In this episode, Sarah sits down with Paul from Materia Environment to explore innovative solutions to the global plastic waste crisis. With a mission to give industrial plastic waste a second life, Materia Environment transforms discarded materials into valuable secondary products used in industries like automotive, horticulture, manufacturing and even playground equipment. Paul shares his journey from corporate communications to the sustainability sector, highlighting how his team’s work is helping large manufacturers embrace a circular economy.

The conversation delves into:

• Plastic Waste Challenges: Why Ireland struggles with recycling rates and how contamination and mixed polymers hinder progress.

• Recycling Innovations: Materia Environment’s efforts to work with manufacturers, creating cleaner waste streams and promoting traceability in recycled materials.

• Circular Economy Solutions: From reimagining single-use plastic trays to future possibilities for recycling complex packaging like blister packs.

Paul and Sarah discuss the broader implications of plastic alternatives, the need for consumer demand for recycled products, and how industries can align with sustainability goals while maintaining safety and functionality.

Paul leaves us with his Top 3 Tips for Climate Action:

1. Improve efforts to recycle domestic plastic waste effectively.

2. Advocate for and purchase products made from recycled plastic.

3. Support businesses and manufacturers prioritising recycled materials in their operations.

Tune in to learn how small shifts in consumer behaviour and innovative industry practices can help close the loop on plastic waste.

In this inspiring episode, Sarah sits down with Agnese from CIRCULÉIRE to explore how the circular economy is transforming business and the planet. Agnese shares her passion for demystifying risk and enabling businesses to adopt innovative, sustainable practices that keep materials in use longer and reduce waste.

What You’ll Learn:

• The Power of Circular Networks: Discover how the CIRCULÉIRE brings together over 50 diverse companies, from plastics to textiles, to co-create impactful solutions.

• Creative Circular Practices: Learn about ingenious examples like remanufacturing unused cigarettes into eyewear frames and refurbishing furniture using dead stock fabric.

• Overcoming Barriers to Circularity: Agnese shares insights on tackling the initial cost challenges and scaling circular innovations for businesses of all sizes.

The conversation also delves into the role of the Irish government in promoting circularity, the importance of sustainable materials, and the connection between circular business models and climate action.

Agnese’s Top 3 Tips for Climate Action:

• 1. Think Before You Buy: Reflect on whether you truly need a product before purchasing.

  2. Support Circular Businesses: Choose companies that prioritise reuse, repurposing, and sustainable design.

  3. Advocate for Change: Encourage businesses and policymakers to adopt circular practices.

• 1. 
     

  About Agnese:

  Agnese Metitieri joined IMR Sustainable Manufacturing team as Circular Economy Innovation Lead and is now the Circular Economy Ventures Lead. In the context of CIRCULÉIRE, the first cross-sectoral industry-led innovation network dedicated to accelerating the net-zero carbon circular economy in Ireland, she is scoping, designing, delivering for CIRCULEIRE’s CE accelerator - from recruitment of ventures to preparation and delivery of webinars, workshops and clinics and post-activity reporting and everything in between.

  Her role encompasses the provision of advisory support and mentorship to ventures/start-ups and SMEs seeking to scale circular business models or pilot circular innovation - ranging but not limited to input into investor pitch packs, investor readiness, strategy and market placement and communication of circular value proposition. With an academic background in Energy Engineering, she has gained knowledge and expertise in sustainability, circular economy and climate impact, alongside becoming highly skilled in coaching, mentoring and storytelling. Agnese worked for many years as an international freelance consultant moved by a deep commitment to the shift to a more sustainable, just and prosperous future for all."

• This episode is packed with practical advice and inspiring stories to help you rethink waste and embrace the future of sustainability!

  Linkedin Profile: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/agnesemetitieri

  IMR website: Irish Manufacturing Research - Demystify, Derisk and Deliver

  CIRCULÉIRE website: Homepage | CIRCULÉIRE

  
  

Join Sarah as she chats with Johnny Meehan, a Blanchardstown native with a fascinating journey from corporate supply chains to championing sustainability. With a background spanning law, business, and the food industry, Johnny brings a unique perspective on how personal choices and community-driven action can create global impact.

What You’ll Discover:

• From Factory Floors to Farms: Johnny’s career evolution—from Intel to Cadbury’s and Tony’s Chocolonely—revealed the hidden stories behind food supply chains, sparking his passion for sustainability.

• The Power of Local and Global Action: How diversifying Irish farming, fixing food systems, and engaging communities can lead to healthier lives and a greener planet.

• Corporate Accountability and Climate Change: Johnny unpacks the sobering truth about corporate pollution and the role of transparency in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings.

Johnny’s insights highlight how businesses can deliver profit while protecting the planet, the importance of fostering local integration, and the need to mentor younger generations for sustainable change.

Johnny’s Top 3 Climate Action Tips:

1. Seek Inspiration: Learn from environmental icons like Mary Robinson and David Attenborough.

2. Engage Your Community: Collaborate with younger generations and neighbours to foster change.

3. Track Small Wins: Adopt the 1% better rule—small, consistent steps add up to significant impact.

Dive into Johnny’s story to find inspiration for your own sustainable journey.

Connect with Johnny Meehan on linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnymeehan/

In this episode, Sarah talks to Niall Quirke, a former Amazon and Microsoft software engineer who made a bold leap from big tech to sustainability during the pandemic. Now the founder of Greenpage, Niall shares his journey into climate tech and his mission to revolutionise the way ethical products connect with conscious shoppers.

• From Tech to Climate Impact: Niall’s inspiring transition from Silicon Valley to sustainability, fueled by a post-grad in sustainability and freelancing in climate tech.

• The Challenges of Ethical Shopping: Why it’s hard for sustainable brands to cut through the noise and for shoppers to trust what’s behind the label.

• Greenpage’s Mission: How this platform is reshaping the marketplace by helping sustainable brands tell authentic stories while empowering consumers to support businesses that align with their values.

Discover the impact Greenpage is making and explore their Green Christmas Guide 2024, packed with top sustainable Irish gift ideas.

Follow Niall and Greenpage:

• Niall’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/niallquirke

• Greenpage Website: greenpage.io

• Greenpage LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/greenpage

• Green Christmas Guide 2024: Top Sustainable Irish Gift Ideas

Join us as we explore how technology and storytelling can help sustainable products thrive.

More about Niall:

Niall Quirke is an ex-Amazon, ex-Microsoft Software Engineer who left big tech during the pandemic to do a post-grad in sustainability and work on climate tech. While freelancing in the space he came to understand how difficult it was for sustainable brands to communicate above the noise and how difficult it was for ethical shoppers to find them and understand what's going on behind each product. Greenpage is on a mission to bridge that gap and help sustainable products win. On Greenpage brands can tell the story behind each product in a trustworthy and engaging way and shoppers can support the kind of business they believe in.

In this heartwarming episode, Sarah chats with Aoife, the creator of Timeless Celebrations, to explore how festive traditions can align with sustainability. From reusable Christmas crackers to supporting local artisans, Aoife shares her journey as an eco-entrepreneur and her vision for more mindful celebrations.

Having studied business and worked for over 10 years in both the food and pharmaceutical industry, specialising in supply chain. Aoife decided in 2016 to explore her creative side and learnt to sew. What started as a hobby, became a business in 2020 while she was living in Switzerland and on her return home to Ireland, set up her own business, Timeless Celebrations Ireland®. Her love for beautiful Christmas decorations has led her to design and create Timeless Crackers®, the first luxury reusable Christmas Crackers of their kind made in Ireland.

With approximately 10 million single use Christmas Crackers pulled in Ireland every year, at Timeless Celebrations Ireland, the mission is to reduce waste and increase thoughtfulness throughout the festive season. Maintaining family traditions, in a sustainable way, is at the heart of Aoife's business.

• Revolutionising Holiday Traditions: Aoife introduces her luxury reusable fabric Christmas crackers, designed as a fun, waste-free alternative to traditional ones. She discusses their versatility, from Christmas to Easter celebrations, and her plans to offer refill options for different occasions.
  

• Sustainability in Business: Aoife highlights the challenges of running a sustainable business, emphasising the importance of keeping production local, collaborating with Irish businesses, and balancing eco-friendliness with higher costs.
  

• Mindful Festivities: Sarah and Aoife reflect on the environmental impact of holiday excess and how reusable crackers promote a simpler, more mindful way of celebrating. They also discuss options for those seeking budget-friendly sustainable solutions.
  

1. Buy Secondhand: Choose preloved items to reduce waste.

2. Make Small Changes: Start with manageable eco-friendly habits.

3. Support Local: Prioritise products from local businesses.

Let’s transform traditions into opportunities for sustainability!

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aoife-mchugh-723b9549

Instagram: Instagram.com/timelesscelebrationsireland/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timelesscelebrationsireland

Website: www.timelesscelebrationsireland.com

In this episode, Sarah talks to Dr. Ciaran O'Carroll, sustainability lecturer at TU Dublin, to discuss climate action, sustainability, and the path to a fairer society. They explore Dr. O'Carroll’s journey from chemistry to sustainability, the challenges of international climate efforts, and the importance of community-driven change.

Key focus areas:

• Challenges of Global Climate Summits: Dr. O'Carroll shares his concerns about the ineffectiveness of the Conference of the Parties (COP) in driving real climate action, stressing the need for grassroots control to shift the agenda toward urgent, systemic change.

• Economic Implications of the Paris Agreement: The discussion delves into the Paris Agreement’s economic impact, highlighting how delays in transitioning to green energy could leave the EU and the US trailing behind countries like China in the green tech sector.

• Community-Based Climate Action: Dr. O'Carroll emphasises the power of local communities to drive meaningful change. By focusing on practical benefits—such as lower energy bills and warmer homes—he illustrates how community initiatives can enhance quality of life while addressing the climate crisis.

Dr. O'Carroll’s Top 3 Tips for Climate Action:

1. Advocate for affordable, clean energy policies.

2. Support community-led climate projects.

3. Prioritise education and awareness on climate justice.

Listen now to gain instant actionable insights to share with your sustainability or green team. As always, find one thing you can share with a friend or colleague that will help them on their sustainability journey.

In this episode, we talk to Colette, co-founder of the Sustainable Speakers Club, to discuss the intersection of sustainability, communication, and public speaking. Colette shares her journey from community learning to founding the club, which helps people confidently discuss climate issues while honing their public speaking skills.

The conversation explores the importance of clear communication on complex topics like climate change and how effective public speaking can inspire action.

• Sustainable Speakers Club: Colette explains how the club empowers individuals to discuss sustainability confidently, with regular online meetings that include speeches, impromptu sessions, and feedback loops.

• Improving Communication Skills for Climate Action: We discuss the value of strong public speaking skills in simplifying climate issues, encouraging collective action through clear messaging.

Colette's Top 3 Tips for Climate Action:

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Minimise waste by repurposing items before disposing of them.

2. Vote Wisely: Support candidates and policies focused on environmental sustainability.

3. Stay Informed: Read one article a day on climate and sustainability to stay current.

Join the Sustainable Speakers Club to enhance your public speaking skills while making a positive impact on climate communication.

Find out more at

Ep. 70 The Sustainable Life School with Nathalie & Diane

In this episode, we chat to Nathalie and Diane, the founders of The Sustainable Life School. The school was created to help individuals and communities take action on climate change through practical, accessible sustainable living practices. Nathalie’s passion for sustainable fashion inspired the school’s mission, while Diane focuses on making eco-friendly habits the social norm. Their social enterprise reinvests profits into supporting vulnerable communities.

Main Areas Covered:

• Sustainable Living for All: Nathalie and Diane share how the Sustainable Life School empowers people to adopt eco-friendly habits, offering programs on topics like fashion, energy, and waste reduction.

• Promoting Sustainability in the Workplace: They discuss successful workplace initiatives such as reducing food waste, promoting secondhand clothing, and fostering eco-consciousness among employees.

• Power of Small Changes: Nathalie and Diane highlight how small, everyday actions—like using reusable cups and turning off ovens early—can make a significant difference, encouraging collective action.

Their Top 3 Tips for Climate Action:

1. Think Secondhand First: Buy preloved to reduce waste and overconsumption.

2. Reduce Plastic Waste: Swap single-use plastics for reusable alternatives.

3. Energy-Saving Measures: Natalie shares how she discovered how much her appliances were costing her.

Explore how The Sustainable Life School can help you adopt greener habits and empower your community through their workshops and actions. Join them in creating a more sustainable future through practical, everyday actions.

https://www.sustainablelifeschool.ie/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-sustainable-life-school
https://www.instagram.com/thesustainablelifeschool