First Mile's Climate Heroes

In this episode we hear how Vancouver based Recycle-Smart use technology, waste audits and computer algorithms to make recycling more efficient.

Waste and recycling is not included in council tax for Irish householders and so companies like CityBin collect on a pay-as-you-throw basis. In this episode we learn from Gene Browne and how has persuaded homes across Ireland to recycle more by putting service first as a core value.

This episode of Wasted is on the Circular Economy and how we shift from our current linear system of Take – Make and Waste and moving to a circular economic system of production. Our guest, Dr David Greenfield is a Circular Economy Specialist and explains the state of play and future roadmap for a circular economy.

B-Corp certified compliance scheme Ecosurety shows us how it is taking a new approach to producer responsibility. In this timely episode we learn about the future of extended producer responsibility, being a B-Corp and future recycling challenges. Our guest – James Piper - also gives us an early review of his new book, which is on the subject of rubbish.

In this episode our guest - Prof. Tom Appleby – shares his experiences of protecting the oceans and other public spaces to halt the destruction of our commons. His work ranges from banning plastic cotton buds, establishing ‘no take’ ocean conservation zones, and showing how we are polluting our latest common property – the internet.

Like it or not we are all being herded onto the Cloud and it is often claimed to be a greener choice for work and leisure. The majority of data centres are used to store and stream videos, which comes at a cost to us and the environment. In this episode we meet an anthropologist and an engineer to learn how the Cloud impacts society and the environment.

Mycelium, or the roots of mushrooms, can grow to the size of entire forests and are used by plants to communicate across large areas. Ehab Sayed of Biohm is using mycelium and other natural processes to make the building products of our futures that are organic and zero carbon. Ehab’s business is inspired by nature and its construction systems and materials champion a transformation towards the in...

First used as a packaging material by Toblerone a century ago aluminium  is the most recycled material in the world. 75% of all aluminium ever made is still in use today, but there’s still a lot more to do to recycle all of this wonderful material. In this episode we learn how far we have come and what the future might look like. Rick Hindley from Alupro talks to Wasted about the barriers and...

This Episode we meet Rype Office - the circular economy company shaking up the office furniture industry:. Hear how Greg Lavery, founder of Rype Office returns office furniture to as-new condition, saving money, reducing waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating local jobs www. RypeOffice.com

Join Bruce for this straight talking episode on plastics recycling. Bight Green Plastics are manufacturing recycled plastic compounds right here in the UK. Tune in to get clear insights about plastic exports, green washing and changes policy makers and influencers need to make around plastics. https://brightgreenplastics.com/

Kicking-off Series 2 of Wasted we delve into 200 years of textile recycling with Dr John Parkinson who is founder of Yorkshire wool recycling business iinouiio. Learn how John is saving one of the olderst recycling industries - shoddy and how he plans to change perceptions of recycling in fashion.   https://www.iinouiio.com/about

Welcome to Wasted Series 2 and to get started we have a special edition where we meet some of the First Mile team

We chat all things fashion with Dr Patsy Perry who is a Reader in Fashion Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University. We focus on the environmental footprint and consequences of fashion, the rise of fast fashion, the innovative companies leading the way to a more sustainable future and how we, as consumers can take action.  

Could you imagine a modern world without plastic? It's a valuable and useful material when used well, but we're living with the consequences of not having designed for end-of-life. We chat to Mark Miodownik, Materials scientist & engineer; Director of the UCL Institute of Making; author and occasional tv/radio presenter about the future of plastic.

If you're a beer drinker, you've almost certainly had a pint out of a KeyKeg; the lightweight alternative to traditional steel kegs. Hear KeyKeg's CTO, Bert Hanssen, discuss KeyKeg's fascinating journey towards a closed-loop system.

We speak to Mark Jankovich Founder and CEO of Delphis Eco to find out how Delphis Eco is disrupting the cleaning product industry with recyclable products and clever formulations that put the environment and aquatic organisms first.

Bruce chats to Ben Crowther, Co-founder & CTO of revolutionary indoor agriculture company, LettUsGrow. Find out about aeroponics, vertical farming, food waste and what UK agriculture will look like in 2050.

Recycling bins that blow bubbles, giant ashtrays and DIY bat costumes… We speak to Hubbub creative partner, Sarah Divall, to find out about the role of psychology and playfulness in kick-starting behavioural change.

We speak to Henry Unwin, Head of Sustainability at Nando's UK & IRE to find out about the importance of making sustainability fun, why carbon off-setting isn't the immediate solution, and what it means to sign-up to the Better Chicken Commitment. And don't miss Henry's top recycling tips for a unique way to reuse a box of wine!

Bruce chats with Tessa Clarke, CEO and Co-Founder of the food sharing app Olio. They discuss the shocking reality of food poverty and malnutrition here in the UK, the environmental impact of food waste, and how we need to stop looking for the perfect fruit and veg in the supermarket. https://olioex.com/

Bruce talks to the team behind the plastic in the Thames study about wet wipe reefs building in the River Thames, plastics in the food chain and how everyone needs to change their behaviour. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53479635

Meet George May, Director and Chief Commercial Officer of bio-bean, the world's largest coffee ground recycler. Our CEO Bruce and George chat about the innovative ways to recycle coffee grounds. https://www.bio-bean.com/

Bruce catches up with Kiko Matthews, fastest woman to row the Atlantic, and discusses all things beach cleans, education, environment and sustainability.  https://www.kikomatthews.co.uk/

Bruce chats vegetables, veganism and sustainable foodie start-ups with serial entrepreneur Grace Regan, Founder of SpiceBox http://eatspicebox.co.uk/

Bruce chats about the consequences of waste on children and families around the world with Amy Hanson, Founder of Small Steps Project http://www.smallstepsproject.org/ . Plus find out what Lewis Hamilton, Benedict Cumberbatch and Mel C all have in common.