SustainNOW Podcast - Exploring Climate Solutions with Innovators and Entrepreneurs

As climate ambition ramps up, one question still looms: Is net zero really enough? In this episode, we sit down with Olly Bolton , CEO and co-founder of Earthly , a climate tech company helping businesses invest in high-quality, science-backed nature-based solutions . Earthly isn’t just another carbon offset platform — it’s building the infrastructure for regeneration . Through a rigorous 106-poin...

In this conversation, Friederike and Marian Krüger delve into the intersection of climate technology and entrepreneurship, exploring Marian's journey from a background in basketball to becoming a key player in the carbon removal space. They discuss the founding of a drone-based photovoltaic diagnostic company, the lessons learned from its exit, and the transition to focusing on carbon dioxide remo...

In this engaging conversation, Friederike von Waldenfels speaks with Zoe Gamble about the pressing transition to clean energy, exploring Zoe's unique career path, the current landscape of renewable energy in the U.S., and the challenges and trends shaping the industry. They discuss community solar projects, the role of Clean Choice Energy, and reflect on the experiences of women in the energy...

In this episode ⁠Berk Birand⁠ discusses the intersection of AI and sustainability, sharing his journey from a young tech enthusiast to the co-founder of ⁠Fero Labs⁠ . He highlights the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of integrating AI into manufacturing processes, and the evolving role of sustainability in industry. Berk emphasizes the need for companies to adapt to changing market...

In this episode we focus on Regenerative agriculture, which presents a transformative approach to combating climate change while enhancing the soil's health. ⁠ Francisco Roque de Pinho⁠  shares insights into how  ⁠the Land Group⁠  scales regenerative practices for financial and environmental benefits, while also intertwining his passion for surfing and resilience with his entrepreneurial journey. ...

Curtis E. Shuck Jr., a former oil and gas industry insider, stumbled upon a pressing environmental crisis that changed his life's course. Discover how his unexpected encounter with orphaned oil and gas wells in Montana ignited the birth of the Well Done Foundation, a nonprofit tackling these hazardous sites one well at a time. Curtis's journey from industry "bad guy" to environme...

Today, we're thrilled to have Anna Alex, a serial entrepreneur and visionary, as our guest. Anna has co-founded and scaled several successful companies, including Outfittery, Planetly, and now Nala Earth. Her journey is a testament to her passion for innovation and her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on our planet. As Anna herself puts it, "We need to overcome this nonpr...

In this episode of Sustain Now , we dive into an innovative solution to combat one of the most pressing environmental issues: methane emissions from livestock. The guest, Steve Meller, CEO and Co-founder of CH4 Global, takes us on a journey of discovering how seaweed can significantly reduce methane emissions from cattle. Founded in 2018, CH4 Global is on a mission to tackle methane—a greenhouse g...

In this episode of Sustain Now , we sit down with Kilian Kaminski, Co-founder of Refurbed, a leading marketplace for refurbished products. Refurbed offers consumers a sustainable alternative to buying new, with a growing selection of electronics, sports equipment, and household items. Through a meticulous 40-step refurbishment process, Refurbed ensures top-quality, affordable products while promot...

In this episode of Sustain Now , we speak with Bas van Abel, the founder of Fairphone, the world’s first smartphone company designed with sustainability and ethical practices at its core. Bas shares his journey from a curious child fascinated by how things work, to becoming a pioneer in the sustainable tech industry. After seeing the waste and harm caused by the smartphone industry, he was inspire...

In this episode of SustainNOW , we delve into the world of innovative lithium-ion battery manufacturing with Paul Baade, the co-founder of 8Inks. From his early days at ETH Zurich, where he developed an electric race car in the Model F1 Club, to his Ph. D. in materials and device engineering, Paul’s journey has been fueled by a passion for sustainable technology. Now, through 8Inks, Paul is revolu...

Today, we're focusing on MuteBox, a company dedicated to redefining workspace design by offering modular phone booths and meeting rooms with a sustainability focus. Joining us are Christian Toft Bach, CMO, and Adil Sheikh, Managing Director of MuteBox, who share the journey of this innovative Danish company. MuteBox offers a smart solution to the hybrid workspace challenge by creating sound-re...

In this episode of SustainNOW , we sit down with co-founder Joshua Lachter to explore how Synonym is pioneering the bioeconomy revolution. As a self-proclaimed biological maximalist, Joshua is dedicated to using biotechnology to replace petrochemical products and accelerate the transition to sustainable materials. Synonym’s mission is ambitious: to create a bioeconomy asset class that enables the...

In this episode of SustainNOW , Philippe Birker, co-founder of Climate Farmers , takes us on a journey into the world of regenerative agriculture. Growing up in an agricultural town in Western Germany, Philippe has always been connected to farming, and now he’s dedicated to restoring its image and making it more sustainable. He shares his mission to make farming "sexy again" by highlight...

In this episode of SustainNOW , Doris Hafenbradl, CTO of Electrochaea , shares her groundbreaking work harnessing the power of archaea to create sustainable bio-methane. Doris, a passionate scientist with a background in biotech and pharmaceuticals, has spent over a decade exploring how ancient organisms like archaea can revolutionize energy production. Electrochaea leverages methanogenic archaea...

Today I am talking with Lara Bryant, Deputy Director of NRDC (The Nature Resource Defence Council) in USA. Lara has a background in chemistry and studied plant and Soil Science and has a master’s degree in public administration in environmental science and policy from Columbia University. NRDC is a Non-Profit organization with more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of...

Rose and Ruben co-founded SeaO2, an oceanic carbon removal company based in the Netherlands, with the ambitious mission to reduce CO2 concentrations in the ocean and the atmosphere, combating global warming. Rose, inspired by her PhD research on electrochemical oceanic carbon capture, partnered with Ruben, a serial entrepreneur with expertise in business consulting, to bring their vision to life....

Stephanie Bischof, Managing Director of AirFix, shares insights into the growing field of Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS), a critical solution to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. With over a decade of experience in corporate finance, Stephanie transitioned into the climate field after being inspired by a documentary on soil health. Since 2022, she has been leadin...

Nirav Patel, founder and CEO of Framework, shares the vision behind his innovative company that aims to tackle the massive environmental impact of consumer electronics. Framework was founded in 2019 with a bold mission: to create products that are long-lasting and sustainable. After working as an engineer at major tech companies like Apple, Meta (Facebook), and Oculus VR, Nirav took the leap into...

Dana Yarden is the co-founder of BioBetter, an Israeli Agri/FoodTech start-up that aims to revolutionize the cultivated meat industry by using tobacco plants as natural bioreactors for producing growth factors (GFs). Dana’s background spans 18 years in the Life Science and Biotech industries, and she holds both an MD and an MBA from Tel-Aviv University. Through BioBetter, Dana envisions a future w...

In this special episode, Friederike von Waldenfels, the CEO of Forestrock and Founder of SustainNOW , discusses the concept of Green Retail during her keynote at the SCORE! – Swiss Conference for Retail and E-Commerce. In her speech, she highlights the growing importance of sustainability in retail and why she believes Green Retail is both an opportunity and a necessity . Here are the three reason...

In this episode, Milo Stössel , the Co-Founder of Quickpac , talks about the concept of last-mile delivery in e-commerce and how Quickpac is revolutionizing this space with electric vehicles. Last-mile delivery refers to the final leg of the delivery process, where goods are transported from a distribution center to the customer's doorstep. As online shopping continues to rise, there is an inc...

In todays episode, I am speaking with Ted-Li, co-founder of Oaesense. Oasense developed a self-powered smart showerhead that helps people conserve up to 60% of water and energy by switching off automatically when you step away. Ted-Li has an engineering background and worked in different sensor focused companies as well at Apple. He joined as co-founder in 2019. Ted, an optoelectronic technologist...

In this insightful episode of sustainNOW , Katie speaks with Tim Schumacher , a serial entrepreneur and investor deeply committed to climate impact. Tim’s entrepreneurial journey includes co-founding Ecosia , the world’s largest independent search engine, which uses all its profits to plant trees. Tim’s passion for sustainability has driven him to invest in and co-found startups like Zolar , Carbo...

In this episode of SustainNOW, we’re joined by Sabine Stuiver , the CMO and co-founder of Hydraloop , a company that’s revolutionizing water conservation with its innovative decentralized water recycling systems. Sabine, recognized as one of Europe's top female entrepreneurs with sustainable innovations, shares her journey from the corporate world to leading a company focused on tackling water...