Avishai (Avi) Greenstein is the innovator behind Bamboozle, the brand that helped composting become an urban household must with its eco-chic countertop bin. 

Before launching Bamboozle in 2016, Avi innovated a new plant-based material that would become the essence of the Bamboozle brand. A repurposed bamboo mold supplemented by melamine, this bamboo fiber became the first ever sustainable and biodegradable plastic that was both cost effective and dishwasher safe. Following Bamboozle’s success using this in their compost bins and dinnerware, Avi continued to pursue more effective solutions to drive the company’s sustainability mission further forward. By mixing bamboo and a 100% plant-based plastic, Avi invented a revolutionary material called Astrik.

Astrik is made from raw material that is grown and harvested, not extracted. It emits a fraction of the greenhouse gases as petroleum-based plastics during the manufacturing process, is dishwasher and microwave safe and is 100% biodegradable in just 2 years.

In today’s episode, we’ll dive into the creation of Astrik and the innovation it represents, explore the inspiration behind Bamboozle’s chic, at-home composting bins, and hear how partnerships with major brands like The Kitchn have expanded the company’s reach. We’ll also uncover the careful balance between durability and eco-friendliness in product design, learn how Avi selects design and manufacturing partners, and get a sneak peek into exciting circularity projects on the horizon.

For our entrepreneurial listeners, this episode is packed with insights—from standing out in a crowded market to pivoting into sustainability and staying resilient in the face of challenges. 

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Miranda Gardiner is the Executive Director of the iMasons Climate Accord.

With over 16 years of experience, Miranda brings extensive industry knowledge in green buildings, energy and water efficiency, and sustainable master plans and policies.  She most recently served as the Global Manager, Data Center Sustainability at Meta, Inc. where she led the sustainability strategy for the entirety of their  Data Centers, including LEED® Gold certification for every facility  as well as site-specific pilot projects such as  Material Circularity and low-carbon concrete.

In 2020, Miranda was recognized by the US Green Building Council as a LEED Fellow – the highest recognition achievable for aLEED professional in the green building industry, recognizing outstanding accomplishments and marking a career high point.

The iMasons Climate Accord was founded in 2022 as a coalition of companies and individuals united on carbon reduction in digital infrastructure. Now, with almost 300 member companies, the ICA is focused on driving significant changes to reduce our environmental impact through the lenses of Materials, Equipment, and Power

In this episode, Miranda and host Lauren Scott discuss the genesis of the iMasons Climate Accord, its work in reducing the sector’s environmental impact, and its emphasis on a common methodology for carbon accounting. Miranda also shares how her background in architecture overlaps with the world of digital infrastructure, how sustainability in the built space it tackled around the world, and more.

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Our "Best of 2004" episode is a heartfelt thank you to all of our listeners and guests for being part of The Resilience Report. Your support, feedback and desire for positive impact is truly magical!

Finance (our most downloaded topic in 2024!)

• Lauren Ott, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships @ Impact Genome 
• Milla Craig, Founder & CEO @ Millani Inc.
• Pierre-Laurent Macridis, Senior Associate - Private Investment Research @ Rally Assets
• Abby Massey, Vice President of Energy Incentives @ TaxTaker

Fashion & Beauty

• Jenn Harper, Founder and CEO @Cheekbone Beauty
• Annette Nguyen, Founder @ Shwap Club 
• Mireille "Dr. Mimi" Vega, Founder @ VGAM Biome 
• Elaine Kim Smith & Leslie Hoolaeff, Co-Owners @ Lover's Tempo

Food & Beverage

• Missy Schaaphok, Director of Global Nutrition & Sustainability @ Taco Bell 
• David Cote, Co-Founder and Superhero@ LOOP Mission
• Kim Chackal, Co-Owner and Director of Sales and Marketing @ Equifruit
• Jonathan Defoy, Founder & CEO @ FoodHero

Strategy

• Dr Marie-Helene Pelletier, Author of The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimize Your Work and Health.
• Lori Saitz, Founder & CEO @ Zen Rabbit

Manufacturing

• Christian Schmidt, Owner @ Black Sheep Mattress Co. 
• Tamara Mekler, Co-Founder & COO @ Nutshell Coolers
• Jeff White and Carman Pirie, Co-Founders @ Kula Partners 

Thank you to every single person

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Sustainability in the corporate world is changing so quickly. Over the past few years alone, investors, boards and companies have suddenly all had to understand the ESG considerations of their respective ecosystems. Many are feeling overwhelmed by the speed of change, even those who are lucky enough to have an in-house sustainability lead. Which is why the solution in speaking to many of our guests is seeking out an external sustainability consultant. In fact, this is one area that you, our listeners, have specifically requested we dive in deeper. 

Our next guest has been at the forefront of sustainability consulting for over 16 years and the financial space for over three decades: Milla Craig. 

Milla is President and CEO of Millani Inc., an independent advisory firm helping investors integrate ESG issues into their investment decisions, companies communicate their material ESG issues to investors, boards of directors understand their ESG responsibilities and capital markets participants create their proprietary ESG strategies.

On this episode, we unpack how Millani bridges the gap between investors and companies, what the sustainability consulting world looked like when the company was founded, and how it’s evolved over nearly two decades. We also discuss the rise of in-house sustainability experts, the impacts of game-changing legislation like California’s SB-253 and CSRD, how investors can sift through the fluff. And as ESG becomes a hot-button issue, we’ll discuss strategies for advancing sustainability in ways that resonate across industries and ideologies. Finally, for those of you tuning in who are early in your careers, we’ll explore what it takes to work with a leading firm like Millani. 

This episode is packed with insights, advice, and actionable takeaways for anyone passionate about ESG in the capital markets space. 

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As we get closer to wrapping up the year, numerous reports are coming out regarding the state of renewables around the world. 

At a very high, macro level, we are investing more in renewable energy than ever before, especially in solar and wind power. Last year, “a record-breaking USD$622.5 billion was invested in renewables! 

Most of this money went into solar panels and wind farms, with a 70% increase in tech investments like batteries (for energy storage) and solar panels. In fact, renewable power installations attracted far more investment than fossil fuel power plants did in 2023.

Which countries are leading the charge? China leads (44%) global renewable energy investments, followed by Europe at 20.9% and the U.S. at 15%. 

Renewable energy generated an impressive 30% of the world’s electricity in 2023 which is a MASSIVE increase from just 21.7% in 2013.

At last year’s COP28 in Dubai, governments agreed on a big goal: triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. While we’ve made great progress, we’re not quite there yet.” (350.org).

Of course, it depends a lot on regulations. So, changes in governments at a municipal, state / province or country level can have a big impact.

To help get all of us ready for the year ahead, one that I am sure will be full of exciting progress, we have pulled together a special renewables and energy storage deep dive for us. These include our talented past experts ranging in areas from microgrids to energy storage to renewable financing:

• Hassan Shahriar, President & Founder, ADAPTR Inc.
• Rod Matthews, Co-Founder & CEO, Brevian Energy
• Lauren Dube, VP and Director of Good Things, Climate First Bank
• Yoram Ashery, CEO, Nostromo Energy

I know that this area is one many of our listeners have expressed interest in, so this is my promise to you that I will continue to bring more renewable and energy storage content to you in 2025. Until then, enjoy this special deep dive!

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For those who don’t know, an important part of my sustainability journey involved philanthropic work in the environmental space. Core to this was the time I served on the board of directors for Sierra Club Canada Foundation, the Canadian arm of one of North-America's largest environmental advocacy groups. 

I met some truly incredible people during this time, one of which was their Head of Communications, Conor Curtis. 

I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with Conor on his show, The Environment in Canada Podcast.

The following is our crossover episode, which really turned into a love letter to the guests and community we have built around The Resilience Report. I have learned SO much from you all over the past year and half of this show, so it was extra special to be able to share some of this with Conor and listeners of The Environment in Canada Podcast. We dive into corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG), examples of good ESG, and ways to set common standards for measuring success. We also chat about ways you can assess a corporation's commitment to the environment, advice for businesses getting into ESG, the circular economy, and finding cool stuff on the streets of Montréal.

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As much as I love sustainability, I also love fashion. Over the past decade or so, I have consciously tried to marry these two ideas together by proactively trying to find sustainable fashion solutions.

One of the number one tricks up my sleeve over the past 5 years has been a business right here in Montreal: the Shwap Club, founded in 2018 by the inspiring Annette Nguyen. 

Having studied and practiced law for nearly a decade in the corporate world leading up to it, Annette created Shwap Club as Canada's very first boutique-style clothing exchange club its mission is to facilitate the reuse of clothing in order to counter clothing waste. The concept offers two physical boutiques in Montreal as well as an online store. 

In full transparency, when I first came up with the idea for The Resilience Report, I mapped out a shortlist as to who I wanted on the show. Within this very first wish list was getting to sit down with Annette and share her creative approach with you, our listeners!

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Are you thinking of starting or transitioning into a career in sustainability?

These are 5 things that host Lauren Scott wish she knew before starting out in the space over a decade ago!

On this solo episode of The Resilience Report, Lauren discussed the importance of cross-functional collaboration, adaptability, and strong communication skills in a career in sustainability. She emphasized the need to understand the materiality matrix to prioritize sustainability projects effectively and encouraged the audience to seek out internships and external support to manage tight budgets. Lauren also highlighted the importance of gathering the voice of the customer and being open to different perspectives to improve sustainability efforts.

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Having seen so many well intentioned professionals burn out when working on causes they truly care about, I wanted to find someone to speak to you, our listeners, about employee wellbeing. And whether you are thinking about this for yourself or for your teams, that person is Lori Saitz. 

Lori is a nationally recognized stress eradication expert, award-winning author, speaker, broadcaster, trainer, writer, executive coach, and employee wellbeing consultant. As the founder and CEO of Zen Rabbit, a forward-thinking health and wellness company, she is dedicated to guiding business leaders toward creating and nurturing healthier, more productive work environments. With a comprehensive background in wellness strategies and employee engagement, her mission is to share easy-to-implement tools and techniques that not only improve the well-being of employee teams but also contribute to their bottom line through enhanced performance, improved morale, and increased employee retention and engagement. 

On this episode, we discuss the importance of employee well-being in businesses, focusing on the integration of mindfulness, gratitude, and self-care practices to enhance productivity, retention, and overall well-being. We also explore strategies to overcome compassion fatigue and maintain personal resilience in the context of sustainability work and the current polarized climate. Lastly, Lori emphasizes the significance of personal responsibility in building resilience and finding joy and success in life.

We have all heard the expression of filling up our own cup before we can pour into others. This episode provides some actionable wellbeing tips and tricks that we can all apply today on our journeys to do business better!

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Progress over perfection is a mindset that the sustainability movement would greatly benefit from to get more businesses and leaders on board. Lover's Tempo, a Vancouver-based, B Corp and Living Wage certified, carbon neutral jewelry company, is the perfect example of what can be accomplished with this mindset. 

On this episode, host Lauren Scott is joined by the company's CEO (Elaine Kim Smith) and COO (Leslie Hoolaeff) to discuss the company's sustainability journey, including their sourcing practices, sustainable packaging, and carbon neutrality efforts. Elaine and Leslie also share their experiences with B Corp and Living Wage certifications and how they carefully select their community partner organizations. They also dive into their unique and inspiring Full Circle Artist Program, which repurposes end-of-life jewelry materials into new art pieces to promote sustainability and support local artists. Finally, the episode takes a fresh look at the surprising parallels between entrepreneurship and sustainability and how both are ongoing processes without a clear end, requiring patience, perseverance, and the ability to lean on others for support.

Not only is Lover’s Tempo jewelry absolutely gorgeous, but so are the personalities of Elaine and Leslie. The way the two of them approach business and life with a sustainable and abundant mindset is incredibly inspiring!

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