Speaking of Sustainability - The Impact Show

Every year around Christmas, we wonder... What happens to these millions of Christmas trees - after Christmas? What's the impact this has on our environment? Should we put up a fake Christmas tree instead?

Ecochain's two Christmas enthusiasts Zazala Quist and Host Hanni Larma answer the pressing question: Which tree is more sustainable? A real or a fake Christmas Tree?

In this episode:

• What's the difference between a good fake Christmas tree you use for years vs cutting down a real tree every year?
• Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees, where does the environmental impact come from?
• To the point: which one should you buy?
• And companies, how can you do your part in the conversation?

MUD jeans is considered a frontrunner in the sustainable fashion space by insiders and the public alike. But what really makes them such a standout in the industry?

To find out, we spoke to the man himself - Bert van Son the Founder and CEO of MUD Jeans. MUD Jeans being a client of Ecochain, we are very familiar with the measurement side of their sustainability, but we wanted to dig deeper. What do they do with this data and how do they operate sustainably?

In the episode:

• What does it mean to be a truly sustainable fashion brand?
• You can’t do it all at once, but where do you start?
• How to use environmental data to back up your sustainability claims;
• Why sustainable product design has to be integrated into the business strategy;
• How can you overcome the financial challenges of being a sustainable fashion brand.

With energy prices rising exponentially in Europe at the moment, companies are paying attention. Paying attention to what their energy usage will ultimately cost them. Luckily there are company’s who can help them in this journey to energy efficiency - such as our guest and Ecochain's partner Sensorfact. The silver lining? Energy efficiency will also lower your company’s environmental footprint.

With his head in the numbers, Sensorfact’s Founder and CEO Pieter Broekema was the perfect person for us to speak to on this topic.

In the episode:

• How is the energy crises shifting discourse in companies;
• How does lowering your energy bill link to environmental impact;
• What can you do with energy usage data collected on your production processes?
• 5 steps to get started on lowering energy consumption and your environmental footprint.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the scientific method for measuring the environmental footprint of your products. It’s often perceived as something ‘too complex’ & ‘academic’. Let’s make LCA accessible to businesses. So today we are breaking it down.

Our environmental specialist Emma Thunnissen has dealt with just about everything concerning LCA with our clients. That’s why we thought she was the perfect person for the task of explaining the ins and outs of LCA.

In the episode:

• How does LCA work?
• What kind of footprint results do you get?
• How can you use your LCA results?
• And a concrete example: Measuring a snowboard’s environmental footprint.

To make an LCA you first need DATA on your product(s). But what kind of data, often comes up in the conversation. In this podcast episode, we will go through the two main types of data - primary and secondary data. And what's the difference between them in LCA?

So what kind of data do you actually need to make a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of your products? Think of the energy usage for your manufacturing and waste processes, data on your purchased & used raw materials, etc. Much data can be found in your own finance or purchase department. But with supply chain data (e.g. purchased raw materials) it’s trickier. How do you get to know the exact raw impact behind the specific materials you purchase? It’s information your suppliers hold.

This raw supply chain data is called primary data. And it’s crucial for credible footprint calculations. The other option is secondary data. Meaning already existing scientific databases collected by previous researchers.

To get a comprehensive look into the differences and uses of each of these types of data, we spoke to Ecocahin’s Zazala Quist - who recently did a deep dive into all things data.

In this episode:

• The difference between primary and secondary data in LCA
• Which form of data is the best?
• And what you can conclude, based on the data you have used.

Navigating the world of sustainability claims has become hard work. When can you claim what and how do we know when claims are legitimate? Our consensus: It comes down to transparency. Companies must show their sustainability data, detail their methods of measuring AND talk about their failures.

We spoke to Femke Lotgerink the sustainability manager of O My Bag, to find out her thoughts on the topic. With her sustainability expertise came a strong commitment to transparency. And a willingness to admit the sustainability actions that still require progress at O My Bag. Sustainability is a multifaceted topic. As Femke puts it, the Amsterdam-based bag company values the focus and direction their environmental data has given them, on their sustainability efforts.

In the episode:

• How measuring/sharing your product’s environmental footprint is crucial for positive change;
• You can’t do it all at once, but where do you start?
• How to collaborate with suppliers;
• How to use yours (and other’s) sustainability fails as learnings;
• And why sustainable product design has to be integrated into the business strategy.

Have you ever thought about the environmental impact sitting in your closet? Yes, clothing can still have an impact even when it leaves the factory or shop shelves. This is called the ‘use phase’ of a product. Something our guest Olof Hoverfält is very familiar with.

Olof conducted an extensive study where he documented EVERY single piece of clothing he wore every day (for 3 years!!) - And monitored the amount he used each piece. This taught him a thing or two about the value and environmental impact of the clothing we use. At Ecochain we have seen time and time again with our clients that the use phase in Life Cycle Assessments can be a major contributor to a product's environmental footprint and therefore very important to take into account. Just like Olof found.

In the episode:

• Findings from Olof’s study - why clothing products' use phase can make all the difference;
• Concrete examples of how to pivot to designing for durability;
• And how to invest in value creation in your products rather than gross profit.

With EMMA Safety Footwear’s passion for creating a safe working environment for its customers and having social sustainability at its core, it only made sense that sustainability was the logical next step in their business practices.

They had already implemented many sustainable improvements in their manufacturing processes & supply chain. But, lacked measurable environmental insights on the effectiveness of these initiatives. So - they measured the environmental footprint of their shoes with Ecochain Mobius.

We're accustomed to getting 'new' and ‘improved’ electronic products at a fast pace. Companies are racing to create the next best thing, so they don’t lose out on business. Is it time we re-evaluate the definition of 'new' and 'improved'? Jessica Klodnicki, Chief Marketing Officer at Skullcandy definitely thinks so. One of the biggest problems? Batteries.

Audio lifestyle brand Skullcandy’s employees & customer base are made up of passionate outdoor enthusiasts. They care about the health of our planet and it hurts them to see its current condition. An emotion that reflects in their way of doing business. Jessica Klodnicki has been a part of the sustainability shift at Skullcandy since the beginning. From measuring their products’ environmental impact to opening their minds to inspiring & creating a sustainable consumer electronics industry. And the results are impressive. Today Skullcandy has significantly improved many of its products’ environmental footprints- and changed its design guidelines for ALL future products. This is how.

In the episode:

• How measuring your products' environmental footprint is crucial for positive change;
• The surprising design element with the BIGGEST environmental impact;
• How to collaborate on sustainability within different teams;
• Why the end of the battery war is essential to sustainable change in the consumer electronics industry;
• And why sustainable product design has to be integrated into the business strategy.

Product design has a HUGE impact on the environment, and here’s why. We are constantly using an array of different products. Some last us years and years. Some get thrown away within a few months. Some are repairable. Some are only used once. You get the picture. All of these design choices have pretty direct impact on the environment around us. And legislation is catching up to this reality. The EU has recently announced several proposals for Ecodesign requirements. But waiting for legislation to kick-in, might just mean you will fall behind.

Michiel Cornelissen from our partner Kode21 is the person to talk to about just how we can use product design to make a positive impact on the planet. With his passion for making products a vessel for the company to make a meaningful impact on the environment, he has a lot to say on this topic.

In the episode:

• A step by step guide to sustainable product design;
• How ecodesign will keep you relevant in the future;
• And how product design can have the biggest impact on the environment.

Our daily lives revolve around the use of different products. We wake up to an alarm clock, we get dressed in our clothing, we rush to get breakfast from the fridge. But how are all of these products designed? AND more importantly how can they be innovated to fit the modern need for sustainability - while also being profitable for the company?

With his expertise on sustainable product design our guest Felix Arand from Zuehlke talks to us about his tips and tricks on how to get started.

In the episode:

• Why sustainable product development is crucial for business;
• What are the first steps needed within the company;
• How collaboration within different teams can make or break your development efforts;
• Why sustainable product design has to be integrated into the business strategy.

A governmental agreement - but one that COMPANIES will have to fulfil. A collective set of goals that will benefit each and everyone of us. We are talking about the UN Sustainable Developments Goal's (SDG’s) of course. A topic our guest Tuuli-Anna Tiuttu is very familiar with and will explain how you can apply them in your sustainability strategy. And she will also help you to effectively communicate this progress to your stakeholders. And not the boring way! 

With her extensive work in the field of translating governmental initiatives to sustainability action plans, Tuuli-Anna Tiuttu CEO of SDG Monitor is the perfect person to provide the tips and tricks on this topic.

In the episode:

• The UN SDG’s explained;
• How can your company apply them?;
• How to translate data into stories;
• And the MUST haves of a great sustainability report: a practical example (IKEA);

Ok - you’ve done the hard work and calculated your environmental footprint. But now what?

Ever heard someone in your company say ‘Yes, climate change is a big problem, but it’s not up to us to fix it, others produce more emissions than us.’ 

Or how about ‘Technology will happen eventually and fix our problems. So we can carry on as usual!

We know these responses to sustainable action- and they are understandable. Because it's not an easy peasy lemon squeezy kind of responsibility we're talking about here. 

Yet- in saving our planet, these responses only cause delays in sustainable action. So, it's crucial we understand them & know how to provide hope. We give you the 4 most heard arguments that get in the way of climate action, and how to turn them around.

Our marketing specialist Zazala Quist gets into the details and of course counter arguments for each concern.

In the episode:

• What are the 4 main arguments that cause climate delay;
• Where do they come from; 
• And how to tackle them. 

Carbon offsetting at times gets a bad reputation. And for good reason. 

But - If done correctly it can be a very beneficial aspect of your sustainability strategy! 

That being said, there are a few crucial steps to take even before endeavouring into a carbon reduction project. 

In this conversation we speak to Alessandra Souroujon the Senior Analyst Strategy and Development at ClimateSeed. A carbon offsetting company who aim to make the carbon market more transparent and beneficial for everyone. 

In this episode: 

• The first 2 steps BEFORE carbon offsetting
• What makes a credible offsetting project?
• How to communicate about your companies offsetting projects

A furniture design brand that has always pride themselves on the longevity of their products. Now Fritz Hansen is ready to take their sustainability efforts to the next level.

As everyday use products, to make furniture more sustainable is an essential step. And Fritz Hansen agrees.

We speak to Morten Lund Petersen a sustainability manager, with years of experience leading a consumer brand to a more sustainable path.

In the episode:

• How do they approach innovation in materials used in their products?
• Why data management is big part of his job.
• What type of demand signals are they getting from the market?
• And why being one step ahead is crucial for future-proofing your company.

Plastic pollution is a global crisis. It risks the future of our planet's health. But what can we do about it?

To find out we speak with Dr. Imogen Napper, an expedition scientist for National Geographic.

She has investigated plastic pollution all over the the world, from the Ganges River to Mount Everest. We speak about her incredible research results and how we can tackle this issue, on both an individual and industry level.

In the episode:

• What does the research tell us?
• Why plastic might not be the evil we make it out to be.
• The concrete steps we can take to tackle plastic pollution.

Organizations often struggle with effectively communicating the urgency and underlying motives behind their sustainable developments to employees.

But, why is that?

One of the factors that decrease the successful implementation of sustainability- is that top management often perceives sustainability to be something too academic or high-level for other employees to understand.

So- they keep it within their own team/or relevant stakeholders who they feel do understand and don't involve other employees.

Hence the sustainability bubble.

In the episode my colleagues Toby Lipsch and Zazala Quist explain:

• Why engaging the whole company with ongoing projects is crucial
• How to most effectively communicate on sustainability initiatives within your company
• And why adding a team member might be the answer

The textile industry is one of the worlds big polluters. The good news is there are companies out there looking for solutions.

As founder & CEO of Dutch bedding company Yumeko- our guest Rob van den Dool wants to revolutionize the textile industry.

In this episode?

• What are the main sustainable developments in the market?
• What are the impact reduction measures that need to be made in the textile industry?
• How to make sustainable fabrics scalable?
• Why re-examining the way we produce products is crucial?

The CSRD will improve and replace the European Union's current Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD).

Companies will have to publicly disclose detailed and transparent information on how sustainability issues.How can companies prepare for the Corporate Sustainability Directive (CSRD)?   

This and more answered in this in-depth interview with Alain Deckers, Head of Unit, Corporate Reporting at the European Commission. He speaks with Ecochain's Hanni Larma to answer all your pressing questions.