“Values are for living… not laminating.”

It was a total pleasure to have a conversation with Alan exploring his recent book, ‘The Values Economy’ - a practical tool designed to help organisations fine tune their business to be truly values driven.

For over 20 years, Alan has worked with organisations developing a values driven approach. In our podcast he shares, how he got started working in values, why he developed the book - and importantly, what the values economy is.

In this podcast we ask Giles to share his experience around how the events industry has shifted over the past 20- years. Giles shares his experience of planning the Olympic games, which had a strong sustainability agenda - and how at that time, planners, designers, from both the events industry and the construction industry, had to work together to put sustainability at the centre of decision making and innovation - causing both industries to raise their game.

“Get out of your comfort zone - educate yourself to raise your head above the parapet and understand the wider issues and the interconnectedness - because once you see things … you can’t unsee them”. Dr Alex Mifsud

In this episode Alex raises a number of important questions - one being whether we’ve lost our moral compass! We also discuss the significance of short-term thinking - and our need for immediate gratification, and how that is hampering progress when it comes to understanding the urgency around our actions in driving more sustainable behaviour, leading to short-term fire-fighting rather than long-term solutions.

When Philip Kotler signed up to our Sustainable Marketer Manifesto - we were absolutely thrilled to have his esteemed support

In his 90 years on the planet, Philip has written over 80 books - and there’s not a trained marketer that hasn’t touched at least one of his tomes. Therefore, it’s no surprise that in this episode he reflects on where marketing started - finding, winning, keeping and growing customers and the two key assumptions that were made - and how now, current day, and given the situation we find ourselves in as a collective, how those two key assumptions are now highly questionable.

In this absolutely knowledge packed interview, filled with case studies and practical advice, Catherine generously takes us through the basic principles of the circular economy, before we hit the many complexities around sustainability and discuss different practical approaches - selling services rather than ownership, making products that are more durable and using different sustainably sourced materials.

We talk about necessary changes in policy. for example the taxing of virgin resources and pollution and waste - where innovation is currently happening and the dangers of greenwashing.

“I don’t think there’s anyone in the world that can argue rationally that it is rational to prioritise a shareholder at the expense of a human being or at the expense of the environment for generations to come. I’ve yet to meet anyone who can argue that successfully.” Kresse Wesling

In this interview, Kresse shares how the brand started, back in 2005, having discovered London’s decommissioned fire-hoses were going to landfill - finding a best second life as luxury products. Given the luxury industry is one which had historically failed people and planet, Elvis & Kresse explored the opportunity to try something different.

Mike shares his passion, expertise and experience discussing the profound and fundamental shifts that need to happen to really bring about effective and very necessary change. The elephant in the room is consumption and the fundamental relationship we have with ‘stuff’. We’re going to need total behaviour change. Mike shares the three questions he’s looking for from businesses who are committed to driving change and what he did at M&S to build sustainability into the heart of everything they do. Answering one or two of the questions - just isn’t enough - All three questions need to be answered. Tune in to ask those questions of your own business.

Having read Sangeeta’s latest book, Corporate Social Responsibility is Not Public Relations - we were keen to invite her to the show. Sangeeta features a number of compelling interviews in her book, with a diverse range of organisations operating around the world. We discuss the interviews that really stood out for her, memorable examples of organisations that are making great progress - and of course, the challenges that arise when organisations get it wrong.

We hear a lot about ‘purpose’ - and indeed, from an advertising perspective, brands have to be super cautious about coming across as ‘greenwashing’. But purpose isn’t a new concept of course - and in this podcast, we’re joined by senior marketer Paul Frampton, to discuss the role purpose has played in marketing and advertising - and the role marketing plays in driving sustainability.