Sustainability In Your Ear

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Earth911 Podcast: cirplus Cofounder Christian Schiller Aims for a Circular Plastics Marketplace Jul 11, 2022

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Christian Schiller, cofounder of cirplus, talks about the company's digital marketplace for circular plastics. Think of it as Match.com or Tinder for European plastics recyclers, including companies that collect post-consumer materials and those that sell processed recycled plastic for use in new products. Cirplus connects sellers with buyers and collects fees for speeding the transaction along. Sellers save on marketing costs and can establish ongoing relationships that support their business growth with just a few clicks. cirplus is working now to launch its U.S. marketplace. Christian also discusses the prospects for bioplastics and emerging plastic recycling technologies, including molecular recycling, which will purportedly make plastic recyclable many more times than today.
The plastics industry desperately needs to step up its recycling — less than 6% of the approximately 370 million tons of plastic produced each year is recycled today. Recycling is all about economics, and making it profitable depends on gaining reliable access to supplies of recyclable materials as well as customers who are ready to buy the processed material. Christian previously helped to build BlaBlaCar, where we was the first employee at the online transportation market that connects drivers and bus operators to riders. Digital technology, as we often hear from our guests, creates efficiencies that make previously difficult markets come to life. You can learn more about cirplus at https://www.cirplus.com/

Earth911 Podcast: Eve Darian-Smith on Global Burning: Rising Antidemocracy and the Climate Crisis Jul 06, 2022

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Author Eve Darian-Smith discusses her new book, Global Burning: Rising Antidemocracy and the Climate Crisis, which describes and analyzes the environmental policies of authoritarian governments, including the Trump and Bolsanaro administrations in the U.S. and Brazil, as well as Australia’s recently deposed Prime Minister, Scott Morrison. She is chair of the Department of Global and International Studies at the University of California, Irvine. Eve has documented the growing crisis for democratic nations as authoritarian leaders blend anti-environmentalist populism with increasingly aggressive approaches to governing. Climate change is a global problem that nationalists and populists resist actively. With the United States headed into a contentious mid-term election season, we wanted to discuss what voters should be on the watch for when choosing candidates they expect to represent them in global negotiations in response to climate change. You can find Global Burning: Rising Antidemocracy and the Climate Crisis at Amazon (https://amzn.to/39QBgZ0), Audible (https://amzn.to/39OR26R), and Powell's Books (https://www.powells.com/book/global-burning-rising-antidemocracy-the-climate-crisis-9781503631083).

Earth911 Podcast: Fordham University's Frank Zambrelli on Scaling ESG Solutions in Fashion Jul 04, 2022

Show notes

Frank Zambrelli, Executive Director of Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business Responsible Business Coalition, discusses the school's recommendations for sustainability and transparency in the fashion industry. He explains findings in Accenture's recently released a report, Scaling ESG Solutions in Fashion, which identified seven areas of focus required for sustainable changes to the fashion industry. They include industry-wide adoption of transparent emissions reductions goals of 50% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040, use of renewable energy in manufacturing, elimination of the use of restricted chemicals, and fair labor practices across every step of the fashion supply chain in order to turn the industry into a sustainable one.
Fashion may make us look and feel good but it does no favors for the planet, accounting for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emission annually and providing many examples of egregious treatment of labor in low-income countries. Frank also explains the intentions behind New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand's Fashion Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change Act, or FABRIC Act, which the U.S. Senate is currently considering. It would require moving fashion production back to the U.S. under better environmental and labor standards than other countries enforce. You can learn more about Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business at https://www.fordham.edu/gabelli-school-of-business/

Earth911 Podcast: How to Grow the EV Charging Infrastructure with Cyber Switching's Nick Zamanov Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

Nick Zamanov, business director at San Jose-based Cyber Switching, a maker of electric vehicle charging technology, joins Mitch Ratcliffe to discuss choosing the right EV and how to grow electric vehicle charging capacity. The company launched in 1994 and has developed charging solutions for offices, local governments, apartment buildings, universities and other charger installations. Nick also recently contributed an article at Earth911, Considerations To Help You Confidently Switch to an EV, a guide to the concerns shoppers have about buying and using EVs.
The price of EV charging already compares favorably to fueling up with gas. According to American Automobile Association estimates, which made its analysis when gas cost $4.25 a gallon, electric driving costs a third of the price as gasoline driving over the same distance. Nick provides an optimistic but pragmatic view into the potential to replace internal combustion personal and commercial vehicles with a robust EV charging infrastucture. You can find out more about Cyber Switching at https://cyberswitching.com/

Earth911 Podcast: ESG Investing In a Bear Market With Newday Impact's Douglas Heske Jun 24, 2022

Show notes

Douglas Heske, founder and CEO of Newday Impact Investing explains how to invest for positive environmental outcomes during a bear market. He recommends treating deflated stock prices as an opportunity to add sustainable companies to a portfolio, and shares details about his firm's new Ocean Health ETF (NYSE: AHOY), which focuses on companies that prevent ocean plastic pollution, encourage sustainable fishing practices, and that help restore marine environments. Newday Impact Investing will also donate 5% of its Ocean Health ETF revenue to EarthEcho International, a youth-focused non-profit founded by Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau.

Earth911 Podcast: Arizona State University's Sustainable Earth Program Aims to Educate and Celebrate Small Business Jun 20, 2022

Show notes

Meet Alicia Marseille and Katelyn Armbruster, who lead the Sustainable Earth small business sustainability education program for Arizona State University's Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Service. They are working to turn the economy toward sustainable practices with free courses for the nation’s 32.5 million small businesses. These firms, which account for 99.9 percent of the companies in the United States according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, need access to information, sustainable strategies, learning materials, and mentoring to accelerate the adoption of environmentally responsible business practices. If they can make the turn, small business can help their customers take steps to embrace low-carbon lifestyles.
The Sustainable Earth program is supported by Wells Fargo Bank, and it will introduce the first small business sustainability awards program in the nation later this summer. Companies that would like to be considered for the awards should submit entries by July 1, 2022. Arizona State has been a pioneer in online learning, bringing advanced educational experiences to students globally. For instance, every Starbucks employee can earn a degree for free through ASU. You can learn more about Sustainable Earth, and sign up for courses, at https://sustainable-earth.org/

Earth911 Podcast: Adapting to Smoke Season's Health Impacts with Dr. James Crooks Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

James Crooks, Ph.D., an environmental epidemiologist with National Jewish Health’s Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics in Denver explains his research on the impact of wildfire smoke on the ozone concentrations at ground level in Colorado. Elevated ozone levels contribute to rising incidence of asthma and diabetes, among other conditions. Dr. Crooks found that while ozone increased only one percent, the impacts are widely felt, especially in Hispanic and historically underserved communities. The advent of annual smoke seasons and rising levels of air pollution globally make this an important conversation. He shares his advice on how to protect family members from air pollution and the prospects for life in a warmer world, when smoke season will be common in many regions.
Smoke season isn’t just unpleasant, it’s killing too many of us. According to a recent study published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health, air pollution was directly responsible for the death of 4.5 million people around the world in 2019. A McGill University study released in early May reported that people who lived within 31 miles (50 km) of a wildfire over a 10-year period were found to have a 10% higher incidence of brain tumors and 4.9% more lung cancers. You can learn more about Dr. Crooks and National Jewish Health at https://www.nationaljewish.org/

Earth911 Podcast: Wild Planet Founder & CEO Bill Carvalho on Making Seafood Sustainable Jun 13, 2022

Show notes

Wild Planet Foods founder and CEO Bill Carvalho explains why his company sources pole and line caught tuna to eliminate “bycatch,” the species caught in nets and tossed overboard because it was not what the fishing vessel wants to sell. Bycatch accounts for up to 22% of the fish caught by net fishermen, according to Oceana, a nonprofit working to protect the world’s oceans. Wild Planet also focuses on smaller species, such as sardines, mackerel and anchovies in an effort to protect the ocean food chain. We tested several new Wild Planet fish and canned pasta, bean and vegetable and tuna salads that are sold in recyclable packaging accepted in virtually all U.S. curbside blue bins.
According to the United Nations, 34 percent of human CO2 emissions each year are produced by growing, processing, and shipping food. The good news is that the share of food-related emissions has declined from 44% in 1990 — this shows that significant progress is possible by changing eating habits and the way we grow, harvest and distribute food. Bill shares his advice for choosing the most sustainable seafood options, suggeting that shoppers check the Monterey Bay Acquarium's Sustainable Seafood recommendations. You can learn more about Wild Planet and its products at https://wildplanetfoods.com/

Earth911 Podcast: Jon Freedman of SUEZ Explains Solutions to Water Scarcity Jun 10, 2022

Show notes

Water is everywhere on this planet — 71% of the Earth is covered with water — but freshwater is in dire short supply. We talk with Jon Freedman, Global Government Affairs Leader at SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions and a lecturer on water and water policy at the University of Pennsylvania. SUEZ specializes in water treatment and management, working with governments and companies on water recycling and desalination projects. We discuss the viability of distilling and filtering waste water to remove PFAS, pharmaceuticals and other small-particle pollutants from recycled water, the energy requirements involved in desalinization, and level of investment needed globally to ensure safe, equitable access to water. You can learn more about SUEZ Water Technologies at https://www.suezwatertechnologies.com/

Earth911 Podcast: Dr. Danielle Bernal on Plant-Based Diets for Dogs Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

Our guest today, Dr. Danielle Bernal, is a veterinarian at Wellness Natural Pet Food. She recommends switching to plant-based foods and is here to discuss the health benefits and animal health issues to track when adopting more plant-based foods for your dog. The American Pet Products Association reports that about 90 million dogs lived in U.S. homes in 2019, and ownership jumped during the pandemic. According to UCLA research, pets consume about a quarter of the meat produced annually in the United States. And meat accounts for the largest share of our food supply’s environmental impact. For every pound of beef in dog food replaced by plant-based alternatives, we can reduce GHG emissions by as much as 26.5 lbs.
Danielle explains how to transition dogs to a new diet, plant-based foods and supplements, and the produce your dog should avoid. Wellness Natural Pet Food recently introduced its first no-meat product, Wellness CORE Digestive Health Plant-Based, a probiotic-coated kibble made with egg protein. The company offers a free packaging recyclng program for its products, which is available through Terracycle. You can learn more about Wellness Natural Pet Food at https://www.wellnesspetfood.com/

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