The Net Zero Business Podcast

During August, we are publishing a series of compilation episodes featuring the best bits of our interviews on a particular theme. As the old cliché goes, we won't fix climate change and other environmental problems with the same thinking that created them, so this episode is all about design and innovation. The clips I have picked are: The importance of design from Alex Herridge of Skanska/Anglia...

During August, we are publishing a series of compilation episodes featuring the best bits of our interviews on a particular topic. First up is the crucial area of engagement, featuring the following contributions: Engaging the public on the BBC - Lucy Siegle B2B green marketing - Russ Avery of Avery & Brown Internal engagement using Green Jujitsu - Elisa Gasperini of Ahsell Gamification: makin...

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I run through the 3 most common failures that lead to a Net Zero Strategy failing. For each, I explain how I avoid these elephant traps when I'm developing Net Zero Strategies with my clients. The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to you by Terra Infirma Ltd – check out our Net Zero Accelerator if you need help with your strategy. Podcast logo c...

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Russ Avery of the Avery & Brown marketing agency about his Sustainability career, his views on green marketing and other interests, notably AI. Here's the highlights: • Purpose driven business • How clichéd images betray an inability to tell a story. • Avoiding greenwash, greenhushing and the danger of big numbers • Becoming a BCorp a...

This week I speak to Nic Alexander of Thallo about Sustainability's most controversial topic, offsetting. We talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the current market for voluntary carbon credits (to use offsetting's Sunday name) and what is being done to address the weakness. Along the way we bust some of the lazy myths of offsetting and talk about why more businesses are embracing it. The Ne...

In this week's edition of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Anna Krotova, co-author of a great new book entitled How to be a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). As I say, this is one of the best books I've read on Sustainability and Leadership (second only to my own Green Executive 😉). Watch and learn all about the hot new role in Sustainability. The Net Zero Business Podcast is brought to...

This week's podcast is a long version of a response I gave to a client in a workshop recently. I lay out how I open every workshop I do with a new audience to bring them on board and my subjective assessment is that it works 99%+ of the time! Like all my change management for Sustainability, I employ approaches that take into consideration human psychology - one of my maxims is that the biggest ba...

In 2012, Greenpeace launched a boycott of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), endorsed by a huge number of brands from Gucci to Staples. In this edition of the Net Zero Business Podcast, the then Sustainability Manager of APP, Aida Greenbury, tells the story of how she led the company through a Damascene conversion to deforestation-free status. We also discuss Aida's 30 years' experience in sustainable agr...

This week I talk to the wonderful Lucy Siegle (BBC TV, Guardian, Observer and many more) on communicating Sustainability through mainstream media and her particular interests in sewage and Sustainable fashion. Laced with gossip and hard hitting realities, we discuss: Why recycling is such a critical engagement point with the public Standing up to intimidation from vested interest groups The influe...

When I first started the Net Zero Business Podcast,, I knew I wanted to get Mark on as he always inspires me with his unique insights. Fresh from a cold water swimming session, he doesn't disappoint – here's what we cover: Getting Sustainability stuff done in a large organisation Driving change as an external agent The threat of misinformation and conspiracy theories Friendly fire in the green mov...

This week on the podcast, I set out three powerful concepts that should be used more in Sustainability if we really want to make change happen. If you want support on any or all of these three, please go to Terra Infirma | Contact Us and drop me a message! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Prof Colin Herron of Newcastle University about the transition to electric vehicles and many of the myths surrounding them. Its a highly entertaining chat with an expert who doesn't pull their punches: Why battery production is the key factor to EV uptake The need for charging infrastructure The economics of Vehicle to Grid (V2G) technolo...

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to ISO standard expert and podcaster Mel Blackmore of Blackmore's UK and Carbonology. In our discussion, we cover: How to choose from the myriad of environmental standards The most important question to ask before starting Integrating ISO standards seamlessly into the organisation The ISO14068 net zero/carbon neutrality standard, its origins...

Tobias describes himself modestly as "a guy who tries to do some useful stuff", but in this interview he shows how much of an understatement that is. We talk about: • Setting up the Innovation Forum to support business in Sustainability • The perils of calling your business 'ethical' • Sustainable textiles and agriculture – are farmers right to be angry? • Conspiracy Theorists and Sustainability •...

Another Q&A episode of the pod this week. I was asked how to get people away from incremental/quick wins thinking and focus on big bold changes to hit Net Zero. Here's what I cover in my answer: Why ISO14001 can't deliver on Net Zero Why 80:20 thinking is required in both engagement and strategy The power of backcasting But why and to whom quick wins do matter How to pursue both strategic and...

In this episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Kit England of Paul Watkiss Associates about a vital topic – Climate Adaptation. Here's what we cover: What is climate adaptation Is adaptation 'giving up'? The current state of play on climate adaptation Costs of runaway climate change vs adaptation vs mitigation The optimum granularity for action Risks and opportunities to business ISO1...

In this week's podcast episode, I speak to Lisa Conway, VP Global Market Sustainability and 'Carbon Lover' about their iconic Mission Zero Sustainability Programme which finished in 2020 and its successor, Climate Take Back. I had the pleasure of working with Interface about 8 years ago, and I've never come across a business so committed to Sustainability or so prepared to change everything to get...

In this week's episode of the Net Zero Business Podcast, I have an entertaining and wide changing chat with Adam Woodhall of the General Counsel Sustainability Forum , although we spend a lot more time on engagement and influence than legal issues. Here's what we cover: Why General Counsels matter to Net Zero How greenwash is becoming a legal issue Why the Montreal Protocol worked (and why that re...

This month's episode is another Q&A episode where I discuss greenwash, including: The subjectivity intrinsic to greenwash Why it is all about context Why some people just can't help it The moral obligation to stand up to greenwash The need for education Turning your problem into action These Q&A episodes are very popular, but I do need a steady stream of Qs so I can pick out those with wid...

A very thoughtful, philosophical conversation with Amir Sokolowski, Global Director Climate Change, CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Programme). Amir and I discuss: Amir's background in campaigning for human rights around the world Carbon leakage and policies such as CBAM The need for a just transition when decarbonising global supply chains Data quality and the importance of context Is 'report...

On this week's episode, I talk to Heather Buchanan, founder and CEO of Bankers for Net Zero which does... well an awful lot more than I thought. A big part of a bank's carbon footprint lies in the mortgage properties on its books so we talk a lot about retrofitting. We also cover COP26 - COP 28, fiduciary duty, how to engage bankers in Sustainability (risk vs opportunity), agriculture, and why the...

On this week's episode, I speak to Shaun McCarthy of Action Sustainability, the Supply Chain Sustainability School and the Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 Olympics. Here's what we cover: Shaun's entry into social and environmental Sustainability in procurement at the British Airports Authority Reflections on Sustainability at the London 2012 Olympics – what worked and what di...

This is the second Q&A episode of the podcast and the question comes from 'Jane' who is involved in a debate at work over Net Zero targets. Here's what I cover in my response: What Net Zero really means The problems with going for too near a date The problems with going too far The influence of assets, leadership and culture on the target date When to use SBTs to underpin Net Zero The dangers...

I throughly enjoyed this interview with Sustainability gamification pioneer and Chief Fun Officer of Eco-Action Games, Dr Paula Owen. We discuss the following: • How guilt-tripping people doesn't work • What is 'gamification' and why does it work? • Selling gamification as a concept • The first rule of gamification is... • Tensions between fun and gravity in Sustainability • Becoming a B Corp as a...

This week on the Net Zero Business Podcast, I talk to Dr Olli Jones, Head of Sustainability NE at Cundall and co-host of the Future X podcast. We cover a wide range of Sustainability issues including: • Do architects get Sustainability? • The threat of 'stranded' high carbon assets is with us now • Cundall's "Achieving net zero carbon on all our projects by 2030" pledge • Alternatives to offsettin...