why sewage has cut through in the current UK general election
Effective protesting and picking the right target
Sustainability in the fashion industry and the threat of "Sheinification"
Individual versus corporate responsibility (ie supply and demand)

As always, The net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – bringing Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Shayler of Ape on making change happen, sustainability consulting and meditation for innovation

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 06:36:07 GMT

When I first started the Net Zero Business Podcast,, I knew I wanted to get Mark on as he always inspires me with his unique insights. Fresh from a cold water swimming session, he doesn't disappoint – here's what we cover:

Getting Sustainability stuff done in a large organisation
Driving change as an external agent
The threat of misinformation and conspiracy theories
Friendly fire in the green movement
Mark's book: You can't make money from a dead planet: the Sustainable method of driving profits
The use of meditation in innovation and strategy
Mark's philosophy for Sustainability Consulting

That list is an inadequate summary of a conversation which also includes the meaning of the band name Gorillaz and the origin of the phrase "the penny drops." - do not miss this one!

As always, the Net Zero Business Academy is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd, Bringing Sustainability to Life

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The Three Most Underrated Concepts in Sustainability

Fri, 31 May 2024 06:30:28 GMT

This week on the podcast, I set out three powerful concepts that should be used more in Sustainability if we really want to make change happen. If you want support on any or all of these three, please go to Terra Infirma | Contact Us and drop me a message!

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The TRUTH about EVs with Prof Colin Herron

Fri, 24 May 2024 06:05:18 GMT

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Prof Colin Herron of Newcastle University about the transition to electric vehicles and many of the myths surrounding them. Its a highly entertaining chat with an expert who doesn't pull their punches:

Why battery production is the key factor to EV uptake
The need for charging infrastructure
The economics of Vehicle to Grid (V2G) technology
Why the hydrogen economy will never happen
The impact of Rishi Sunak's change to the EV vehicle mandate
Busting popular EV myths

As always, the Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing the new ISO14068 Net Zero and Carbon Neutrality Standard with Mel Blackmore

Fri, 17 May 2024 10:30:43 GMT

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to ISO standard expert and podcaster Mel Blackmore of Blackmore's UK and Carbonology. In our discussion, we cover:

How to choose from the myriad of environmental standards
The most important question to ask before starting
Integrating ISO standards seamlessly into the organisation
The ISO14068 net zero/carbon neutrality standard, its origins and how it works
Differences between ISO14068 and its predecessor PAS2060
How the standard addresses offsetting
The financial risk of relying on offsets

This podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - brining Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to be an Eco-entrepreneur with Tobias Webb, Innovation Forum

Fri, 10 May 2024 06:30:00 GMT

Tobias describes himself modestly as "a guy who tries to do some useful stuff", but in this interview he shows how much of an understatement that is. We talk about:

• Setting up the Innovation Forum to support business in Sustainability

• The perils of calling your business 'ethical'

• Sustainable textiles and agriculture – are farmers right to be angry?

• Conspiracy Theorists and Sustainability

• Producing insect protein in an industrial ecology-style symbiotic cluster

• Making the wine industry sustainable

• Learning by failing

This episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Bringing Sustainability to Life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do I get people to forget quick wins and focus on the stuff that matters?

Fri, 03 May 2024 06:07:54 GMT

Another Q&A episode of the pod this week. I was asked how to get people away from incremental/quick wins thinking and focus on big bold changes to hit Net Zero. Here's what I cover in my answer:

Why ISO14001 can't deliver on Net Zero
Why 80:20 thinking is required in both engagement and strategy
The power of backcasting
But why and to whom quick wins do matter
How to pursue both strategic and incremental change simultaneously

If you have a Q you want me to A, go to the Terra Infirma Contact Us page and send it through!

And don't forget to share, like and subscribe - it all helps keep the show on the road!

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Kit England on Climate Adaptation

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:05:36 GMT

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Kit England of Paul Watkiss Associates about a vital topic – Climate Adaptation. Here's what we cover:

What is climate adaptation
Is adaptation 'giving up'?
The current state of play on climate adaptation
Costs of runaway climate change vs adaptation vs mitigation
The optimum granularity for action
Risks and opportunities to business
ISO14090 series of climate adaptation standards

As always, the podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Conway, Interface, reflecting on Mission Zero and exploring Climate Take Back

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:51:17 GMT

In this week's podcast episode, I speak to Lisa Conway, VP Global Market Sustainability and 'Carbon Lover' about their iconic Mission Zero Sustainability Programme which finished in 2020 and its successor, Climate Take Back. I had the pleasure of working with Interface about 8 years ago, and I've never come across a business so committed to Sustainability or so prepared to change everything to get there – with some glee. I'm not exaggerating, they do things that most organisations would never conceive of, never mind consider. Can you tell I'm a fan?

Here's what we discuss:

• Lisa's own 'spear in the chest' moment

• The legacy of Mission Zero and how a zero target can stimulate radical action

• Climate Take Back, regenerative business and why we should learn to love carbon

• The Factory as a Forest concept and how it works in practice

• The importance of innovation and how features can cascade from premium products to the mainstream

• The importance of having fun

Here's the Factory as a Forest case study that Lisa refers to in the pod.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Woodhall of the General Counsel Sustainability Forum on the law, engagement and the perils of comedy

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 06:30:08 GMT

In this week's episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I have an entertaining and wide changing chat with Adam Woodhall of the General Counsel Sustainability Forum, although we spend a lot more time on engagement and influence than legal issues. Here's what we cover:

Why General Counsels matter to Net Zero
How greenwash is becoming a legal issue
Why the Montreal Protocol worked (and why that reason depressed Adam)
Why engagement should be focussed on people with agency
The importance of action above all else (action generates action)
The perils of using comedy for Sustainability engagement

As promised in the pod, Adam's comedy can be seen here.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma – Bringing Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do I stop our PR department greenwashing?

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 06:15:29 GMT

This month's episode is another Q&A episode where I discuss greenwash, including:

The subjectivity intrinsic to greenwash
Why it is all about context
Why some people just can't help it
The moral obligation to stand up to greenwash
The need for education
Turning your problem into action

These Q&A episodes are very popular, but I do need a steady stream of Qs so I can pick out those with widest appeal. So get on to the contact page on the Terra Infirma website and submit your dilemmas!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amir Sokolowski, Global Director Climate Change, CDP on disclosures, just transition to Net Zero and grounds for optimism

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:40:56 GMT

A very thoughtful, philosophical conversation with Amir Sokolowski, Global Director Climate Change, CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Programme). Amir and I discuss:

Amir's background in campaigning for human rights around the world
Carbon leakage and policies such as CBAM
The need for a just transition when decarbonising global supply chains
Data quality and the importance of context
Is 'reporting burden' a myth or reality?
Grounds for optimism and techno-optimism vs changing values

As always, these interviews are brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd. Please feel free to like, share and subscribe – a few clicks can spread the message further!

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Heather Buchanan, Bankers for Net Zero on fiduciary duty, retrofitting buildings and agriculture

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:00:05 GMT

On this week's episode, I talk to Heather Buchanan, founder and CEO of Bankers for Net Zero which does... well an awful lot more than I thought. A big part of a bank's carbon footprint lies in the mortgage properties on its books so we talk a lot about retrofitting. We also cover COP26 - COP 28, fiduciary duty, how to engage bankers in Sustainability (risk vs opportunity), agriculture, and why there is enough money to do Net Zero.

As always the Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - bringing Sustainability to Life. If you sign up to our mailing list, we'll let you know every time a podcast episode is released.

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Shaun McCarthy OBE on Supply Chain Sustainability, ISO20400 and the London Olympics

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 06:00:22 GMT

On this week's episode, I speak to Shaun McCarthy of Action Sustainability, the Supply Chain Sustainability School and the Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 Olympics. Here's what we cover:

Shaun's entry into social and environmental Sustainability in procurement at the British Airports Authority
Reflections on Sustainability at the London 2012 Olympics – what worked and what didn't
How close the BBC's '2012' satire was to reality – you might be surprised!
The ISO20400 standard
A range of supply chain Sustainability issues across a number of sectors
The importance of leadership
How to promote Sustainability in your organisation

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – Brining Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Net Zero by 2030, 2040 or 2050 - which to choose?

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 07:00:19 GMT

This is the second Q&A episode of the podcast and the question comes from 'Jane' who is involved in a debate at work over Net Zero targets. Here's what I cover in my response:

What Net Zero really means
The problems with going for too near a date
The problems with going too far
The influence of assets, leadership and culture on the target date
When to use SBTs to underpin Net Zero
The dangers of incrementalising stretch targets

I will be weaving more Q&A episodes in alongside the interview episodes, but I need your questions and dilemmas! They can be about any Net Zero/Climate/Sustainability-related subject, but within an organisational context. Like 'Jane', you can choose anonymity if you prefer. Click here to send them in.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – bringing Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Paula Owen, Sustainability Gamification Pioneer and Chief Fun Officer

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 07:23:14 GMT

I throughly enjoyed this interview with Sustainability gamification pioneer and Chief Fun Officer of Eco-Action Games, Dr Paula Owen. We discuss the following:

• How guilt-tripping people doesn't work

• What is 'gamification' and why does it work?

• Selling gamification as a concept

• The first rule of gamification is...

• Tensions between fun and gravity in Sustainability

• Becoming a B Corp as an SME

• The importance of resilience in green business ownership

This Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Olli Jones of Cundall on Net Zero Architecture/Construction, Alternatives to Offsetting and Climate Resilience

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 06:52:53 GMT

This week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Dr Olli Jones, Head of Sustainability NE at Cundall and co-host of the Future X podcast. We cover a wide range of Sustainability issues including:

• Do architects get Sustainability?

• The threat of 'stranded' high carbon assets is with us now

• Cundall's "Achieving net zero carbon on all our projects by 2030" pledge

• Alternatives to offsetting including Cundall's 'social decarbonisation

• Designing in resilience

• Holistic thinking – how everything is connected

• The joys of fly-fishing and water pollution

If you like this, make sure you like, subscribe and share. While the interview episodes of the pod all appear on YouTube, other episodes are only available on the audio feeds so make sure you subscribe to the Net Zero Business Podcast on your favourite podcast platform.

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life. Check out our website for more free Sustainability resources and sign up to the Low Carbon Agenda for even more!

https://www.terrainfirma.co.uk

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James Dixon on becoming the first health organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 06:58:01 GMT

In 2019, the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust became the first health organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. In this interview James Dixon, Associate Director - Sustainability at the Trust, tells Gareth Kane the very personal story behind this landmark move. James reveals how he was suffering climate-related depression and was contemplating civil disobedience - and a potential jail sentence - but was persuaded by his wife to channel his efforts into more practical change in his sphere of influence.

We discuss a wide range of issues including:

• Establishing an internal Sustainability brand

• How declaring a climate emergency opened the floodgates of action

• The importance of building internal and external networks

• "Healthier planet, healthier people" as a motto

• The challenges of delivering change in a 24/7 high profile environment

• How baby Rosie became the first UK baby to be delivered with the help of a low emissions gas & air system

• The carbon footprint of Gareth's hernia

This interview is available on the Net Zero Business Podcast

https://shows.acast.com/655cb69d415230001259567c/episodes

It is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd - Bringing Sustainability to Life

http://www.terrainfirma.co.uk

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Help! My boss is a climate change denier! What should I do?

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 07:43:07 GMT

This is the first Q&A session of the podcast and the question comes from Alice Doyle who faced overt climate change denial in her last job. Here's what I cover in my response:

How prevalent is climate change denial?
Why you should never argue climate science with a climate change denier
How to use Green Jujitsu to reframe your arguments so the other person understands them
Getting allies on board to help
Why intransigent climate change denial should be a red flag for your career prospects in an organisation

I intend to start weaving more Q&A episodes in alongside the interview episodes, but I need your questions and dilemmas! They can be about any Net Zero/Climate/Sustainability-related subject, but within an organisational context. You can choose anonymity if you prefer. Click here to send them in.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Herridge of Skanska on Sustainability in the Water Industry, the Power of Design and Carbon Insetting

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 06:04:00 GMT

In this episode, I speak to Alex Herridge of Skanska who works to deliver Anglia Water's net zero ambitions via the @One Alliance. We cover a huge range of issues including:

How Anglian Water is directly feeling climate change impacts
The power of design or as Alex puts it "the magic happens in design"
Making carbon data available and understandable
The benefits of being a Chartered Environmentalist
The advantages of insetting over offsetting
How water companies' customers uniquely provide them with fuel

This podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma, Bringing Sustainability to Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna-Lisa Mills, Smart Carbon on Carbon Footprinting, Eco-entrepreneurialism and Eco-anxiety

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 09:09:29 GMT

In this episode, I talk to my friend and colleague Anna-Lisa Mills, Managing Director of the SmartCarbon carbon footprinting platform. When I need a footprint done, Anna-Lisa is the first person I call, so she is the obvious choice to dig into this essential part of the Net Zero agenda.

In this wide ranging chat, we cover:

How writing an essay on climate change at school changed Anna-Lisa's life
The genesis and development of Smart Carbon platform to meet client needs
Definitions of carbon footprints etc
How the TRACC acronym keeps a carbon footprint on track
Dealing with uncertainty and data (un)availability
The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on baselining
Eco-anxiety and reasons to be cheerful

The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Deaville of Balfour Beatty on Sustainability in Construction, Net Zero/SBTs, the right mindset and buzzword bingo

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 09:23:20 GMT

In this episode, I speak to Richard Deaville of Balfour Beatty on Sustainability in Construction. Here's a flavour of what we cover:

Sustainability drivers - the push from investors and pull from clients and the need to attract the best talent
Blending Net Zero targets and Science-based Targets
The importance of the right mindset
Using Green Jujitsu to start Sustainability conversations in a cost-conscious sector
HS2 example of where Sustainability excellence need not cost more
The need for green hydrogen for heavy plant
The 80:20 rule to focus mind on what matters
Buzzword bingo and why need to be precise in what we mean

For more on delivering Net Zero within an organisation, check out our course Everything You Need to Know About Net Zero.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking back at 2023 and forward to 2024 with James Murray of BusinessGreen.com

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 09:05:20 GMT

As it's January, I decided it was time for a Janus-like look back at the year just past and forward to the year ahead for business and sustainability. I'm joined by the ever insightful and shrewd James Murray, Editor of Business Green as we compare notes.

Between us we discuss:

The outcome of COP28
Our Sustainability heroes and villains of 2023
The contrasting fortunes of UK EV battery gigafactories
Whether a crackdown on greenwashing will lead to 'greenhushing'
The political manoeuvring in the UK and the potential impact of the US election
The likely impact of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Bridgetown Initiative

For more on Net Zero Business, check out our on-demand course Everything You Need to Know About Net Zero.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karen Creffield, Frome Medical Practice on Sustainability in Primary Care

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 06:37:42 GMT

In this episode, I speak to Karen Creffield of Frome Medical Practice who is recognised as a front runner on embedding Sustainability into Primary Care. We discuss the following:

How a scrumpled up piece of paper changed everything
The synergy between personal health and planetary health
The climate impacts of inhalers
Deprescribing medicines and the rise of social prescribing
The growing influence of Sustainability on recruitment and staff morale
The power of mindsets

If you want more on Net Zero Business, check out our course, Everything you need to know about Net Zero

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Gareth Kane on his Road to Damascus moment, Green Jujitsu, the 80:20 Rule in Sustainability and some career advice

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 11:57:34 GMT

Something slightly different this week – I recently stumbled on this old interview I did with Anthony Day for his now sadly defunct Sustainable Futures podcast. The only thing that had dated was the UK's renewable power generation (then 18% renewables, in 2022 40%), but the rest is just as applicable today as it was then.

Here's what we cover:

How I got started in sustainability properly - my Road to Damascus moment
How others can get started
The business case for sustainability
Sustainability leadership
How to do employee engagement properly using my Green Jujitsu approach
Integrating sustainability properly
How the 80:20 rule can help you accelerate sustainability

For more on Net Zero Business, check out our course Everything You Need to Know About Net Zero.

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Alex Roberts of Vistry on Net Zero/SBTs, Sustainability in construction, upskilling the supply chain and the Future Homes Standard

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:00:12 GMT

This week's interview features Alex Roberts, Head of Sustainability of the Vistry Group (owner of Bovis Homes). Alex talks about how snowboarding triggered his interest in climate change, implementing Sustainability in the construction industry, combining Net Zero with Science-based Targets, upskilling the supply chain through collaboration and forthcoming legislation such as the Future Homes Standard.

Check out our new on demand course: Everything You Need to Know About Net Zero.

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Elisa Gasperini of Ahlsell on Net Zero, SBTs, Circular Economy and Authenticity

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 07:02:05 GMT

In this episode, I speak to Elisa Gasperini, Head of Sustainability at Ahlsell Norway. Ahlsell is a huge Nordic retailer and supplier of clothing, equipment and material to the building trades across Scandanavia. Elisa's passion for her job will blow you away.

We discuss:

Net Zero and Science-based Targets
The integration of Sustainability into business strategy
How to 'move the dial'
Pressure from suppliers to accelerate Sustainability
Working with cross-cutting teams using Green Jujitsu
Sustainable logistics in a cold climate
Developing circular business models
The importance of authenticity

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Jonathan Oxley of the CBI on Net Zero, Beyond Petroleum, CBAM, recent Government policy changes...

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:22:46 GMT

Fantastic interview with Jonathan Oxley, a Senior Manager in the CBI's Net Zero Team. We cover the start of Jonathan's journey in the Beyond Petroleum days of BP and discuss a very wide range of business issues relating to Net Zero including CBAM, the Hydrogen Economy, Bioenergy, ESG investing and recent UK Government policy changes..

For more on Net Zero, check out our on demand course, Everything You Need to Know About Net Zero:

https://www.udemy.com/course/everything-you-need-to-know-about-net-zero/?referralCode=9C23FAA9577D1249E347

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Introducing the Net Zero Business Podcast

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:58:23 GMT

Just a quick intro to our new podcast, The Net Zero Business Podcast, which pretty much does what it says on the tin. Make sure you subscribe as we've lined up some really great stuff for you and we want everybody to hear it!

For more, check out our new course Everything You Need to Know About Net Zero

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.