Responsible Futures

In this weeks Sustain Talks we decided to do something a little bit different to celebrate the end of the year. We turned the cameras around and asked Sam Cande some of the questions she has been asking our experts throughout the year.

Yesterday Karen and I were in central London and the buzz of Christmas was all around, there are of course only 17 days left until Christmas Day!    If you celebrate Christmas, I’m sure you are busy buying gifts and food for family and friends...     STOP!   

Before you buy anything else watch this Sustain Talks!    I’m talking to Callum Miller who is the Co-founder of Ethy. Callum and I talk about Ethical shopping, sustainable brands and how to buy better.    I’m feeling quite differently about shopping this year, are you? I’m really interested to know if you’ve changed your buying habits this year?  If you’d like to learn more from Ethy and other inspirational companies and individuals take a look at www.responsiblefuturesconference.com    And, If you’d like to see more Sustain Talks please don’t forget to Subscribe to my channel.     Thank you.      

00:34 – Who is Callum and what is Ethy?  

03:00 – What are Callum’s views on consumerisation?  

05:00 – How can we buy more ethically, what should we look out for?  

06:00 – How can I tell which brands are trustworthy?  

07:10 – What brands should we look at?  

08:21 – Is buying ethically still more expensive?  

10:01 - What are Cullum’s top tips for buying more ethically?  

13:23 – Who inspires Callum?

Welcome to Sustain Talks where I discuss the world of Sustainability and CSR with an array of interesting people I come across on my journey. Today I’m talking to Martin Rich who is the Co-founder & Executive Director of Future-Fit Foundation. Martin feels if we are all going to succeed at making the world a better and more sustainable one, we are all going to have to work together. The egocentric world we live in is broken, shuffling forward isn’t enough. We can’t leave it to governments post COP26. It’s time for a societal shift!  If you’d like to learn more from Future-Fit Foundation and other inspirational companies and individuals take a look at www.responsiblefuturesconference.com  We are thrilled that Martin will be talking at the conference in June 2022.  And, If you’d like to see more Sustain Talks please don’t forget to Subscribe to my channel. Thank you.      

00:28 – Who is Martin? What is Future-Fit Foundation?  

02:36 - What do you think the future looks like in terms of societal change & climate change?  

05:30 - What do you think we need to do urgently to change?  

07:00 – What are your thoughts on Cop26? Do you think it was a success or not and what are your reasons?    

10:50 – What are your views of Net-Zero?  

15:28 – Societal change has to happen as well as sustainable change.

Welcome to Sustain Talks where I discuss the world of Sustainability and CSR with an array of interesting people I come across on my journey.     Today I’m talking to Sarah Allen who is the Head of Culture and CSR for Vaultex UK.    Sarah tells us about what sustainability and being a responsible business means to Vaultex.  I first heard of Vaultex when reading their ESG report and Sarah tells us a bit about what going through that process meant for them.   As businesses we’ve all had to endure lots of challenges over the last few years and Sarah explains how their CSR strategy has helped them support their staff.  The approach at Vaultex really is inspirational as they work hand in hand with their staff to shape the way forward – something I think we all in the business world can learn from,    If you’d like to learn more from Vaultex and other inspirational companies and individuals take a look at www.responsiblefuturesconference.com  We are thrilled that Sarah will be talking at the conference in June 2022.    And, If you’d like to see more Sustain Talks please don’t forget to Subscribe to my channel.     Thank you.      

00:53 – Who is Sarah and who are Vaultex?  

03:22 – What does sustainability and being a responsible company mean to Vaultex?  

04:35 – What stood out for Sarah when creating the ESG report?  

06:51 – What does equality and diversity mean for Vaultex?  

11:42 – How do you break your CSR strategy down?  

14:52 – The “waste reduction” story…  

18:30 – What are Sarah’s health and well-being tips for other companies?  

23:58 – What have been the challenges so far?

Welcome to Sustain Talks where I discuss the world of Sustainability and CSR with an array of interesting people I come across on my journey.  Today I’m talking to Phil Williams the environmentalist, sustainability trainer and colourful raconteur.  Phil shares with us his intimate stories of life with his friends the Amazonians and the adventures he has had in the rain forest.  He also shares how we can all make small changes at home, in the way we shop, eat and the electricity we use, which will all have a lasting impact on our children’s futures.  After COP26 I think we all realise we all need to do our bit. Phil thinks it’s time to stop talking and start taking action, so watch Phil and I take some notes and start making a change!  If you’d like to learn more about what you and your company can do to be more responsible and sustainable please take a look at www.responsiblefuturesconference.com  If you’d like to hear more from people like Phil please don’t forget to Subscribe to my channel.  Thank you.  

00:48 – Who is Phil Williams? 

04:39 – What is happening in the Amazon? How has it changed over the years? What are the consequences? 

13:26 – What are Phil’s views on planting trees to offset carbon? 

16:00 – We are very powerful with our shopping . . . 

18:20 – Is it too late to make a difference? 

20:36 – We went looking for a scarlet Macaw. . . 

24:54 – What is the one change Phil advises people to make?

Welcome to Sustain Talks where I discuss the world of Sustainability and CSR with an array of interesting people I come across on my journey.     In a week where we launched the Responsible Futures Conference ( www.responsiblefuturesconference.com ) I couldn’t think of a more fitting guest than Lauren Costello from Business in the Community.    Business in the Community helps companies of all shapes and sizes shape their purpose enabling them to make a difference.    A company’s purpose should be its guiding light.   Enabling it to keep its values close and support employees in challenging times.    Over the last few years, we’ve seen Covid, Black Lives Matter, Climate Action all very important, all needing companies to step up and support their employees. Having a clear purpose guides a company through the good and the bad.    A clear purpose is fundamental to business today, people want to work for companies with a good purpose.    This is one to watch, we all need a purpose!     

 0:34 – What is Business in the Community and what does Laurens’s job involve?  

1:40 – What does a purposeful responsible culture look like?  

3:15 - What is it important for companies to act now?  

4:33 - What are the benefits to a business?  

7:28 – How is purpose connected to sustainability?  

9:18 – What’s Lauren’s advice to a company that is thinking of starting to be more responsible?  

12:10 – What challenges are they likely to face?  

13:15 – Three things that you need to remember…  

14:36 – Have you seen an increase in activity?  

17:06 – What has Lauren learnt over the last couple of years?   

20:09 – Who Inspires Lauren?

Welcome to Sustain Talks where I discuss the world of Sustainability and CSR with an array of interesting people I come across on my journey.    In this week’s Sustain Talks I’m delighted to speak to Becky Gordon, Regional Sustainability Manager at Interface, one of the world’s most sustainable conscious companies.    Interface won a UN award for their work on carbon and have delivered their mission zero commitment in part becoming the first global flooring manufacturer to sell all products as carbon neutral across their full life cycle.   Becky tells us more about the history of the company and how she ensures that sustainability remains a core part of everybody’s role within their business. If you are looking to drive sustainability throughout your business, then this interview has some really valuable lessons.  

00:54 – Who is Becky Gordon?   

01:23 – How can you ensure sustainability is core to your business?   

03:52 – How does your social impact fit in with your sustainability? 

06:15 – What is your mission to zero?  

06:28 – Tell us about Ray Anderson and how it started?  

08:12 – How do you measure your impact?  

10:54 – How do you create a carbon negative product?  

13:38 – How urgent do you think the climate crisis is right now?  

16:58 – What kind of simple changes can businesses make?  

21:00 - What important lessons have you learnt in the last year and a half?  

23:50 – Who inspires you in sustainability and social responsibility?

Welcome to Sustain Talks where I discuss the world of Sustainability and CSR with an array of interesting people I come across on my journey.     This week I’m excited to bring you Richard Betts from EY. In this video Richard and I discuss EYs ambitious targets as well as Richards personal achievements with The Rainforest Trust, the big life changes he made after lock-down and why what we all do as individuals is as important as the activities of large corporates and countries!   Forests, Peat-land and the Ocean are absorbing half the carbon pollution we are producing... Richard thinks it's time we started looking after these, as they are looking after us...  Do you?  

00:21 – Who is Richard Betts?  

01:08 – What does Sustainability and CSR mean to Richard?  

03:00 – What changes has Richard made?  

05:44 – Can we plant enough trees to tackle the crisis?  

07:22 - What are EYs sustainability goals?  

08:40 – Is hitting the targets enough to make a change?  

13:30 – Everyone including small businesses need to play a part.  

17:43 – What are the biggest challenges in sustainability?  

20:43 – What is the biggest threat to the UK?  

23:42 - What important lessons have you learnt in the last year and a half?  

31:00 – Why bio-diversity?  

35:28 – Who inspires Richard?

Welcome to Sustain Talks where I discuss the world of Sustainability and CSR with an array of interesting people I come across on my journey.     Today I’m bringing you an extra special talk to celebrate World Menopause Day (18th October).    I’m joined by Hannah Lindsell and Meredith Brown from Caring Collaborative Coaching who join me, talking about what the menopause is and why it’s so important now. We talk about some practical steps you can take to manage symptoms and what work can do to support you.    And MEN! You might think that this one isn’t for you… but understanding what is happening to your colleagues will better help you and them and so don’t think about switching off!    

0:00 – Introduction to Hannah Lindsell and Meredith Brown  

4:17 - What are the symptoms? And at what age will it happen?  

7:03 – Can you slow down the menopause? How do you manage it?  

9:21 -Why is there so much momentum and media attention now?  

11:58 – How can people talk about the menopause at work?  

16:54 – What advise do you have for companies supporting their staff?  

18:07 – How do I recognise that imperi-menopausal?

Welcome to Sustain Talks where I discuss the world of Sustainability and CSR with an array of interesting people I come across on my journey.  Today I’m talking to Matt Holman Owner of Simpila Mental Health, an organisation that helps businesses on their internal wellbeing programmes along with awareness, education and training in mental health. In today’s world it’s rare to come across someone who hasn’t faced an issue with their own mental health, and whilst its less of a taboo subject, people still find it challenging to have open conversations, especially in work.    Since the pandemic the way we work has completely changed, many employees are still working remotely, there is more of a strain on staff.  Some employees have been on long term furlough or working in an environment with limited staff amongst many other tough situations.  We need to help society address Mental Health in a positive way and doing this at work can really help your staff and teams thrive.