Sustainability Solved

At nineteen I was offered the chance to be the youngest pub manager in the UK. I turned it down because of who told me to. Part four of seven on why Sustainability Solved is changing format. In this episode: managing staff at nineteen, the offer with the title and the money losing to the couple I actually trusted, and the sentence that is the whole reason Sustainability Solved Podcast is changing....

I walked into hundreds of pubs before one offered me a job, on condition I dressed up as a chicken. It is still the best lesson in communication I have ever had. Part three of seven on why Sustainability Solved is changing format. In this episode: why they tested the chicken suit and not my CV, how I was sacked repeatedly without ever being told, and why people have switched off from climate messa...

Rainwater harvesting, a reed bed and a solar thermal shower in a Welsh cow field. The engineering was never the hard part. Part two of seven on why Sustainability Solved is changing format. In this episode: how a caravan nobody wanted became a log cabin everybody agreed to, why my dad shipped it from Canada when he should have bought it here, and what to do about the site or supplier where your pl...

My grandmother was taken to court for burning litter on a beach in Aberdyfi. Nobody asked her why the litter was there in the first place. This is part one of a seven-part series on why Sustainability Solved is changing format. In this episode: the court case that started it, why the litter was the smaller problem, and the two questions to ask about any sustainability decision your organisation ma...

Most businesses believe they have outsourced their nature risk. They have not. In this episode we look at why so much climate and nature risk sits in supply chains rather than on the balance sheet, and what that means for any organisation buying from, selling into or manufacturing in Asia. I am joined by Fran van Dijk, CEO and founder of One Stone Advisors, who has just shared a discussion paper o...

Episode Brief Most net zero roadmaps have ticked off Scope 2. Renewable tariffs, LED lighting, EV charging. The boiler is still running on gas, and it is still the biggest single source of direct emissions on site. This month we sit down with David Leighton, National Distribution Sales Manager for LG HVAC Solutions across the UK and Ireland, to talk about why heat pumps have stopped being a reside...

Description : In this enlightening episode of Sustainability Solved, Will Richardson and Charlie explore the remarkable work of Scarf, a Scottish charity celebrating 40 years of tackling fuel poverty. Join Lawrence Johnston and David from Scarf as they reveal how their organization has transformed thousands of homes across Scotland, providing energy efficiency solutions that not only reduce carbon...

Most organisations know their supply chain is where the bulk of their emissions sit. The problem has always been visibility: if you can't see it, you can't manage it. In this episode, we sit down with Saskia van Gendt, Chief Sustainability Officer at Blue Yonder, one of the biggest supply chain software platforms on the planet. Saskia has spent nearly two decades working across government, consume...

Episode Summary In this powerful episode of Sustainability Solved, hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton speak with Mike Berners-Lee about the National Emergency Briefing (NEB) initiative. Mike explains how this groundbreaking project brings together top experts to communicate the urgent reality of our climate and nature emergency, and outlines how businesses can transform these challenges into...

Organizations are increasingly leveraging AI-powered platforms to understand and reduce their carbon emissions. Creating innovative, sustainable settlements that integrate nature and human habitats is crucial to reversing biodiversity decline. Employee ownership trusts can incentivize long-term stewardship and success of service-based companies. Please contact Will @ will.richardson@51tocarbonzero...

Host Will Richardson offers his thoughts on sustainability and more and replays one of our popular episodes on supply chain sustainability with the Wine Society. Will and Charlie Luxton are taking a break over the Summer to spend time with their families. We hope to bring you more episodes in early Autumn. From bottles to biodiversity! Welcome to  Sustainability Solved ! In this episode, host...

What if environmental regulations could become your competitive advantage? In this conversation with Emma Toovey, Chief Land and Nature Officer at Environment Bank, discover how the UK's new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements are creating unexpected business opportunities while driving genuine environmental progress. Whether you're a developer, landowner, or business leader in any sector, le...

For the final episode in our Anthropy special series, we speak with Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), representing 48 unions and 5.5 million workers across every sector of the UK economy. Paul shares a powerful perspective on ensuring a just transition to a sustainable economy, drawing on his personal experience growing up in Merseyside during the industrial changes...

In this episode of our Anthropy special series, we speak with Joanna Yarrow, who helps run Human Nature Places, a company creating neighbourhoods that make sustainable living easier. Joanna brings a unique perspective shaped by her upbringing in a Sussex woodland with "Good Life" parents who embraced sustainability before it was fashionable. Her journey from homemade clothes and organic sandwiches...

“That’s genius!” - Charlie Luxton in response to Gbemi’s revolutionary new idea… In this episode of our Anthropy special series recorded at the Eden Project, we speak with Dr. Gbemi Oluleye from Imperial College London. Gbemi brings a refreshing academic perspective to how businesses can make sustainable transitions affordable. As a lecturer at the Grantham Institute, she leads research on making...

Continuing our Anthropy special series from the Eden Project, we speak with Andy Jasper, CEO of the Eden Project itself. Andy shares his philosophy that sustainability should follow regeneration - that we need to boost and accelerate natural systems before we can sustain them. With a career spanning the RHS, National Trust, and now Eden Project, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge about how large-sc...

Welcome to our special Anthropy25 mini-series, recorded live at the Eden Project in Cornwall! Anthropy brings together business leaders, politicians, NGOs, and emerging leaders to tackle society's biggest sustainability challenges. In this episode, we speak with Andy Middleton about place-based change, breakthrough businesses, and what he calls "the cool stuff that hasn't been tried yet." Andy sha...

Working with your competitors might sound counterintuitive, but it could be your smartest business strategy. In this revealing conversation with Sebastian Munden (Chair of Ad Net Zero) and Fiona Ball (Group Director for Sustainability at Sky), discover why sustainability challenges are creating unexpected alliances that benefit everyone's bottom line. Learn how standardised measurement tools, shar...

With environmental legislation stalled in Parliament, forward-thinking businesses aren't waiting for government action. In this episode we go behind the scenes in Westminster with former ocean rower turned MP Roz Savage, who reveals why political uncertainty shouldn't slow your sustainability journey - and how proactive businesses are turning environmental leadership into competitive advantage. Le...

How does one of the UK's largest infrastructure companies successfully transition 27,000 employees to achieve net zero? Abby Chicken, Head of Sustainability at Openreach, reveals practical strategies for tackling major sustainability challenges - from electrifying the UK's second-largest van fleet to engaging thousands of employees and suppliers in sustainable practices. Whether you're leading a l...

From bottles to biodiversity! Welcome to Sustainability Solved ! In this episode, hosts Will and Charlie dive into the fascinating world of wine and sustainability with Dom De Ville from the Wine Society . First set up in 1874 by a bunch of people who wanted to pay a fair price for their booze, the Wine Society is leading the charge in tackling supply chain emissions, improving agricultural practi...

Did you know you probably emit more CO2 from your website than your travel! Welcome to Sustainability Solved! In this episode, hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton explore a surprising yet critical issue: digital emissions! Joined by Tom Greenwood and Georgie Monaghan of Wholegrain Digital, the conversation covers everything from the environmental impact of websites to how organisations can re...

Welcome back to Sustainability Solved , this time with a twist! Hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton chat with Sam Hamilton-Turner, co-founder of Soundquake , a purpose-driven podcast production company (now making this very podcast!) . Sam shares the story of Soundquake's transformation from a conventional, transactional business into a company with a clear focus on sustainability and purpose...

In this episode, we explore the world of sustainable housing design, highlighting award-winning projects and the innovative strategies driving the industry forward. Hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton are joined by special guests David Birkbeck , Managing Director of Design for Homes , and Richard Williams , Development Manager at VELUX . They dive into the highlights from the 2024 Housing De...

In this episode, hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton dive into a pressing issue within the construction industry – pallet waste.   Each year, the industry uses around 20 million pallets, yet only 10% are recovered or reused. The rest end up in landfills, contributing to significant waste and environmental damage.   Joining the discussion is Paul Lewis , Founder of Pallet L...