The NatureBacked Podcast

In this conversation, Tarmo Virki interviews Alix Lebec, an expert in innovative finance, focusing on the intersection of finance and sustainability. They discuss the importance of innovative finance in addressing climate challenges, particularly in water infrastructure. Alix talks about her journey from the World Bank to building WaterEquity with Gary White and Matt Damon to founding Lebec, an in...

Jeff Szur from Altitude Water discusses the innovative approach to water purification through atmospheric water generation. Szur emphasizes the importance of nature's processes in creating pure water and the company's unique technology that utilizes ozone for purification. The conversation with host Tarmo Virki explores the growing industry of atmospheric water generation, the environmental impact...

In this conversation, Kristin Hull discusses the mission and operations of Nia Impact Capital, an asset management firm focused on aligning investments with values, particularly in the context of sustainability and social impact. She emphasizes the importance of investing in companies that contribute to a just and sustainable economy while debunking the myth that impact investing cannot yield prof...

Joonas Plaan, a board member of the Estonian Fund for Nature (ELF), discusses the importance of sustainable investing, the role of NGOs in guiding corporate responsibility, and the challenges of quantifying nature's value. Joonas shares insights on successful restoration projects in Estonia and the growing trend of companies supporting environmental initiatives, highlighting the need for a shift i...

In this episode Fiona Alston interviews Anna Lundin, an investor at Norrsken VC, Europe's largest early-stage impact investor. They discuss Norrsken's mission, Anna's transition from Spotify to impact investing, the importance of funding in Africa, and the future of impact investing, emphasizing the need for profitability alongside social and environmental impact. Takeaways Norrsken operates as a...

In the spirit of sharing, we swapped episodes with Ryan Grant Little of Another Climatetech Podcast, and we are airing one of his great interviews: a conversation with comedian Stuart Goldsmith. Goldsmith shares his unique approach to addressing climate change through humour, and his journey from experiencing climate anxiety to using comedy for resilience and connection.  Goldsmith emphasizes the...

We discuss the mission of Native; a company focused on protecting and restoring rainforests, mangroves, and coral reefs while supporting Indigenous guardians. Founder Rob Cobbold emphasizes the importance of engaging the public in climate action through transparent carbon markets and the need for a holistic approach to valuing ecosystems. The conversation also covers sales strategies, the signific...

In this conversation, Thom Norman from FarmKind discusses the critical issues surrounding factory farming, its impact on animal welfare and climate change, and the importance of charitable donations in addressing these challenges. He emphasizes that individuals can make a difference without necessarily changing their diets and highlights the global perspective on factory farming, including the rol...

In this episode of the NatureBacked podcast, Fiona Alston interviews Sarah Fleischer, co-founder and CEO of tozero, a company focused on lithium-ion battery recycling. They discuss the journey of starting tozero, the challenges of being a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, and the innovative processes involved in recycling lithium. Sarah shares her insights on the importance of purp...

In this conversation, Erik Kolehmainen discusses his role at Metsä Spring, the innovation arm of Metsä Group, focusing on sustainable forestry practices and developing new bio-based products. He highlights the unique co-operative structure of Metsä Group, which forest owners own, and how this influences long-term business strategies. The discussion covers various innovative projects, including tex...

The episode explores Lithuania's vibrant green tech ecosystem, focusing on the growth of renewable energy, mobility, and circular economy innovations, and the challenges startups face. Teresė Škutaitė, head of the Green Tech Hub, discusses the impact of geopolitical shifts on the cleantech sector and the importance of energy independence. At the same time, Biohifas founder Tomas Byckovas talks abo...

Brett Jenks discusses Rare's mission to inspire change for the benefit of both people and nature. He emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior in conservation efforts and shares insights on how community engagement and behavioral science can drive sustainable practices. "People are a huge opportunity for conservation," he said. "We need both policy change and individual action." Je...

Climate activist Niklas Kaskeala, founder and chief impact officer at ImpactOffice. Earth, highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and the role of corporate responsibility in fostering a sustainable future. Kaskeala emphasizes the need for businesses to move beyond traditional sustainability practices and focus on creating positive impacts, questioning existing business models and advo...

In this conversation, Martin Villig, co-founder of Bolt, discusses his journey towards a sustainable lifestyle and the importance of urban planning that prioritizes people over cars. He shares insights on how his personal experiences led to a shift in his lifestyle and the mission of Bolt to create cities that foster independence and community engagement. Villig emphasizes the role of education in...

This podcast episode with Larry Selzer from the Conservation Fund discusses balancing economic development with environmental conservation. Larry discusses the Fund's mission to protect critical lands in the U.S. while supporting sustainable economic activities. "It's not an easy endeavour, because there's a long history, over a century, of keeping these two powerful forces, the environmental move...

In this conversation, Kari Sinivuori discusses the significant health benefits of nature and the alarming trend of urbanization leading to a disconnect from natural environments. The discussion highlights a research study that emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature, particularly through innovative products that incorporate natural microbes. "We need to reconnect people back to natur...

NuCicer is a startup focused on breeding better chickpeas to have a positive impact on the environment and the growing population. The founders, Kathryn Cook and her father, aim to connect the fragmented food and agriculture system by bridging the gap between ag technologies and food brands. "By understanding the challenges that consumer brands and formulators are having, we can take those challen...

In the episode, Clover Hogan discusses her journey from a nature-loving child in Australia to a climate activist. She emphasizes the need for systemic change and regulation to address climate issues, highlighting the limitations of relying on corporate goodwill. Hogan also stresses the importance of diverse approaches, including nonviolent direct action, to push for meaningful climate action. She...

Pat Hill from Mott Corporation discusses his background and the company's history. Mott Corporation, founded over 60 years ago, specializes in porous metal products used in various industries. Pat explains their involvement in green hydrogen production through electrolysis and their role in making traditional industries like oil, gas, and chemicals more environmentally friendly. He also highlights...

Erkki Kubber, co-founder of Impact Day, says that the festival aimed at making sustainability appealing and fostering B2B partnerships has grown significantly, attracting more attendees each year, and plans to expand internationally. Despite its growth, the festival emphasizes reducing environmental impact through various measures, such as using reusable materials and encouraging digital participa...

In this podcast episode, Deyan Angeloev, founder of Organic Tee Star, shares with Tarmo Virki his journey of building a green future over the past 20 years, starting with recycling projects and moving into the organic market. He highlights the importance of certified organic products and the benefits they bring to the environment and human health. Dejan also discusses his efforts to educate people...

The keys to unlocking climate financing in Africa lie in the digitalisation of records and the rolling out of new financing products, said Anete Garoza, co-founder of 1MTN, a carbon credit developer focused on restoring degraded lands in Africa using bamboo. "We still see a huge investment gap in the climate financing," Garoza said. "And it's not because these projects at the moment operating in A...

Venturebeam focuses on raising funds for impact-driven companies with substantial revenue and proven market fit, says its head, Oli Harris. Harris highlights the importance of self-awareness and small actions in making a significant impact and introduces Venture Impact Score. Venturebeam's first funding round was for Xocean, an Irish company developing autonomous underwater drones. The company rai...

With a background in music and project management, Gerald J. Leonard, CEO of Turnberry Premier, orchestrates a discussion on the critical role of data-driven processes in creating sustainable workplaces and reducing carbon footprints. "Your climate strategy is your business strategy today," Leonard stressed. Leonard shares insights on the importance of leadership buy-in and cultural alignment for...

Sid Kitisakkul from Nature2need discusses their mission to decarbonize the plastic industry by incorporating agricultural residues into the polymer, potentially achieving negative emissions. The company has been operational since 2017, with a production facility in China, producing 4,000 tons of decarbonized plastic raw material annually. They are raising funds to scale production and expand opera...