How To Save Our Planet

Scroll the news for five minutes and it is easy to believe there is nothing left to save. But good things are happening for nature in Australia, and most of us never hear about them. Clancy Lester, better known online as the Bee Man (or @beesandblossoms.aus ), has made a habit of finding them. Through his social enterprise Bees and Blossoms, his workshops and his videos, he has spent years helping...

One in three bites of food you eat exists because a bee pollinated it. Almonds, avocados, blueberries, coffee, stone fruits - none of them would exist without pollinators. And right now, Australia's bee population is facing its most serious threat in history. Frewoini Baume has been around bees her entire life. As a 4th generation beekeeper from regional NSW, she grew up understanding that bee...

Most of us have never thought about what our walls are made of. We choose a colour, we paint them, and we move on. But what if the finish on your walls is one of the leading sources of microplastic pollution in our oceans? And what if the alternative — something that actually stores carbon, improves your indoor air quality, and can be safely returned to the earth at the end of its life already exi...

We all know the planet is in trouble. So why does so much of what we hear about it make us want to look away? Fear, guilt, doom, jargon: the way we talk about sustainability might be doing as much harm as good. Sarah Bassett has spent years doing the opposite. As a sustainability communicator and content creator, she has built an audience by making the planet feel like something you can actually d...

Most of us feel completely powerless when it comes to climate change. We recycle, we buy better, we sign petitions - and then we watch the news and wonder if any of it matters. Eezu Tan had the same feeling. Then in April 2022, she invited four friends over to her house in Sydney and they did something old-fashioned and a little radical: they wrote letters to their politicians. That small living-r...

Most of us care deeply about climate change. But between the doom-scrolling, the overwhelm, and the sense that nothing we do will make a dent, it's easy to end up doing... nothing. Tegan Lerm has dedicated her career to solving exactly that problem. As co-founder and CEO of Project Planet, the not-for-profit that's become Australia's go-to guide for turning climate anxiety into real ac...

Most Australians care about plastic pollution. But caring and acting are two very different things and the gap between them is exactly where the real problem lives. In this episode, Lottie sits down with Sophia from the Ministry of the Future to talk about why awareness alone isn't enough, and what it actually takes to make plastic action feel normal, relevant, and achievable for everyday people....

Kal Glanznig grew up surfing the beaches of Cronulla, and like most of us, he assumed Australia had dodged the worst of the global plastic crisis. Then he joined a clean-up in East Arnhem Land and everything changed. In a two-week clean-up in October 2022, Dhimurru Rangers in partnership with Sea Shepherd collected 10.4 tonnes of rubbish from just 4.5 kilometres of shoreline. That was 30% more was...

Looking for sustainable New Year’s resolutions that are realistic, affordable, and easy to maintain? In this episode of How to Save Our Planet , we break down practical eco-friendly habits you can start this year without overwhelm or perfection. We explore simple sustainability swaps, low-waste living tips, and money-saving habits that help reduce your environmental impact while fitting into real...

In this episode we sit down with Brad Scott, founder of Transmutation, the South Australian social enterprise turning plastic waste into high-quality, locally made products. Brad shares how a small workshop in Robe became a circular economy success story, transforming discarded plastics into items Australians use every day. We explore how plastic recycling actually works, why regional manufacturin...

In this episode of How To Save Our Planet , Lottie Dalziel speaks with Eliza Hobba , Head of Sustainability for FareShare and SecondBite , about the growing connection between food waste and food insecurity in Australia. They unpack how millions of tonnes of perfectly good food are wasted each year while more Australians struggle to access nutritious meals and how food rescue organisations are bri...

What if your food scraps and garden clippings could help grow new life instead of going to landfill? In this episode of How To Save Our Planet , Lottie Dalziel sits down with Alex Bastos , Coordinator Waste and Circular Economy at Randwick City Council , to unpack one of Australia’s most successful waste initiatives — FOGO , or Food Organics and Garden Organics recycling. Together they explore: Wh...

In this episode of How To Save Our Planet , we delve into an innovative solution to food waste recycling: maggot farming. Join me as I speak with Goterra's founder, Olympia Yager about how this Australian company is transforming food scraps into valuable resources using black soldier fly larvae. Discover how this sustainable approach not only reduces landfill waste but also contributes to a circul...

Composting doesn’t have to be complicated — and in this episode, sustainability expert and author Lottie Dalziel answers all your biggest composting questions. From apartment composting and worm farms to dealing with cockroaches, bad smells, and “compostable” packaging that isn’t what it seems — this episode covers it all. Lottie, author of 365+ Ways to Save the Planet and Your Money at the Same T...

In this episode, Lottie Dalziel is joined by chef, author, and sustainability advocate Alex Elliott-Howery, the co-founder of the food waste-fighting platform, Cornersmith. Alex has spent over a decade proving that good food and low waste can go hand in hand. In this conversation, we talk about how community, creativity, and curiosity can help us all reduce food waste — from rethinking what we thr...

Australians waste over 7 million tonnes of food every year, and most of it could’ve been eaten. In this episode, sustainability expert Lottie Dalziel chats with Monique from OzHarvest about their new Half-Eaten report and what it reveals about Australia’s food waste crisis . They unpack why so much food ends up in the bin, the hidden environmental cost, and how small changes — from meal planning t...

The new season of How to Save Our Planet is here! Hosted by sustainability expert and author Lottie Dalziel , this season dives into the everyday actions and big ideas that can help us tackle the climate crisis while saving money at the same time. From food waste solutions with OzHarvest and Cornersmith, to ocean conservation , plastic pollution , and the future of the Great Barrier Reef , each ep...

Join us in this groundbreaking episode as we explore the world-first trial led by Sam, a visionary cotton grower, to return used cotton clothing to the soil. Learn how the Cotton Research Development Corporation's $2 million investment is shaping circularity in the cotton industry, diverting clothing waste from landfills and closing the loop by returning cotton to the farm. Dive into the partnersh...

A central element of Boody's approach is the use of bamboo-based fabrics. We'll uncover the remarkable sustainability benefits of bamboo, from its rapid growth to its minimal water usage, and understand how it aligns perfectly with Boody's mission. Transparency and honesty are at the heart of Boody's brand. We'll explore how Boody promotes these values in the fashion and e-commerce industry. Boody...

This is the BYO Containers story—a call to action for change. In this episode, Lottie Dalziel chats with Bianca Cottle, founder of BYO Containers, to unravel the eco-conscious journey of reusing in Australia. Discover the legal insights, environmental impact, and why the simplicity of reuse trumps compostables. Bianca shares the transformative power of showing up with your reusables, sparking conv...

This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sustainable practices and the circular economy. Join us in this eye-opening episode as we delve into the world of sustainable mattress recycling with the General Manager of Soft Landing. Discover how Soft Landing is revolutionizing the way we think about mattress disposal, tackling environmental challenges head-on. Learn about thei...

Dive into the depths of ocean conservation and activism with our extraordinary guest, Dave Rastovich. A global sport activist, co-host of the Waterpeople Podcast, and a driving force behind Patagonia's upcoming "PROTECT AUSTRALIA’S OCEAN FOR GOOD" events, Dave is not only a celebrated free surfer but also a dedicated advocate for our planet. Organised by Patagonia, the free events will travel to M...

With 72% of Australians disposing of non-stick pots and pans, Kate delves into the startling consequences of this widespread practice. We explore the presence of harmful PFAS ("forever chemicals") in these cookware items and their lasting effects on the environment and human well-being. But it's not all bleak. Kate shares her mission to bring about a significant change in the cookware industry. Wi...

Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join us for an engaging and relaxed chat with Brendan Lee, the coffee cup recycling extraordinaire from Simply Cups. In this episode, we unravel the secrets behind Simply Cups' mission to make coffee cup recycling a breeze and why it's such a crucial part of the sustainability puzzle. Brendan takes us behind the scenes, explaining how Simply Cups collects and recy...

In this episode, Lottie is chatting with independent Allegra Spender. Allegra is part of the group dubbed the teal independents and strives for climate action and kindness within the community. She and Lottie discuss electric vehicles, climate action and how to positively impact your own community If you’re looking for more ways to save money while living sustainably, my book “365+ Ways to Save th...