Making your organisation sustainable doesn't have to be complicated... Learn the proven strategies that transformed ordinary businesses into sustainability leaders, and how to implement them in your organisation today.
Struggling to make your organisation more sustainable without sacrificing business performance? Each month on Sustainability Solved, Will Richardson & Charlie Luxton unpack how leading companies are cracking the sustainability puzzle - and extract the strategies you can actually use, regardless of your industry. We dive deep into real success stories, breaking down exactly how organisations overcame common sustainability challenges, from supply chain emissions to waste reduction. Through candid conversations with leaders who've been there, you'll get battle-tested approaches, practical frameworks, and actionable insights you can implement today. Whether you're just starting your sustainability journey or looking to accelerate progress, each episode gives you concrete tools to drive meaningful change while strengthening your business.
Ready to turn sustainability from a challenge into competitive advantage?
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ANTHROPY25: Gbemi Oluleye - The One Environmental Metric We Aren't Talking About...
Season 5 · Episode 199
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 • Duration 22:08
“That’s genius!” - Charlie Luxton in response to Gbemi’s revolutionary new idea… In this episode of our Anthropy special series recorded at the Eden Project, we speak with Dr. Gbemi Oluleye from Imperial College London. Gbemi brings a refreshing academic perspective to how businesses can make sustainable transitions affordable. As a lecturer at the Grantham Institute, she leads research on making sustainability economically viable for the manufacturing sector while also running executive education programs for sustainability officers. Gbemi discusses the need for convergent thinking, offers a sobering assessment of how late the sustainability movement started, and proposes a revolutionary new metric to track how planetary degradation impacts human productivity.
🎯 Key Takeaways
1. It's not just the cost, but how we see costs
We tend to view sustainability as a burden rather than risk mitigation
Poor accounting practices fail to consider whole system value
What appears as a cost to one business may be value to another in the supply chain
Example: Housing retrofit costs are viewed as a burden rather than as societal savings
2. Convergent thinking is the most valuable business skill for the future
We've moved from multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary and now need convergent thinking
Current education creates divergent thinkers who operate in silos
Universities are restructuring around global problems rather than traditional disciplines
Holistic perspectives are essential to extract economic value from sustainability
3. The sustainability movement started too late
Materials like rubber, iron, steel, and cement were invented centuries before sustainability was considered
We've "had years to do rubbish" and now face urgent pressure to fix it
The delay makes the challenge harder, though opportunities still exist to catch up
4. We need a metric for planetary impact on human productivity
Current metrics focus on human impact on planet, not how planetary degradation affects people
A "Gbemi scale" would measure how environmental changes affect individuals
People connect more with health impacts than abstract concepts like sea level rise
Linking sustainability to personal productivity could be a game-changer for business adoption
5. Businesses need safe spaces to discuss implementation challenges
Sustainability rhetoric vs. business reality creates a significant disconnect
Companies put on a show of knowing what they're doing when many don't
CSO teams often operate separately from core business functions
Executives lack time to integrate sustainability into existing responsibilities
⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps
1. Adopt whole-system accounting practices in your organisation
2. Create cross-functional sustainability teams
3. Connect environmental metrics to human impacts
❓ Got a question?
Ask us and we'll try our best to answer it in the show!
Dr. Gbemi Oluleye is a lecturer at the Grantham Institute at...
ANTHROPY25: Andy Jasper - Why We Need Regeneration Instead Of Sustainability
Season 5 · Episode 199
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 • Duration 39:02
Continuing our Anthropy special series from the Eden Project, we speak with Andy Jasper, CEO of the Eden Project itself. Andy shares his philosophy that sustainability should follow regeneration - that we need to boost and accelerate natural systems before we can sustain them. With a career spanning the RHS, National Trust, and now Eden Project, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge about how large-scale environmental projects can transform landscapes and communities. He discusses Eden's global expansion with projects in China, Costa Rica, and across the UK, and shares his perspective on the importance of confidence and optimism as key skills for business leaders navigating the sustainability transition.
🎯 Key Takeaways
1. Regeneration before sustainability
Andy challenges the term "sustainability" itself, arguing we shouldn't just sustain everything at its current level
First regenerate natural systems and accelerate restoration, then sustain them
The Eden Project itself exemplifies this approach - transforming barren clay pits into thriving ecosystems
2. Global Eden Projects are expanding the model worldwide
Eden Project China opening June 2025
65,000-hectare restoration project in Costa Rica transforming slash-and-burn farming to sustainable cacao production
New UK Eden Project sites planned for Morecambe and Dundee with unique local connections
3. Confidence and optimism are essential business skills
Having confidence to make decisions with incomplete information (80% is enough)
Optimism allows better framing and solving of problems
Willingness to embrace failure as part of the innovation process
4. Nature has no waste - and neither should we
Everything in nature is repurposed as part of a system
Human systems create unnecessary byproducts and waste
Circular economy principles should be applied to all new projects
⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps🎙️ About Our Guest
ANTHROPY25: Andy Middleton - Why We Need to Embrace Uncertainty
Season 5 · Episode 198
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 • Duration 37:32
Welcome to our special Anthropy25 mini-series, recorded live at the Eden Project in Cornwall! Anthropy brings together business leaders, politicians, NGOs, and emerging leaders to tackle society's biggest sustainability challenges. In this episode, we speak with Andy Middleton about place-based change, breakthrough businesses, and what he calls "the cool stuff that hasn't been tried yet." Andy shares insights on how funding structures often discourage collaboration and how changing this could accelerate sustainability solutions. He also discusses the potential of hyper-localism and the importance of embracing uncertainty as we transition to a more sustainable future.
🎯 Key Takeaways
1. The power of connecting the right people
Some of the biggest sustainability breakthroughs happen when people who've never been in the same room start talking
Example: The Wales Obesity Alliance has no food companies involved, showing a critical disconnect
Bringing diverse stakeholders together can lead to "massive quick shifts" in solving complex problems
2. Short-term funding creates short-term thinking
75% of environmental funding in the UK is for one year or less
This creates a "death spiral" where organisations are trained to think small and certain
Shifting to longer-term funding (3+ years) would encourage more expansive thinking and innovation
3. Breakthrough businesses are ready to scale
High-potential, high-impact businesses are already developing solutions that could transform entire industries
Example: A company making powdered egg replacement from fungi that could eliminate 300 million tons of chicken feed annually
These possibilities exist now but aren't talked about enough
4. Curiosity and embracing uncertainty are essential skills
The ability to lean into uncertainty rather than shy away from it will be increasingly valuable
"The Collaboration Paradox: How Working Together Creates Competitive Advantage"
Season 5 · Episode 197
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 • Duration 01:04:53
Working with your competitors might sound counterintuitive, but it could be your smartest business strategy. In this revealing conversation with Sebastian Munden (Chair of Ad Net Zero) and Fiona Ball (Group Director for Sustainability at Sky), discover why sustainability challenges are creating unexpected alliances that benefit everyone's bottom line. Learn how standardised measurement tools, shared best practices, and coordinated action can reduce costs, accelerate innovation, and create market differentiation - while still maintaining healthy competition where it matters most. For business leaders looking beyond short-term thinking, this episode provides actionable frameworks to turn industry collaboration into competitive advantage.
🎯 Key Takeaways
The Power of Industry Collaboration
Breaking sustainability barriers often requires collective action across an entire industry. By working with peers and competitors on common environmental challenges, businesses can create standardised tools, share best practices, and solve systemic issues impossible to tackle alone. As Sebastian notes, "There are some problems that people can come together on, problems that they can't solve on their own."
Target, Measure, Act: A Framework for Progress
Successful sustainability collaboration hinges on clear goals and consistent measurement. By setting shared targets, agreeing on common metrics, and tracking progress together, industry-wide initiatives avoid getting sidetracked by competing methodologies. This approach has enabled Sky to reduce their absolute emissions by 17% since 2018 and provides smaller organisations with proven tools they couldn't develop independently.
Balancing Competition and Collaboration
The most effective industry initiatives clearly define where companies work together and where they compete. As Sebastian explains, "identify where collaborative action will really make a difference, and where competition might get you there faster." This carefully structured approach avoids legal pitfalls while encouraging innovation in areas where competition serves the greater good.
⚡
Why Business Can't Wait for Climate Policy (And Shouldn't Have To): Roz Savage MP
Season 5 · Episode 196
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 • Duration 52:58
With environmental legislation stalled in Parliament, forward-thinking businesses aren't waiting for government action. In this episode we go behind the scenes in Westminster with former ocean rower turned MP Roz Savage, who reveals why political uncertainty shouldn't slow your sustainability journey - and how proactive businesses are turning environmental leadership into competitive advantage. Learn practical strategies for future-proofing your organisation while building customer and employee loyalty through environmental innovation.
🎯 Key Takeaways
The Business Case for Environmental Leadership
Political gridlock on environmental issues is creating opportunities for proactive businesses. Companies taking initiative on sustainability are seeing increased customer loyalty, stronger employee engagement, and better positioning for inevitable future regulations. As Roz notes, "Young people going into work want to do something that feels purpose-led."
Community-Driven Solutions Are Gaining Power
With government action limited, local initiatives and business-community partnerships are becoming crucial drivers of environmental progress. From tool-sharing schemes to community fridges, organisations finding ways to support local sustainability efforts are building valuable goodwill and resilience.
Preparing for Future Regulation
While the Climate and Nature Bill faced setbacks, similar measures are likely to return. Smart businesses are getting ahead by implementing environmental strategies now, rather than scrambling to comply later. As one law firm noted, clients without sustainability plans are increasingly seen as high-risk investments.
⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps
1️⃣ Map Your Environmental Risk and Opportunity
Time commitment: 2-3 hours
Resource needed: Compare Your Footprint software (20% discount with code 'PODCAST')
How to Drive Company-Wide Sustainability: Openreach (Abby Chicken)
Season 5 · Episode 195
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 • Duration 01:01:09
How does one of the UK's largest infrastructure companies successfully transition 27,000 employees to achieve net zero? Abby Chicken, Head of Sustainability at Openreach, reveals practical strategies for tackling major sustainability challenges - from electrifying the UK's second-largest van fleet to engaging thousands of employees and suppliers in sustainable practices. Whether you're leading a large-scale transformation or just starting your sustainability journey, this episode provides actionable insights on driving organisational change while maintaining business performance.
🎯 Key Takeaways:
Infrastructure Transition
Fleet electrification is a major challenge for large organisations but critical for meeting net zero targets
Openreach is successfully converting their massive van fleet to EVs by tackling infrastructure, behaviour change, and practical challenges simultaneously
Stakeholder Engagement
Success requires buy-in across all levels, from field engineers to finance
Openreach uses different messaging for different audiences - from clean air benefits for those with asthmatic children to ESG requirements for raising capital
Supplier Integration
Net zero goals require transformation across the entire supply chain
Openreach embeds carbon reduction requirements in supplier contracts and shares best practices across their network
⚡ Quick Wins (Next 24 Hours):
Action 1: Map your sustainability messaging [30 mins]
Resource needed: Stakeholder mapping template
Success indicator: Different value propositions identified for key stakeholder groups
Action 2: Audit supplier contracts [2 hours]
Resource needed: Current supplier agreements
Why Investing In Your Supply Chain is Crucial to Business in 2025: The Wine Society
Season 5 · Episode 194
Wednesday, December 18, 2024 • Duration 01:09:04
From bottles to biodiversity! Welcome to Sustainability Solved! In this episode, hosts Will and Charlie dive into the fascinating world of wine and sustainability with Dom De Ville from the Wine Society. First set up in 1874 by a bunch of people who wanted to pay a fair price for their booze, the Wine Society is leading the charge in tackling supply chain emissions, improving agricultural practices, and supporting winemakers across the globe. If you're curious about Scope 3 emissions, regenerative viticulture, and innovative approaches to sustainability, this episode is for you.
The wine industry faces mounting sustainability challenges:
Scope 3 Emissions: 94% of the Wine Society's carbon footprint comes from their supply chain, particularly in wine production, glass bottle manufacturing, and shipping.
Climate Change: Extreme weather patterns, droughts, and floods are threatening vineyards worldwide.
Human Rights Risks: Reliance on seasonal, often migrant, labour raises ethical concerns.
Biodiversity Loss: Conventional farming practices, such as pesticide and herbicide use, degrade soil and ecosystems.
Solutions
Investing in Suppliers (Insetting):
Instead of traditional carbon offsets, the Wine Society invests directly in their growers through a Climate and Nature Fund. This supports projects like regenerative farming and reforestation.
Simple Steps to Immediately Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Wholegrain Digital
Season 5 · Episode 193
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 • Duration 01:00:45
Did you know you probably emit more CO2 from your website than your travel! Welcome to Sustainability Solved! In this episode, hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton explore a surprising yet critical issue: digital emissions! Joined by Tom Greenwood and Georgie Monaghan of Wholegrain Digital, the conversation covers everything from the environmental impact of websites to how organisations can reduce their digital carbon footprint. This discussion offers actionable insights for anyone with a digital footprint (Yes, that’s probably you).
Problem
Digital emissions, often overlooked, contribute 4% of global carbon emissions, surpassing the aviation sector. Organisations frequently underestimate their digital footprint, focusing instead on areas like travel. This lack of awareness results in inefficient websites, high electricity usage from data centres, and excessive consumption of new tech.
Solutions
Optimising Websites:
Build lightweight websites using lean code to minimise energy usage.
Audit and reduce resource-heavy elements like autoplay videos, large images, and redundant scripts.
Adopt green hosting providers powered by renewable energy.
Encourage transparency about digital emissions in board-level discussions.
Extending Equipment Lifespan:
Repair and refurbish devices instead of replacing them.
Purchase refurbished technology and prioritise products with high repairability scores.
Innovative Cooling for Data Centres:
Explore creative solutions like reusing data centre heat for community swimming pools or industrial applications.
Seeing Sustainability as an Opportunity, not a Threat: Sam Hamilton-Turner (Soundquake)
Season 5 · Episode 192
Wednesday, October 16, 2024 • Duration 01:09:20
Welcome back to Sustainability Solved, this time with a twist! Hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton chat with Sam Hamilton-Turner, co-founder of Soundquake, a purpose-driven podcast production company (now making this very podcast!) . Sam shares the story of Soundquake's transformation from a conventional, transactional business into a company with a clear focus on sustainability and purpose. He discusses the challenges, solutions, and lessons learned along the way.
Problem
Soundquake initially operated as a generalist audio production company, taking on various projects without a focus or direction. This approach resulted in a lack of purpose, excessive travel, economic instability, and an unsustainable business model that conflicted with the founders' personal values, especially as they became more environmentally conscious.
Solutions
Client Selection: The company began working exclusively with clients aligned with sustainability values, turning down projects that didn’t fit this criteria.
Remote Work: They closed their Cardiff office and moved to remote working, reducing the need for travel and office-related emissions.
Sustainable Procurement: Opted for high-quality, second-hand equipment to minimise electronic waste.
Niche Focus: Specialised in purpose-driven podcasts, allowing them to become a go-to provider for other purpose-driven people.
Results
Greater Alignment: The business is now fully aligned with the founders’ values, leading to deeper fulfilment and motivation.
New Market Opportunities: Focusing on sustainability has attracted more suitable clients and opened up new business prospects.
Environmental Impact Reduction: Remote work significantly lowered travel emissions, and using second-hand equipment helped decrease electronic waste.
Future of Sustainable Housing: 2024 Housing Design Awards
Season 5 · Episode 191
Friday, September 13, 2024 • Duration 01:06:51
In this episode, we explore the world of sustainable housing design, highlighting award-winning projects and the innovative strategies driving the industry forward.
They dive into the highlights from the 2024 Housing Design Awards, the UK’s longest-running awards program celebrating excellence in housing design. Discover how this year’s winning projects are pushing the boundaries of sustainability and community engagement.
Sustainability in Housing
Sustainability is now a core aspect of housing design, evolving beyond energy efficiency to include goals like biodiversity and biophilic design, which foster a deeper connection to nature.
David Birkbeck explains how architectural awards are setting higher standards for daylight, outdoor spaces, and overall liveability, shaping industry practices.
Innovative Housing Projects
The Blenheim Estate’s Hill Rise development exemplifies a model that minimises car use and integrates green spaces, creating more pedestrian-friendly streets.
A new project in Lewes focuses on shared mobility hubs to reduce individual car ownership and improve community spaces.
1. Focus on soil health in your garden or community
2. Involve diverse perspectives in decision-making
3. Try circular economy practices in your next project
❓ Got a question?
Ask us and we'll try our best to answer it in the show!
Andy Jasper is the CEO of the Eden Project, a role he took up six months prior to this interview. With a background as Director of Gardens and Parklands for the National Trust and Director of the Investment Program for the Royal Horticultural Society, Andy has had what he describes as "one of the best careers in the world, working in gardens, traveling around the world, and helping make botanic gardens more beautiful and greener places." He previously worked at Eden as Head of Research and Evaluation, giving him deep insight into the organisation's operations and impact.
👫 Credits
Hosts: Will Richardson, Charlie Luxton
Production: Soundquake
Exec-Producer: Sam Hamilton-Turner
Producer: Jake Lee-Savage
💚 Help us make the show better!
Teaching this mindset to children creates flexibility and openness to new solutions
Relationships will become more valued than material possessions in a post-growth world
Unreasonable - An impact accelerator bringing together high-potential sustainability businesses
The Path - Ethical financial planning and pension provider
Do Good Faster - Andy's organization that helps businesses find and repurpose lost money for sustainability initiatives
Projects:
Hard as Nails - Project to engage men in conversations about toxic masculinity
Andy Middleton has been an early pioneer in the B Corp movement in the UK. He founded TYF, an adventure and education company in Wales, and now runs multiple social impact initiatives including Do Good Faster. Andy's work focuses on accelerating sustainability...
Quick Wins & Actionable Steps
1️⃣Join Your Industry's Sustainability Initiative
2️⃣ Implement the "Target, Measure, Act" Approach
3️⃣ Share Your Sustainability Journey Transparently
🛠 Tools & Resources
Ad Net Zero - Industry initiative for sustainability in advertising
Green Element Group is an environmental management consultancy offering a range of bespoke sustainability services, products, and resources to...
Examples include hydro-seeding trials, agroforestry initiatives, and providing seed money for transitioning to regenerative viticulture.
Reducing Glass Bottle Emissions:
The Wine Society collaborated with 12 retailers through the Bottle Weight Accord to reduce bottle weights by 2027, significantly lowering emissions.
Regenerative Agriculture:
Encouraging natural solutions, such as planting cover crops, using sheep for natural fertilisation, and avoiding soil tillage to preserve carbon stores.
Collaboration:
Active involvement in the Sustainable Wine Roundtable and the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation to share knowledge and best practices across the industry.
Producers Making a Difference:
Highlighting sustainable suppliers on their website to incentivise greener practices and reward innovation.
Results
Direct investment of £65,000 per year into supply chain projects, supporting growers in transitioning to more sustainable practices.
A unified industry effort to reduce glass bottle weights, potentially transforming the carbon footprint of millions of bottles annually.
Positive relationships with suppliers, fostering long-term partnerships and encouraging sustainable innovation.
Takeaways
Pay a Fair Price: Sustainability in supply chains requires investment and fair compensation for producers.
Insetting Over Offsetting: Direct investment in suppliers creates measurable, on-the-ground impact while improving relationships.
Collaboration is Key: Solving sustainability challenges requires industry-wide cooperation and shared solutions.
Regenerative Practices Work: Nature-based approaches not only improve...
Results
Wholegrain Digital reduced one client’s website emissions by 94% through creative pixelation and optimisation techniques.
Organisations like the UK Green Building Council have embraced these practices, integrating sustainability into their core operations and communications.
Businesses are now reporting digital emissions at board level, leading to greater accountability and alignment with sustainability goals.
Takeaways
Awareness is Key: Educate teams about the impact of digital emissions and their role in reducing them.
Start Small, Think Big: Begin with low-hanging fruits like using dark mode, adjusting video quality, and switching to green hosting.
Leverage Tools: Utilise resources like the Digital Declutter Toolkit to identify actionable changes.
Continuous Maintenance: Regularly review and optimise websites and digital processes to sustain long-term benefits.
Green Element Group is an environmental management consultancy offering a range of bespoke sustainability services, products, and resources to accelerate the just transition to a stable climate. The Group consists of Green Element Limited, Compare Your Footprint
Richard highlights the Alkerden Gateway project’s adaptable living spaces and the Appleby Blue Almshouses’ blend of outdoor spaces with community living for seniors.
Environmental Impact and Design Innovations
Richard discusses the “Living Spaces” project’s success in lowering embodied carbon by using alternative materials and notes Denmark and the Netherlands as leaders in this approach.
Velux reinvests 90% of its profits into health and environmental research, demonstrating a strong commitment to healthier living environments.
Future of Housing Innovation
Innovative designs from smaller developers are increasingly being adopted by larger firms, showing a growing acceptance of high-quality, efficient housing solutions.
Richard and David highlight the rising focus on mental health in housing design, emphasising the benefits of daylight and environmental quality as shown in recent award-winning projects.
Green Element Group is an environmental management consultancy offering a range of bespoke sustainability services, products, and resources to accelerate the just transition to a stable climate. The Group consists of
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