Sustainable Founders

Harry Dennis is the co-founder of Waterhaul, a brand recovering ghost fishing gear from the UK Cornish coast and transforming this plastic into sunglasses. Harry talks to Raakhee about his journey from marine biologist, working at Surfers Against Sewage, to entrepreneur; and how he secured £1m funding at the BE100 for sustainable start ups, pitching to impact investors at the Blue Earth Summit in...

Rachel Evans and Jesse Schiller are the founders of Kooshoo, a unique hair accessories company using plants not plastic. They talk to Raakhee about the culture of disposability and planned obsolescence; why does anybody need 55 hair ties in a pack? Living on Norfolk Island in the middle of the South Pacific, Kooshoo means feeling well and content, an ethos that runs through every part of this 11 y...

Marcin Koziorowski is the co-founder of Ecobean, a company turning coffee waste into sustainable chemicals; to be used in industries including packaging, food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Marcin talks to Raakhee about how only 2% of coffee is utilised in making a cup of coffee whilst the remaining 98% is thrown away; how Ecobean collect the coffee waste, split it into 5 fractions of chemicals,...

Patrick Dumas is the founder of Square Mile Farms; a vertical farming solution for the workplace, with modular plug and play systems. Patrick talks to Raakhee about the benefits of zero food miles; the conversations he wants us to have about our food, with transparency about its provenance. They discuss the current food systems, the impact from the centralisation of our supermarket delivery networ...

Lisa Gautier is the co-founder of Matter of Trust, an organisation creating hair mats to soak up oils spills, as one of their major projects. Lisa talks to Raakhee about collecting hair donations from salons and pet groomers, turning them into hair mats, how they got involved and helped in the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010; using hair for compost and soil nutrients, the Ick f...

Arthur Mamou-Mani is the founder of Mamou-Mani eco parametric architecture studios and Fab Pub, a 3D printing store based in London. Arthur talks to Raakhee, about circular vs linear design models, his projects - including the 3'6 bar at Fortnum & Mason, Burning Man and the THK tower in Bali. They discuss the the beauty of the Eiffel Towel and creatively pushing boundaries and bio-plastics...

Michael Kennard is the founder of Compost Club, a social enterprise with a focus on soil regeneration, food waste emissions, and education. Michael talks to Raakhee about what good compost is, what healthy soil looks like under a microscope, the changing attitude of farming, and his journey with anxiety to now giving talks at Kew Gardens. Michael also shares his heart warming experience in crowd...

Andy Coxon & Ed Currie are the founders of AKT, a multi award winning, plastic free, gender free natural deodorant brand. Ed and Andy talk to Raakhee about how the covid London West End theatre closures pushed them to launch their brand, how the pursuit to be being plastic free delayed their launch by a year, asking why fragrances need to have a gender, what gender free means and how stranger...

Deborah Bee is the founder of Bee and Sons, a small batch knitwear brand from Somerset, focused on using only natural fibers. Deborah talks to Raakhee about the corrupted use of the word sustainable and details the process of recycling woolen fibers. She shares her shocking visit to a sweat shop in Nicaragua, discussing what exploitation of labour looks like and the sinister impact of fast fashion...

Christabel Reed is the co-founder of Earthed, a nature skills platform. Her co-founders are sister Ruby Reed and Cara Delevingne. Christabel talks to Raakhee about how a covid meme inspired them to start Earthed, the problem with the extractive systems we are embedded in, globalisation versus local power, how we can‘t keep ringing the alarm on climate change and the need to build in mechanisms to...

Edzard van der Wyck and Michael Wessely are the founders of Sheep Inc, a certified carbon negative, merino wool, knitwear brand. They talk to Raakhee, the founder of a responsible artisan scarf brand Wild Saint London, about their counter intuitive, data led decision making, why they are carbon negative (it‘s not offset by planting trees), the exceptional relationships they have in their supply ch...

Shannon Murphy is a minimalist minded professional organiser and the founder of Simpl Living Co. She has a deep-seated passion for helping people live happier and healthier lives by simplifying their work spaces, homes and lives through de-cluttering and coaching. Shannon talks to Raakhee, the founder of Responsible artisan scarf brand Wild Saint London, about how we are bombarded with 50-400 ads...

Nancy Zeffman and Eileen Willett are the founders of Cucumber Clothing, a clothing brand that designs, samples and manufactures their clothing within a 5 mile radius of London. Nancy and Eileen talk to Raakhee, the founder of responsible artisan scarf brand Wild Saint London, about working with the least impact, the role of worker wages and sustainability, the cost barrier of accreditations, the t...

Catherine Marche is the founder of Catherine Marche Fine Sustainable Jewellery, making items from her studios in the Oxo Tower Wharf 1.10. She is the founder, creative director, designer and goldsmith and specialises in bespoke creations. Catherine talks to Raakhee, the founder of responsible artisan scarf brand Wild Saint London, about the carbon footprint of recycled gold, how using recycled met...

Vanita Badlani is the founder of La Bante London, a vegan handbags and accessories brand with an ethos of 'Fashion With Respect' and they donate at least 10% of profits to charity. Vanita talks to Raakhee, the founder of a Responsible artisan scarf brand Wild Saint London, about sourcing 100% biodegradable vegan leather, how increased demand drives improved technology and helps to lower pr...

Kresse Wesling CBE is the co-founder of Elvis & Kresse, an accessories brand, established in 2005 to save London's decommissioned fire-hose, ones that had become too damaged to repair and were going to landfill. Today, Elvis & Kresse's highly skilled craftspeople make beautifully designed bags and homeware from 15 different reclaimed materials. Kresse talks to Raakhee, the founder...

Anna Brightman is the co-founder of UpCircle beauty, an award winning beauty brand made from up-circled and re-purposed ingredients. Anna talks to Raakhee, the founder of a responsible artisan scarf brand Wild Saint London, about collecting coffee ground waste from boutique London coffee shops on an electric bike, the supply chain challenge when the coffee shops closed during covid, the importance...