Wannabe Greener

Did you know UK businesses create more than 41 million tonnes of waste every year?And who would've known New Zealand, considered by many as a green country, is actually one of the most wasteful..Sofi Cinque, founder of Earthic, is an environmental consultant originally from Argentina, now based in Queenstown, New Zealand.She speaks to Harriet Robinson about her career and the ways she's managed to help businesses around the world to reduce the amount of waste they create.Sofi offers up lots of super useful tips and advice for companies that want to make changes, with her main focus being on the people involved.Wannabe Greener:https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/Earthic:https://www.instagram.com/earthic.life/

Could you do a whole year of buying nothing new? Environmentalist, author, blogger and podcaster Jen Gale, known for her Sustainable(ish) project, speaks to Harriet Robinson about her second ‘make do and mend' year and what she's learned from the experience.She also shares her passion for imperfect sustainable living and how she manages to get her young family onboard with lifestyle changes, as well as ways to stay positive and productive in the face of climate ‘doomerism'If you want some inspiration to help you slow down your consumption – this is for you

The live music industry generates billions of pounds for the UK economy, but it racks up a lot of carbon emissions too.According to Clean Scene, the average touring DJ emits 35 tonnes of C02 per year, 17 times higher than is recommended per person.Pauline Bourdon is the founder of Soliphilia, which provides sustainability consultancy and green touring for the music industry. She works closely with artists, as well as events organisations such as Team Love to ensure their festivals have sustainability values at their core.Ross Patel runs Whole Entertainment, which prioritises culture, social justice and climate action, working with its artists to encourage them to use their influence for good.Ross also sits on the Music Managers Forum where they lead on all climate initiatives. Pauline and Ross join Harriet Robinson to discuss the problems within the music industry, the efforts that are being made to change them and how the industry is in a unique position to be able to influence further action.LINKS:Soliphilia: https://www.soliphilia.co.uk Pauline: https://www.instagram.com/pauline.bourdon/Whole Entertainment: https://whole.managementRoss Patel: https://www.instagram.com/rosswellpatel/Last Night a DJ Took a Flight, Clean Scene report: https://cleanscene.club/report.pdf

Clearing up Britain’s litter and fly tipping costs taxpayers over £1 billion per year. Plastic-free blogger and Keep Britain Tidy ambassador Anna Lund, known for her blog No More Plastic Fantastic, talks to Harriet about her passion for litter picking, including the benefits it brings, not just to the local community and wildlife, but also for mental health. She talks about the oldest piece of rubbish in her vintage litter collection (yes that really exists) and how she has managed to get big brands, such as McDonalds, onboard helping with litter picks. Anna also discusses what needs to be done on a wider scale to help keep our streets and nature spots clean and safe, and gives super easy tips and advice for people wanting to start improving their own local area. --------------------- Anna on IG: instagram.com/no.more.plastic.fantastic Anna on Facebook: https://my.captivate.fm/instragram.com/coachingforcause (facebook.com/No-More-Plastic-Fantastic-236270193720670) Wannabe Greener on IG: https://my.captivate.fm/instagram.com/wannabegreener (instagram.com/wannabegreener)

How can you get others around you to care about sustainability as much as you do? Environmentalist and founder of sustainability coaching platform, Coaching for Cause, Manuel Bergmann, believes the best way is to lead by example. A German now living in Bali, Manuel talks to Harriet about the misconceptions we have of how different cultures treat the environment. He also gives advice for positively influencing others and suggests ways to effectively spread your message online, as well as some guidance for people wanting to start working with charities or NGOs --------------------- Coaching for Cause: coachingforcause.com Coaching for Cause on IG: instragram.com/coachingforcause Manuel on IG: instagram.com/manuelbergmann Wannabe Greener on IG: instagram.com/wannabegreener

The award-winning period plastic campaigner Ella Daish talks to Harriet about her inspirational journey from Royal Mail postal worker to full time environmental campaigner. She details the worrying extent of the problem of period plastic, which is the fifth most common item washed up on Europe's beaches. As well as explaining what needs to change & the options facing us an individuals, Ella gives advice and tips for those wanting to follow her footsteps into a life of activism. Ella's website: elladaish.com Ella on IG: instagram.com/elladaish Wannabe Greener on IG: instagram.com/wannabe.greener

An urban gardener, blogger and founder of The Farm In My Flat, Joyce van Dam believes everyone can grow their own food, even inside a small apartment like her own. Joyce talks to Harriet about how to get started with your indoor farm, the many benefits it brings and her top tips for keeping your home thriving with edible plants. By growing your own produce you can help to reduce plastic waste, avoid nasty pesticides and unnecessary transport miles, enjoy a healthier diet and environment and save money... all while improving your mental health. ------------------------- The Farm in My Flat: thefarminmyflat.com Follow Joyce: instagram.com/thefarminmyflat Connect with other urban gardeners: instagram.com/theaparmentfarmers Follow Harriet: instagram.com/wannabe.greener

Growing up in Kenya Sapna Mulki was forced to appreciate the importance of water, which was often very scarce, but was surprised to learn others take it for granted. Globally more than a billion people are currently living without enough clean safe water. Sapna, a water consultant & host of the podcast Breaking Green Ceilings, is trying to change that by promoting a better understanding of the value of earth's most precious and vulnerable resource. She explains the problems with the world's water systems, which leave whole communities, in even the richest countries such as the USA, without a decent water supply. Sapna tells Harriet what she believes needs to be done, from a governmental level to individuals altering our daily habits, to help preserve water and ensure everyone has equal access to such a basic human right. ------------------------- Water Savvy Solutions: https://watersavvysolutions.com/ (watersavvysolutions.com) Breaking Green Ceilings: https://www.instagram.com/breaking_green_ceilings/ (instagram.com/breaking_green_ceilings) Sapna's recommendations for water charities and innovators: https://www.digdeep.org/ (Dig Deep Water) – "based in the US but I think they are legit. They do amazing work in Navajo Country, where 40% don’t have access to clean drinking water and sanitation." https://www.unicef.org/wash/ (UNICEF-WASH) – "Folx may feel some type of way about the UN as a whole but UNICEF does amazing work. I trust them." http://www.majikwater.co/ (Majik Water) – Kenya http://darsihmad.org/en/ (Dar Si Hmad) – Morocco Water conservation tips: https://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve/ (wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve) Wannabe Greener: https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/ (instagram.com/wannabe.greener)

The founder of Food Empowerment Project, lauren Ornelas, talks to Harriet about the human impact of our food choices and her journey into activism. lauren believes we need to look beyond veganism, highlighting the exploitation of farm workers, including children, for products we all enjoy on a regular basis. She gives advice on how to make more empowered food choices that consider animals, the environment and humans. lauren has been an animal rights advocate for most of her life, previously launching and heading up the USA branch of the vegan campaigning charity Viva! where she conducted numerous factory farm investigations. ------------------------- Food Empowerment Project: https://foodispower.org/ (https://foodispower.org/) lauren's TedX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blfVA0a-CBc (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blfVA0a-CBc) The Dark Side of Chocolate film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15dJwA-xaVA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15dJwA-xaVA) Shady Chocolate film: http://www.madeincopenhagen.dk/en/shady-chocolate (http://www.madeincopenhagen.dk/en/shady-chocolate) Wannabe Greener: https://instagram.com/wannabe.greener (https://instagram.com/wannabe.greene)r

What's the connection between mind-body practices and environmental activism? Kayla Robertson, founder of the wellness platform and podcast Moving Inward, believes the journey to becoming and remaining an effective activist begins with prioritising your inner self; keeping your personal well-being in check through practices such as mindfulness, meditation and yoga. Kayla talks to host Harriet Robinson about her own journey, how to figure out a routine that works best for you, and the ancient history of wellness practices, particularly within indigenous culture. Moving Inward: https://www.movinginward.com/ (https://www.movinginward.com/) https://www.instagram.com/moving.inward/ (https://www.instagram.com/moving.inward/) Wannabe Greener: https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/ (https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/)

A sneak peak at what we've got lined up for the second series of Wannabe Greener.New episodes from January 2021.

I don't know about you, but my memory is not much better than a goldfish's...We heard a bunch of brilliant tips and advice in the first 12 episodes of Wannabe Greener..Here it all is, packaged up for your listening and learning pleasure...Further information on each guest can be found on their individual episode pages.

About one third of the food produced globally every year gets lost or wasted. It's enough to feed all the hungry people in the world four times!https://www.unenvironment.org/thinkeatsave/about-thinkeatsaveAmanda Chapman says focusing on the bigger picture in terms of sustainability means working to reduce food waste in whatever way she can.Amanda founded New Zealand's first ever community fridge, saving tonnes of food from being sent to landfill and feeding hungry mouths in the country's biggest city 24/7.In this episode she talks to Harriet about her creative tips and ideas for reducing food waste at home, the inspiration behind the fridge and why it's so important to stop edible produce ending up in landfills.Amanda's super handy blog:http://www.wastefreeland.nz/Follow Amanda on socials:https://www.facebook.com/amandawastefree/https://twitter.com/AmandaWasteFreehttps://www.instagram.com/amandawastefree/Follow Wannabe Greener:https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/

Fast fashion is destroying the planet, with more than 100 billion garments produced worldwide each year; 85% of which end up in landfill or incinerated. Not to mention the exploitation of factory workers in developing countries.Ethical fashion blogger Kate Hall talks to Harriet about her journey to a more sustainable wardrobe, offering achievable tips and advice for those looking to make more ethical clothing choices.Kate's open and honest approach shows that everyone can enjoy more sustainable fashion, regardless of budget or other obstacles.Ethically Kate:https://www.ethicallykate.com/https://www.instagram.com/ethicallykate/Wannabe Greener: https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/

Did you know that 91% of plastic isn't recycled?!Recycling is one of the easiest things we can do to help the environment, yet it's made so confusing and difficult that global recycling rates are pretty poor.Polly Griffiths from The Sustainability Trust tells Harriet what happens to recycled items once they've been collected, what we do wrong with recycling and how we canimprove our own recycling methods at home or in the workplace.As landfills are overflowing across the world, they also discuss some of the problems with the current system and what we can do outside of just putting the right things in the bin to help bring about change.If you have a question about recycling, it's probably answered here!The Sustainability Trust:https://sustaintrust.org.nzFollow Wannabe Greener:https://instagram.com/wannabe.greener

Journalist, writer and academic, Zakiya McKenzie, talks to Harriet about the changes she believes need to be made to ensure black, indigenous and people of colour are equally represented within the environmental movement.Born in England, but brought up in Jamaica, Zakiya was one of Forestry England's first ever Writers in Residence, documenting her journeys in English woodland.BIPOC are the most affected by climate change, with black Americans three times more likely to die from pollution, than white Americans. Until the conversation and the green movement starts to include these communities, governments and big business will continue to take advantage of them and their natural resources.This episode includes ways individuals, corporations, governments and businesses can pro-actively support more diverse environmental action.Zakiya McKenzie is currently studying a PhD in the tradition of Black British journalism, presenting radio programmes for Ujima Radio and writing about nature.Zakiya's website:http://zakiyamckenzie.com/Forestry England writing:https://www.forestryengland.uk/zakiya-mckenzieBloggers she recommends:https://twitter.com/AyishaSiddiqa12https://twitter.com/Jaybritzhttps://twitter.com/whythedarknesshttps://twitter.com/louisa_geohttps://twitter.com/Blak_OutsideFollow Wannabe Greenerhttps://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/

Co-housing is growing in popularity across the world, offering a more sustainable way of living that provides a sense of community.Unlike communal living, there are separate, fully kitted out households with a series of shared spaces, amenities and tasks.Harriet catches up with Hannah Schickedanz, who, along with her family, is part of a new co-housing project for Wellington, NZ, called Urban Habitat Collective.Hannah talks about the green aspects of co-housing, how the planning process is working, the details of co-housing, including cost, what's shared or not, what the system will be when the residents move in and all the benefits of living in such a tight-knit community.Urban Habitat Collective:https://www.urbanhabitatcollective.nz/Wannabe Greener:https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/

Do you know what's in your make up? Or the damage it may be doing to the environment, let alone your body?Traditional cosmetics cause most harm to the planet through chemicals, toxins and plastic making their way into water systems, damaging nature and wildlife as far out as the coral reefs. That's not even counting the 120 billion units of packaging produced every year by the global cosmetics industry; most of which isn't recyclable.In this episode Harriet meets Emma Peters, the founder of new natural cosmetic company Aleph Beauty, to discuss the meaning of conscious and intelligent beauty and where to begin if you're new to natural beauty products.They also speak about why it's important to invest in cosmetics that are 100% cruelty-free, vegan, toxin-free, and GMO-free, not only for the environment, but for your own body and skin.If the thought of purchasing natural make up seems daunting, expensive, complicated; listen on....Find out more about Emma and Aleph:https://alephbeauty.com/Follow Wannabe Greener on instagram:https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/

Eco-anxiety has been described by the American Psychological Association "a chronic fear of environmental doom."This type of worry is a legitimate reaction to environmental issues and, though expected to be felt by millions around the world, it can be difficult to accept and manage.Our guests are Niki Harrè - a community psychologist interested in collective responses to climate change, and Jackie Feather - a clinical and counselling psychologist with more of a focus on the individual.Niki and Jackie both have a strong interest in eco-anxiety within their work and their conversation with Harriet provides excellent advice on how to deal with climate-related anxiety. For those experiencing this type of fear, this podcast offers some of the necessary steps to change the focus of your thoughts away from anxiety and negativity, instead encouraging positive and impactful behaviour.If you feel you need further help with anxiety or depression, please contact a mental health charity. There are helplines available in most countries.If you are in NZ (where this episode was recorded) head to: https://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/in-crisis/helplines/Or call or text the mental health helpline for free on 1737It's available 24/7 and can provide support with a whole range of mental health issues including anxiety and Covid-19 distress and worries.Read more from Niki: https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/n-harrehttp://www.infinite-game.net/Read more from Jackie: https://www.aut.ac.nz/profiles?id=jfeatherRead up on the workshop they talk about: https://www.psychology.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Hope-in-an-age-of-eco-anxiety.pdfFollow Wannabe Greener: https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/https://www.facebook.com/wannabe.greener.uk/

A bitesized chunk of some of the stories and discussions you'll find within a Wannabe Greener episode.Original music by Aarmstronghttps://open.spotify.com/artist/7KrgGLIFfAjoK592qPN5OS

Zero Waste is a principle focusing on minimising, and ultimately eliminating, waste. It encourages a circular economy, where all products are reused, repaired, recycled or composted.We all know the younger generation are where it's at when it comes to environmental activism and innovative ways to save the planet. At the age of 14, after watching some upsetting films about the state of the natural world, Cassia Percival Day decided to try living zero waste, and two years later it's become the only way of life for her and her family.Cassia shares her journey with Harriet and offers up some of the easy swaps you can make today, as well as some of the more time and energy intensive methods worth considering.By the end of this episode, you'll have pinpointed a handful of easy changes to implement into your daily life.Follow Wannabe Greener:https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/

Renewable energy sources now generate almost a third of the UK’s electricity.And solar power is expected to be the world's main source of power by 2050.So, why aren't we also using it?Damon Rand, a co-founder of Clean Energy Prospector - an energy services company helping to build the smart grid - is a bit of an expert when it comes to renewable energy.Harriet and Damon get down to the nitty gritty of how the renewable energy system works and easy ways we can reduce our own energy usage to save money, and the planet.--------------------Clean Energy Prospector develops community micro-grids that integrate rooftop solar, heat pumps and storage providing clean, renewable heat and power to consumers and flexibility services to grid operators.Clean Energy Prospectorhttp://www.cepro.co.uk/Damon's Twitter:https://twitter.com/ceproukFollow Wannabe Greener:https://instagram.com/wannabe.greener

Eating a plant-based diet is widely recognised as one of the best ways that we, as individuals, can help reduce the impact of climate change. It's also now considered one of the healthiest diets by many medical and nutritional experts.Harriet Robinson meets Tim Barford, founder of VegFest, the UK's biggest vegan festival, who's been vegan for over 30 years. They talk about why and how to move towards a vegan lifestyle, as well as the difference between veganism and eating a plant-based diet.Expect lots of tips and advice on taking those first steps to eliminating animal products from your life.Vegfest: https://www.vegfest.co.ukTim's hemp company, Yaoh: https://www.yaoh.co.ukFollow Harriet on insta: https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/

Carolann Murray says everyone can implement elements of self-sufficient living into their lives.She is the author of the book Mastering the Art of Self-Sufficiency in New Zealand and currently lives on her blueberry farm in Whiteman's Valley NZ, where she grows her own produce, makes her own household products and lives pretty much off grid.Carolann talks to Harriet Robinson about how she got to this point and how others can do the same by starting to change small aspects of their lifestyle.Carolann's Soap Shakers: https://soapshakers.com/Blueberry Farm: https://blueberrypyo.nz/Follow Harriet on insta:https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/

Plastic is filling our oceans, streams and rivers. It's now found inside most sea animals and even inside our own bodies. Single-use plastic can do one.Harriet talks to author, activist and founder of environmental charity, City to Sea, Natalie Fee, and Greenpeace's Richard Lancaster for advice on how we can reduce our own plastic footprint.City to Sea:https://www.citytosea.org.uk/Greenpeace:https://www.greenpeace.org/global/Follow Harriet on insta:https://www.instagram.com/wannabe.greener/

Want to reduce your own environmental footprint, but don't know where to start? Or maybe you’re on the way but still have questions..There's a whole load of info out there and for those of us keen to make a difference it can get confusing. Focusing on a single eco topic each week, Harriet Robinson meets inspirational people whose actions are making big changes in terms of sustainability. Their interactive discussions break down myths and offer advice, tips and answer questions from listeners. This podcast will help you to take those first steps towards living a greener lifestyle.