Sustainability Solved Sustainability Solved

In this episode of the Sustainability Solved Podcast, hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton are joined by Charlotte Harrington, Co-CEO of Belu Water, a social enterprise dedicated to clean water initiatives, exemplified by its partnership with WaterAid. To date, Belu has donated nearly £6 million to WaterAid by selling bottled water and filtration systems. 
With a strong corporate retail background and a deep passion for sustainability, Charlotte is on a mission to revolutionise the bottled water industry by integrating purpose with profit. Tune in to discover how she and Belu Water are transforming how we consume water! 

Key Highlights: 

Charlotte discusses Belu’s unique co-leadership model, where two CEOs with different skill sets collaborate to enhance the company’s performance. Belu started with the belief that businesses can help solve global problems. Charlotte shares the company’s journey from its inception by Reed Paget, to becoming a leading social enterprise committed to sustainability. Every decision at Belu is filtered through the lens of environmental impact, ensuring that sustainability remains a core value. Charlotte delves into Belu’s partnership with WaterAid, which provides unrestricted funds to support critical water and sanitation projects globally. Charlotte recounts a visit to Malawi, witnessing the life-changing impact of clean water access in rural communities. Belu’s expansion to Hong Kong and Singapore is discussed, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of scaling a purpose-driven business internationally. Charlie raises the discussion of the carbon footprint of bottled water compared to tap water. Charlotte acknowledges the environmental impact of bottled water but explains the practical challenges in the hospitality sector where bottled water remains crucial. The growing adoption of filtration systems in restaurants and hotels is explored, providing a sustainable alternative to bottled water. Charlotte explains her dissatisfaction with the carbon offset markets, which led Belue to focus on supporting nature-based solutions and biodiversity projects in the UK instead. 
  

  


 
Green Element Group is an environmental management consultancy offering a range of bespoke sustainability services, products, and resources to accelerate the just transition to a stable climate. The Group consists of Green Element Limited, Compare Your Footprint Limited, and Sustainability Solved Podcast and Resource Hub. 

Find out more about Green Element Group here and benefit from a 20% discount on the first year of subscription to Compare Your Footprint, the highest quality carbon footprint software for your organisation. When registering, click ‘Got a Coupon’ and enter code...

In this episode, hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton delve into the surprising intersection of tradition and sustainability within the funeral industry. Joined by Sarah Jones, Founder of award-winning Full Circle Funerals, the discussion uncovers how the age-old sector is undergoing a transformative shift towards embracing sustainable practices.  
Fellow B Corp Full Circle Funerals stands at the forefront of this evolution by reframing funerals within the realm of health and social care. By prioritising holistic support and sustainability, Sarah challenges the conventional transactional approach of traditional funeral services.  

The episode underscores the evolving landscape of funeral services, where sustainability is becoming integral to end-of-life planning and commemoration. 

Highlights:  

With approximately 600,000 funerals arranged annually in the UK, Sarah sheds light on the environmental impact of traditional flame cremations and explores alternative options like electric cremators and natural burials.  The conversation extends to personal choices in funeral arrangements and the importance of discussing end-of-life wishes with loved ones.  Sarah’s book, Funerals Your Way, provides a resource for individuals to navigate their options and make informed decisions aligned with sustainability principles. Use code FYW25OFF for 25% off your copy here.  Through crowdfunding, Sarah initiated a groundbreaking study evaluating the environmental impact of different committal methods, including burial and cremation. Beyond carbon emissions, the study also considers factors like land usage, water consumption, space utilisation, and biodiversity.  Sarah highlights the benefits of natural burial, which involves shallow depth and biodegradable materials as potentially the most environmentally friendly option.  The conversation touches on the response of the funeral industry to sustainability efforts, with Sarah acknowledging the challenges of mobilising a diverse sector without regulatory guidance.   Will and Charlie share their personal experiences and perspectives, with Will discussing his decision to opt for a wicker basket burial for his father and reflects on the environmental impact of funeral practices.  
Resources: 

Full Circle Funerals 

Funerals Your Way by Sarah Jones – use code FYW25OFF for 25% off! 
Greener Funerals...

E186: Show Notes
Title: Exploring Careers in Sustainability In this episode, hosts Will Richardson and Charlie Luxton explore the booming landscape of sustainability careers, a sector that has witnessed huge growth in the UK job market. With sustainability-focused roles accounting for 1/3 of UK job postings, the industry has become a focal point for professionals looking to make positive environmental impact. To delve into this topic, we are joined by Serrol Osman, Director of Verdant Search, a renowned firm specialising in Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and sustainability recruitment. Together, they unpack the evolving dynamics of the industry and provide invaluable insights, advice, and strategies for individuals looking to transition into sustainability careers.
1. Market Dynamics and Industry Disruption:
· Serrol reflects on the rapid growth of sustainability careers up to 2022, noting a slowdown due to global economic factors.
· The discussion covers shifts in salary structures, challenges in accommodating rising costs, and talent shortages at mid-level positions.
· Despite uncertainties, Serrol predicts continued growth driven by regulatory changes and corporate sustainability initiatives.
2. Confusion and Evolution in Job Descriptions:
· The podcast addresses confusion in job descriptions amidst the fast-paced evolution of sustainability roles.
· Serrol discusses challenges in finding the right talent, inconsistent salaries, and the need for clear job definitions to streamline recruitment processes.
3. Demand for Purpose-Led Companies:
· Both hosts emphasise candidates' desire to work for purpose-driven companies.
· Serrol underscores the importance of aligning company values with employee aspirations for enhanced retention and growth.
4. Evolution of Recruitment Profiles:
· Serrol predicts that, like digital transformation, specialised sustainability roles will be integrated into traditional business operations.
· The discussion highlights the role of sustainability leadership and reporting structures in driving meaningful organisational change.
5. AI and Future Job Trends:
· Serrol offers insights into AI's potential impact on green jobs, predicting shifts in productivity and new roles in design, research, and policy.
· Serrol stresses the significance of soft skills and emerging opportunities within the sustainability domain.
6. Advice for Aspiring Professionals:
· Serrol advises aspiring professionals to assess their skill sets and explore opportunities in education, voluntary sectors, and current companies.
· The discussion emphasises starting with broad sustainability concepts before specialisation and the value of diverse skill sets, including communication and adaptability.
Green Element Group is an environmental management consultancy offering a range of bespoke sustainability services, products, and resources to accelerate the just transition to a stable climate. The Group consists of Green Element Limited, Compare Your Footprint Limited, and Sustainability Solved Podcast and Resource Hub. Find out more about Green Element Group here and benefit from a 20% discount on the first year of subscription to Compare Your Footprint, the highest quality carbon footprint software for your organisation. When registering, click ‘Got a Coupon’ and enter code ‘PODCAST‘ to claim discount.
A big thank you to our sponsors!
This episode of Sustainability Solved is sponsored by Business Declares, a not-for-profit business network who inspire, encourage, and accelerate action within businesses to address the climate, ecological, and social emergency.
They are an active network of 100+ businesses who back our commitments to reach net-zero, restore and protect nature, and advocate for regulatory change.
Join Business Declares as a member to get help accelerating your...

In this episode we look at the funny side of Climate Change with award winning comedian, podcaster and business speaker, Stuart Goldsmith. He grabbed the headlines at the Edinburgh Festival in 2023 with his show about Climate Change, called Spoilers. Stuart talks about his journey in stand-up over the last 20 years, and his mission to engage a wider audience on Climate Change through comedy.    
Why did Stuart Goldsmith decide to make jokes about Climate Change? 
Stuart talks about spending 10 years as a street performer and his increasing feeling of ‘eco-dread’. He acted on this feeling by writing and performing comedy about Climate Change. Stuart talks about the challenges of performing material about the Climate Crisis to audiences. 
How does Climate Change comedy compare to activism? 

Charlie asks Stuart whether this was a form of activism. Stuart has attended Extinction Rebellion protests and a Just Stop Oil meeting. He respects their commitment but didn’t feel like these were his normal social group. Will highlights when we tackle a new way of sending a message, it is a kind of activism. Will compares it to when he worked in sustainability in the early days of his career.     Stuart talks about his journey writing jokes on the Climate Crisis and soliciting climate confessions from the audience. But tries to go further and influence his more famous comedy friends to include the topic in their material. Stuart wants his audiences to feel more comfortable starting a conversion about Climate Change with friends.  Stuart also shares a joke about flying business class. 
How does Stuart gather research? 

Stuart talks about taking part in Climate Fresk, a workshop designed to teach the fundamental science behind Climate Change, and also playing EN-ROADS, an online simulator with the ability to test and explore cross-sector climate solutions. Will and Stuart discuss the impact of flying that’s both negative and positive to society.  Stuart talks about interviewing people for his podcast, The Comedian’s Comedian, using one example of a global sustainability person for a huge US investment bank talking about Climate Change, politics, and Trump. This interviewee stressed that capital money has decided that [Climate Change] is real, so we can’t pretend it’s not real.  Charlie offers the example of Trump supporting the reopening of coal mines, but none opened because no-one would invest in them. Stuart raises climate justice, and the fact people are already running for their lives. He asks what will humanity look like in the future? Charlie responds by quoting James Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, where he recorded that if we hit an increase if 5-5 degrees above pre-industrial levels we could go from 8 billion people down to 1.5 billion living in the far North and far South.  
 

What’s the worst thing Stuart jokes about? 
Stuart doesn’t communicate how horrible a topic is to his audience, or they will stop listening. He thinks we need to safeguard our mental health.  Stuart talks about being a parent and offers a ‘worst thing’ joke related to his fellow playground dad’s...

Season 5, Episode 184: Sustainable Standstill: Why major housebuilders aren’t going green This episode we interview Ian Pritchett, the co-founder of Greencore Homes in Oxfordshire. They build airtight, energy-efficient, timber frame houses, from their factory in Bicester. Ian shines a spotlight on the challenges of the ‘business-as-usual’ housebuilding planning system and champions the need for a new national planning policy that is fit for the future.
The problem
· Charlie asked Ian what the planning system is doing to respond to climate change challenges and pressures around development.
· Ian is frustrated at the planning system. Trying to do something different and better is a challenge. It gets closer scrutiny and there is more bureaucracy.
· National Government and housebuilders are focused on volume, not sustainability. They are more interested in avoiding a housing crisis, than a climate crisis.
Environmental impact
· Ian reports that every time a new house is built it generates over one hundred tons of carbon emissions (CO2), plus the use of the house will emit carbon. The total carbon budget for Oxfordshire’s five local authorities is 26.3m tonnes of CO2 by 2050. With their plan to build 100,000 new homes in the next 10 years, they will use between 80-100% of that budget on new housing alone.
· Sustainability regulations are dumbed down to keep volumes up. It is a choice between the quantity or the quality of housing. Ian explains that we can have both.
· Charlie asks Ian if we can build our way out of a housing crisis and why does volume win Government votes.
· Ian explains that we are living longer, there are smaller households and spare housing is not where employment is concentrated, hence why the Southeast is the focus of housebuilding.
A planning system fit for our future
· Ian wants a new national planning policy that is fit for the future and focuses on more important areas such as energy, carbon, wildlife, biodiversity, and community.
· Greencore’s mission is to move the house building industry from an unsustainable to sustainable model answering questions such as can you lock up more carbon than you emit? Can you generate more energy than you use? Can you improve wildlife and biodiversity? · Ian talks about how Greencore works to the One Planet Living framework. It is building places where people want to live and can live sustainably, can live happily and healthily.
· Charlie and Ian discuss the issue of landowner wealth and a need to involve the local community to ensure they benefit.
Are greener houses more expensive? · Will talks about how Cardiff University proved that an environmentally friendly home could be more affordable than a normal home.
· Ian reports that there are some higher costs when building sustainably at a smaller scale. However, these costs will come down when building at volume.
· Charlie offers an example of one of his affordable housing projects and how lower running costs could be included in rent and mortgage agreements.
· Ian talks about the idea of houses built to encourage zero energy bills and the problems with this not being valued by residents.
The problem with parking space
· Ian is concerned about housing schemes being dominated by parking and car ownership. He sees a future where we make more use of shared sustainable transport and offer examples of where this is happening. Decisions also need to be made around green space vs car parking space.
· Charlie and Will discuss the pros and cons of electric car sharing in housing projects.
How to innovate faster
· Ian talks about how economics will drive innovation in this space faster. One way is to reduce stamp duty on low-carbon homes which would drive demand, supply, and legislation.
· Will and Charlie discuss getting a better mortgage for a low-carbon home, and Charlie uses the...

In our latest episode, we sit down with hosts Will Richardson, CEO and Founder of Green Element Group, and Charlie Luxton, an architectural designer focusing on sustainability buildings. Will and Charlie kick off the new year by reflecting on their sustainability journeys, and discuss key trends in sustainability for the year 2024! The conversation touches on sustainable architecture, political shifts and media challenges impacting sustainability, technological advancements, diverse perspectives on environmental activism, and much more! 
Starting 2024 with Sustainability: 
Will and Charlie anticipate significant sustainability topics for the year, emphasising the urgency of addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. Will advocates for proactive climate action rather than waiting for legislative mandates. 
Charlie’s Sustainability Journey: 
Charlie shares his early environmental interest, stemming from childhood experiences in Australia. His sustainability journey began with a realisation about the environmental impact of logging in the rainforest. Discussing his transition from TV hosting to sustainability, architecture, and history, Charlie highlights his recent project “The Great British Restoration Challenge” focused on converting non-houses into homes. 
Sustainable Architecture: 
The conversation centres on integrating sustainability into architectural projects as a foundational aspect. Charlie emphasises the importance of taking risks in sustainable practices, often testing innovative ideas on personal projects before implementing them for clients. Both Will and Charlie discuss the significance of embodied carbon modelling in architectural projects. Charlie expresses his excitement in AI’s role in optimising buildings, focusing on structure, servicing, thermal design, and orientation. 
Embracing All Aspects of Sustainability 
Both Will and Charlie share some diverse sustainability initiatives they have witnessed over the years, highlighting the importance of storytelling in showcasing complex sustainability scenarios. Will discusses an audit of an Eon site with diverse perspectives of environmental activism, while Charlie recalls an industrial symbiosis network in Denmark involving a coal-fired station, plasterboard production, and a fish farm. 
Political Shifts and Media Challenges 
The hosts provide insights into political shifts, particularly in the US, and discuss potential impacts on sustainability. Charlie expresses concerns about the media prioritising clickable headlines over fact-checking, shaping public opinion on sustainability. 
 
Green Element Group is an environmental management consultancy offering a range of bespoke sustainability services, products, and resources to accelerate the just transition to a stable climate. The Group consists of Green Element Limited, Compare Your Footprint Limited, and a href="https://greenelementpodcast.captivate.fm/listen" rel="noopener noreferrer"...