Sustainable Transformation

Nova Podcasts
Nova Podcasts

In the Sustainable Transformation Podcast, we bring you honest conversations about the challenges and triumphs of sustainability transformations in business. Join us fortnightly as we unpack the ideas that drive change, decode the jargon and meet the visionary leaders reshaping their organisations for the better. 

  1. Sep 23

    The teenager who sued the government over climate change | Anjali Sharma

    Can a government be legally required to protect young Australians from climate change? That question sat at the centre of a landmark Federal Court case, and it's one campaigner Anjali Sharma has been trying to answer since she was 14 years old. Anjali was the lead litigant in the case that first tested whether Australia's environment minister owes a legal duty of care to future generations. She won. It was overturned on appeal. Instead of walking away, she helped write a bill to put that duty into law, and it's now working its way through state and territory parliaments. In this episode, Anjali takes Kiarne through what it actually takes to sue a federal minister at 16, why Australia's role as a fossil fuel exporter complicates the "we're too small to matter" argument, and what a workable duty of care could look like in practice.   You’ll hear and learn: Why a 16 year old sued a federal government minister Why Australia shouldn’t be claiming "we're too small to matter" argument on climate responsibility What a legislated duty of care could mean Where the campaign for a duty of care stands now What Anjali says drives her and makes it all worth while   This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand how legal accountability on climate actually works in Australia, and what it takes to move it.   MENTIONS: Sharma v Minister for the Environment David Pocock's Duty of Care Bill ICJ Advisory Opinion on States' Climate Obligations (2025) Australian Youth Climate Coalition Australian Conservation Foundation Climate Council Australian Human Rights Commission’s child rights impact assessment tool   LINKS: Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial   CREDITS: Host: Kiarne Treacy Guest: Anjali Sharma Guest Company: Duty of Care Campaign Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The teenager who sued the government over climate change | Anjali Sharma

  2. Sep 15

    The problem with Australia’s packaging

    Most people's idea of sustainable packaging starts and stops at the recycling bin. That's the visible layer. Underneath it sits a fragmented system of state-based schemes, contested regulation, and on-pack claims that don't always hold up. Kiarne is joined by Pippa Corry, founder and director of philo & co, a sustainable packaging consultancy working with brands Australia. Pippa spent more than 15 years designing packaging for global brands before building a consultancy around one question: what needs to change at the design stage for packaging to be genuinely circular. They get into the difference between recyclability and true circularity and why Australia's patchwork of state-based recycling rules is under pressure to change. Pippa also breaks down what a fake recycling logo looks like, why "compostable" is one of the most misunderstood words on a pack, and the first question any brand should ask before its next packaging redesign. If you've ever stood in front of the recycling bin second-guessing yourself, this one's for you. SINCE WE RECORDED THIS EPISODE: The Federal Government has confirmed a Commonwealth packaging scheme won't be introduced this term. If you want to see that change, philo & co is backing Boomerang Alliance's Call for Packaging Reform — you can add your name here: Sign the Call for Packaging Reform   You’ll hear and learn: The real difference between recyclability and genuine circularity, and why they're not the same thing What Australia's ARL (Australian Recycling Label) system actually checks for, beyond the chasing-arrows symbol Where Australian packaging regulation is headed — extended producer responsibility, eco-modulation, and what both mean in practice How to spot a fake recycling claim or an overstated compostability claim at the shelf The first question philo & co asks every brand before a packaging redesign   This episode is a must-listen for brand, marketing and packaging teams navigating design and compliance decisions, and for anyone who wants to make sense of confusing sustainability claims at the shelf.   MENTIONS: APCO (Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation) ARL / PREP tool (Australian Recycling Label) SPSA (Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia) DCCEEW (Dept. of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) UK RAM (Recyclability Assessment Methodology) Australia Post's circular textiles pilot   LINKS: Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial   CREDITS: Host: Kiarne Treacy Guest: Pippa Corry Guest Company: philo&co Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The problem with Australia’s packaging

  3. Sep 8

    Where 4.5 Trillion Aussie dollars goes when we’re not looking

    Most of us can tell you exactly what goes in the recycling bin, but very few of us could tell you what's actually inside our superannuation. And according to Estelle Parker, co-CEO of the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), that gap matters more than almost anything else we do for the planet. RIAA is the industry body that certifies which super funds and investment products can genuinely call themselves responsible or ethical, and its network covers a scale of money most of us can barely picture. In this episode, Kiarne sits down with Estelle to work through why so few Australians ever check where their money goes, what words like "ethical" and "sustainable" are actually supposed to mean in finance, and just how easy it is to find out. It's a conversation about trust, proof, and the surprising amount of power sitting in every Australian's super account right now. You’ll hear and learn: Why nearly 90% of Australians expect their super to be invested responsibly, and why so few have ever checked What "ethical," "sustainable" and "responsible" actually mean in an investment context, and why they don't mean the same thing to everyone The simple analogy that makes sense of how certification works, even in an industry as complex as finance How rigorously investment products are reviewed before they can carry a genuine responsible investment label What it actually takes to check or switch your own super fund, and why it's simpler than most people expect RIAAis a not-for-profit organisation that champions responsible investing and a sustainable financial system in Australia and New Zealand. RIAA is dedicated to ensuring capital is aligned with achieving a healthy society, environment and economy. The directories below are free for anyone to use. RIAA does not receive commissions from product providers when consumers switch products or seek advice. Find RIAA certified products Find RIAA certified financial advisers   This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever wondered whether their money is doing the right thing, or wants an easy way to find out without needing a finance degree.   MENTIONS: Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) RIAA Certified Product and Adviser Directory     LINKS: Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial   CREDITS: Host: Kiarne Treacy Guest: Estelle Parker Guest Company: Responsible Investment Association of Australasia (RIAA) Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Where 4.5 Trillion Aussie dollars goes when we’re not looking

  4. Sep 1

    How a Bondi dad is taking on the giants of the toxic cleaning aisle

    Open the cupboard under your kitchen sink. Chances are you'll find a dozen or more cleaning products, each with a slightly different job and nearly every one carrying a warning about the chemicals inside. Koh co-founder Adam Lindsay didn't set out to build a brand people would talk about. He set out to solve a problem in his own cleaning cupboard, and ended up building one of Australia's most trusted cleaning brands almost entirely on word of mouth. In this episode, Kiarne sits down with Adam to talk about what it actually takes to earn that kind of trust, from a cold call to a university chemistry department, to farmers market stalls, to nearly two million households today. It's a conversation about taking on the giants of the cleaning aisle with a safe and sustainable product, and winning.  You’ll hear and learn: Why Adam called a university chemistry department before starting Koh, and what happened when he did What convinced skeptical customers at farmers markets that Koh was the cleaner for their family The real reason so many cleaning products still carry that "clean" smell What it actually takes to get third-party eco-certification, and why Koh did it before selling a single product Where Koh is headed next as it looks at reducing what gets shipped across the country   This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever stood in the cleaning aisle wondering which claims to trust, and any founder wondering whether doing things properly is worth the extra cost.   MENTIONS: Koh GECA (Good Environmental Choice Australia) Sensitive Choice, National Asthma Council Australia   LINKS: Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial   CREDITS: Host: Kiarne Treacy Guest: Adam Lindsay Guest Company: Koh Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. See See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    How a Bondi dad is taking on the giants of the toxic cleaning aisle

  5. Aug 25

    Companies have to report on climate now, but they don't have to fix anything

    “I think it's probably the least bad system that we could have implemented.” James Tilbury isn't talking about Parliament. He's talking about mandatory climate reporting, the wave of legally required disclosures now landing from some of Australia's biggest companies. Kiarne Treacy sits down with James, climate risk advisor to some of the country's largest businesses, to find out why he'd compare a spreadsheet requirement to a system of government, and why most people misunderstand what these reports are actually for. James breaks down where the requirement came from, what large and mid-sized companies are now legally required to put in writing, and why the system behind it still has real gaps. He explains why a company is more likely to disclose a gap in its climate planning than to close it, why no regulator is checking whether public targets get met, and how AI search tools are already changing how everyday consumers hunt for answers about which brands are genuinely sustainable. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever wondered whether a brand's sustainability claims mean anything once they're put in writing, and what's actually behind the fine print most of us will never read. You’ll hear and learn: Why mandatory climate reports are risk reports first, and what that means for what companies actually have to disclose What separates a mandatory climate disclosure and a voluntary sustainability report Why there's no central directory to find these reports, even though the law requires them What companies are legally allowed to admit to, and what they're never required to fix Who actually enforces a company's climate targets once they're made public Why James compares Australia's reporting system to democracy Why searches like "is this brand sustainable" have tripled in the past year, and what's driving that shift This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever wondered whether a brand's sustainability claims mean anything once they're put in writing, and what's actually behind the fine print. MENTIONS: Linden Sustainability Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) ASIC Connect Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Energy Lab   LINKS: Learn more about Sustainability Tracker Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial   CREDITS: Host: Kiarne Treacy Guest: James Tilbury Guest Company: Linden Sustainability Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. See See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Companies have to report on climate now, but they don't have to fix anything

  6. Aug 18

    Fast fashion is a catastrophe, and you're part of it

    “fast fashion is a topic that absolutely eats away at me. So I've got lots I want to get off my chest and lots I want to learn.” Kiarne Treacy's had enough of fast fashion, and today she’s starting with your last online order. She puts it to Danielle Kent, General Manager of Transformation at Seamless, Australia's national product stewardship scheme for fashion. Australians send more than 200,000 tonnes of clothing to landfill every year, roughly a full wardrobe per person. Kiarne sits down with her to find out how that happened, and why recycling isn't the fix most people think it is. Danielle explains how Australia's abundance of space and appetite for fast fashion has created a wardrobe surplus even our charities can't absorb. She's honest about the number that should worry everyone: only a small fraction of what we own actually gets recycled, and the reasons why involve everything from sequins to shipping routes. The conversation gets into what's really happening to the clothes in your local charity bin, why global shipping disruptions are now sending containers of donated clothing straight to Australian landfill and what it would actually take to make brands responsible for a garment's whole life. You’ll hear and learn: The one word Danielle says can ruin a garment's chance of ever being recycled Why 1.5 billion items of clothing hit the Australian market every year, and why Danielle says that number is a serious undercount What's really happening to the clothing sitting in shipping containers right now, and why it's not reaching the countries it was meant for The teenage trend no one saw coming, and what it reveals about why we buy the way we do Why some of Australia's most trusted brands are quietly buying back the same clothes they sold you The two numbers that show why only a tiny fraction of Australian fashion brands are actually accountable for what they sell What Danielle does every single time before she buys something new, and why it's saved her thousands This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever dropped a bag of clothes at a charity bin and wondered what actually happens next, and for anyone rethinking how much, and how often, they buy clothes.   MENTIONS: Seamless Cotton On & eBay Australia partnership Australian Fashion Council Ellen MacArthur Foundation Refashion (France) Samsara eco BlockTexx Planet Protector   LINKS: Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial   CREDITS: Host: Kiarne Treacy Guest: Danielle Kent Guest Company: Seamless Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Fast fashion is a catastrophe, and you're part of it

  7. Aug 12

    Want to know what’s inside Dilmah’s family rule: success vs significance?

    "The most selfless person I have ever met in business." That's how Kiarne describes Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman and CEO of Dilmah Tea, after sitting down with him for this episode. Dilhan runs one of the world's best-known tea brands in the world, and by his own admission, he could triple Dilmah's profits tomorrow. Kiarne sits down with him to find out what it actually costs to run a business on purity of origin, ethical growing and a founding promise never to compromise. Dilhan walks through the value model his father built the company on: social impact first, environmental restoration second, and profit deliberately at the end. They talk about agroforestry that drops yields, twelve years of biochar trials and why they have a single-origin promise. Dilhan teaches us about the family's charitable foundation and conservation arm, the bats now helping grow tea and why three of his children have chosen to join the business too. You'll hear and learn: Why Dilhan compares a bag of Dilmah tea to a bottle of wine, and what that says about why they don’t blend tea across regions How bat research at Dilmah's Genesis Centre is helping them grow tea The three-part value model behind Dilmah's business, and where profit actually lands on that list What twelve years of testing one unusual soil technique revealed about growing tea through drought This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand what genuine, structural sustainability actually costs, and why one family has chosen it for three generations running.     MENTIONS: Dilmah Tea MJF Charitable Foundation Dilmah Conservation Genesis Dilmah Centre for a Sustainable Future Biodiversity Sri Lanka UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka Conscious Food Systems Summit, Bhutan Sri Lanka Climate Summit 2026 Sri Lanka's National Export Development Plan   LINKS: Learn more about SustainabilityTracker Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast Follow The Sustainability Tracker on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial   CREDITS: Host: Kiarne Treacy Guest: Dilhan C Fernando Guest Company: Dilmah Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Want to know what’s inside Dilmah’s family rule: success vs significance?

  8. Mar 9

    The Wild West of sustainability is over | Cool Planet’s Daniel Harper

    Sustainability has shifted from a “nice to have” to a core business risk conversation. In this episode, Daniel Harper, Director of Cool Planet, unpacks what nearly 20 years of working in climate strategy has taught him about how businesses really move. From the early “wild west” days of carbon offsets to mandatory climate disclosure, supply chain pressure and the pivot from carbon neutral to net zero, this is a grounded look at what’s actually happening in the ESG space.. You’ll hear why regulatory certainty matters more than most people realise, how supplier tiering is reshaping procurement decisions, where carbon offset distrust comes from (including why some carbon credits cost under $2 while others sit closer to $50… and what that gap means for credibility) and why some industries like hospitality are evolving faster than others. If you’re unsure whether to start or scale your sustainability efforts, this episode breaks down the steps and tools to get moving in a way that makes clear business sense. You’ll hear and learn: Why mandatory climate disclosure reframes sustainability as business risk, not environmental charity How large organisations are quietly ranking suppliers based on net zero targets and carbon reporting The real difference between carbon neutral and net zero — and why offset quality matters Where reputational risk and greenwashing scrutiny are increasing, and how to protect your brand Why starting early reduces future compliance pressure, protects profit and creates commercial advantage   Founders, sustainability leads, procurement teams and business owners who want clarity on climate reporting, supplier pressure, net zero strategy and how to turn sustainability from a compliance task into a commercial advantage.   MENTIONS: Cool Planet Climate Active Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)   LINKS: Learn more about SustainabilityTracker.com Learn more about The Sustainable Transformation Podcast Follow The Sustainable Choice Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind-the-scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial   CREDITS: Host: Kiarne Treacy Guest: Daniel Harper Guest Company: Cool Planet Find more great podcasts like this at novapodcasts.com.au Nova Entertainment acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we produced this podcast, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The Wild West of sustainability is over | Cool Planet’s Daniel Harper
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In the Sustainable Transformation Podcast, we bring you honest conversations about the challenges and triumphs of sustainability transformations in business. Join us fortnightly as we unpack the ideas that drive change, decode the jargon and meet the visionary leaders reshaping their organisations for the better. 

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