Podcasts about Circular economy

In this episode, IFMA's Director of Research, Matt Tucker, and IFMA EMEA's Managing Director, Lara Paemen, dive into the latest global trends shaping facility management (FM). They explore IFMA's key research initiatives — from the circular economy to the evolving role of FM analysts — and discuss how regional differences across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America influence sustainability goals, technological adoption and education in the FM profession.00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:27 Meet the Hosts02:26 Global Trends in Facility Management04:06 Circular Economy in Facility Management07:26 The Rise of the FM Analyst09:30 Upcoming Research Projects12:31 Regional Highlights: Europe, Middle East, and Africa19:16 Conclusion and FarewellSponsor:This episode is sponsored by ODP Business Solutions! Connect with Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifmaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFacilityManagementAssociation/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFMAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifma_hq/YouTube: https://youtube.com/ifmaglobalVisit us at https://ifma.org

Recorded live during Climate Week NYC, this episode explores how technology can accelerate the transition to a circular economy, not as a bolt-on fix, but as a built-in business strategy. Host Danielle Holly, Executive Lead for North America at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, is joined by Jen Huffstetler (Chief Sustainability Officer, HP), Jim Sullivan (Head of Product Management, SAP), and Vrushali Gaud (Global Director of Strategy and Operations for Net Zero, Water, and Circularity, Google).Tune in to hear:Why AI and digital growth make circular strategies essential to meet rising material and energy demandsHow companies such as HP and Google are embedding circular design and open data into products and servicesWhat it takes to move from ‘bolt-on' fixes to ‘bolt-in' circular systems across business and financeThe biggest blockers and how collaboration can help solve themWhy pragmatism and focused collective action are key to turning ambition into measurable impactListen back to the series on why circular business models fail to scaleSign up for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's North America newsletter

Send me a messageWhat if your supply chain could spot a breakdown before it happened?In this episode of The Resilient Supply Chain Podcast, I'm joined by Taylor Smith, Chief Marketing Officer at Honeywell Productivity Solutions and Services, and Elton Saunders, Senior Director of Solutions and Services at Peak Technologies. Together, we explore how AI, data, and proactive maintenance are transforming resilience, from the warehouse floor to the C-suite.You'll hear how leading manufacturers are shifting from reactive firefighting to predictive prevention, using tools like Honeywell's Operational Intelligence and Peak's Mobile Insights to monitor device health in real time. We unpack the hidden risks of downtime and why something as simple as a worn-out battery can ripple across global operations.Taylor explains how design decisions, from battery-free scanners to circular repair programmes, are making equipment more sustainable and less wasteful. Elton shares how data-driven insights can extend device life, cut costs, and even pre-empt security threats before they hit production. You might be surprised to learn how AI is now being used to detect anomalies, forecast battery failure, and automate maintenance workflows, turning resilience into a competitive advantage, not just a cost line.Listen now to hear how Honeywell and Peak Technologies are redefining proactive maintenance, and why the future of resilient supply chains is predictive, not reactive.Podcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Christian Sederberg Kristal Maharaj Alicia Farag Kieran Ognev And remember you too can become a Resilient Supply Chain+ subscriber - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to the full back catalog of over 460 episodes.Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities:If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk!FinallyIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link.If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it. Thanks for listening.

Author Catherine Weetman unpacks the new edition of A Circular Economy Handbook: How to Build a More Resilient, Competitive and Sustainable Business, giving you a preview of the big changes and new insights. The new, 3rd edition was published by Kogan Page in paperback and e-book format on 3 November 2025, and the print edition for the US and Canada is out on the 25th of November. The book aims to help people get clearer on how successful companies are finding ways to do better with less – in other words, creating value without pumping yet more resources through ever-growing systems of production and consumption. Use the discount code in the shownotes to get 25% off, with free worldwide shipping.

Step into the world of tokusatsu with Ultraman Max director Takeshi Yagi! The Krewe chats with Yagi-san about the artistry, imagination, and behind-the-scenes magic that bring Ultraman and Japan's iconic heroes & monsters to life. Discover how tokusatsu continues to inspire fans around the world.------ About the Krewe ------The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy!------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------Use the referral links below!Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ Links for Takeshi Yagi ------Takeshi Yagi on InstagramTakeshi Yagi on X/TwitterTakeshi Yagi's WebsiteTakeshi Yagi's Blog (JP)Takeshi Yagi's New Book (Releasing Nov 19, 2025)Wikizilla Page on AKARI------ Past Tokusatsu/Pop Culture Episodes ------Enjoying Shojo Anime & Manga ft. Taryn of Manga Lela (S5E18)Akira Toriyama: Legacy of a Legend ft. Matt Alt (S5E3)The History & Evolution of Godzilla ft. Dr. William (Bill) Tsutsui (S5E1)Thoughts on Godzilla Minus One ft. Dr. William (Bill) Tsutsui (S4Bonus)The History of Nintendo ft. Matt Alt (S4E18)Japanese Mascot Mania ft. Chris Carlier of Mondo Mascots (S4E8)Tokusatsu Talk with a Super Sentai ft. Sotaro Yasuda aka GekiChopper (S4E6)The Evolution of PokéMania ft Daniel Dockery [Part 2] (S4E3)The Evolution of PokéMania ft Daniel Dockery [Part 1] (S4E2)Japanese Independent Film Industry ft. Award Winning Director Eiji Uchida (S3E18)How Marvel Comics Changed Tokusatsu & Japan Forever ft Gene & Ted Pelc (Guest Host, Matt Alt) (S3E13)Talking Shonen Anime Series ft. Kyle Hebert (S3E10)Japanese Arcades (S2E16)How to Watch Anime: Subbed vs. Dubbed ft. Dan Woren (S2E9)Manga: Literature & An Art Form ft. Danica Davidson (S2E3)The Fantastical World of Studio Ghibli ft. Steve Alpert (S2E1)The Greatest Anime of All Time Pt. 3: Modern Day Anime  (2010's-Present) (S1E18)The Greatest Anime of All Time Pt. 2: The Golden Age  (1990's-2010's) (S1E16)The Greatest Anime of All Time Pt. 1: Nostalgia (60's-80's) (S1E5)We Love Pokemon: Celebrating 25 Years (S1E3)Why Japan ft. Matt Alt (S1E1)------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

Perché andiamo ancora nello spazio? A cosa punta l'esplorazione nel 2025? In che modo le innovazioni spaziali possono aiutare la vita sulla terra, o a risolvere sfide come la crisi climatica?Ne parliamo con Walter Villadei, astronauta dell'Aeronautica militare, che ha compiuto molte missioni e esperimenti da astronauta. Gli abbiamo chiesto come sia vedere la terra per intero, come viene riciclata l'urea nello spazio e quale è stato il momento in cui ha capito che avrebbe voluto un giorno fare l'astronauta.Questa puntata è stata registrata a Rimini durante EcoMondo, la green technology exposition, in vista dell'apertura della fiera BEX, la fiera dell'economy space di settembre 2026.

This is the fourth and final part of our mini series on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's new report: How not to fail: Avoiding 10 common pitfalls when scaling circular business models.In this episode, the report's lead researchers, Maddy Oliver and Ella Hedley, explain how success at scale demands more than a strong model – what really matters is who is empowered to deliver it and how well are they aligned.If you enjoyed this series, then please share with your colleagues, or leave us a review or comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. 

Il livello di alfabetizzazione finanziaria e assicurativa degli italiani non raggiunge ancora la sufficienza. Come ogni anno Alleanza Assicurazioni, Compagnia del Gruppo Generali, insieme a Fondazione Mario Gasbarri e con la collaborazione scientifica di SDA Bocconi, presenta i risultati della quarta edizione di Edufin Index, l'Osservatorio su consapevolezza e comportamenti finanziari e assicurativi degli italiani. Tra i principali elementi emersi c'è proprio quello di un livello ancora troppo basso. Ne parliamo, nel giorno in cui viene presentata la ricerca, con Davide Passero, CEO di Alleanza Assicurazioni - Gruppo Generali.Nell'agenda di questo 4 novembre c'è anche la partenza di Ecomondo, l'evento annuale dedicato ai settori della Green and Circular Economy che si tiene fino a venerdì alla Fiera di Rimini. Noi ci colleghiamo con due ospiti per parlare di buone pratiche legate alla nostra vita quotidiana e al conferimento corretto dei materiali che scartiamo. Intervengono Gianni scotti - presidente Coreve, consorzio per il riciclo del vetro - e Stefano Stellini, direttore generale Cial, Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi Alluminio.

How do you build a sustainable e-waste management system in Kenya? In this episode, Jane Muriithi and Thuo Lawrence from E-waste Initiative Kenya (EWIK) talk about their approach to e-waste management across Kenya. Jane describes EWIK's collection model through drop-off points and door-to-door pickups across multiple cities, their repair and refurbishment process, and the challenges of managing different materials when items can't be repaired. You'll also hear about EWIK's skills training programs for youth, including e-waste handling and ICT repair, with specific support for young mothers through onsite childcare, entrepreneurship courses, and mentorship. Thuo explains their research mapping Kenya's e-waste value chain through stakeholder interviews to inform Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. Listen to know how to build environmental and social impact through e-waste management, and to understand why partnerships necessary to scale e-waste recycling across East Africa.

In Großwohnanlagen und Mehrgeschossbebauungen landen zu häufig noch Wertstoffe in der falschen Tonne und die großen Wohnungsunternehmen kümmern sich viel zu selten um die richtige Entsorgung. Über die Gründe, das Ausmaß des Problems und den Umgang bzw. die Regulierung sprechen wir in dieser Folge von 'Ressourcen Neu Denken' mit Axel Subklew, Sprecher der Initiative Mülltrennung wirkt.

Die Verpackungsbranche steht unter Druck: Laut einer aktuellen Studie von Interzero droht bis 2030 eine Lücke von einer Million Tonnen Post-Consumer-Rezyklat (PCR). Im Gespräch mit Jan Malte Andresen erklären Patrick Neumann und Jonathan Scheck, warum das ein Weckruf für die gesamte Industrie ist – und welche Strategien jetzt greifen müssen, um die PPWR-Quoten noch zu erreichen.

In this episode of Product & Packaging Powerhouse, host Megan Young Gamble recaps her experience at Makeup in New York 2025, from day 1 and this episode focusing on day two themes of packaging innovation, sustainability, and beauty tech. She shares actionable insights from industry panels including advances in sustainable packaging (like APC Packaging's patented mono-material droppers and refillable solutions), compliance considerations, smart packaging, and the importance of consumer psychology. Startup brand Rebel Queen's all-in-one curly hair product is highlighted for its minimalistic approach, while expert Roberta Sironi provides a masterclass on mascara packaging, launching an academy for deeper industry education. Megan ties it all together with observations on tech (especially AI's growing role in beauty and packaging), and offers advice for brands considering trade shows, encouraging startups to attend for valuable connections and inspiration. Be sure to check out Day 1 Recap HERE. Access our other podcast episodes mentioned during the episodeInside MakeUp in New York: Day 1 Innovation and Tech” with Megan Young Gamble. Listen HerePackaging Design, Influence, & Integrity" with Vicki Strull, Founder, Vicki Strull Design. Listen HereThe Truth About Stress, Skincare, and Your Immune System” with Dr. Ebru Karpuzoglu, Immunologist and founder of AveSeena and ChicScience Labs. Listen HereRoundtable: Packaging, Plastics & Platforms toward Circular Economy” with Emily Anne Friedman (Recycled Plastics Editor, ICIS), Ryan Fox (Packaging Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence) and Nicole Toole (Founder of ECGO.) Listen HereHow Connected Packaging Shapes Sustainability and Traceability” with John Dwyer, Smart Packaging Expert at Smurfit Westrock & Maurizio Carano, Innovation & Marketing Director IML @ MCC Label. Listen HereAffiliate & Other Links: [Megan Young Gamble Links][AFFILIATE] Ready to crank out your content in as little as 5 minutes? Use Castmagic, AI powered tool to take your content creation from overwhelmed to overjoyed by saving hours of developing content. Save 20 hours by Signing up today! https://get.castmagic.io/Megan [FREEBIE] Learn about “day in the life” of a Packaging Project Manager → Get our “Starter Packaging PM Freebie” [link] https://glc.ck.page/thestarterpackagingprojectmanager [FREEBIE] Access commonly referenced organizations and tools in ONE PLACE with our handy guide HERE [link] https://bit.ly/OSTPlay Subscribe & Access our Video Vault YouTube Channel [ link] https://bit.ly/GLConYouTubeJoin our Email List [link] https://glc.ck.page/55128ae04b Follow and Connect with Megan on LinkedIn [link] https://linkedin.com/in/megangambleLearn about GLC, Packaging & Project execution firm for CPG brands http://www.getlevelconsulting.comWork with Me @ GLC, Schedule Discovery Call https://calendly.com/getlevelconsulting/15-minute-insight-sessionGot a topic you'd love us to cover? Share your ideas here [link] https://bit.ly/ppptopicformContact details of Jennifer Lehto, Senior Business Development Manager at APC PackagingLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlehtoEmail id - jenniserl@apcpackaging.comRoberta Sironi, Chief Commercial Officer at Pibiplast SpaLinkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberta-sironi-0636982/Pibiplast academy - https://pibiplast.com/certificationsQuotes and Hooks:  We've always been very conscious about our scalp health because you have to make sure your scalp is clean to help with promoting hair growth.Smart packaging gives each product their own digital passport telling consumers what it is, where it came from and what to do at the end of life.Everybody wants sustainable packaging, but the real question is: what does sustainability mean to you and your brand?Glass is heavier, costs more to ship, and is prone to breakage, so is it really deemed sustainable? Something to think about.I struggled for years to find the perfect curly hair product and I finally created it, an all-in-one that hydrates, defines, and controls frizz. (Bleema, Rebel Queen)Mascara is a really complex product, you need a lot of technicity to make the magic and make the product work. (Roberta Cerroni, Pibi Plast)AI is here to stay, and I use ChatGPT as my daily assistant all the time to help me think through things and shorten cycle times.Would I attend Makeup In New York again? Absolutely. Is it a trade show that I would recommend any company to attend? Absolutely.

In this episode of EnvCast, we discuss the Environment Top 5 things to consider about waste resource management. We cover the circular economy, emissions trading, global plastics treaty, simpler recycling in England and our guests key takeaway for environmentalists.This special resource management episode of EnvCast features two Chartered Environmentalists, Dr Jane Gilbert and Dr Adam Read MBE.Speaker bios:  Dr Jane Gilbert, Founder, Carbon Clarity Jane holds a first-class Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology, a Doctorate in Biochemistry and a Master of Business Administration. She is a Fellow of the CIWM, is a Chartered Environmentalist, and an ISWA International Waste Manager. Jane was instrumental in establishing the European Compost Network, which she chaired for a number of years; she is currently vice-chair of the ISWA Scientific and Technical Committee. Jane has been involved in the waste and resources sector for over thirty years. She has experience in bio-waste recycling, standards and certification schemes having set up the UK certification scheme for reclaimed parts from end-of-life vehicles—recycling organics to soil, compostable/biodegradable packaging, waste management qualifications, and health and safety. Dr. Adam Read MBE, Chief External Affairs & Sustainability Officer, Suez UK Adam is a member of the Suez UK Management Board having joined the company in 2017 after a successful career in academia, local government and environmental consultancy spanning over 30 years. He was awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours List in June 2024 for his contribution to the evolution of the resources sector. He has co-led SUEZ's engagement with Government on policy reforms facing our sector, working extensively with the sector trade body the ESA and sitting on environmental think tanks including the Aldersgate Group, the EIC and the Green Alliance's Circular Economy Task Force on future policy, regulation and best practice guidance. He has also worked with numerous brands on preparing for the changes in packaging formats and collection systems in recent years, many of them with plastic or composite composition.Extra resources:www.carbon-clarity.com FAO Assessment of agricultural plastics and their sustainability: A call for action: https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7856en ISWA report: https://www.iswa.org/biological-treatment-of-waste/?v=79cba1185463 UNEP Composting Solid Organic Waste: https://wedocs.unep.org/20.500.11822/46840 Standards and Regulations to Help Promote Circular Economy Practices in the Single-Use Plastics and Packaging Industry in Egypt: https://www.unido.org/plastic-circular-economy/our-publicationsCIWM: https://www.ciwm.co.uk, SUEZ blogs: https://www.suez.co.uk/en-gbDEFRA:  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairsCheck out our other platforms: YouTube: Society for the Environment //Website: socenv.org.uk // LinkedIn: society-for-the-environment

Biodegradable water-soluble films. Recycling that reuses molecules over and over. AI that can develop more sustainable polymers. In this conversation, Sustainably Speaking host Mia Quinn sits down with Anne Kolton, Chief Sustainability Officer at SK Capital Partners, to explore the next wave of innovation in manufacturing and materials. Anne shares how her team invests in companies developing breakthrough products, how U.S. manufacturing can launch smarter, more efficient processes, and why engineering and AI will transform the materials we all use every day. 

CIRCULÉIRE is pleased to announce the inaugural All-Island Circular Venture Awards. Open to late-stage start-ups and ventures across the island of Ireland, the award is designed to recognise those pioneering the emergence of the circular economy sector by enabling or demonstrating a circular value proposition. The All-Island Circular Venture Awards invites late-stage start-up driving innovation in the circular economy to submit their proposal by 30th October. The call is aimed at ventures with high potential to reshape how materials, components and products are used, reused, remanufactured and regenerated. All-Island Circular Venture Awards The Awards, designed and led by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and funded by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE), are a new and prestigious initiative that will see shortlisted companies pitch to a high-profile audience of investors, industry leaders, policy makers, and media on 27th November 2025. Finalists will compete for a total prize pool of €10,000, plus 1-to-1 coaching sessions with international experts in entrepreneurship and circular economy. Referring to the awards announcement, Dr Geraldine Brennan, Director of Circular Economy Innovation at Irish Manufacturing Research, said: "Ireland's transition?to a circular economy is not just an environmental imperative - it's a strategic opportunity to unlock innovation, create green jobs, build resilient economies and enable communities to thrive. Pioneering circular ventures represent the bold thinking and collaborative spirit needed to redesign production and consumption system for a regenerative future." Inspired by this potential, CIRCULÉIRE and Irish Manufacturing Research welcome applications from ventures that meet the eligibility criteria. The Awards are an excellent opportunity to pitch to investors and potential partners aligned with the ventures circular mission. The All-Island Circular Venture Awards will take place at ESB Head Office (F27), 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 KT92 on 27th November 2025 at 2-7pm. Additionally, all shortlisted ventures will receive promotional support from IMR's Circular Economy Innovation Unit and will have the opportunity to feature as a case study on CIRCULÉIRE's website and social media channels. The All-Island Circular Venture Awards will be an occasion for networking with like-minded businesses, all-island government representatives and the CIRCULÉIRE's network members. Late-stage start-ups and ventures should submit their applications via Awards Platform (https://circulei.awardsplatform.com/) by 30th October 2025. The eligibility criteria is available on the Awards site: (https://circulei. awardsplatform.com/) by 30th October 2025. The eligibility criteria is available on the Awards site: https://www.circuleire.ie/all island-circular-venture-award 2025. and will be asked to provide evidence of compliance with the eligibility criteria by 10th November 2025. Any enquiries about the application process can be emailed to circuleire@imr.ie. About Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) IMR partners with industry to demystify emerging technologies, derisk adoption, and deliver real-world impact - helping businesses scale and innovate with confidence. We bridge the gap between technology and business, ensuring companies can harness the latest advancements to drive efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. About CIRCULÉIRE CIRCULÉIRE, Ireland's First Circular Innovation Network, is led by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) and funded by the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC). It is a dynamic, cross-sectoral public-private network dedicated to advancing circularity in Ireland. Our mission is to demystify, de-risk, and drive circular business model innovation by unlocking the potential of an Irish circular economy. Established in 2020, CIRCULÉIRE has evolved into a multi-million-euro, industry-led national innovation platform. Our n...

In this week's episode, joined by 2024 New Orleans-Matsue Sister City Exchange Program participants Katherine Heller & Wade Trosclair, the Krewe looks back & celebrates 30 years of friendship between Matsue, Japan & New Orleans, Louisiana... a sister city relationship built on cultural exchange, mutual curiosity, &shared spirit. Together, they reflect on their time in Matsue during the exchange program, their experiences with host families, and the deep connections that form when two communities separated by an ocean come together.------ About the Krewe ------The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy!------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode (timestamps [hh:mm:ss] where you can find the code)!Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season!Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan!  (00:53:00)------ Past Matsue/Sister City Episodes ------Lafcadio Hearn: 2024 King of Carnival (S5Bonus)Explore Matsue ft. Nicholas McCullough (S4E19)Jokichi Takamine: The Earliest Bridge Between New Orleans & Japan ft. Stephen Lyman (S4E13)The Life & Legacy of Lafcadio Hearn ft. Bon & Shoko Koizumi (S1E9)Matsue & New Orleans: Sister Cities ft. Dr. Samantha Perez (S1E2)------ Links about the Exchange ------2024 Exchange Program Info/PicturesShogun Martial Arts Dojo (Katie's family's dojo)------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

In this episode we explore how EU plastic regulations are driving the shift toward a circular economy and how ISCC PLUS certification helps businesses ensure traceability, compliance, and sustainability across the plastics value chain. Follow us on- Intertek's Assurance In Action || Twitter || LinkedIn.

Ken Webster is one of the world's leading thinkers in the circular economy. For eight years, he led innovation at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the world's leading circular economy network. Visiting Professor, Cranfield University, UK; Fellow, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. He is the author of The Circular Economy: A Wealth of Flows (2017) and co-author of The Wonderful Circles of Oz: A Circular Economy Story (2022), Sense and Sustainability (2008) and ABC&D Creating a Regenerative Circular Economy for All (2022). He also contributed to the Handbook of the Circular Economy (2023).And he is a keynote speaker at the NextFest conference in November 18-21 in Auckland. If you're seeking hopeful solutions for a sustainable economy then NextFest is the place to be - a conference for entrepreneurs, investors, venture capital, technologists and thinkers. In addition to Ken keynotes include George Monbiot and filmmaker Damon Gameau and host of great Kiwi pioneers from Halter, Lodestone Energy, Daisy Lab, Climate VC Fund and pitches from start-ups and activists - culminating in the Sustainable Business Awards. Visit SBN.org.nz or NextFest

Title: Episode 78 – Circular economy in a volatile world: Building resilience through circular systems Author(s): Worm, Loa Dalgaard Description: In this special episode of Forest for the Future, we dive into the intersection of circular economy, forest resources, and global resilience. Host Loa Worm, in her role as leader of the FSC Circularity Hub, convenes an expert panel to discuss how circular thinking can strengthen resource security in an era of geopolitical volatility. Guests include Luisa Santiago from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Nina Grießhammer, Sebastian Mandiola of Arauco, and FSC's own Fabian Farkas—each bringing a unique perspective on how industries, NGOs, and certification systems must evolve to drive a regenerative, bio-based future. The discussion touches on everything from the 45% of emissions linked to production and consumption patterns to the urgent need to use wood more wisely and the pivotal role of FSC in enabling circular transformation. This episode is an honest, forward-looking conversation about how collaboration, innovation, and leadership can turn the circular economy from theory into action. Topics Covered • The key role of forestry and agriculture in building economic resilience • How companies like Arauco are turning circular principles into practice • The risks of overreliance on virgin wood—and how to rethink its use • Policy gaps and the need for better alignment on circularity incentives • The role of FSC's Circularity Hub as a driver of systems change

Circular business models often fail when they're designed without factoring how the business works, what the customers want, and what the product requires. These need to be considered together, not in isolation, to ensure that delivery, adoption, and revenue generation are possible at scale.Thinking about fit might feel obvious, but in this episode, we hear how many businesses often overlook these elements.In the second part of our mini series exploring the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's new report: How not to fail: Avoiding 10 common pitfalls when scaling circular business models, Pippa is joined by Maddy Oliver and Ella Hedley, who led the research on the paper.You'll hear about three common pitfalls around strategic misalignment, and how to avoid them.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review or a comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Your support helps us to spread the word about the circular economy.  

The Almond Board of California explores how almond hulls can move from dairy feed to valuable, food-safe ingredients.

How do you build a circular economy for plastic that includes the informal sector? In this episode, Keiran Smith from Mr. Green Africa explains their approach to plastic recycling, which is built on integrating the informal waste collection sector into a formal business. Keiran details their model: a decentralized system of buy-back centers that use a proprietary app for transparent payments, a processing facility that turns collected plastic into pellets, and direct partnerships with corporations who use the recycled material in their packaging. You'll hear how Mr. Green Africa navigates the challenges of a fragmented supply chain, competes with the cost of virgin plastic, and plans to expand its operations from Kenya into other markets in East Africa.

What are the real economics behind recycling and reuse—and why, despite decades of progress, are we recycling less of our growing waste? In this insightful conversation with TerraCycle Founder and CEO Tom Szaky, we unpack the market forces, policy levers, and behavioral dynamics that shape the global waste system. Szaky explains why recycling often fails to scale, how value—not technology—determines what gets recycled, and why the world still produces more waste per person each year. We dive into: The harsh truth about recycling economics: why most recyclers only process what's profitable. The “Great Fiberization” trend and the myths around compostable and “eco” packaging. Why technology isn't a silver bullet—and why true change must confront value and cost. France's groundbreaking reuse model: a case study in regulation that works, with retailers like Carrefour leading the way. How policy drives innovation: the interplay between free markets, extended producer responsibility, and consumer behavior. A hopeful yet pragmatic look ahead to 2030, and what it will take for circular systems to thrive globally.   Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 300 case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.  

The Krewe sits down with Haruka Kikuchi, a Japanese jazz trombonist making waves in New Orleans. From discovering jazz in Japan to second-lining through the Crescent City, Haruka shares her story of finding home through music — and how jazz bridges cultures across oceans.  ------ About the Krewe ------The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy!------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode (timestamps [hh:mm:ss] where you can find the code)!Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season!Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan!  (00:53:00)------ Past Music Episodes ------S5E13 - The Thunderous Sounds of Taiko ft. Takumi Kato (加藤 拓三), World Champion Taiko DrummerS5E10 - The Japanese Pop Music Scene ft. Patrick St. MichelS4E1 - Shamisen: Musical Sounds of Traditional Japan ft. Norm Nakamura of Tokyo LensS3E14 - City Pop & Yu ft. Yu HayamiS3E1 - Exploring Enka ft. Jerome White Jr aka ジェロ / Jero------ Links about Haruka ------Haruka's Website Haruka on IGHaruka on FacebookHaruka on YouTubeGoFundMe to Help Support Haruka's Family------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

Send me a messageIn this week's episode of Climate Confident, I sat down with Christopher Carrick, founder and CTO of Lignin Industries, to explore a game-changing innovation in the fight against plastic pollution, turning waste from the paper industry into carbon-negative bioplastics.Christopher's story starts in his kitchen, where curiosity (and a Star Wars ice-cube tray) led to a breakthrough: modifying lignin, the brown polymer in wood, so it can be melted, shaped, and blended into everyday plastics like polypropylene, polyethylene, and ABS. The result? Materials that can replace up to 40 percent of fossil plastics, perform just as well, and even smell faintly of forest.We unpacked how this process works, why recyclability and stability are critical, and how Lignin's bioplastics outperform many “green” alternatives by avoiding thermal degradation during recycling. Christopher also explains why regulation — not technology — is now the biggest bottleneck in decarbonising the plastics sector.What struck me most is the scale of impact possible here. Plastics are one of the hardest sectors to clean up, yet Lignin's approach shows that circularity, chemistry, and creativity can combine to make fossil-free materials commercially viable.We also touched on scalability, partnerships, and the hope Christopher finds in consumers — the moment someone holds one of their wood-scented bags and realises that sustainability can feel good too.

Every day, critical infrastructure is under siege with about 1.2 million cyberattacks per day. For facility managers, that means cybersecurity isn't just an IT issue, it's a frontline responsibility. In today's episode, Stacey Shepard and E.J. von Schaumburg from Building Cybersecurity, discuss why facility managers must treat digital threats with the same urgency as physical ones and how leaders can use proactive strategies, assessments and insurance awareness to stay prepared. Together, they share how facility managers can build resilience, safeguard their organizations, and lead the way in a world where cyber risk is constant.Sponsor:This episode is sponsored by ODP Business Solutions! 00:00 Introduction: The Growing Threat of Cyber Attacks00:19 Podcast Overview and Guest Introduction01:23 Understanding Cybersecurity in Facility Management02:24 The Importance of Data Management02:54 Building Cybersecurity: Framework and Training03:38 The Role of Facility Managers in Cybersecurity05:01 Cybersecurity Training and Preparedness08:11 Insurance and Risk Management11:11 Leadership and Legal Implications11:48 Resources and Conclusion Connect with Us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifmaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFacilityManagementAssociation/Twitter: https://twitter.com/IFMAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ifma_hq/YouTube: https://youtube.com/ifmaglobalVisit us at https://ifma.org

What makes circular business models fail to scale? In this new four-part series, we'll be exploring the common mistakes businesses make on their journey towards circularity.Based on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's new report: How not to fail: Avoiding 10 common pitfalls when scaling circular business models, Pippa is joined by Maddy Oliver and Ella Hedley, who led the research on the paper.You'll hear about the experiences of pioneering companies, and learn about the practical steps that businesses can use to avoid common pitfalls and enable circular business models to reach transformative scale.In this episode, we explore:What opportunities circular businesses can offerHow the report came about, and why it focuses on failureWhy lacking a plan of scale from the outset is the first pitfall and some solutions to considerWhat happens when circular business models don't align with the existing strategy of the business, and how to avoid thisExplore the reportIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review or a comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Your support helps us to spread the word about the circular economy.

What does it take to operate a waste management company in a market where you have to compete with a dump site fee of just one dollar per ton? In this episode, Daniel Paffenholz from Taka Taka Solutions details the realities of building an integrated waste management and recycling company in Kenya. He explains the immense challenge of scaling in a heavily fragmented and informal market, where you must compete against hundreds of other operators. We discuss the entire operational flow, from collection and sorting at their material recovery facility. Daniel describes the economic pressures of operating without gate fees and the strategic necessity to move beyond simple recycling into value-added compounding to build resilience against global market shifts. Recorded on site in Nairobi, this episode provides a ground-level view of the complexities and strategic decisions involved in the waste management industry in an emerging market.

BSI Reports and Whitepapers provide expert insights, guidance, and analysis on various topics related to standards, compliance, and best practices. They are designed to inform and educate organizations, industries, and policymakers about emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in areas where standards play a critical role.This episode is an audio-abridged version of the BSI Report - The Tipping Point: Building Trust in the circular economy. Developed with Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, the report explores how trust can accelerate the move toward a circular economy. Based on global research, it shows that while most people support circularity, concerns about quality, safety, and greenwashing still hold many back. The report highlights five ways to build trust: proof of performance, transparency, independent checks, shared standards, and secure data - key steps to make circular practices credible, mainstream, and profitable.Series | Audiobooks Find out more about the issues raised in this episodeBuilding trust in the circular economyGet involved with standardsGet in touch with The Standards Showeducation@bsigroup.comsend a voice messageFind and follow on social mediaX @StandardsShowInstagram @thestandardsshowLinkedIn | The Standards Show

Today we're discussing the top news in workforce development in manufacturing, reverse logistics, and circular economy. Welcome to The Buzz powered by AutoScheduler!Hosts Scott Luton and Kim Reuter, along with Founder & Chief Circularity Officer with All Things Circular, guest Rich Bulger, explore:The implications of large-scale investment announcements in U.S. manufacturing, such as Intel's $28 billion project in OhioThe potential delays and challenges posed by the U.S. government shutdownThe importance of workforce development in manufacturing, emphasizing the need for skilled trades and educationInsights on the reverse logistics and circular economy, advocating for more returns in certain contexts to drive profitability and sustainabilityOrchestration in supply chains, showcasing platforms that streamline processes and enhance efficiency. Join us for this episode with expert perspectives and actionable insights, offering valuable guidance for navigating the complexities of modern supply chains.Additional Links & Resources:Connect with Rich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-bulger-43b02112/Check out All Things Circular: https://allthingscircular.com/Supply Chain and Logistics Summit: https://bit.ly/4q9yeBECheck out AutoScheduler's new Warehouse Decision Agent: https://autoscheduler.ai/agent-gate/Learn more about AutoScheduler: https://autoscheduler.ai/How Intel's $28 Billion Pledge Left an Ohio Town in Limbo: https://bit.ly/48iVgPUU.S. Government Shutdown: How Will it Impact the Global Supply Chain? https://bit.ly/48iVgPUWorkforce Development and Vocational Training: https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/workforce-development-vocational-training-kellanova-pella/761262/Complete Protection for Every Shipment with EasyPost: https://get.easypost.com/guardQ2 2025 U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index: bit.ly/scn-us-bankRich's vlog about orchestration: https://bit.ly/4o70UcqLearn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.comWatch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-nowSubscribe to Supply Chain Now on your favorite platform: https://supplychainnow.com/joinWork with us! Download Supply Chain Now's NEW Media Kit: https://bit.ly/3XH6OVkWEBINAR- The Power of Partnership: Building Long-Term Success with Automation Integrators:

DIY Enthusiast & the man behind "Anton in Japan" YouTube Channel, Anton Wörmann joins the Krewe to talk about akiya, Japan's abandoned home phenomenon, and how he's transforming them into stunning spaces. We dig into what it's like to buy, clear out, & renovate an akiya and how Anton's journey from fashion to DIY restoration is reshaping what “home” means in Japan.------ About the Krewe ------The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy!------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode (timestamps [hh:mm:ss] where you can find the code)!Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season!Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan!  (00:53:00)------ Past Home & Architecture Episodes ------S5E15 - Change in Urban & Rural Japanese Communities ft. Azby BrownS5E6 - Inside Japanese Homes & Architecture ft. Azby BrownS3E2 - Buying Real Estate in Japan ft. Ziv Nakajima-Magen------ Links about Anton ------Anton in Japan YouTube ChannelAnton on IGAnton in Japan Website & ResourcesAnton on TikTokAnton's Live Master Class on Oct 12 @ 10am JST (Sign Up!)Anton's Akiya Master Class Program------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

In this episode, Jamie and Jaeden discuss Nvidia's recent announcement of a $100 billion investment in OpenAI, exploring the implications of this investment on the tech industry, particularly in AI and data centers. They delve into the circular flow of money between Nvidia, OpenAI, and other tech companies, highlighting how this investment is expected to benefit not only Nvidia but also a wide range of suppliers and related industries. The discussion also touches on the future demand for data centers and the potential for underbuilding in the face of growing AI and robotics needs.Our Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustleTry AI Box: https://aibox.aiTo recommend a guest email: guests(@)podcaststudio.comYouTube Video: https://youtu.be/R9oX-0VMpFMChapters00:00 Nvidia's Bold Investment in OpenAI02:31 The Circular Economy of AI Investments04:51 The Ripple Effect on the Chip Industry07:23 Demand for Data Centers and Future Growth

Can retired EV batteries help solve our energy crisis? In this episode, Nick Nesbitt, founder of Mapleview Energy reveals how they are transforming used electric vehicle batteries into commercial-scale energy storage solutions. By repurposing batteries with 70-80% remaining capacity, they're tackling critical grid capacity challenges, creating circular economy infrastructure, and turning waste into essential infrastructure.

Have the current political and economic shocks actually created enormous opportunities for change?Can businesses currently working on transforming themselves, work together on driving an entire market transformation?And what role can the rest of us play in resetting the system and helping to shape that change?In this episode, Jonquil Hackenberg, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and Lindsay Hooper from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership discuss how catalysing market interventions and designing out competitive disadvantages can work to reshape our system.We know that complete market transformation is possible, we have already seen renewable energy progress, but no single business or group can do this alone. In this episode hear how:Market transformation differs from the incremental changes we've seen so far A system change will require building pre-competitive coalitions who all have a vested interest in change and supporting market making value chains By harnessing the power of both business and the private sector, we can work together for real transformationLearn more about commercial collaborationRead CISL's report Competing in the Age of Disruption

What does it take to build community in one of Africa's largest dumpsites? In this episode, Cricket Writes from The Artistic Junction Collective talks about the reality of daily life at Dandora Dumpsite and community efforts to create change through art and collective action. Cricket walks us through the physical site and the social structures that govern it: the hierarchy between "big fish" and ordinary waste pickers, the struggle for school fees, and the dangers workers face without compensation or protection. You'll hear how The Artistic Junction Collective uses theatre, film, and poetry to address gender-based violence, provide alternatives to crime for youth, and work towards establishing a community art centre that offers residents a space to tell their own stories. Participating in this episode are also Geoffrey Karani, Kennedy Kiige, Wambui Gitangu, Susan Nyambura, and Ann Mega. Recorded on site at Dandora Dumpsite in Nairobi, Kenya, this episode showcases the harsh realities of working in waste and how communities respond to systemic neglect with creativity and solidarity.

Sustainability business: In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin talks with Lee Stewart about how businesses can make sustainability a practical, measurable part of their operations. They explore how carbon tracking, waste reduction, packaging design, and supply chain improvements can build resilience while cutting costs. Ocean literacy: Lee shares experiences from Australia, Tonga, and New Zealand that show how business practices directly connect to the ocean's health. They also discuss the lessons learned from an international shipping case study in Malaysia that reveals how logistics and sustainability intersect. ESG reporting: The conversation focuses on keeping sustainability simple—using dashboards, certifications, and team culture to drive consistent progress. Whether you're leading a company or just beginning your sustainability journey, this episode offers the clarity and motivation to start today.   Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow Connect with Speak Up For Blue Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube    

You see the brand name on the tag, but we found the company that powers everything behind it. PDS Limited is the Value-Focused global infrastructure powerhouse. Group CEO Sanjay Jain gives us a rare look into how major retailers define the single most important word in fashion: Value. He also shares a personal lesson from a favorite movie character and his bullish outlook on the "exploding" future of Indian retail. What You'll Learn: The Core Selling Point: Why "Value" is the one word that determines whether a piece of clothing sells, and how its definition changes based on the customer segment. The India Paradox: The "globally integrated, yet locally rooted" characteristics of the 18+ Indian youth, making a pan-India retail strategy a careful aggregation of clusters. From Landfill to Legacy: The circular economy innovations, including converting textile waste into anti-combustible bricks to actively combat clothes pollution. Scaling Secrets: The two qualities PDS seeks when investing in founders: Differentiation (disruptive idea/consumption) and Scalability.Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, JioSaavn, Gaana & more Watch full episodes right here on YouTube Explore more at ivmpodcasts.com Connect with Anupam Gupta: Twitter: @b50 Instagram: @b_50 LinkedIn: Anupam Gupta Follow IVM Podcasts We’re @ivmpodcasts on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Efrat sits down with Mike Peterson to hear the story of Bitcoin Beach from his perspective. Mike explains how a small surf town in El Salvador, El Zonte, became the birthplace of the first Bitcoin circular economy. What started with simple incentives for kids to stay in school and help their community grew into a model of financial inclusion that changed how families and businesses interact with money.Mike shares how Bitcoin adoption reshaped daily life during the COVID-19 crisis, when families depended on it for food and essentials. He describes how the local financial system evolved as people began saving for the first time, moving from a “live for today” mindset to understanding Bitcoin as digital gold. This shift brought new confidence, a sense of community empowerment, and real economic opportunities.The conversation highlights how Bitcoin Beach influenced tourism, attracted global investors, and inspired dozens of similar projects worldwide. Mike also reflects on El Salvador's unique position, its challenges with the IMF, and what it means for a country to pursue monetary independence. His story shows how grassroots adoption can spark broader change and why circular economies may be key to financial resilience in the future.-Bitcoin Beach TeamConnect and Learn more about Efrat Fenigson:X: https://x.com/efenigson YT: https://www.youtube.com/@EfratFenigson Support and follow Bitcoin Beach:X: @BitcoinBeachIG: @bitcoinbeach_svTikTok: @livefrombitcoinbeachWeb: bitcoinbeach.comBrowse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 How Bitcoin Beach began in El Zonte01:50 Life in El Salvador before Bitcoin adoption03:45 Why Bitcoin incentives mattered for local youth06:40 How COVID-19 accelerated Bitcoin use in the community08:28 The role of Bitcoin in helping businesses recover09:33 Building a new culture of saving through Bitcoin12:07 Bitcoin adoption beyond El Zonte13:26 The rise of Bitcoin tourism in El Salvador16:15 New circular Bitcoin economies around the world20:39 How the IMF views El Salvador's Bitcoin strategy23:49 Can the IMF pressure El Salvador to back down26:23 What freedom money means for everyday lifeLive From Bitcoin Beach

Imagine an economy where products are designed to be reused, repaired, and regenerated instead of ending up as waste. That's the circular economy, a model that redefines recycling and transforms how small businesses operate.In this episode of Local to Global: The power of small business, host JJ Ramberg sits down with Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mastercard, and Rachel McShane, Chief Financial Officer at Depop, to discuss the scale of the circular economy, why circular practices boost both sustainability and profitability, and where the industry is headed next.From Depop's sustainable fashion marketplace that empowers small sellers and extends the life of clothing to Mastercard's digital solutions that enhance the consumer experience and measure impact, the discussion highlights ways entrepreneurs can launch reuse, resale, and take-back programs. The conversation also addresses the pitfalls of greenwashing and the importance of credible, consistent standards.“Local to global: The power of small business” is a new podcast series from GZERO Media's Blue Circle Studios and Mastercard, where we look behind the curtain to explore the world of small businesses and why they're positioned to play an even bigger role in the future of the global economy. Host: JJ RambergGuests: Ellen Jackowski, Rachel McShane  Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Imagine an economy where products are designed to be reused, repaired, and regenerated instead of ending up as waste. That's the circular economy, a model that redefines recycling and transforms how small businesses operate.In this episode of Local to Global: The power of small business, host JJ Ramberg sits down with Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mastercard, and Rachel McShane, Chief Financial Officer at Depop, to discuss the scale of the circular economy, why circular practices boost both sustainability and profitability, and where the industry is headed next.From Depop's sustainable fashion marketplace that empowers small sellers and extends the life of clothing to Mastercard's digital solutions that enhance the consumer experience and measure impact, the discussion highlights ways entrepreneurs can launch reuse, resale, and take-back programs. The conversation also addresses the pitfalls of greenwashing and the importance of credible, consistent standards.“Local to global: The power of small business” is a new podcast series from GZERO Media's Blue Circle Studios and Mastercard, where we look behind the curtain to explore the world of small businesses and why they're positioned to play an even bigger role in the future of the global economy. Host: JJ RambergGuests: Ellen Jackowski, Rachel McShane  Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Francesca Lombardo speaks with Dr Lisbeth Clausen about the challenges and opportunities women founders face across seven countries around the globe. Welcome to Emerald Podcast Series. Join our hosts as they talk to experts using their research to create real impact in society. In each episode we explore the role research plays in our modern world, and ask how it can contribute to solving the complex environmental, economic, social and political challenges facing our planet.

In this episode, we chat with Choni Fernández, Chief Sustainability Officer and Customer at PortAventura World, the first carbon-neutral theme park in the world, and now proudly B Corp certified.Choni isn't just ticking ESG boxes, she's leading a cultural shift in how attractions operate. From zero-emissions hotels to renewable energy and deep supply chain work, PortAventura is setting the global standard.In this episode, we dive into the real work behind the headlines. How do you build a sustainability culture that actually sticks? Can you lead without a big green team? And what does digital sustainability really mean?If you're serious about sustainability, or wondering where to start, this is the conversation you need to hear.Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden, with co host Andy Povey and roving reporter Claire Furnival.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn. Show references:  PortAventura World website: https://www.portaventuraworld.com/nosotros/trabaja-con-nosotrosChoni Fernández on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/choni-fern%C3%A1ndez-veciana/Choni Fernández is Customer, Sustainability and Communications Director at PortAventura World. With a background in Economics and over a decade at BASF, she joined PortAventura in 2007, where she has led Procurement, Logistics, and Sustainability. She spearheaded the company's sustainability strategy, achieving the milestone of B Corp Certification, and now leads the newly created Customer Department to drive a more customer-centric approach. Choni also serves as Catalonia Delegate at DIRSE and is Chair of the IAAPA EMEA Sustainability Committee. Plus, live from the IAAPA Expo Europe show floor, we catch up with:Jakob Wahl, President & CEO of IAAPAhttps://iaapa.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakob-wahl/Elliot Hall from Expression Capital Partners LLPhttps://expressioncapitalpartners.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-h-1b804a6a/Matt Barton, CEO / Co-Founder CurtainUp Ltd. & President of Themed Entertainment Association TEA https://www.curtainup.livehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-barton-99a8039/Melissa Oviedo, Chief Executive Officer, Themed Entertainment Association TEA https://www.teaconnect.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-oviedo-ruminot-90a63228/Kevin Murphy, Senior VP, Kraftwerk Living Technologieshttp://www.kraftwerk.athttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-murphy-854439/Jacob Thompson, CX Director, Attractions.io https://attractions.iohttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-thompson-icap-151271149/ Transcriptions:  Welcome, skip the queue, to Barcelona.Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, the podcast about the world's best attractions and the amazing people that work in them. I'm your host, Paul Marden, and along with my co-host, Andy Povey, and roving reporter Claire Furnival, we're bringing you the latest news from IAAPA Expo Europe in Barcelona.Paul Marden: You join me today tired and just a little bit emotional at the airport after an amazing week at the show.Paul Marden: In this episode, we wrap up our time at IAAPA Expo Europe with a final look back at the show floor buzz. I catch up with Jakob Wahl, Chief Executive Officer of IAAPA, to get his reflections on an unforgettable week, from standout innovations to what's next for the global attractions industry. But first, Andy sits down with Choni Fernandez, Chief Sustainability Officer at PortAventura World, to explore what it really takes to become the first carbon neutral theme park on the planet and why sustainability must be at the heart of guest experience going forward.Andy Povey: So hello, everybody. I'm joined today by Choni Fernandez from PortAventura World. Choni is responsible for sustainability and guest experience and a number of other things, I believe, Choni. Hello and welcome to Skip the Queue. Hello. Choni Fernandez: Thank you very much for your invitation. Andy Povey: So, Choni, you guys at PortAventura World are really leading the industry and probably more than just our industry. In terms of sustainability, you were the first carbon neutral theme park in the world and in '24, the first theme park company to achieve a BCorp certification. Am I right?Choni Fernandez: Yes, you're right. It was, in fact, we are VCOPS since 2022. And yes, we were operational carbon neutral because we reduced our emissions during several years. And after that, we acquired some carbon credits to compensate the result of the balancing emissions. For scope one and two. Yes. So since then we are operational carbon neutral. That is not really an official name, but it's easy to explain what we are doing. Andy Povey: Okay. So what is the official name?Choni Fernandez: The official name, in fact, now that's interesting because it's a big discussion in the European community. We chat the terms we can use or not. In the new CCRG, that is going to change. Some words like green, sustainable, are probably forbidden, words that cannot be used any longer. And you need to speak properly about the impact of your activity without using these words that can lead to a type of greenwashing. And you need to be more clear about when you say, for instance, 'carbon neutral,' you need to say, 'we have reduced emissions, we compensate.' More explanation than just using one word that can be easily misunderstood.Andy Povey: Okay, yeah, yeah. That makes a lot of sense. Just buying carbon credits. You're actually doing something positive. Taking action. Like, is it Europe's largest solar farm?Choni Fernandez: It's the largest solar farm. That was one of the biggest at the source of Europe. And for sure, I guess, is still the biggest in Spain.Andy Povey: The biggest solar farm in Spain.Choni Fernandez: Sorry, in a holiday resort, yes. There are other very big solar plants that they produce energy for third parties, but they are not linked to a tourist industry.Andy Povey: No, that makes absolute sense. So you're generating your own power.Choni Fernandez: We generate 30%. The plant is not big enough and we have some restrictions of the government. So we cannot sell the surplus of energy we produce. So we could only make the plan as big as the low on consumption we have in a period of a year.Andy Povey: That makes absolute sense.Choni Fernandez: So that means that there are several months where we produce 100% energy we need. But then, obviously, in the peak of the season, we need extra energy. We buy from the net, but we always buy green energy from the net, too. Then 100% of the energy we consume is green energy, not coming from non-renewable.Andy Povey: It all becomes much more complicated as you dive into the detail, doesn't it?Choni Fernandez: Yes, yes, yes. Everything is much more complicated. And in Europe, yes, I would say even one step more complicated than the rest of the world because of all the regulations.Andy Povey: So what was it that inspired PortAventura World and how did you persuade PortAventura World to take sustainability so seriously?Choni Fernandez Okay, the history starts really with, I would say, a huge pain point, even when they were designing the park. And it was related to water. We are established in an area where we suffer from water scarcity many periods. So for those designers, they already designed the park with sustainability in mind. So they have created a complex system to recover all water rains in a big tank that is our Mediterranean lake.Andy Povey: Yeah, yeah, yeah.Choni Fernandez: So water was a treasure since the beginning. And they have also in a private-public investment. Take all the gray waters from the park, sending it to a water treatment plant several kilometres far away from the resort, and making the pipe bring the recycled water back to the resort for gardening. So PortAventura was using recycled water since 30 years ago. And that was really the starting point of sustainability at PortAventura. So we start with all the environmental impacts that the activity was going to have. And they created the park open doors in 1995. So in 1997, just two years after that, they have created the Green Team.Choni Fernandez: It's a team from different members of different departments who takes care of the environmental impacts and how they can reduce the use of water, energy and so on. And this team is still working nowadays and takes care of more complex things, certifications, but with the same, I would say, purpose, you know, that is to reduce the environmental impact of the resort, and now we start to regenerate different areas. So it's not producing impact, it's creating positive impact through regeneration.Choni Fernandez: And that was a starting point. But I like to repeat that sustainability has not fixed rules. So that is the story of Pota Aventura, because we are what we are. We are located where we are. But for instance, in the Global Sustainability Committee of IAAPA, SCARBRED was a member of that. And SCARBRED, the sustainability, had not begun for the water scarcity. They don't have this problem.Choni Fernandez: So sustainability there was more linked to the social sustainability, how to integrate communities in the project. So it really depends, again, in that moment, the momentum, you know, that we call. Where you are, who you are, what is your future footprint of your activity in your community and in the environment.Choni Fernandez: So we start with that. And year after year, we consolidate this beginning. So any new activity of PortAventura, it doesn't matter— new hotel, new park, convention centre has always followed the same philosophy that we started in 1997.Andy Povey: Very good.Choni Fernandez: Yes, because I think that this makes the project really coherent, consistent, and resilient. So it's something that we have not done from day to night, you know. It's something that we have. It's like a dish you have cooked in a low, low temperature, you know. Andy Povey: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Slow cooker. Choni Fernandez: Slow cook. That is. Sustainable PortAventura is slow cook. But at the end, you know, the dish is very good cooked and it's good.Andy Povey: Absolutely. And then, as the person responsible for customer experience within PortAventura World, before talking to you, I wouldn't necessarily have put... sustainability and customer experience together in the same group.Choni Fernandez: You're right because, okay, that is something that has changed also through years, you know, so sustainability was linked and happened at PortAventura. It was totally linked to the environmental part. But that is only one third of what sustainability means. Sustainability is also the social impact and obviously the governance.Choni Fernandez: We call also ESG. Okay, it has some difference because it has more financial meaning. But what is clear when you talk, when we talk about sustainability, we talk about the environmental impacts and the social impacts. And the social impacts are the impacts that your activity, our activity has on people. And when we talk about people, we talk about employees, we talk about our community that's surrounding us, we talk about shareholders, we talk about suppliers, and we talk about guests or visitors. And the activity of any company should have a positive impact on these people that are affected by the activity, that they are also called stakeholders.Choni Fernandez: So, and here is the reason why we try to improve every year the guest experience in order to improve this positive impact. And at the end of the day, because we are not NGOs. We strongly believe that a positive impact on the guest experience is going to be translated in future revenues, more attendance for our parks, and makes our resort more resilient because it's more profitable in the long term.Andy Povey: So this really is a sort of a wheel or a cycle. Choni Fernandez: You are right. You are right. You are right. So we really differentiate at PortAventura. I mean, sustainability is also a new angle to see your business. There is the financial angle. And then there is the angle— how your activity affects the difference they hold up. But that is clear that both need to go together. I mean, business and sustainability. In fact... One of the reasons to become a BCorp company is to evolve our mission and vision with a purpose that integrates sustainability in the business model. So it is much easier for us to talk to employees, to talk to suppliers, to talk to guests. About what is the reason why it exists and why it's important to have sustainability included in order, again, to make our business resilient through the past of the years.Andy Povey: So we have a lot of listeners around the world. What would be your advice to someone running a venue that doesn't have the advantage of starting with sustainability right at the heart and from where they started their business? How do you make a start on this?Choni Fernandez: That is a very interesting question. And the first I think any company needs to do is really to understand the stakeholders they are affecting too. Because just with this complete transparent and dialogue with the different stakeholders, you really can understand what is the impact you are producing on them. And from this result, then you know where are your main pain points, where you need to focus first on. Obviously, there are some general rules. Your impact on the environment, as I told you before, normally a new venue has, for sure, clients, or at least customer guests, employees, probably shareholders, and then in another level, suppliers, community, etc.Choni Fernandez: So, and depends what is the situation, you need to start with that. You need to prepare a good analysis because, if not, what could happen? Imagine that you focus a lot on the environmental part and you start with that because you have seen that PortAventura has started with that.Choni Fernandez: But then that is not your problem because you are in an area where your resources are really well controlled or your resort has very good standards, very efficient, because it has done with high technology, but you have an employee problem.Choni Fernandez: You have problems perhaps to attract employees, to retain the talent, or really to make them happy working with you. Then you have to start the sustainability for not the most important topic in your company. So the most important is to understand what the stakeholders need from you and then to prepare. And it's also very interesting, I think, to start, you know, things small.Choni Fernandez: Making small projects that can be consolidated and embedded into the company. Because what is really important in a company is that each department, each area of the company, maintenance, procurement, human resources, marketing, and each of the departments really is doing the part of sustainability they need to, because it is impossible that one person on every team produces all the sustainability that the whole company needs to do.Choni Fernandez: So if sustainability is really not embedded in the activity of each Japan, it's really impossible to be a successful company in terms of sustainability. You know what I mean?Andy Povey: I know exactly what you mean. That rule is so true for so many things, isn't it? You could replace the word sustainability with guest experience or ride safety. Choni Fernandez: Yes, it's the same. Andy Povey: Any number of different things.Choni Fernandez: I always explain when people say, 'but you have done a lot, Choni.' I say, 'no, no, no, no, no.' Choni has not done a lot.Choni Fernandez: Many people are doing a lot, you know. And sustainability managers or directors normally are orchestra directors. But each one needs to play its own instrument so we have a nice music, you know. If not, it does not work at all, you know, like in orchestra. So we need the maintenance guy, really. or the energy manager to really take care of that. And human resources really to prepare inclusivity, et cetera, policies linked to employees. And marketing, doing really an ethic marketing to guests. So, and that is how everyone is really doing a part of the peak and sustainability of the company.Andy Povey: That sounds very familiar and I'm sure for our guests will ring true in many different areas. It's interesting you talk about really understanding where you are. What it is you're doing. We've done some work here in the UK on the sustainability of websites. So by not printing a park map, you obviously save resources, you save paper. But if you put that on a really inefficient webpage, then you're just consuming someone else's electricity. It doesn't make you any more sustainable.Choni Fernandez: And one thing I would like to tell you is that one of the big steps for us was when our investors make the management very clear that investors of the private funds that own PortAventura were asking for sustainable investments. So that was also a way, really, to receive more money from the investors to the owners. And that is very important because when the financial markets really recognise that sustainability is a plus for an investment, then, you know, things change. Things happen. And we had two moments in this company, in my opinion, for us, for sustainability managers, that make this big change in our mindset. Choni Fernandez: One is the world of our shareholders. And that was really a big, big step forward. Because we realised then, 'oh my God, we are sustainable. We can be sustainable. Our sustainability is a lever really to receive more funds to our business.'Choni Fernandez: And the second one was when we have two different businesses, really a B2C— final customer— and a B2E— travel agencies, companies who do their conventions in our convention, et cetera, et cetera. Once upon a time, a company came to PortAventura asking for a quotation for a big convention, European size, very big one.Choni Fernandez: And before receiving the quotation, they asked, 'Please, can you send us your sustainability report?' Because we would like to see if that's the venue where we want to go. Now, everything changed.Andy Povey: Absolutely.Choni Fernandez: Because at first time, sustainability was bringing business to the company. It was not a nice to have, something that we need to have. It was really part of the business. And that changed the history of the, I would say, the sustainability journey of this company when we have both shareholders' commitment and really request to continue on that. And on the other side, we were recognised for our sustainability activity in a business case.Andy Povey: It's very interesting when you get push or pull from both sides. Choni Fernandez: You're right. Then you realise that there is no other way to do that, you know, so you need pushing, pushing.Andy Povey: You're doing a lot of work about education, work, and working with schools, and having to engage them in your journey.Choni Fernandez: That's again the same case, you know. So in our guest segmentation, school groups are one of them. And it is a very important group for us and I guess for other operators too. As we receive many schoolers. But, you know, the teachers, not students, they thought that the trip to PortAventura was really 100% entertainment. And schools were looking for something more cultural, educational.Choni Fernandez: So then, at that moment, we prepare some workshops at the beginning of the day before the park opens. If the park opens at 10, we can deliver a sustainability workshop from 9 to 10. For instance, talking to kids about biodiversity, about waste management, how to produce green energy. So in the solar plant, we don't have only solar panels. We also have some instruments, some elements to explain children how to produce green energy with movement, with wind, with sun, with solar energy. And they can experiment with their hands. With this element, how to produce this green energy. And they understand very well because that is part of the curriculum that they have to study at school. But now they can put it in practice in a different way, in a way... that our industry delivers very well, that is entertainment, you know?Andy Povey: Yes, yeah, yeah.Choni Fernandez: And that is driving more schools to visit us. So again, there is another link with sustainability, more business, more attendance, more revenues.Andy Povey: We're back on the cycle.Choni Fernandez: Yeah, again, the cycle. We close the loop, you know.Andy Povey: Absolutely. Choni, is there something you'd like to leave as a sort of parting message or a final thought to everybody that's listening to the podcast? A single sentence about how they can emulate your success.Choni Fernandez: No, I think that, okay, sometimes in life, you know, for sustainability managers, I mean, and now in the world, perhaps you feel like Talmon, you know, coming up to the river.Andy Povey: Yeah, yeah, yeah.Choni Fernandez: In a difficult situation, but it doesn't matter. So the evidence is so strong that, if you really can close the loop, as we have been talking, if you can really demonstrate and we can close the gap. Between the sustainability impacts and the financial impacts, then sustainability is part of your business. I think that should be the goal— to really don't have sustainability as something nice to have additional to the business. Avoid that at all.Choni Fernandez: Sustainability is part of the business and makes the business more resilient and more profitable in the long term.Andy Povey: Lovely. That's a great message to leave us with. Paul Marden: Now let's hear some of the buzz from the show floor.Claire Furnival: So day three of IAAPA and I've just bumped into Matt Barton. Matt Barton: Hello. Claire Furnival: Matt, you wear many hats.Matt Barton: My day job is I'm the founder and CEO of Curtain Up. I'm also the owner of 7th Sense, a company that makes media servers and pixel management systems. But I'm also the president of the Themed Entertainment Association, better known as the TEA.Claire Furnival: Crumbs, the busy man. I hear you had a party last night. Matt Barton: We did. Yeah, we had a very successful mixer. We have a great relationship with IAAPA and we have a mixer at all of IAAPA's events around the globe. And we bring our members together, usually on the second or third night of the event.Claire Furnival: Anything announced last night at the party?Matt Barton: Yeah, so we announced our next SAIT conference, and SAIT stands for Storytelling, Architecture, Technology equals Experience. So it's a thought leadership conference where we talk about trends in the industry, best practices to follow, that kind of thing. We've just finished our SAIT Asia event just three weeks ago now, and that was in New Zealand this year. And we just last announced that we're going to be in Dubai next year. Again, building on that great relationship we have with IAAPA, we're actually doing it almost like a pre-conference event. So it's tied in with IAAPA Middle East, which is going to be in Abu Dhabi. We're going to be the week before. So people can then come to SAIT, enjoy SAIT with us, and then go straight down to Abu Dhabi for the IAAPA conference.Claire Furnival: What activities is it that the TEA do? What do you offer your members?Matt Barton: So a whole range of things. And what I'm going to do now is introduce our CEO, Melissa. Melissa Oviedo.Claire Furnival: Great to meet you, Melissa. So what is it that TEA offers its members?Melissa  Oviedo: We are really the connection community. The connection community for the design, the makers, the builders, the creators. Everybody who delivers world-class experiences around the world, that's really who we are and what we represent. That can be from theme parks to museums to cultural to location-based entertainment. Claire Furnival: So I understand that the TEA does an annual benchmark report. Melissa  Oviedo: Yeah, we've just rebranded this. This is the TEA Theme Experience Index. This is the 19th year that we're doing this benchmark study. Yeah, it's really exciting for us. And what this is, is this is the annual attendance report that tracks attendance data from around the globe for the top theme parks, water parks, and museums globally. It really looks at trends, so we can understand where are the guests going, where are they spending their time, how are the parks, especially as they're coming new on the market, how do they influence those trends? And we're actually going to be launching this on October 22nd.Claire Furnival: So a couple of questions spring to mind on that one. So first of all, can anybody access the report?Melissa  Oviedo: Yeah, sure can. It's a completely free resource. You can go online. If you're not a member, we just ask for you to fill out a quick form so we know who's downloading the report. And you will have full access to all of the data, and we will have actual books to hand out at IAAPA in Orlando in November.Claire Furnival: The sector's very, very, very lucky to have this piece of research. So can you give us any snippets as to what we might see in the report?Melissa  Oviedo: I think you'll see that the theme parks are really consistent. The big players are still the big players with Disney and Universal really driving the... main attendance data. And then China, with Chimalong Park, really still holding rank at number one water park in the world. We're seeing the attendance coming back in a fierce way in China.Melissa  Oviedo: Outlook is positive. Overall, though, you'll be able to find in the report a lot of the trends that we're seeing. A lot of what we're not only anticipating in 2025, but in the future as well, with all of the developments that are happening. So, really exciting, this year's report. Claire Furnival: And what about 2026? What does that bring the TEA? Melissa  Oviedo: Momentum is high, right? The community continues to look at how they diversify as an organisation or as a business. Theme parks is our core, but we're so much more than just that. So I think you're going to see. More people doing really cool and immersive things in new places. I think the definition of themed entertainment gets broadened and further defined. I think that you're going to see more activity and more collaboration because collaboration is really when the magic happens. And you're going to start to see that even more robustly in 2026 and beyond. Claire Furnival: Sounds exciting. So last thought from you, Matt.Matt Barton: Yeah, I just wanted to touch on a couple of things we've got left in 2025 before we look to 2026. So I mentioned SAIT earlier. We also have our SAIT conference in North America coming up. So that's in October. at Knott's Berry Farm, and that ties in with when we're launching the Global Experience Index. And then in November, we've got our mixer, our international mixer, combined with the IAAPA conference in Orlando. And so on the Tuesday night of IAAPA, we have our international mixer at the Isle of Berk attraction at Epic Universe. We've got the whole land, we've got dinner and drinks, and it's going to be a good one, so make sure you get your tickets in.Claire Furnival: One not to miss. Well, it's fabulous to catch up with both you, Matt, and you, Melissa. So thank you very much for your time.Matt Barton: Thank you.Melissa  Oviedo:  Thank you so much, Claire.Andy Povey: So we're on day three, and I'm sitting here with Elliot Hall, who's one of the founding partners behind Expression Capital Partners. Elliot, hello. Elliot Hall: Hi, Andy. Good to see you. Andy Povey: For our listeners at home, can you just tell me what Expression Capital Partners do and treat me like an idiot because I really don't understand the world of investment banking and all that kind of stuff.Elliot Hall: Okay, so Expression Capital Partners is the advisory firm to Entertainment Investments 1LP. Which is specialising in the entertainment industry. Andy Povey: Interesting. So I understand you're doing some work with Hasbro and in particular things like Monopoly.Elliot Hall: Yes, yes, yes, absolutely. So we're looking to open monopoly-themed hotels and casinos around the world. Andy Povey: Wow. Elliot Hall: Along with many of the different types of brands, as we're rather across their 1000 plus brands. Andy Povey: I understand there's also some sporting connections. Tell us a little bit about, tell us what you can. Elliot Hall: Yeah, so what we can. We are working with some brands that have relationships and contracts for the IP for UEFA, FIFA and the FA. Yeah, so some really exciting products there and businesses. And we are in a position to be able to sign licenses and lease agreements and so on. And we're looking at bringing all of those brands together, either in the same cluster of IP attractions or within one building under one roof. Andy Povey: So, Elliot, you guys really are the people that are bringing the magic together. The IP, the operators, and then working out how someone funds it all.Elliot Hall: Yes, absolutely, yes. Andy Povey: Fantastic.Claire Furnival: So I'm here talking to Kevin Murphy from Kraftwerk Living Technologies. How are you finding the show this year and what do you see the trends for 2026 for you, Kraftwerk or also the industry?Kevin Murphy: I think in many respects, the trend at the moment is survival, which isn't being negative, but the world is a different place from how it was pre-COVID. The industry, though, is very, very alive. There's a lot happening out there. It's good to see the show for full. We actually tried to get a booth this year and couldn't. Everything had sold out. It's busy. People are wandering around with a very positive vein. But there's no doubt that there's— world tensions and there's problems with investment— and it does affect the industry and you know we're not immune from that. Kevin Murphy: But what's been good about this show is that a lot of the partners and Clients that we're working with are starting to announce their new projects. You have to bear in mind, for us, we do high technology behind the scenes in parks and museums and science centres. We can be working on them for many, many years. So we've had projects that have been brewing and they're just starting to get announced now. So what I'm seeing is, although there's concern about the industry, there is a slightly more positive vein coming through. I think the economy is improving out there, investors are starting to come out, and you can make money out of our industry.Claire Furnival: So what in particular have you got going on in 2026? Anything you can talk about and share with us?Kevin Murphy: Well, we're very, very pleased it's been announced, so I can talk about it. Plopsaland, which is a park in Belgium, are working with Mac. And I'm delighted to see that they've just announced, earlier than we expected, we're still working behind the scenes, but they've now announced their new flying theatre. Which will be ready and prepared at the end of 2026 for the 2027 opening.Claire Furnival: Congratulations, that's really, really exciting news.Kevin Murphy: Sadly, a lot of the other projects, I still can't say too, too much, because they may not have announced.Claire Furnival: Yeah, the dreaded NDAs.Claire Furnival: Just bumped into Jacob from Attractions. io. How's the show been for you?Jacob   Thompson: Great. This is my second time at IAAPA in Barcelona. It's been even better than the first time. So the weather's held out. Great conversations, great company. So overall, a success.Claire Furnival: And a little birdie has told me that you have a new feature coming out.Jacob   Thompson: That is true. So, yeah, we have launched a new product this month called GX Pulse. And the idea is it's enabling operators to make sense of all the noise of guest reviews and sentiment by breaking... reviews down from TripAdvisor, Google reviews, their own internal platforms to make sense and map that across a guest journey, specifically for attractions. So it's able to understand sentiment across things like queue management, your attractions, your food and beverage, give you scores and benchmark you against other venues. But most importantly, give you actionable insights to make improvements to the guest experience.Claire Furnival: Brilliant use of data there. Really, really, really good. So is this product now launched?Jacob  Thompson: Yes, yes it is. So we've been demoing it across some attractions at the trade show floor this week and it's had some really positive feedback. This product is completely separate from our core app platform and experience. So even if you don't have a mobile app and don't need a mobile app, this can be valuable for anybody that is looking to understand the sentiment and experience of their guests across their attractions.Claire Furnival: Fabulous. Guest will be seeing you in IAAPA Orlando.Jacob   Thompson: Yes, and I heard there's going to be a great party hosted by Skip the Queue.Claire Furnival: I'm not sure we'll be hosting a party, but we'll certainly be partying.Jacob   Thompson: Well, I'll be there to join you nonetheless.Paul Marden: So we're here for the final day of IAAPA Expo Europe. I've had a whale of a time and I'm sat here with Jakob Wahl, who amazingly, considering three days into this fantastic expo, is still looking fresh and bright. Jakob, please introduce yourself for our listeners who may not know you.Jakob  Wahl: I'm president and CEO of IAAPA, the Global Association for the Attractions Industry. I've done that now for two and a half years, but in total I've been with IAPA for, I think, nearly 15 years.Paul Marden: Wow, so man and boy almost.Jakob  Wahl: Yeah, you know, and I always say the kid in the candy store— I love doing what we do and bringing people together.Paul Marden: How could you not? So this is my first IAAPA. It has been fantastic and stood on the show floor. I think it was yesterday. I was on my own, done so many interviews. I've been bouncing around, but I just had a few minutes by myself and just stood in the middle of it all. Totally is like being a kid in a candy store, the Willy Wonka moment isn't it? Of what this place is like, because it is so fantastic.Jakob  Wahl:  It is and the most wonderful thing about it is, you know, we as an association, we create a framework, but it is actually all of you, our members, who fill it with life. Because everybody comes together. It's just a massive class reunion. People know each other. And the best thing about it is they're all willing to help and support each other. So obviously, the trade show floor is one component, but we have all those networking sessions, the education sessions, safety corners, we have places where people can exchange, depending on what they work in or where they work, and everybody comes together to share. That is so wonderful, because it's not only family-owned parks, small parks, big parks, but it's also the big private equity corporate players. They're all here to really benefit from this platform, and that fills me with pride.Paul Marden: Good. So, as the week draws to a close, what's been the real highlights for you?Jakob  Wahl: How much time do I have? First of all, the people. It's always the people. It's, you know, for me, it's my team coming together from all around the world, putting this together. And then it's... the people coming and creating those education sessions, creating those moments together, sharing their knowledge. That is just wonderful. There's not one specific moment like that, but it happens all the time. Jakob  Wahl: And then one of the highlights for me is always, always, always the opening reception. That is our Tuesday night event, which took place at Tibidabo, this classic historic amusement park on top of Barcelona. We were a little bit concerned Monday. Will it rain? Will it not rain? So we had to rent tents to make sure that everybody will stay dry. And what happens if you're intense? Obviously, it doesn't rain. Jakob  Wahl: There was an expensive insurance, but it turned out to be exactly that evening. And we have been to Barcelona three times now. We have been to the Tibidabo three times and I think I can be pretty sure that when we go back to Barcelona in three years, we will also go again to Tibidabo because, you know, it's just this evening filled with magic and good people.Paul Marden: Excellent. You've had some time wandering the show floors, I'm sure, talking to suppliers, getting a feel for what's happening in the industry. What have you heard from the show floor that you think is going to influence the sector over the year ahead?Jakob  Wahl: I would have loved to ask you that question, actually. What is your impression?Paul Marden: Oh, the blending of tech with real life I find really interesting. We all want to take our kids to attractions because we want to pull them away from their screens. But there's got to be a hook, I think. And in many cases, there are rides or there are amusements of some form that is a skillful blending of that tech with an in-life, in-real-life experience that I think is the hook to get the kids in. But then we're still wrenching them away from the screens. They're doing something for real with family.Jakob  Wahl: Yeah, I think technology enhances the experience. It doesn't replace the experience. I think that is something which is very clear on the show floor, that there are different ways of how you can combine existing attractions with new technology. And we sometimes call it fusion attractions, where you bring several elements into play with each other. And I think that is very important. What we have seen also is an increase in what I would call smart technology. How can you use technology... to improve the guest flow, to make it even smoother. We all want to have a smooth process. It should be easy on the phone. All those things, besides the classic coasters and water slides and inflatables, that is, I think, some area which has really grown on our trade show floor over the past years.Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. If you can smooth that process from the moment that they hit the website all the way through, getting them to the experience and then back out the other side and encouraging them to want to return again is really important, isn't it?Jakob  Wahl: And the same is for operations and maintenance, the front of house for the customer, but also the back of house. And we learned some fascinating things. We talked in our leadership breakfast with the CEO of a large park group, and he said, 'There are tools that can now predict 93% of the attendance of every day.' And that is just fascinating because that helps operational planning, that helps food and beverage planning, that helps all those aspects in running a park successfully or running an attraction successfully.Paul Marden: Absolutely. So, as we come to the end of IAAPA Expo Europe, there are many US listeners, I'm sure, also quite a few Brits as well, anticipating IAAPA Expo Orlando in November. Have you got any insider tips or things that we can look forward to in Orlando? Jakob  Wahl: I can say it will be epic. There's quite a significant theme park which opened this year, Epic Universe, which is just down the road from the convention centre.Jakob  Wahl: And we actually have not only... Mark Woodbury is speaking in our keynote in our leadership breakfast. But we also have privatised the park on Thursday evening for the IAAPA Celebrates for four hours. So it is Epic Universe, just for IAAPA members, which will be amazing. I've had the luck to visit the park several times. And I can only tell you, you know, you should be there. The evening before the show opens on Monday, IAAPA has the Legends event, the honorary evening for the Hall of Fame. And this year we're actually inducting five inductees. Among them is Dolly Parton. So if you have ever wanted to meet Dolly Parton. Paul Marden: The real Dolly Parton. Wow.Jakob  Wahl: Yeah, Dolly Parton is getting into the IAAPA Hall of Fame, besides some other really fantastic candidates or inductees. And she will be there to receive that accolade. And as you said, you have many British listeners. Next year, IAAPA Expo Europe is in London.Paul Marden: Now, I'd quite like to do an edit for my family that might be listening, because that did sound quite epic. And we need to be absolutely clear that there's lots of hard work to be done in Orlando, as well as enjoying ourselves at Epic and seeing Dolly Parton.Jakob  Wahl: Yeah, I'm pretty sure we need to Skip the Queue on site for a podcast from Orlando.Paul Marden: Oh, there we go. There we go. I think we should end it there. Jakob, it has been delightful to meet you. I've really enjoyed it. I'm so grateful for being invited to come to IAAPA this year. Bring the podcast here. I've had so much fun. I've learned so much. It's been wonderful. Thank you.Jakob  Wahl: Oh, we love what you do. Thank you, you know, for making the attractions industry present in the digital space. And we are all great listeners of your podcast. So thank you for what you do for us.Paul Marden: Wow, what a week. A massive thank you to IAAPA for hosting us in Barcelona. It was an incredible few days of connection, innovation, and inspiration. We've absolutely loved being part of it. And who knows, maybe we'll see you again sooner than you think. If you liked today's episode, please like us or leave a comment on your podcast platform. It really does help people to find us. And lastly, thank you to all of the team that made these daily episodes and today's wrap-up session. A possibility without the team it could not have been possible to have done this— thank you to Emily and Sami at Plaster, Steve at Folland Co. Wenayn, Claire, and Andy back at Skip the Queue HQ. It has been a delight to be with you and I look forward to seeing you again next week. The 2025 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsTake the Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Scaling the circular economy requires more companies to launch circular products and services, but many competitors transitioning towards the circular economy face similar barriers to scale.One way to address this is commercial collaboration, where businesses work together on issues that are not tied to their competitive advantage.In this episode, we'll hear from Sarah Dodge and Mark Buckley from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation about how this can help to scale a circular economy.We'll also explore how one initiative has helped address a bottleneck in post-consumer recycling. Hear how companies from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Plastics Mission worked together to develop a unified vision and enable high-quality plastic waste sorting at scale with HolyGrail 1.0. This evolved into HolyGrail 2.0, where joint investment in R&D was crucial in helping it get from concept to market in just a few years.To discuss the project, Sander Defruyt, Lead of Strategy & Thought Leadership for the Plastics Mission, is joined by Gian De Belder, Technical Director of Packaging and Sustainability at Procter & Gamble, and Margherita Trombetti, Project Manager at the European Brands Association (AIM).Watch or listen to the full episode to learn how:Cross-value chain collaboration was essential to align on the technology and achieve scaleGrowing interest allowed participation to grow from 31 companies in HolyGrail 1.0 to 176 in 2.0 The European Brands Association (AIM) facilitated the governance, confidentiality, and communications of 2.0Learn more about this business-led partnership, which was funded through member contributions and philanthropic funding from the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and the City of Copenhagen.Explore the full commercial collaboration collectionIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review or a comment on Spotify or YouTube. Your support helps us to spread the word about the circular economy.

Send me a messageIn this week's episode of the Sustainable Supply Chain Podcast, I sit down with Dag Calafell, Director of Technology Innovation at MCA Connect, to explore how data and digital tools are reshaping manufacturing and supply chains. With more than 25 years of experience in steel and automotive, Dag has seen first-hand how waste creeps into processes, and how technology can help eliminate it.We dig into why so many organisations are still running core planning on Excel, and what happens when companies move beyond disconnected systems towards true data visibility. Dag explains how AI, IoT, and smart sourcing agents can transform supplier relationships, reduce risk, and embed sustainability directly into day-to-day decision making. He shares striking examples, from a food manufacturer wasting energy on unnecessary refrigerated transport, to a materials producer that boosted forecast accuracy by 60% and cut excess inventory by nearly a third.The conversation also touches on lean principles, the power of continuous improvement, and the role of executive alignment in setting measurable goals for carbon reduction. We talk about future supply chain models too, whether lights-out factories, robotics, or distributed manufacturing networks that reduce transport emissions.For supply chain leaders, the takeaway is clear: sustainability is inseparable from efficiency. When you collect the right data, apply the right tools, and commit to improvement, you not only cut costs and boost resilience, you reduce your environmental footprint at the same time.Listen in for practical lessons and forward-looking insights that can help your organisation modernise, decarbonise, and stay competitive in an increasingly complex supply chain landscape.Elevate your brand with the ‘Sustainable Supply Chain' podcast, the voice of supply chain sustainability.Last year, this podcast's episodes were downloaded over 113,000 times by senior supply chain executives around the world.Become a sponsor. Lead the conversation.Contact me for sponsorship opportunities and turn downloads into dialogues.Act today. Influence the future.Podcast supportersI'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous Subscribers: Alicia Farag Kieran Ognev And remember you too can become a Sustainable Supply Chain+ subscriber - it is really easy and hugely important as it will enable me to continue to create more excellent episodes like this one and give you access to the full back catalog of over 460 episodes.Podcast Sponsorship Opportunities:If you/your organisation is interested in sponsoring this podcast - I have several options available. Let's talk!FinallyIf you have any comments/suggestions or questions for the podcast - feel free to just send me a direct message on LinkedIn, or send me a text message using this link.If you liked this show, please don't forget to rate and/or review it. It makes a big difference to help new people discover it. Thanks for listening.

Read a transcript of this episode. Subscribe to receive transcripts.For decades, our relationship with waste has been defined by disposability and denial. The disposability of everything from coffee cups and cigarette butts to smartphones, and the denial about where it all goes when we're done with it, means that humans generate over 2 billion tons of waste globally each year, with Americans alone throwing away 290 million tons of waste annually. The convenient fiction is that recycling solves the problem. But the reality is starkly at odds with that comforting idea, and today we explore the challenge with a recycling innovator. Meet Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle, who has spent over 20 years proving that what is considered impossible to recycle is really just unprofitable to recycle—by making the hard-to-recycle profitable. Terracycle has tackled some of the world's most challenging waste streams, like dirty diapers, cigarette butts, chewing gum, and composite packaging that municipal recyclers cannot handle profitably. TerraCycle now operates in over 20 countries.Even as TerraCycle proves that many materials can be recycled with the right economic model, Tom has concluded that recycling alone won't solve waste at its root cause, which led to the launch of the reusable packaging-based consumer good service Loop, which offers reusable packaging at stores in the U.S., Britain, and France. This realization led Tom to the conclusion that the waste crisis isn't just about recycling better, it's about redesigning our consumption. Historically, humans have made a mess. Every archaeological site has found waste piles, or what are called middens, alongside human settlements. However, other social species also pile up waste, as well as their dead, in middens. But we needn't bury ourselves in waste just because humans have always produced trash, as Tom explains, the economics of recycling have limited its success and at a time when we could not track and manage materials, such as during the explosion of trash during the consumer revolution of the 1950s we didn't have the logistical technology to address the many different materials in our garbage cans, but now we do from scannable codes to optical scanners that sort materials on high speed conveyor belts at materials recovery facilities (MRFs). Terracycle's pricing today reflects the cost of recycling a material when collection and sorting services, along with localized processing capacity, are not widespread. Now's the time to take that step towards circularity, a process that needs to start with companies that make what we buy. Tom shares his belief that the most powerful influence is each person's decisions at the store, which sends a vote to companies; you can send a message by opting for recyclable and reusable packaging. Learn more about TerraCycle and Loop by visiting https://terracycle.comSubscribe to Sustainability In Your Ear on iTunesFollow Sustainability In Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube

Adopter une économie circulaire implique de minimiser les déchets et de maximiser le recyclage, promouvant ainsi un modèle économique plus respectueux de l'environnement. Traduction :Adopting a circular economy means minimizing waste and maximizing recycling, thus promoting a more environmentally friendly economic model. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 10 of The Climate Conversation! Daniel and Alison recorded today's episode from Capitol Hill with Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California's 37th Congressional District, part of Los Angeles County. Rep. Kamlager-Dove spoke about her work promoting a circular economy through the Slow Fashion Caucus, which she co-chairs, and the bipartisan Recommerce Caucus.

In this episode, host Jeremy Almond sits down with Mike Peterson, the founder of Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador, and CK Snarks from the Human Rights Foundation to explore how Bitcoin is transforming lives at the community level and beyond.Mike shares the Bitcoin Beach perspective on how a small grassroot project in El Zonte grew into a movement that helped shape El Salvador's decision to make Bitcoin legal tender. What started with paying local youth in Bitcoin for community work turned into a living example of financial inclusion and a circular economy built on digital currency. For many who had no access to banking, Bitcoin became the first tool to save, plan, and participate in the global economy.CK adds the human rights lens, showing how activists around the world are using Bitcoin when traditional financial systems fail. From Venezuela to Ukraine, digital currency has provided a way to fund movements, access money across borders, and resist dictatorships. Together, the stories show that Bitcoin is not just an asset but a tool that empowers people where it is needed most.If you want to understand Bitcoin adoption from the ground up, this conversation gives you the Bitcoin Beach perspective: real people, real communities, and a clear look at how financial inclusion can begin with one small project. Subscribe, share with a friend, and let us know in the comments how you see Bitcoin shaping the future. And yes, surfing in El Zonte might just be part of the story.-Bitcoin Beach TeamConnect and Learn more about Jeremy Almond and CK SnarksJeremy Almond - https://x.com/jeremyalmondJeremy Almond - https://www.youtube.com/@redefinedpodcast CK Snarks – https://primal.net/ckCK Snarks - https://x.com/ck_SNARKs Support and follow Bitcoin Beach:X: @BitcoinBeachIG: @bitcoinbeach_svTikTok: @livefrombitcoinbeachWeb: bitcoinbeach.comBrowse through this quick guide to learn more about the episode: 00:00 Why Bitcoin matters for communities in El Salvador00:27 Is Bitcoin just for trading or a real paradigm shift?01:17 What does a circular Bitcoin economy look like?02:18 How Bitcoin Beach began in El Zonte03:02 Why the Human Rights Foundation turned to Bitcoin06:03 Why most of the world is excluded from banking10:59 How Bitcoin changes saving habits and education12:45 How Bitcoin helps activists survive under dictatorships19:33 Are banks starting to embrace Bitcoin adoption?21:39 Is Bitcoin the next major monetary paradigm shift?25:53 How can people get involved in Bitcoin adoption?Live From Bitcoin Beach

What if we could take all the trash and waste we generate every year – gigatons worth – and used it again as raw materials. What we would have is a closed circle, one where we have everything we need without taking anything else from nature. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.