Greiner Talks

Wanjira Mathai is Vice President and Regional Director for Africa at the World Resources Institute. The Kenyan environmental activist has been fighting passionately for social and environmental change at international level for over 20 years. Her mother, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai, initiated the famous Green Belt Movement. It's no surprise that Wanjira Mathai sets out clear demands: We need to do everything we can to eliminate poverty. That is the only way to achieve fair and sustainable development. 

Greiner Talks host Alexander Berth met Wanjira Mathai on the fringes of the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi to discuss global inequality and the major challenges of the climate crisis. Listen now and find out more!

Plastics crisis, loss of biodiversity, climate change. For Robert Marc Lehmann, one thing is clear: our house is on fire. The time to act is now! The adventurer and environmental activist explains why our planet is worth fighting for, how the extinction of species affects him personally, and what we can all do to make our world a better place. 

Robert Marc Lehmann studied zoology, marine biology and forensic medicine. Today he is active as an ambassador for nature, adventurer and photographer. For his work, he has received numerous awards such as National Geographic Photographer of the Year. With his organization Mission Erde he tries to protect habitats and raise awareness for treating nature with respect.

Learn more on Robert Marc Lehmann’s Website and his Youtube-Channel Mission Earth.

Mental and physical health cannot be taken for granted – the pandemic has taught us that. We are more familiar with rules and regulations than ever before. Emma Currie, our guest in the latest episode of Greiner Talks, is proof that health and safety doesn’t have to be a dry subject. In her performances, actress Emma Currie combines the topic of occupational health and safety with a whole range of emotions. She has made it her mission to bring more of a human element to the structured world of major companies.

Born in the UK, Emma Currie is the founder of the company “Acting Up”. In this podcast episode, she speaks about her acting performances, which tell a personal story using unconventional methods. After all, workplace health and safety is seen as trivial only until something happens: an accident can change a person’s life in just a few seconds. Emma Currie explains how important it is for us to maintain a human touch and talk to each other. This is precisely how she helps her audience connect with unwieldy corporate topics. Listen in!

In this episode of Greiner Talks we welcome John Paul Rollert, who teaches behavioral science at Harvard University and The University of Chicago. John Paul's research focuses on the ethics of leadership, and the application of empathy to law, business, and politics – and regularly sees him in the most important publications of our time. The renowned scientist shows how our complex economic system goes hand in hand with moral values.

In our podcast, the former political advisor to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign explains how empathy is the key to solving societal problems, why leadership is a human-focused art that requires patience, and what all of that has to do with his former life on an apple farm in rural Michigan. Listen in!

Energy, food, mobility – these three areas are responsible for a large part of our global CO2 emissions. They are therefore a perfect starting point for reducing our personal footprint, because in the long term, we must respect the planetary boundaries in order to sustain our livelihoods. Our guest in the latest episode of Greiner Talks shows how we can achieve this transformation with creativity and persistency. 

Dale Vince is the founder and CEO of Ecotricity, one of the most important providers of renewable energy in the UK. His dream of a life without fossil fuels began with just a single wind turbine. Today, his company supplies almost 200,000 customers with green electricity and gas. Besides his passion for green energy, he is a true football fan at heart and Chairman of Forest Green Rovers. Over the last decade, Dale has managed to turn the “Rovers” into the “world's greenest football club”. He has proven that football clubs can not only be carbon neutral but also contribute to societal change.

Sometimes you have to take extraordinary paths to achieve great goals. Listen in and let Dale Vince's story inspire you!

Setting clear goals and measuring them transparently – that's what sustainability is all about. But how to objectively assess impact on people and the environment? Where does a company's responsibility begin, and where does it end? There is no doubt that sustainability ratings are indispensable in times of global supply chains. They create transparency and make it easier to compare the sustainability performance of companies. 

In this episode of Greiner Talks, we talk to Pierre-Francois Thaler, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of EcoVadis. EcoVadis is considered a global pioneer when it comes to sustainability ratings and supply chains. In our podcast, Pierre-Francois explains how these ratings can provide more transparency to customers. Listen in and learn why technology and collaboration along the entire supply chain are essential for transforming our economy.

We are honored to welcome a very special person to our latest edition of Greiner Talks. Jane Goodall is an icon of behavioral science and anthropology. She is a tireless environmental activist, UN Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute. Her life and career are extraordinary. Her research on chimpanzees in the jungle of Tanzania in the 1960s fundamentally changed our understanding of human evolution. She was the first person to recognize that not only humans but also animals make and use tools. For decades, Jane Goodall has been an unstoppable defender and advocate for our planet and its wildlife.

Listen in and learn how Jane Goodall has perceived the boom of plastics in the 1960s, why she has decided to speak on our sustainability podcast, and what message she sends to Greiner CEO Axel Kühner. Jane Goodall highlights the power of consumers and describes in an incomparable way what impact each one of us makes every single day of our lives. She relentlessly explains how the pandemic is connected to our own actions, why a new contract between humans and the environment is urgently needed, and how she remains hopeful.

Many companies talk about their environmental and social responsibilities. But what of this is serious ambition and what is merely greenwashing?How can we know whether companies are being transparent about their goals, their achievements and their challenges? And how are journalists and media influencing the public debate on corporate responsibility? 

In the latest episode of our podcast series, we talk to Oliver Balch – a journalist, author and researcher from the UK. Oliver writes for world-renowned media outlets such as The Guardian, Huffington Post and Financial Times. His topics: Climate change, human rights and international cooperation. Learn from Oliver about the role of media, their way to portrait these issues and how constructive collaboration can lead to real change. Listen in!

Climate neutrality, circular economy, equal opportunities. What does all of that have to do with me? Our guest in this episode of Greiner Talks is an expert on transformation and innovation. This expert is firmly convinced that everyone can contribute to sustainable development. Because change begins with ourselves and our actions. What it takes is the right mindset and the will to help shape your personal environment. 

In this episode of Greiner Talks we speak to Tatjana Glad, Co-Founder & Director of Impact Hub Amsterdam – a global network of companies and startups working to promote the transition towards a sustainable society and economy. Tatiana Glad, a native Canadian who lives in the Netherlands, helps turning courageous ideas into action day by day. What ideas are on your mind and what do you want to change?

Tatiana Glad on LinkedIn

ImpactHub Amsterdam

Every person is unique. Together, we are diverse. 
That makes us strong and resilient – both as a society and as a company. Qualities that are more important than ever in these times of crises. Experts agree that diverse companies are more innovative and successful. They can adapt better to new situations and develop more creative solutions. 

But what does diversity mean and how can it be promoted? What is the connection to sustainability? And what are the challenges on the way to become a more diverse workplace? In this episode, we ask questions to which there are many different answers. 

In this episode of Greiner Talks, we welcome Ana-Cristina Grohnert, Chairwoman of the “Charta der Vielfalt” – an initiative promoting diversity in companies and institutions in Germany. Before taking on this role, Ana-Cristina worked in finance and risk management for many years. 
Just recently, she has written a book reflecting on the experiences she gained during her successful career. Ana-Cristina talks about unconscious bias, culture and what it takes to change existing structures. Listen in and learn more!

• Ana-Cristina Grohnert auf LinkedIn
• Charta der Vielfalt e.V.
   
• About Greiner
• Greiner Sustainability Website