Carbon Copy Podcast

If food waste were a country, it would be the second biggest global emitter of carbon emissions after the US and China. It’s a big environmental, economic and social problem. In this episode of the Carbon Copy Podcast we chat to four different guests, each with a different perspective on how to prevent good food ending up in the bin. We hear from Fiona Bell whose initiative CropDrop helps to connect alloment growers to local food projects, we meet Kate Page from Fooditude, a London-based corporate catering business that is putting sustainability right at the top of the menu. We also explore different ways to use up surplus food, from the high-end event catering provided by Open Kitchen, to the vital support offered to local community organisations by FareShare. 

Listen to hear: 

• Why food waste happens in the first place – and why it’s not just about what we can do individually. 
• How businesses can save money and improve their environmental credentials through better planning around catering. 
• Why more government funding is needed to make food waste from farms a thing of the past. 
• What you can do to support organisations that are tackling this big local issue. 

Full transcript available at: https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/reduce-food-waste.

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Show notes 

• Find out more about reducing food waste: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction/reduce-food-waste  
• Discover all 25 Big Local Actions for climate and nature: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction     
• Listen back to previous episodes of the Carbon Copy Podcast: https://carboncopy.eco/podcast     
• Read more about CropDrop: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/cropdrop  
• Learn more about Fooditude: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/fooditude  
• Read about Open Kitchen: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/open-kitchen 
• Learn about Menu for Change in Greater Manchester: https://www.openkitchenmcr.co.uk/menuforchange  
• Learn about FareShare: https://fareshare.org.uk/  

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The energy transition is not just about reducing carbon emissions. Local community-generated power can bring huge benefits to communities – economic, social and environmental. In this episode of the Carbon Copy Podcast we chat to John Taylor from Community Energy England and Beth McAllister from Oxfordshire’s Low Carbon Hub, about the positive impact that generating energy locally can have. Listen, to hear Carbon Copy’s Isabelle Sparrow and renewable energy advocate Sonya Bedford MBE examining the different ways to get involved – regardless of your background or expertise. 

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• Learn about the options for energy generation locally. 
• Hear about opportunities to contribute with different skills and experience. 
• Find out what support and guidance is available to help you get started. 

Full transcript available at: https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/generate-energy-locally

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Show notes 

• Find out more about generating energy locally: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction/generate-energy-locally  
• Discover all 25 Big Local Actions for climate and nature: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction   
• Listen back to previous episodes of the Carbon Copy Podcast: https://carboncopy.eco/podcast  
• Read about Ambition Lawrence Weston, the UK’s first community-owned wind turbine: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/ambition-lawrence-weston  
• Read about the community energy organisations Sonya mentions, 
• Exeter Community Energy: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/exeter-community-energy-ecoe  
• Avalon Community Energy: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/avalon-community-energy  
• Find out more about Community Energy England: https://communityenergyengland.org/  
• Read about Low Carbon Hub on Carbon Copy: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/low-carbon-hub  
• Learn more about the Energy Learning Network that John mentions: https://ashden.org/energy-learning-network/  
• Discover over 400 more renewable energy projects on Carbon Copy: https://carboncopy.eco/action-area/energy  
• Get in touch with us and let us know what you thought of this episode: [email protected] 

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Whilst planting trees might seem like an obvious action to tackle the climate and nature crises, there’s more to reforestation than meets the eye. In this episode of Do Something Bigger, from the Carbon Copy Podcast, we meet Carl Rowlinson founder of woodland creation initiative Plant One Cornwall, who shares his story of turning a feeling of helplessness about the world into a positive and impactful county-wide project. We also hear from the aptly named Dave Wood, CEO of Bristol-Avon based Avon Needs Trees; a charity taking an innovative approach to purchasing land specifically for woodland creation and management. 

Listen now to learn: 

• Why simply planting trees does not go far enough. 
• How trees are a fantastic way to engage different people in issues around nature and the environment. 
• The importance of allowing natural species that might be usually considered “weeds” to grow and support young trees. 
• That almost everyone has a favourite tree or trees, if they think about it hard enough! 

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Show notes 

• For a full transcript visit: https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/plant-more-trees
• Find out more about planting trees: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction/plant-more-trees 
• Discover all 25 Big Local Actions for climate and nature: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction     
• Listen back to previous episodes of the Carbon Copy Podcast: https://carboncopy.eco/podcast    
• Read about Plant One Cornwall on the Carbon Copy website: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/plant-one  
• Read about Avon Needs Trees on the Carbon Copy website: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/avon-needs-trees  
• Read about finding tree-related action you can take near you via The Woodland Trust: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/protecting-trees-and-woods/campaign-with-us/take-action-in-your-community/  

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In this episode of Do Something Bigger from the Carbon Copy Podcast, host Isabelle Sparrow and producer Bradley Ingham chat to reuse and repair experts Dr Adam Read MBE and Clare Seek. They discuss the plethora of co-benefits brought by a circular economy, and outline their visions for a future in which repair and reuse is normalised and celebrated. We learn about The Renew Hub, the incredible large-scale reuse operation run by SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK in Greater Manchester, which is saving useable items from ending up in landfill. We also hear about how Share (Portsmouth) has developed from pop-up shop to a thriving community organisation, helping to bring people together and creating connections that go beyond repair. 

Listen and learn: 

• How SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK works with apprentices and people returning to work, and has created employment for people in skilled careers. 
• How The Renew Hub looks to be inclusive, ensuring secondhand items are available at price points suitable for people in all circumstances. 
• Why Clare hopes that Share (Portsmouth) might one day not exist! 

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Show Notes 

• For a full transcript visit: https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/repair-and-reuse
• Find out more about repair and reuse: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction/repair-instead-of-recycle 
• Discover all 25 Big Local Actions for climate and nature: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction   
• Listen back to previous episodes of the Carbon Copy Podcast: https://carboncopy.eco/podcast 
• Learn about Share (Portsmouth) on Carbon Copy: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/share-portsmouth  
• Learn about The Renew Hub on Carbon Copy: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/renew-hub  
• Read about the history of repair cafés: https://www.repaircafe.org/en/about/  
• Read about progress on the Right to Repair campaign, and what you can do: https://therestartproject.org/right-to-repair/uk-progress-2025/ 

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In this episode of Do Something Bigger from the Carbon Copy Podcast, we’re exploring how farming and food production, done in the right way, can bring huge benefits for nature and climate. Join host Isabelle Sparrow and special guest co-host Kathryn Machin, Head of Community Engagement Campaigns at WWF UK to explore why involving farmers and food producers in conversations about nature and climate is so important. We speak to Martin Lines – an arable farmer from Cambridgeshire who is also CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network – to learn more about the ways the public can support farmers who are transitioning to more sustainable practices; and we hear from Stephanie McEvoy, who works with farmers and agri-food businesses in Northern Ireland to encourage peer-to-peer learning and more nature-focused ways of working. 

Listen to learn: 

• More about WWF UK’s work supporting farmers and sustainable agriculture. 
• What the Nature Friendly Farming Network does and how you can get involved. 
• Why peer-to-peer learning is particularly important for farmers. 
• What steps you can take (even if you’re not a farmer) to support nature-friendly farming practices. 

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Show notes 

• For a full transcript visit: https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/farm-with-nature
• Find out more about farming with nature: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction/farm-with-nature 
• Discover all 25 Big Local Actions for climate and nature: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction   
• Listen back to previous episodes of the Carbon Copy Podcast: https://carboncopy.eco/podcast  
• Listen to Bigger Than All Of Us – our podcast episode all about the People’s Plan for Nature: https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/bigger-than-all-of-us  
• Read the People’s Plan for Nature: https://peoplesplanfornature.org/  
• Read about Stephanie’s work with farmers in Northern Ireland: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/farming-carbon  
• Sign up to be a member of the Nature Friendly Farming Network: https://www.nffn.org.uk/ 
• Read about WWF’s work to mend the broken food system: https://www.wwf.org.uk/food  
• Learn more about WWF’s work on regenerative agriculture: https://www.wwf.org.uk/food/farming/regenerative-agriculture  
• Read the Land of Plenty report: https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/land-of-plenty  
• Read about WWF’s Eat For Change programme: https://www.wwf.org.uk/eat4change  

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In this episode of Do Something Bigger from the Carbon Copy Podcast, we are seeking solutions to one of the UK’s most common and most destructive natural disasters: floods. We discover just how high the risk of flooding is, how much worse it is predicted to get – and why this is linked to climate change. We explore ways to prepare for flooding, in homes and in wider communities – and we look at natural flood defences and sustainable urban drainage solutions (SuDS) that can reduce the likelihood of floods happening in the first place. Join host Isabelle Sparrow, special guest co-host Joanna Yarrow, flooding expert Mary Long-Dhonau OBE (AKA Flood Mary) and Rachel Glossop of the Living With Water Partnership to learn:

• About The Phoenix, the sustainable neighbourhood being developed by Joanna Yarrow’s company Human Nature 
• The importance of greening up and de-paving around homes and in towns and cities 
• Top tips for protecting your home from flood damage 
• What a Flood Action Group is and why every community should have one 
• How to keep vulnerable people safe in the event of a flood 

Full transcript available at: https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/take-flood-action

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Show notes 

• Find out more about taking flood action: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction/take-flood-action 
• Discover all 25 Big Local Actions for climate and nature: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction   
• Listen back to previous episodes of the Carbon Copy Podcast: https://carboncopy.eco/podcast  
• Read more about The Phoenix: https://www.phoenixlewes.com/ 
• Read more about Human Nature: https://www.humannature-places.com/ 
• Learn more about Flood Mary: https://floodmary.com/ 
• Read more about the Living With Water Partnership, on Carbon Copy: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/living-with-water 
• Find out about Flood Action Groups: https://thefloodhub.co.uk/community/ 
• Read about the RAIN project in Northamptonshire: https://rainnorthants.co.uk/  

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In this episode of Do Something Bigger from the Carbon Copy Podcast we explore the waterlogged world of peatlands. We learn about the huge value that peat can bring, in terms of storing carbon, reducing flood risk, purifying water and providing habitat for rare species like adder, curlew and insectivorous plants. Listen, to hear how both Ulster Wildlife and Lancashire Peat Partnership are working to restore peatlands, and discover how you can take action to protect these incredible landscapes. 

• Learn about the impact of degraded peatland. 
• Hear about animals and plants that call peatlands their home. 
• Find out why peatlands have become so degraded and damaged. 
• Learn about the importance of buying peat-free compost. 
• Get inspired to take big local action for peat! 

Full transcript available at: https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/restore-peatlands

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Show Notes 

• Find out more about restoring peatlands: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction/restore-peatlands 
• Discover all 25 Big Local Actions for climate and nature: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction 
• Listen back to previous episodes of the Carbon Copy Podcast: https://carboncopy.eco/podcast  
• Find out more about Lancashire Peat Partnership: https://www.lancswt.org.uk/our-work/projects/peatland-restoration/lancashire-peat-partnership  
• Read about one of Lancashire Peat Partnership’s flagship projects, in the Forest of Bowland AONB: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/bowland-priority-peat  
• Read about Ulster Wildlife’s current project at Haughey’s Bog: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/haugheys-bog-restoration  
• Learn more about Ulster Wildlife’s work on peat: https://www.ulsterwildlife.org/saving-our-peatlands 
• Discover gardening and growing projects via Carbon Copy: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives?search_term=&filter-local_area=&filter-action_area%5B%5D=56&filter-positive_impact%5B%5D=17 
• Find a peat-free plant nursery near you: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/peat/peat-free-nurseries 
• Find your local wildlife trust to explore peatland volunteering opportunities: https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/peat/peat-free-nurseries 

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Britain has some of the least energy efficient housing stock in Europe, with 27 million homes in need of improvement. People across the country are struggling with bills and suffering in cold, draughty houses. In this episode of the Carbon Copy Podcast we meet Andrea Howe from Cosy Homes in Lancashire, and Til Wallis, from Canopy Housing, to explore action that people can take to insulate their homes and other inefficient buildings, to save money, improve health and reduce carbon emissions. 

Listen now to learn: 

• How much money you could save by installing effective insulation in your house 
• Some of the different materials that can be used for insulation 
• What you can do if you are a landlord with properties that have low energy efficiency ratings 
• How you can find out more and get involved with tackling cold homes across the UK 

Full transcript available at: https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/insulate-our-homes

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Show Notes 

• Discover 25 Big Local Actions in 2025: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction  
• Listen back to previous episodes of the Carbon Copy Podcast: https://carboncopy.eco/podcast  
• Check out the hundreds of inspiring, hope-filled initiatives on Carbon Copy: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives  
• Subscribe to Carbon Copy’s newsletter: https://carboncopy.eco/newsletter 
• Learn more about insulation, on the Insulate Our Homes action page: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction/insulate-our-homes 
• Read more about Cosy Homes in Lancashire: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/cosy-homes-in-lancashire 
• Read more about Canopy Housing: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives/canopy-housing-2  
• Find out about funding available to people on lower incomes for home insulation: https://www.gov.uk/apply-great-british-insulation-scheme  
• Find out about the Warm Homes Grant which can be used by both private owners and landlords: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/warm-homes-local-grant 

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Join podcast host Isabelle Sparrow and producer Bradley Ingham for this, the first episode of the Carbon Copy Podcast series, Do Something Bigger, as we introduce our year-long campaign: 25 Big Local Actions in 2025. We look at why this year is so important for climate action – both globally, and locally. We examine the potential for local action to make a huge difference, and how positive changes that appear unrelated to climate change or nature restoration can have benefits for the environment as well.  

Listen now to: 

• Learn more about the UN’s “Decade of Action,” and about why, despite challenging circumstances, we still have a lot of hope (and evidence) that through working together, locally, we can get to the future we want to see! 
• Get an introduction to the different climate action areas we’re covering in this series, and why we are calling on you to Do Something Bigger in 2025. 
• Find a topic that inspires you, motivates you and could bring you joy personally – as well as helping to tackle the biggest issues of our time. 

Show Notes 

• Discover 25 Big Local Actions in 2025: https://carboncopy.eco/takeaction  
• Listen back to previous episodes of the Carbon Copy Podcast: https://carboncopy.eco/podcast  
• Check out the hundreds of inspiring, hope-filled initiatives on Carbon Copy: https://carboncopy.eco/initiatives  
• Subscribe to Carbon Copy’s newsletter: https://carboncopy.eco/newsletter  
• Learn about the SDGs: https://sdgs.un.org/goals  
• Read the UN Emissions Gap report 2024: https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2024 

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In this special bonus episode of All Nature, from the Carbon Copy Podcast, we meet Gnisha Bevan. Gnisha and co-founder Roger Griffith, MBE started the Black Seeds Network around five years ago to provide a platform for environmentalists of colour to socialise, gain support, seek opportunities, develop innovation, knowledge and expertise on environmental issues. Now, the network has joined with partners including Friends of the Earth to create a year-long programme of events and activities called “Nature Rising.” We met Gnisha via the team at the West of England Combined Authority, who have proved some funding for the Nature Rising programme and suggested we might like to learn more about the Black Seeds Network.  

Originally recorded for All Nature, Episode 4; the conversation was so interesting and engaging we decided to create this bonus episode to give you, the listeners, more of the story. 

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Show Notes 

Read about the Black Seeds Network: https://creativeconnex.org/about-black-seeds-network/  

Listen to All Nature: Positively Buzzing to learn more about nature protection work in the West of England:  https://carboncopy.eco/podcasts/all-nature-positively-buzzing

Read this local news article about the Nature Rising programme: https://www.bristol247.com/climate/news-climate/global-majority-project-celebrates-summer-success/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3JSCV4HCqGSVMxx0nNbxkm1ACc1hr8AGXOEFP7sjc04ujsTBCh9vUfrCo_aem_pr1UcRNrtt4AyCL3al_8uA 

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