How can a brand be a catalyst for positive environmental change? In this episode of Closing the Loop, Monique Oxender, Chief Sustainability Officer at Keurig Dr Pepper, chats with Allen about Keurig Dr Pepper’s ambitious environmental goals. They discuss innovative strategies to create circular economies and the power of partnerships to support environmental commitments

About Keurig Dr Pepper

• Since the recording of this episode, Keurig Dr Pepper launched their 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report and new carbon targets which can be found here.

In this episode of Closing the Loop, Allen re-unites with business sustainability experts Heather Mak and Coro Strandberg (who previously appeared on the podcast’s debut episode) to talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic has created an opportunity for businesses to rethink their business models. As a global pandemic changes the way we think about and interact with the world around us, the trio discusses how these shifts have also given businesses new license to focus on sustainability initiatives

About our guests

• Coro Strandberg spoke to the vision of building a Purpose-Led Economy as society emerges from the pandemic. Three reports that shed light on this vision and the role you can play can be found here.   Info on how to sign up to the Social Purpose Institute’s newsletter to keep informed of these developments can be found here.  
• Heather Mak spoke to Diversity in Sustainability (more info here) and ESG.  Information on the ESG investing landscape can be found here.  An article about the outperformance of ESG funds during the pandemic can be found here.

How can we all live lighter and support our communities? Emily Pearson, Portfolio Manager, Community Investment at Vancity Credit Union, speaks with our President and CEO Allen Langdon about their Lighter Living initiative to create sustainable opportunities in our communities. They discuss the successes of Lighter Living, opportunities, how we can collectively close the loop and make a difference, and more.

Wondering what is being done to combat marine pollution? For episode 7 of Closing the Loop, Allen chats with Alison Wood, Executive Director of Ocean Ambassadors Canada — an organization that works to connect the next generation with our oceans. They discuss Ocean Ambassadors Canada’s educational initiatives, what’s next for the organization, and their recently renewed partnership with Return-It.

 Allen speaks to CEO Keefe Harrison and Dylan de Thomas, VP of Industry Collaboration at the Recycling Partnership to learn more about how Recycling in the US is Changing the Policy and Politics of Recycling. They discuss challenges, successes and ambitious commitments to create closed-loop systems.

https://recyclingpartnership.org/ 

Canada’s Electronic Products Recycling Association is the industry-led not-for-profit stewardship agency that keeps 100,000 metric tonnes of old electronics out of landfills each year. In this episode of Closing the Loop, Allen catches up with EPRA’s President and CEO, Cliff Hacking. The pair discuss opportunities in the electronics recycling landscape in Canada, how it contributes to a circular economy, and what the public can do to make a difference.

The average adult throws away about 81 pounds of clothing each year. What can be done to divert textiles from the landfill and support the next generation of textiles collection and recycling? In this edition of Closing the Loop, Allen chats with two leaders in textiles recycling: Tonny Colyn, National Director of Business Development and Sustainability for The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Canada, and Karen Storry, the Senior Project Engineer, Zero Waste Implementation for Metro Vancouver. Both Karen and Tonny offer insights and explore solutions to work towards closing the textiles loop.

Who is committed – and who needs to be committed – to ending plastic pollution around the globe? Allen chats with Sander Defruyt, Lead, the New Plastics Economy at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and David Clark, Vice President, Sustainability at Amcor Ltd. about their perspectives and how we can work together to build a circular economy and close the loop for recyclable packaging products.

Learn about Coca-Cola’s World Without Waste Strategy. Coca-Cola Canada’s Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications, Ron Soreanu, and Coca-Cola North America’s Vice President, Sustainability, Bruce Karas share the thinking behind their ambitious sustainable packaging goal, the importance of partnerships, and what we can collectively do to contribute to a sustainable future.

Is sustainability just a trend? Heather Mak and Coro Strandberg - who have each made a career in leading sustainability in their sectors - chat with Allen about the global shift to prioritizing sustainability. They share advice for companies looking to engage in sustainability efforts, what is leading the environmental movement, what responsibilities organizations have, and more.