"If you were to calculate all the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food waste, it would be the third largest country after the US and China." 

In this episode of The State of Sustainability, Saif Hameed sits down with Catherine David, CEO of WRAP, for a "vibe check" on the global food sustainability landscape. From the shift toward "Resilience" in the US to the "Polluter Pays" principle of EPR, Catherine brings a level of radical candor to the challenges of leading a global circular economy non-profit.

We dive deep into why the industry is moving past surface-level CSR pilots and into "scale play," and Catherine shares a fascinating, counterintuitive discovery about why removing plastic packaging from fruit might actually be the key to reducing household food waste.

Key Discussion Points:

• The WRAP Mission: How a "British export" is helping US and European businesses transition to a circular economy through outcome-driven programs.
• Resilience vs. CSR: Why "Resilience" is the hottest topic in sustainability right now, and why the era of the "sustainability pilot" is officially over.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): A deep dive into the "polluter pays" principle and how it incentivizes businesses to design better, more circular systems.
• The Food Waste Paradox: Insight into WRAP’s research showing that removing plastic packaging and date labels from fresh produce actually reduces waste by changing consumer behavior.
• Leadership in a Volatile World: Catherine’s experience stepping into the CEO role during a period of global economic and political instability.
• The Future of Nutrition: Why nutrient density is poised to become as significant a metric as carbon footprint in the coming years.

"I’m someone who thinks that decisions should be made with evidence, analysis, fact, and data... but the way I actually make decisions is to listen to the key voices and trusted people in my circle." — Catherine David

Meet Saif Hameed in person at the State of Sustainability Summit in Chicago on April 15th! To book your place, email [email protected]

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This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.