We’ve been painting with plastics for decades — but at what cost? Edward Bulmer, historian, designer, and founder of Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, reveals how the humble tin of paint exposes deep flaws in business thinking, greenwashing, and capitalism itself. A must-listen for anyone who cares about sustainability — and beautiful walls.

We breathe it every day — but most of us barely think about it. Air pollution is now the second biggest environmental threat to our health, yet it’s still off the radar for many businesses. Louise Thomas, CEO of Air Aware Labs, joins The Responsible Edge to explain why this silent crisis should be top of every company’s agenda — and how innovative data can help.

What happens when your sustainability journey begins with surviving the Atlantic Ocean? Seneca Cottom, Head of Sustainability at Alshaya Group, shares how trauma, recovery, and a relentless drive for legacy have shaped her approach to waste, value, and systems change. This is more than a leadership story—it’s a lesson in seeing sustainability with new eyes.

Joining us is Joanna Auburn, co-founder and CPO at Trace, who brings her expertise in sustainability and product development to discuss the importance of transparent supply chains in achieving net-zero emissions. Joanna shares insights from her journey, emphasising how Trace helps businesses tackle environmental challenges through improved transparency and collective action.

Joining us is Simon Corbey, Director at The Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, who played a crucial role in steering the construction industry toward more sustainable practices. Simon delves into the essence of sustainable manufacturing, highlighting the indispensable role of evidence and verification in fostering an environmentally responsible built environment.

This time, we're joined by Karen Revel-Chion, an important figure in Allwyn's successful bid for the UK National Lottery license. Karen shares her insights on the ethical challenges and strategies in marketing gambling responsibly, focusing on protecting consumers while maximising contributions to good causes.

In this discussion we are joined by Michelle Mayther, who shares her journey towards sustainable marketing and the founding of the Green Marketing Academy. This episode dives into the necessity of understanding marketing's environmental footprint, practical steps for reducing this impact, and the vital role of authentic brand communication in promoting sustainability.

We're joined by Michelle Carvill and Gemma Butler to explore how ethical marketing strategies can drive significant environmental change. They share their expertise on integrating sustainability into marketing practices, the importance of green branding, and the actionable steps businesses can take towards a sustainable future. This episode not only uncovers the critical role of education in sustainable marketing but also highlights the impact of the COM1 event in rallying the marketing community towards sustainability.

Callum Miller, CEO and co-founder of Ethy, joins us to explore the transformative approach of Ethy in making sustainability accessible for growing businesses. Through Ethy's digital solutions, Callum discusses the empowerment of SMEs via a standards framework, roadmapping tools, and goal-setting functionalities, alongside the innovative visual ecolabelling solution for communicating environmental and social impacts.

Tom and Clare discuss the importance of clearly defining regenerative concepts, combating greenwashing, and prioritising outcome-based practices. Their rich dialogue sheds light on effective strategies for aligning business success with true environmental responsibility, emphasising education’s role in ethical marketing within the food and farming sector.

We delve into the complexities of effective client selection in creative agencies and the broader implications for sustainability in business with our esteemed guest, Dr. Dominic Tantram, Founding Partner at Terrafiniti LLP, Chartered Environmentalist, and Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS). Dominic brings over 25 years of consultancy experience to the discussion, highlighting how creative agencies can navigate ethical dilemmas. Learn about the importance of establishing robust ethical frameworks, assessing clients' sustainability credentials, and the role of transparency and accountability in fostering sustainable business practices.

We delve into how cultivating an ethical culture within organisations is crucial for sustainable success. Katelyn shares her expertise, emphasising the importance of transparency, accountability, and leadership in shaping an organisation's ethical standards. Discover how fostering a questioning mindset and integrating sustainability as a core value can lead to innovative, responsible business practices.

We uncover the power of vulnerability in marketing and its impact on brand authenticity and presence. Charlotte shares her valuable insights and experiences, highlighting how transparency and authenticity are not just ethical imperatives but also strategic advantages in today's competitive marketplace. Discover how embracing vulnerability can lead to a more genuine connection with your audience and foster a strong, trustworthy brand image.

Josh Pizey, Global Head of Social at HX Expeditions and former lead for Unilever and Save the Children, dives deep into the emotional and ethical terrain of digital media. From behavioural psychology to burnout, discover why Josh believes social platforms must evolve—and why mental health support for social media teams isn't a luxury, it's a necessity. This is a must-watch for marketers, communicators, and digital leaders.

In this episode, we explore responsible marketing, revealing human stories behind data points and metrics. We discuss the importance of treating data with decency, showing how this approach respects individuals and builds consumer trust, ultimately boosting sales. Tune in for discussions that challenge conventional data-driven tactics and promote a more ethical, human-centered approach in marketing, leading to both ethical integrity and business success.

Investor and serial entrepreneur Carmel Rafaeli joins The Responsible Edge to ask the trillion-dollar question: If female founders outperform their male counterparts in returns, why do they only receive 2% of VC funding?

In this episode, Carmel shares her journey from policy and fashion to climate innovation, and the hard truths she’s uncovered about gender bias in investment. We explore:

- Why the climate tech sector is missing out on critical solutions

- The myth that there’s a “pipeline problem” with women in VC

- How The Table is creating a new model of collaborative, catalytic investing

🔗 Links to The Table and the Trellis article referenced in the episode are in the description.

Gina Camfield (Head of ESG at Aramark UK & Global Offshore) joins The Responsible Edge to reveal what carbon labelling on sandwiches is really teaching us about consumer behaviour. From recipe reformulation to in-house chef engagement and playful carbon education tools, this episode explores what it really takes to create change—without putting all the pressure on the consumer.

🔔 Subscribe for more ethical business insights and behaviour change strategies that go beyond the usual ESG checklists.

Jack Cunningham joins The Responsible Edge to reveal the messy, misunderstood reality of corporate sustainability. From boardrooms to back offices, ESG teams are doing more with less—and it's not sustainable. Tune in for a masterclass on ethics, leadership, and the future of corporate responsibility.

🎧 Subscribe for more episodes that uncover an ethical path to growth.

Mirry Christie, founder of B·ABLE and co-creator of The Green Room, shares how the interiors industry can tackle sustainability with creativity, clarity, and collaboration. Learn what’s holding brands back, why storytelling matters, and how the smallest design details can drive the biggest impact.

🔔 Subscribe to The Responsible Edge for more insights from the frontlines of ethical business.

In this episode of The Responsible Edge, sustainability consultant Kat Christopoulos argues that SMEs aren’t just part of the solution to the climate crisis — they are the solution. Drawing on two decades of ESG leadership, Kat explores the agility of small businesses, the systemic obstacles they face, and why ethical leadership is non-negotiable for meaningful change.

🔔 Subscribe for more insights on ethical growth and responsible business.

Ozone CMO Bryan Scott joins The Responsible Edge to unpack the hidden cost of advertising blocklists and how they threaten the future of quality journalism. In this powerful episode, Bryan explores the growing divide between ethical advertising and the reality of media buying in a platform-dominated world—and offers a compelling alternative through the idea of the premium web.

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes exploring the ethical path to business growth.

📣 Brought to you by The Anti-Greenwash Charter.

Ellen Weinreb has been recruiting Chief Sustainability Officers for over 20 years—and she’s seen it all. In this episode of The Responsible Edge, she joins Charlie to reveal how the CSO role has evolved, the biggest hiring mistakes companies make, and why the future of business depends on embedding sustainability everywhere. A must-watch for anyone working in ESG, recruitment, or leadership.

Kate Chilton (CSO at BamCore) joins The Responsible Edge to discuss why real sustainability isn’t easy—or cheap. From eco-anxiety and funding gaps to why climate finance is broken, this episode explores how startups can survive and thrive inside a system that often rewards doing the wrong thing.

Accountability isn’t a boardroom buzzword — it’s a mindset forged long before leadership titles are handed out. In this episode, Andy Norris shares how his global experience in governance has shaped his belief that real responsibility starts with people, culture, and courage — not just policies.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations shaping the future of responsible leadership.

In this episode, communications expert Clayton Hirst joins The Responsible Edge to explore the real power of corporate purpose. Why do purpose-led companies innovate faster, retain talent, and deliver stronger financial returns? How is the business world splitting between those who double down on purpose — and those who quietly abandon it? Dive deep into a wide-ranging conversation on purpose, authenticity, and long-termism with one of the UK's sharpest corporate minds. 🎙️

Subscribe for new episodes uncovering an ethical path to growth.

The construction industry is responsible for more than a third of the world's waste — but what if we saw that waste as a resource, not a problem? In this episode of The Responsible Edge, Brogan Macdonald (UK Green Building Council) offers a bold vision for a regenerative built environment — one where waste is minimised, materials are given new life, and the industry moves beyond ticking sustainability boxes.

In conversation with Charlie Martin, Brogan challenges conventional thinking about how we design, build, and measure value in construction. If we don't radically shift our mindset now, she warns, the industry's environmental impacts will only deepen.

🛠️ Topics covered:

- Why traditional construction is inherently wasteful

- The future of circularity and regenerative design

- How policy and investment must evolve

- Why material reuse is essential — and urgent

If you care about sustainability, architecture, or the future of our cities, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

🔔 Subscribe for more critical conversations about responsible business, sustainability, and ethical growth.

#Construction #Sustainability #RegenerativeDesign #CircularEconomy #TheResponsibleEdge

Laura Hunter grew up in the shadow of deindustrialisation. Raised in a coal mining village in South Yorkshire, she witnessed first-hand how progress for some meant devastation for many. That early understanding of inequality and its deep social consequences shaped the trajectory of her career—and the powerful insights she shares today.

In the latest episode of The Responsible Edge, Laura joined us to explore how the structures underpinning business are holding back progress on sustainability—and why redesigning them is now urgent.

In an era where digital health solutions are booming, Amber Vodegel is proving that innovation doesn’t have to come at the cost of ethics. Speaking to The Responsible Edge podcast, Amber shared the remarkable story behind her new venture, 28X—a revolutionary period tracking app aiming to transform women’s health by putting data ownership, accessibility, and integrity at its core.

🎙️ “We need to give women the power back over their own data,” Amber explained, detailing a blueprint for business that challenges the profit-first model dominating today’s tech landscape.

In this episode of The Responsible Edge, we welcomed Robin Stopford, CEO of British clean tech innovator PowerVault. With a career that began at Rolls-Royce developing large-scale coal power stations, Robin's journey has taken a decisive and deliberate turn—from heavy industry to household-level sustainability. His story isn’t just a reflection of professional evolution, but a window into how decentralised energy, behavioural nudges, and pragmatic system thinking can drive systemic change.

PowerVault is pioneering affordable residential battery storage, helping consumers harness solar energy and store it for use when the grid is under pressure. But behind that simple idea lies something much bigger: a model for reducing grid strain, supporting renewable adoption, and giving consumers more agency without demanding lifestyle sacrifice.

“Waste is money.” It’s a simple phrase—but in the hands of South African sustainability leader Tozama Kulati Siwisa, it becomes a blueprint for transforming lives, rethinking business, and tackling climate change from the ground up.

In this episode of The Responsible Edge, Tozama joins host Charlie Martin to share her deeply personal and professional journey—from becoming a mother at 15 and putting herself through university, to leading sustainability for some of South Africa’s biggest companies. But this isn’t just a story of corporate ESG frameworks—it’s about how self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship can be taught, lived, and scaled to create true change.

On this episode of The Responsible Edge, host Charlie is joined by Kian Bakhtiari—founder of The People, a purpose-driven creative consultancy working with some of the world’s most recognisable brands. Kian also sits on the advisory board for the British Fashion Council and was formerly part of UNLEASH, a global innovation lab for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This conversation explores the uncomfortable space between progressive messaging and commercial interest—shedding light on why well-meaning marketing campaigns often backfire, and how a deeper understanding of cultural intelligence might be the missing link between purpose and authenticity.

On The Responsible Edge, we’re constantly exploring how ethics, responsibility, and sustainability can shape the future of business. This week’s episode was no exception, as host Charlie Martin sat down with interior designers Chloe Bullock and Matthew Freeman, two of the UK’s most thoughtful advocates for sustainable interior design.

Their journey through design—spanning from childhood memories of carefully curated living rooms to pioneering work with The Body Shop and British standards committees—showcases a vital transition in the sector. At the core of the conversation? The need to redefine luxury, rethink material value, and resist the fast-paced consumerism that dominates the interiors industry.

But this wasn’t just a nostalgic stroll. Chloe and Matt laid out a tangible, exciting framework for the future—one that makes sustainability accessible, desirable, and even profitable.

On The Responsible Edge podcast, host Charlie Martin sat down with Sophia Haywood, Director of UK & EU Government Affairs, Policy & Sustainability at LanzaJet, to explore how sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is poised to transform the aviation industry—and what’s holding it back. In a wide-ranging but focused conversation, Sophia unpacks the policy and investment gaps that threaten to stall an industry critical to net zero.

From aviation mandates to ethanol conversion tech, she makes a compelling case for immediate action—and smarter policy—to drive both demand and production of SAF in the UK and Europe.

“Until people have reliable electricity, you can’t ask them to prioritise the environment.” That’s the reality, according to David Drew – former Coca-Cola sustainability lead for Africa – who joined The Responsible Edge podcast to share his unique perspective on the sustainability paradox facing the Global South.

Born and raised in Durban, South Africa, David grew up catching snakes in the garden and birdwatching in the tropics. His love for nature was sparked early, but his career took him deep into the world of plastics, business growth, and complex trade-offs. It’s this blend of personal connection with the environment and real-world commercial experience that makes his perspective on the current ESG landscape so sharply grounded.

Can AI create a better world—or will it widen existing divides? UN AI Advisor Neil Sahota joins The Responsible Edge to unpack the real risks, opportunities, and leadership challenges in our AI-driven future. From algorithmic ethics to global collaboration, this conversation goes beyond the hype to explore what responsible AI really means.

In a recent episode of The Responsible Edge, Charlie sat down with Marissa Rosen, founder of US-based consultancy Climate Social, to explore the changing role of digital communication in sustainable business—and the unsettling blurring of truth and influence across our feeds.

It was a conversation grounded not only in strategy, but in lived experience. Marissa, who has spent over a decade supporting sustainable organisations in their use of digital platforms, offered a unique perspective on how platforms like Meta are shaping (and warping) public discourse, what brands can do to communicate responsibly, and why we might need a ‘licence to publish’ in the future.

On this episode of The Responsible Edge, Charlie is joined by marketing and hospitality professional Kieran Corbitt — a self-confessed advertising obsessive whose passion for brand storytelling started as a child and has evolved into a mission to bring ethics, diversity and meaning into an industry not always known for its progressive roots.

In a wide-ranging and personal conversation, Kieran reflects on the formative power of advertising, the significance of authentic representation, and how his work at The Alchemist and KG Hospitality shows that purpose-driven marketing is not just relevant for hospitality — it’s urgently needed. But this isn’t another ‘do good, feel good’ piece. It’s a case study in what happens when marketing gets personal, brands listen, and meaningful change follows.

On The Responsible Edge podcast, Veronica Heaven, founder of The Heaven Company, issued a direct challenge to corporate leaders: sustainability must be driven from the top, or it will never be more than a box-ticking exercise.

Sustainability is often perceived as slow-moving, requiring long-term strategies and systemic change. But what if it could be approached with the same urgency and precision as high-performance engineering?

On The Responsible Edge, Jamie Shaw shares his experience embedding sustainability into industries that thrive on speed—Formula One, automotive manufacturing, and now, luxury flooring. His insights reveal how industries focused on performance and efficiency can accelerate sustainability without compromising their core business objectives.

In this episode of The Responsible Edge, host Charlie Martin sits down with Nicky O’Malley, a leader in nature-positive business strategy. With a career spanning conservation, corporate responsibility, and high-impact campaigns, Nicky has a clear message: businesses must move beyond sustainability and towards regeneration.

The Responsible Edge podcast, hosted by Charlie Martin, recently featured Julien Lancha, co-founder of Advizzo, a purpose-driven SaaS platform helping water and energy utilities drive efficiency and sustainability through data. From Julien’s corporate tech career to his entrepreneurial pivot, his journey offers hard-won lessons for sustainability startups trying to carve out market space and create lasting impact.

In a recent episode of The Responsible Edge, Peter Mitchell shared invaluable insights into the evolving role of landowners, estate managers, and sustainability leaders in shaping the future of UK land use. With a career spanning military ambitions, rural estate management, and now sustainability leadership, Peter’s journey offers a unique perspective on the challenges — and opportunities — facing landowners in a climate-conscious era.

On a recent episode of The Responsible Edge, host Charlie Martin sat down with Lauren Wilkinson, a sustainability professional with experience at a leading global drinks brand and a recently completed master’s in Energy, Society and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh.

Through her experience, Lauren uncovered a hidden weakness in corporate sustainability strategies — the environmental blind spot created by marketing supply chains. From branded bar mats to pop-up displays and giveaway merchandise, these materials often escape sustainability oversight, despite being produced at scale.

On a recent episode of The Responsible Edge, Matt Hocking, founder of Leap, a certified B Corp design agency, shared his philosophy on enoughism—the idea that businesses should redefine success not by relentless expansion, but by understanding what is truly enough.

As businesses worldwide scramble to prove their sustainability credentials, Matt challenges the assumption that scaling up is always the goal. Instead, he advocates for a model where impact, purpose, and resilience outweigh unchecked growth.

“For any ecosystem to thrive, it has to have balance. Growth for growth’s sake leads to collapse. We’ve seen it in nature, and we’re seeing it in business.”

This conversation explored the risks of overgrowth, the integrity of sustainability certifications, and why businesses must redefine their purpose beyond profit.

On a recent episode of The Responsible Edge, Mina Hasman, Sustainability Director at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), shared her insights on why climate literacy is the most overlooked but crucial element in the built environment’s sustainability transition.

With a career spanning architecture, environmental engineering, and policy advocacy, Mina has worked at the forefront of embedding science-based sustainability frameworks into the industry. However, despite the growing push for net zero and ESG commitments, she warns that many professionals still lack the foundational knowledge needed to implement real change.

“Many people still don’t know what net zero carbon truly means—what it entails, how to measure it, and how to verify claims. That’s where problems arise.”

In this conversation, Mina highlights the urgent need for climate literacy, the role of governance in preventing greenwashing, and the steps the industry must take to move beyond fragmented sustainability initiatives.

Ex-Holcim CSO Magali Anderson shares why she walked away from the C-suite to build a network of intrapreneurial changemakers—and why the next sustainability revolution will be quiet, embedded, and everywhere.

Governance is often treated as the third, less exciting pillar of ESG—overshadowed by environmental and social concerns. But as Rob Sherwin, a corporate affairs leader with extensive experience in the energy sector, pointed out in his discussion on The Responsible Edge podcast, governance is actually the foundation that makes ESG work.

Sustainability in the built environment has long been framed as a technical challenge—optimising energy efficiency, using lower-carbon materials, and designing smarter buildings. But as Marc Seligmann, Head of Sustainability at Maccreanor Lavington, pointed out in his conversation on The Responsible Edge podcast, the real challenge isn’t just how we build—it’s how we live.

While technological advancements have given us the tools to construct low-carbon buildings, the industry is still grappling with deeply ingrained social expectations that promote high-carbon lifestyles. If sustainability is going to work at scale, Marc argues, we need to change not just construction practices but the way people think about homes, cities, and transport.

For decades, the conversation around diet and health has been framed as a matter of personal responsibility—a narrative pushed so effectively by the food industry that many of us don’t even question it. But what if the real problem isn’t individual choices, but the system itself?On The Responsible Edge podcast, Nicki Whiteman, Chief Brand & Youth Officer at Bite Back, broke down how major food companies manipulate public perception, quietly shaping a world where unhealthy food is the easiest, cheapest, and most accessible option—then placing the blame squarely on consumers when health issues arise.

For decades, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) has been the dominant framework guiding corporate sustainability efforts. Yet, as businesses struggle to balance environmental responsibility with financial performance, cracks are beginning to show. On The Responsible Edge podcast, John Elkington, a pioneer of corporate sustainability and the creator of the Triple Bottom Line concept, challenged the effectiveness of ESG and argued for a new approach to market transformation.