Straight Talking Sustainability

• Building Bridges Between Corporate Leadership and Social Innovation: How Match for Impact is Transforming the Sustainability Talent Gap

  In this ground-breaking episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, host Emma Burlow sits down with Silja Chouquet, former pharmaceutical executive turned social entrepreneur and founder of Match for Impact. With extensive experience weaving between corporate leadership roles and startup ventures, Silja has identified a critical gap in the sustainability and social innovation landscape: highly skilled senior executives wanting purpose-driven careers have nowhere to go, while impact startups desperately need their expertise but cannot afford them.Silja's journey from pharmaceutical strategy consulting to creating her own social enterprise (Marikoi, which brought patient experts into pharma boardrooms) gives her unique insight into both worlds. She witnessed firsthand how the pharmaceutical industry successfully embedded patient advocacy into every role, moving it from a siloed department to an essential part of corporate culture. Now she's applying that same transformation model to sustainability and social impact.Match for Impact addresses the "bore out" and burnout epidemic affecting senior corporate talent by creating 90-day fractional pro bono placements with social ventures and impact startups. This isn't mentorship or charity work; it's a two-way leadership exchange where executives gain hands-on experience with sustainable business models while startups access senior strategic guidance, networks, and credibility they could never afford to hire.The conversation explores the structural barriers preventing corporate leaders from transitioning into impact roles, including the "Mother Teresa" assumption that purpose work requires salary sacrifice and the "overqualified but inexperienced" paradox that keeps talented people trapped in corporate squares. Silja argues that business transformation cannot happen through isolated sustainability departments; it requires leadership that has carried the bag and experienced systems change on the ground.Through partnerships with Day One (Europe's largest MedTech accelerator) and Catalyst Now (the world's biggest network of social innovators with 6,000 members), Match for Impact is building a movement to make systems change leadership experience mandatory for corporate advancement. Just as pharmaceutical companies once required sales experience before headquarters roles, Silja envisions a future where impact experience becomes essential for business leadership.The episode tackles uncomfortable truths about innovation funding, including how unicorn-chasing mentality wastes valuable solutions that could be profitable and impactful in different markets. Silja challenges the scarcity mindset that forces startups to compete rather than collaborate, arguing we need every available solution working together to address global challenges, not just one magical answer.In this corporate sustainability and social innovation episode, you'll discover:Why senior executives are experiencing "bore out" alongside burnout in restructuring organizationsHow 90-day fractional placements create two-way value for both corporates and startupsThe "carry the bag" principle that made pharmaceutical patient advocacy successful and how it applies to sustainabilityWhy unicorn funding models are partially responsible for innovation system failuresHow MedTech solutions developed for US markets miss profit opportunities in low and middle income countriesThe portfolio career model that allows executives to maintain income while building impact experienceWhy impact cannot remain siloed in sustainability departments but must infuse every business roleHow corporate experience in launching products and building commercial models accelerates startup successKey Social Innovation and Leadership...

  --------  

  36:35

  --------

  36:35
• 52 Sustainability Hacks Finale: From E-Waste to Ethical Pensions, the Ultimate Autumn Action Guide

  In this practical and empowering final episode of the 52 Simple Sustainability Hacks series, host Emma Burlow delivers the last actionable tips (numbers 40 to 52) that prove sustainable living doesn't have to cost money or consume your life. Recording in beautiful autumn while resisting the urge to tidy her garden, Emma wraps up this comprehensive series with hard-hitting advice that ranges from decluttering your "drawer of doom" to moving your pension out of fossil fuels.This episode tackles the sustainability actions that many people overlook but have an outsized impact. Emma challenges listeners to confront the 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste the UK generates annually, with only 20% going through proper recycling channels. She reveals that the average UK household hoards about 25 electronic devices containing precious metals like gold, palladium, and silver that should be recovered, not stockpiled.The conversation shifts to indoor air quality, exposing how our obsession with fragranced cleaning products creates pollution levels two to five times worse than outdoor air. Emma advocates for a chemical detox, starting with eliminating products labelled with the vague term "fragrance" (usually a cocktail of undisclosed chemicals with hazard warnings).From practical tips about buying products in bulk to reduce packaging waste to supporting local environmental action groups, Emma demonstrates how small habit changes create meaningful impact. She tackles the often-avoided topic of reducing meat consumption with realistic approaches like the "half and half" method (mixing mince with plant-based alternatives) and emphasizes that if you do eat meat, eliminating meat waste becomes non-negotiable.The episode culminates with hack number 52, which Emma deliberately saved for last because of its massive impact. In this sustainable living and practical action episode, you'll discover:Why 1.6 million tonnes of UK e-waste contains recoverable gold, palladium, and silver sitting in drawersHow indoor air pollution from cleaning products can be five times worse than outdoor airThe "half and half" method for reducing meat consumption without family rebellionWhy leaving your garden messy in autumn is the best thing you can do for wildlifeHow buying products in bulk saves money while reducing packaging waste dramaticallyWhy moving your pension has 100 times more climate impact than most personal actionsThe hidden energy savings of steel-canned food versus refrigerated alternativesHow vintage shopping through platforms like Vinted can save hundreds of pounds annuallyKey Practical Sustainability Moments:(02:29) The e-waste crisis: "About 20% of all electric devices in the UK are hoarded or just stored up... 1.6 million tonnes of it ends up as waste every year... only about 20% of it actually goes through the proper channels."(04:54) Indoor air pollution reality: "The air pollution inside can often be two to five times as polluted as outside... just avoid things with fragrance in, you know the term fragrance which is usually just a cocktail of chemicals."(07:18) The meat waste hierarchy: "If you're going to eat those things, absolutely go for it, but just be really specific and careful and you cannot waste those items. They are very, very precious."(08:24) Reuse over recycling: "I want you to try to make this mental shift between recycling and reuse... Sustainability does not have to be expensive. This is one of my big mantras."(12:00) Community action matters: "Bristol Climate and Nature Partnerships Community Climate and Nature Project... has just been awarded 1.75 million pounds... They are a partnership of 17 community...

  --------  

  27:00

  --------

  27:00
• Steel's Carbon Reduction Revolution: How Tata Steel UK is Leading the Net Zero Industrial Transformation

  In this inspiring episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, host Emma Burlow sits down with Nicola Jones, a 26-year veteran of the steel industry and a sustainability professional at Tata Steel UK. From starting as a business apprentice in 1999 when the company was British Steel, to now spearheading sustainability initiatives during one of the industry's most dramatic transformations, Nicola offers unique insights into how heavy industry is actually leading the charge on decarbonization.Nicola reveals the staggering scale of Tata Steel UK's £1.25 billion investment in electric arc furnace technology, which will deliver an immediate 90% reduction in carbon emissions when it comes online at the end of 2027. Unlike other industries that can make incremental changes, steel's transition represents a dramatic overnight transformation that will secure over 5,000 jobs while positioning the UK as a leader in low-carbon steel production.The conversation dismantles common misconceptions about heavy industry's resistance to climate action, revealing how customer demand for Scope 3 emissions reductions is driving rapid change. With Tata Group committing to net zero by 2045 (five years ahead of the UK's 2050 target), Nicola demonstrates how global companies are moving faster than national policies.From a packaging perspective, Nicola shares compelling insights about steel's circular advantages, including 86% recycling rates in the UK, permanent material properties that allow endless recycling without degradation, and lifecycle benefits that extend from six-week packaging cycles to decades for construction applications. She addresses the challenge of weight-based regulations while highlighting steel's competitive advantages in recyclability infrastructure and global end markets.The episode also explores the evolution of women in heavy industry, from Nicola's early experiences as a novelty on the shop floor (complete with crane sirens announcing her arrival) to today's focus on properly fitting PPE and attracting diverse talent to drive the industry's sustainable future.This conversation provides essential context for sustainability professionals working with industrial clients, procurement teams evaluating packaging materials, and anyone seeking evidence that the net zero transition is not a future aspiration but a current reality in critical industries.In this steel industry and sustainable packaging episode, you'll discover:How the steel industry's 90% carbon reduction will happen overnight, not gradually like other sectorsWhy Tata Steel UK's £1.25 billion investment secures 5,000 jobs while driving decarbonizationThe competitive advantages steel maintains through 86% recycling rates and permanent material propertiesHow electric arc furnace technology will use predominantly UK scrap steel, creating true circularityWhy steel packaging offers energy savings through ambient storage versus refrigerated alternativesThe hidden technical complexity behind simple food cans and their role as the original ready mealsHow customer Scope 3 emissions targets are driving faster industrial transformation than regulationCareer opportunities in sustainability within traditional heavy industriesKey Industrial Transformation Insights:(05:00) The dramatic transformation: "Unlike other industries that can make small steps every year... with the steel industry, it's actually quite dramatic... when we switch on the electric arc furnaces, the emissions reduction will be immediate and that step change will happen overnight."(05:40) The scale of change: "There's a 90% reduction... It is huge. It is huge... there aren't that many steel industries in the UK. And one of the...

  --------  

  44:40

  --------

  44:40
• From Zero Waste Pioneer to Reusable Packaging Revolution: How Catherine Conway is Solving the £136 Million Plastic Packaging Problem

  In this ground-breaking episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, host Emma Burlow sits down with Catherine Conway, the visionary founder of the UK's first modern zero-waste store and current CEO of Go Unpackaged. With over 20 years of experience pioneering reusable packaging solutions, Catherine has evolved from running a small unpackaged shop to leading industry-transforming research that could save the UK £136 million annually in packaging waste costs.Catherine started Unpackaged in 2006, long before sustainability became mainstream, creating the template for what we now know as zero waste retail. Today, she leads Go Unpackaged alongside business partners Helen and Rob, working directly with major retailers like Aldi and Ocado to develop scalable reuse systems that challenge the fundamental assumptions of our throwaway economy.This episode dives deep into the complex world of packaging policy, revealing why we're still putting billions of single-use items on the market despite decades of environmental awareness. Catherine breaks down the structural forces that have prevented large-scale change, from misaligned financial incentives to business models built on selling units as fast as possible (Fast Moving Consumer Goods literally has "fast" and "consumer" in the name).The conversation centres around Catherine's ground-breaking infrastructure modelling work for DEFRA's Circular Economy Task Force, which analysed what it would take to achieve 30% reuse in UK grocery retail. Using their sophisticated end-to-end supply chain modelling tool, UnPack Analytics, they discovered that four reuse scenarios actually run cheaper than single-use systems, with online delivery returns being the most cost-effective option.Catherine reveals the game-changing impact of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, which create a 94% reduction in packaging taxes for reusable items compared to single-use alternatives. This policy framework finally aligns financial incentives with environmental benefits, making the business case for reuse undeniable.Through candid discussion of the Refill Coalition project (funded by Innovate UK), Catherine shares hard-won insights about what actually works in reusable packaging systems, why collaboration beats competition, and how the logistics industry holds keys to optimizing circular solutions that most sustainability professionals never consider.In this circular economy and plastic packaging episode, you'll discover:Why 20 years of sustainability awareness haven't solved our packaging problem and what's finally changingThe four reuse scenarios that cost less than single-use packaging systems (with evidence to prove it)How Extended Producer Responsibility regulations create 94% cost savings for reusable packagingWhy online delivery returns are more cost-effective than in-store collection for reuse systemsThe hidden costs of single-use packaging that have been socialized to taxpayers for decadesHow proper supply chain modeling reveals 95% reductions in carbon emissions and material useWhy successful pilots often fail to scale and what's needed to move beyond "more pilots than Heathrow"The 13,000 new jobs that could be created through a 30% reuse transition in the UKKey Circular Economy and Packaging Insights:(03:25) The hard reality check: "I'm going to say I don't think we're winning yet and that's quite a thing to say having done it for 20 years... we are still putting billions of items of single use packaging on the market every year."(05:09) The consensus myth: "I think for many years, we didn't have a consensus that packaging is a problem. I think across a lot of global brands and retailers, maybe we also don't have a consensus that...

  --------  

  43:43

  --------

  43:43
• Red Flag Words and Sustainability Conversations: The Trojan Mouse Strategy

  In this tactical and transformative solo episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, host Emma Burlow delivers a game-changing challenge that could revolutionize how you approach sustainability conversations at work. If you've ever felt like you're on the back foot when discussing environmental initiatives, constantly defending your position with facts and evidence, this episode offers a radically different approach.Emma identifies the five "red flag words" that instantly change the tone of any business conversation, bringing unwanted baggage and triggering defensive responses from colleagues. These words (sustainability, net zero, climate, circularity, and biodiversity) often cause listeners to mentally check out, shut down discussions, or adopt a "let's humour them" attitude that kills productive dialogue.The episode provides specific word-swapping strategies for different departments. When talking to commercial teams about climate risks, use words like "cost," "planning," "contingency," and "resilience." For sales and procurement discussions, focus on "customer pressure" and "tendering requirements." With operations teams, return to proven concepts like "lean," "process improvements," and "efficiency."This isn't about hiding your environmental agenda; it's about making sustainability relevant by connecting it directly to existing business pain points and speaking the language your audience already understands and values.In this communication strategy episode, you'll discover:The five red flag words that instantly derail sustainability conversations in business settingsWhy defending sustainability with more facts and evidence actually makes resistance strongerHow to identify and speak each department's native business language for maximum impactThe "Trojan mouse" approach to achieving environmental outcomes without triggering resistanceSpecific word substitutions for commercial, sales, procurement, and operations teamsWhy making sustainability "relevant" is more powerful than making it "important"How to transform from being seen as "the ESG person" to becoming a valuable problem-solverKey Communication Strategy Moments:(01:41) The red flag revelation: "So sustainability, net zero, climate, circularity, and biodiversity. So we're going to call them our red flag words. So it's like when you say one of those words, you've suddenly changed the tone of the conversation, right? You've brought with you a bit of baggage."(02:22) The three defensive reactions: "That perception, in my experience, can go a couple of ways. It can go, oh, let's just humour her and get out of here as quick as possible. It can go, let's shut this down because we haven't got time for this. Or it can go, oh, not this again."(04:45) Speaking their language: "So you're going to need to talk about risk, cost, planning, contingency, and resilience... So switch out your words... Because remember we talk about listening first to their language and then playing their language back."(06:35) Stop pushing: "Let's stop pushing sustainability. We don't have to push it. It is there anyway. If you're having to push it, it sort of shows, doesn't it?"(07:00) The Trojan mouse concept: "You are having a conversation on their level using their language. You're not pushing or convincing or defending sustainability or trying to prove it or trying to justify it."Connect with EmmaWebsiteEmail

  --------  

  8:59

  --------

  8:59

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Straight Talking Sustainability