Sustainability Solved

Sustainability Solved

Making your organisation sustainable doesn't have to be complicated... Learn the proven strategies that transformed ordinary businesses into sustainability leaders, and how to implement them in your organisation today. Struggling to make your organisation more sustainable without sacrificing business performance? Each month on Sustainability Solved, Will Richardson & Charlie Luxton unpack how leading companies are cracking the sustainability puzzle - and extract the strategies you can actually use, regardless of your industry. We dive deep into real success stories, breaking down exactly how organisations overcame common sustainability challenges, from supply chain emissions to waste reduction. Through candid conversations with leaders who've been there, you'll get battle-tested approaches, practical frameworks, and actionable insights you can implement today. Whether you're just starting your sustainability journey or looking to accelerate progress, each episode gives you concrete tools to drive meaningful change while strengthening your business. Ready to turn sustainability from a challenge into competitive advantage?

  1. 18/12/2025

    A short update and "The impact of political climate and actionable outcomes from COP 30"

    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.com

    11 min

  2. 24/07/2025

    POPULAR REPLAY: Wine Society talks about why investing in your supply chain is crucial in 2025

    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, 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 practices, and supporting winemakers across the globe. If you’re curious about Scope 3 emissions, regenerative viticulture, and innovative approaches to sustainability, this episode is for you. Join the Sustainability Solved Hub to collaborate, ask questions, and share insights. Problem The wine industry faces mounting sustainability challenges: Scope 3 Emissions: 94% of the Wine Society’s carbon footprint comes from their supply chain, particularly in wine production, glass bottle manufacturing, and shipping.Climate Change: Extreme weather patterns, droughts, and floods are threatening vineyards worldwide.Human Rights Risks: Reliance on seasonal, often migrant, labour raises ethical concerns.Biodiversity Loss: Conventional farming practices, such as pesticide and herbicide use, degrade soil and ecosystems. Solutions Investing in Suppliers (Insetting): Instead of traditional carbon offsets, the Wine Society invests directly in its growers through a Climate and Nature Fund. This supports projects like regenerative farming and reforestation.Examples include hydro-seeding trials, agroforestry initiatives, and providing seed money for transitioning to regenerative viticulture. Reducing Glass Bottle Emissions: The Wine Society collaborated with 12 retailers through the Bottle Weight Accord to reduce bottle weights by 2027, significantly lowering emissions. Regenerative Agriculture: Encouraging natural solutions, such as planting cover crops, using sheep for natural fertilisation, and avoiding soil tillage to preserve carbon stores. Collaboration: Active involvement in the Sustainable Wine Roundtable and the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation to share knowledge and best practices across the industry. Producers Making a Difference: Highlighting sustainable suppliers on their website to incentivise greener practices and reward innovation. Results Direct investment of £65,000 per year into supply chain projects, supporting growers in transitioning to more sustainable practices.A unified industry effort to reduce glass bottle weights, potentially transforming the carbon footprint of millions of bottles annually.Positive relationships with suppliers, fostering long-term partnerships and encouraging sustainable innovation. Takeaways Pay a Fair Price: Sustainability in supply chains requires investment and fair compensation for...

    1h 17m

  3. 18/06/2025

    From Regulatory Burden to Business Opportunity: Mastering Biodiversity Net Gain

    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, learn how this game-changing framework provides certainty, reduces costs, and opens new revenue streams - while contributing to nature recovery at scale. 🎯 Key Takeaways BNG Creates Business Certainty and PredictabilityAfter decades of inconsistent biodiversity requirements across local authorities, the new BNG regulations provide a standardised Excel-based metric that removes professional judgment and bias from planning decisions. This consistency allows developers to plan, cost, and budget for biodiversity requirements from day one, transforming uncertainty into strategic advantage. As Emma notes, "Developers like the predictability and certainty that comes with this metric."Early Engagement Minimises Costs and Maximises OpportunitiesThe days of bringing ecologists in at the last minute are over. Smart developers are integrating biodiversity planning into their feasibility and master planning processes from the start, designing nature into schemes rather than retrofitting solutions. This approach not only reduces offsite requirements but can add property value and appeal to residents who increasingly want access to green spaces.Nature Disclosure is the Next Frontier for All BusinessesJust as carbon reporting became mandatory, nature-related financial disclosures are on the regulatory horizon through frameworks like TNFD (Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures). Forward-thinking businesses across all sectors are preparing now, recognising that understanding and managing nature dependencies and risks will become essential for regulatory compliance, investor relations, and talent retention. ⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps 🌱 Start Biodiversity Planning Early 📊 Assess Your Nature Dependencies and Risks 🤝 Explore Revenue Opportunities in Nature Recovery 🛠 Tools & Resources Biodiversity Net Gain Metric - Government Excel spreadsheet for calculating biodiversity unitsEnvironment Bank - Habitat banking provider with 32 projects across 2000+ hectaresTNFD Framework - Task Force on Nature-related Financial DisclosuresThe Guardian's TNFD Report - Practical example of nature disclosure implementationUK Biodiversity and Business Forum - Membership organisation providing support and guidanceCSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) - EU legislation requiring nature impact disclosure ❓ Got a question? Ask us and we'll try our best to answer it in the show! podcast@sustainabilitysolved.org 🔄 Share Your Impact Let us know how you implemented these actionsSubmit your case studyJoin our Sustainability Solved Hub 🎙 Guest Emma TooveyChief Land and Nature Officer at Environment BankTrained ecologist with 20+ years experienceFormer ecological consultant specialising in developer relationsExpert in biodiversity net gain...

    1h 1m

  4. 14/05/2025

    ANTHROPY25: Paul Nowak - Trade Unions Are Essential To A Just Transition

    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 of the 1980s and 1990s. He discusses the importance of bringing workers to the table when planning for sustainability transitions, the role public services can play in reducing emissions, and why skills development is crucial to sustainable economic transformation. Paul argues that without fairness at the heart of the transition, we risk having no transition at all. 🎯 Key Takeaways1. Just transition requires concrete plans, not warm words Workers in carbon-intensive industries need clear pathways for their future, not distant promisesPeople have a right to be around the table and shape their own futureWithout fairness at the centre of sustainability transitions, there will be no transition at allExample: Oil and gas workers in Aberdeen need specific plans, not vague assurances 2. De-industrialisation is not a viable path to net zero Offshoring emissions by importing steel and other materials is not a sustainable solutionMaintaining an industrial base in the UK that complements net zero objectives is essentialGreen technologies like electric arc furnaces for steel and carbon capture must be part of the mixThe UK should maximise domestic supply chains in renewable industries to support good jobs 3. Public services can lead the way in emission reduction Government can use procurement power to ensure taxpayer money is spent sustainably4 million union members in public services could help drive the transitionLeading by example in the public sector makes it easier to ask private sector to followHealthcare delivery models can be reimagined for better patient outcomes and sustainability 4. Workers need to be involved in net zero planning Companies should draw up net zero plans in consultation with their workforce"Union green reps" can function like shop stewards for climate change in workplacesFrontline workers often have the best insights into making operations more sustainableSmall employers in transitioning sectors need particular support 5. Flexibility and lifelong learning are key skills for the future Employers themselves often don't know what skills they'll need in 5 yearsEducation system should prioritise adaptability over specific employer requirementsRetraining throughout working life needs to become normalisedUK employers invest about half the EU average in skills and need to increase this ⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps1. Establish workplace "green reps" 2. Develop transition plans collaboratively 3. Reimagine service delivery models ❓ Got a question? Ask us and we'll try our best to answer it in the show! podcast@sustainabilitysolved.org 🔄 Share Your Impact Let us know how you implemented these actionsSubmit your case studyJoin our Sustainability Solved...

    22 min

  5. 07/05/2025

    ANTHROPY25: Joanna Yarrow - The Importance Of Joy

    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 to working with IKEA on sustainability reveals how she's navigated the tension between sustainable values and modern aspirations. Joanna discusses how sustainability needs to connect to people's everyday lives to truly succeed, focusing particularly on food and transportation as key impact areas. She offers a refreshing take on joy as an important but overlooked sustainability metric. 🎯 Key Takeaways1. Making sustainability relatable to everyday life Sustainability solutions need to connect to people's daily realities and aspirationsStarting with people's needs (saving money, time, health goals) makes sustainability accessibleAt IKEA, sustainability was reframed as "creating a better everyday life with lower climate impact"Most organisations still fail to ground big existential challenges in people's daily experiences 2. Food and transportation offer the biggest impact opportunities Together they represent 60-70% of our climate and ecological impactWe don't need high-tech solutions like lab-grown meat or flying carsBetter design of neighbourhoods reduces car dependenceMore plant-based, less wasteful meals make a substantial differenceThese integrate with necessary everyday activities rather than becoming "extra tasks" 3. Joy deserves more attention as a sustainability metric Sustainability is often framed as difficult, worthy, and problem-focused, which isn't motivatingLiving sustainably should enhance quality of life - health, social connection, agency, place connectionThere's science showing these factors contribute to happiness and healthA "joy matrix" could help accelerate sustainability adoptionPeople are drawn to positive outcomes more than problem-solving 4. There's no silver bullet - action is what matters While we discuss theoretical perfect solutions, we're wasting time"Do everything everywhere all at once" is the pragmatic approachFocus on high-impact areas that people interact with frequentlyPrioritise solutions that also provide immediate benefits 5. Sustainable placemaking goes beyond efficient buildings Human Nature Places uses bio-based building materialsDesigns incorporate active travel (walking, biking) and car sharingCommunity food systems integrate growing spaces and canteensLooking at total lifestyle carbon footprint, not just operational building emissions ⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps1. Prioritise food and transportation changes 2. Frame sustainability through personal benefits 3. Add joy and social connection to sustainability initiatives ❓ Got a question? Ask us and we'll try our best to answer it in the show! podcast@sustainabilitysolved.org 🔄 Share Your Impact Let us know how you implemented these actionsSubmit your case studyJoin our...

    24 min

  6. 30/04/2025

    ANTHROPY25: Gbemi Oluleye - The One Environmental Metric We Aren't Talking About...

    “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 sustainability economically viable for the manufacturing sector while also running executive education programs for sustainability officers. Gbemi discusses the need for convergent thinking, offers a sobering assessment of how late the sustainability movement started, and proposes a revolutionary new metric to track how planetary degradation impacts human productivity. 🎯 Key Takeaways1. It's not just the cost, but how we see costs We tend to view sustainability as a burden rather than risk mitigationPoor accounting practices fail to consider whole system valueWhat appears as a cost to one business may be value to another in the supply chainExample: Housing retrofit costs are viewed as a burden rather than as societal savings 2. Convergent thinking is the most valuable business skill for the future We've moved from multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary and now need convergent thinkingCurrent education creates divergent thinkers who operate in silosUniversities are restructuring around global problems rather than traditional disciplinesHolistic perspectives are essential to extract economic value from sustainability 3. The sustainability movement started too late Materials like rubber, iron, steel, and cement were invented centuries before sustainability was consideredWe've "had years to do rubbish" and now face urgent pressure to fix itThe delay makes the challenge harder, though opportunities still exist to catch up 4. We need a metric for planetary impact on human productivity Current metrics focus on human impact on planet, not how planetary degradation affects peopleA "Gbemi scale" would measure how environmental changes affect individualsPeople connect more with health impacts than abstract concepts like sea level riseLinking sustainability to personal productivity could be a game-changer for business adoption 5. Businesses need safe spaces to discuss implementation challenges Sustainability rhetoric vs. business reality creates a significant disconnectCompanies put on a show of knowing what they're doing when many don'tCSO teams often operate separately from core business functionsExecutives lack time to integrate sustainability into existing responsibilities ⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps1. Adopt whole-system accounting practices in your organisation 2. Create cross-functional sustainability teams 3. Connect environmental metrics to human impacts ❓ Got a question? Ask us and we'll try our best to answer it in the show! podcast@sustainabilitysolved.org 🔄 Share Your Impact Let us know how you implemented these actionsSubmit your case studyJoin our Sustainability Solved Hub 🎙️ About Our GuestDr. Gbemi Oluleye is a lecturer at the Grantham Institute at...

    22 min

  7. 23/04/2025

    ANTHROPY25: Andy Jasper - Why We Need Regeneration Instead Of Sustainability

    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-scale environmental projects can transform landscapes and communities. He discusses Eden's global expansion with projects in China, Costa Rica, and across the UK, and shares his perspective on the importance of confidence and optimism as key skills for business leaders navigating the sustainability transition. 🎯 Key Takeaways1. Regeneration before sustainability Andy challenges the term "sustainability" itself, arguing we shouldn't just sustain everything at its current levelFirst regenerate natural systems and accelerate restoration, then sustain themThe Eden Project itself exemplifies this approach - transforming barren clay pits into thriving ecosystems 2. Global Eden Projects are expanding the model worldwide Eden Project China opening June 202565,000-hectare restoration project in Costa Rica transforming slash-and-burn farming to sustainable cacao productionNew UK Eden Project sites planned for Morecambe and Dundee with unique local connections 3. Confidence and optimism are essential business skills Having confidence to make decisions with incomplete information (80% is enough)Optimism allows better framing and solving of problemsWillingness to embrace failure as part of the innovation process 4. Nature has no waste - and neither should we Everything in nature is repurposed as part of a systemHuman systems create unnecessary byproducts and wasteCircular economy principles should be applied to all new projects ⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps1. Focus on soil health in your garden or community 2. Involve diverse perspectives in decision-making 3. Try circular economy practices in your next project ❓ Got a question? Ask us and we'll try our best to answer it in the show! podcast@sustainabilitysolved.org 🔄 Share Your Impact Let us know how you implemented these actionsSubmit your case studyJoin our Sustainability Solved Hub 🎙️ About Our GuestAndy Jasper is the CEO of the Eden Project, a role he took up six months prior to this interview. With a background as Director of Gardens and Parklands for the National Trust and Director of the Investment Program for the Royal Horticultural Society, Andy has had what he describes as "one of the best careers in the world, working in gardens, traveling around the world, and helping make botanic gardens more beautiful and greener places." He previously worked at Eden as Head of Research and Evaluation, giving him deep insight into the organisation's operations and impact. 👫 Credits Hosts: Will Richardson, Charlie LuxtonProduction: SoundquakeExec-Producer: Sam Hamilton-TurnerProducer: Jake Lee-Savage 💚 Help us make the show better! a href="https://www.notion.so/Notion-7be1a086decf46a3b23865a22f53d794?pvs=21" rel="noopener...

    39 min

  8. 16/04/2025

    ANTHROPY25: Andy Middleton - Why We Need to Embrace Uncertainty

    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 shares insights on how funding structures often discourage collaboration and how changing this could accelerate sustainability solutions. He also discusses the potential of hyper-localism and the importance of embracing uncertainty as we transition to a more sustainable future. 🎯 Key Takeaways1. The power of connecting the right people Some of the biggest sustainability breakthroughs happen when people who've never been in the same room start talkingExample: The Wales Obesity Alliance has no food companies involved, showing a critical disconnectBringing diverse stakeholders together can lead to "massive quick shifts" in solving complex problems 2. Short-term funding creates short-term thinking 75% of environmental funding in the UK is for one year or lessThis creates a "death spiral" where organisations are trained to think small and certainShifting to longer-term funding (3+ years) would encourage more expansive thinking and innovation 3. Breakthrough businesses are ready to scale High-potential, high-impact businesses are already developing solutions that could transform entire industriesExample: A company making powdered egg replacement from fungi that could eliminate 300 million tons of chicken feed annuallyThese possibilities exist now but aren't talked about enough 4. Curiosity and embracing uncertainty are essential skills The ability to lean into uncertainty rather than shy away from it will be increasingly valuableTeaching this mindset to children creates flexibility and openness to new solutionsRelationships will become more valued than material possessions in a post-growth world ⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps1. Switch your pension to ethical investments 2. Talk about positive changes you want to see 3. Build your sustainability tribe 🛠️ Tools & ResourcesBooks: "Hospicing Modernity" by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira - A powerful exploration of transitioning beyond modern society Organizations: Unreasonable - An impact accelerator bringing together high-potential sustainability businessesThe Path - Ethical financial planning and pension providerDo Good Faster - Andy's organization that helps businesses find and repurpose lost money for sustainability initiatives Projects: Hard as Nails - Project to engage men in conversations about toxic masculinity 🎙️ About Our GuestAndy Middleton has been an early pioneer in the B Corp movement in the UK. He founded TYF, an adventure and education company in Wales, and now runs multiple social impact initiatives including Do Good Faster. Andy's work focuses on accelerating sustainability...

    38 min
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Making your organisation sustainable doesn't have to be complicated... Learn the proven strategies that transformed ordinary businesses into sustainability leaders, and how to implement them in your organisation today. Struggling to make your organisation more sustainable without sacrificing business performance? Each month on Sustainability Solved, Will Richardson & Charlie Luxton unpack how leading companies are cracking the sustainability puzzle - and extract the strategies you can actually use, regardless of your industry. We dive deep into real success stories, breaking down exactly how organisations overcame common sustainability challenges, from supply chain emissions to waste reduction. Through candid conversations with leaders who've been there, you'll get battle-tested approaches, practical frameworks, and actionable insights you can implement today. Whether you're just starting your sustainability journey or looking to accelerate progress, each episode gives you concrete tools to drive meaningful change while strengthening your business. Ready to turn sustainability from a challenge into competitive advantage?

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  • Creator
    Sustainability Solved
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2025
  • Episodes
    211
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Sustainability Solved
  • Show Website
    Sustainability Solved