Can Marketing Save the Planet?

Episode 14: Rethinking Consumerism with the Circular Economy - Catherine Weetman - Author and Founder of ReThink Global

Catherine Weetman, award winning author, international speaker, coach, consultant, host of The Circular Economy Podcast and founder of ReThink Global - a well rounded and grounded thought-leader in all things circular economy, Catherine is fascinated by the 'sweet spot' where strategy, supply chain and sustainability come together.

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.

We boil down to the question, how can marketing be different? The fact that most people want to be part of the solution not part of the pollution - and the opportunity this creates for marketers. Looking at behaviour change, the role of marketing in driving alternative ways to consume, co-creating the design of circular services with customers - to fundamentally move away from the consume, own and throw away model towards buying buy things that last a lot longer, making rental and subscription and sharing things attractive and desirable.

“Away from reduce, reuse, recycle - we have to start by rethinking how we consume. We need to start to care more about what’s coming into our house. Questioning - do I need it? Could I buy this in a different way? I think marketing can be a fundamental driver in how people change the way they consume. ” Catherine Weetman.

For more information visit ReThink Global or Catherine’s Circular Economy Podcast and Catherine’s book A Circular Economy Handbook.

Enjoy the podcast - and any comments, questions, ideas, suggestions… get in touch.

Due to the COVID19 situation, our podcasts are currently being recorded purely via online conferencing platforms, we apologise for any minor sound quality issues.

Episode 13: Can the Luxury Sector be Ethical and Sustainable? Kresse Wesling - Co-founder of Luxury and Sustainable Brand, Elvis & Kresse

Kresse Wesling, co-founder of luxury and sustainable brand, Elvis & Kresse - a company that focuses on three things: they rescue materials, transform them into beautiful products and donate 50% of profits to charities.

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.

For Elvis & Kresse ‘the problem’ always comes first. In this podcast we talk, BCorp, the basic expectation of business to pay colleagues appropriately - considering what ethical and sustainable business has to look like - and how business needs to change.

“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

For more information visit https://www.elvisandkresse.com/

Enjoy the podcast - and any comments, questions, ideas, suggestions… get in touch.

Due to the COVID19 situation, our podcasts are currently being recorded purely via online conferencing platforms, we apologise for any minor sound quality issues.

Climate Crisis - Challenge and opportunity. Sustainability - a true disrupter of business - Mike Barry

There’s no doubt about it that whilst there’s a lot of talk, action and impetus behind the climate challenge we all face - from a scientific viewpoint, the fundamental truth is that the world is moving in the wrong direction and quickly.

To slow this dangerous trajectory and turn things around, there’s a lot to do - it’s going to take some serious disruption, and there’s absolutely no room for any corporate ‘greenwash’.

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.

Corporate Social Responsibility is Not Public Relations - Sangeeta Waldron

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.

For more information about Corporate Social Responsibility is Not Public, Relations, Sangeeta Waldron, LID Publishing

Enjoy the podcast - and any comments, questions, ideas, suggestions… get in touch.

Due to the COVID19 situation, our podcasts are currently being recorded purely via online conferencing platforms, we apologise for any minor sound quality issues.

Meaningful Brand and Purpose, Paul Frampton, International President, Control -v- Exposed

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.

Paul is the International President for Control v Exposed, a marketing services consultancy and addressable media specialist with responsibility for EMEA & APAC. Paul is an experienced business leader and one of the UK’s defining voices in disruption and marketing. He was previously CEO of a hospitality tech scale-up, Tink Labs, scaling the business from 20 to 200 across EMEA. Prior to that, Paul was Group CEO for Havas Media Group, responsible for a £100m turnover, 900 people organisation.

For more information about Paul and Control -v- Exposed visit - https://controlvexposed.com/

Enjoy the podcast - and any comments, questions, ideas, suggestions… get in touch.

Due to the COVID19 situation, our podcasts are currently being recorded purely via online conferencing platforms, we apologise for any minor sound quality issues.

Part 2: The Role of ‘Greener Marketing’ in Evolving Marketing and Driving Societal Change - John Grant, Author and the definitive ‘green marketing guy’.

John's been a marketer in 'green world' for decades. In this insight packed podcast he shares his experience and views around the many 'evil's of marketing' - and what the alternatives could look like. What if we simply ban the BS and go 'dark' - effectively, removing the 'voice'? And how do we move away from making normal things seem green, to making green things seem normal? We discuss where marketing sits strategically, the challenge of commercial balance and desire, purpose led marketing and whether purpose has become a bit of a panacea - and whether good marketing excuses bad stuff - and how we move towards a more considered approach starting with the question, 'What's the decent thing to do?'... With so much to explore, we split the podcast into two and will release Part 2 next week. Tune in to Part 1 - here... And tell us what you think. How can marketing be different?

Part 1: The Role of ‘Greener Marketing’ in Evolving Marketing and Driving Societal Change - John Grant, Author and the definitive ‘green marketing guy’.

In this episode we’re joined by John Grant, Author and truly, the definitive ‘green marketing guy’. Having recently read John’s latest book, ‘Greener Marketing’ - we discuss a range of topics about what ‘greener marketing’ really looks like today. John’s passion for driving an environmental and green agenda stems from the start of his career in the 90’s. We discuss some of the many projects he’s embarked upon and the role of being a marketer in ‘green land’ rather than a ‘green’ champion in marketing land. He shares his formula around green-washing, and making green ‘normal’ - the reality of driving behavioural change and the role of consumer behaviour. It’s packed with practical gems for marketers - like getting out of the ‘ivory tower’ to gain real world perspective - and much more. This episode has been split into Part 1 and Part 2 - because there was just so much to talk about, so many insights… we didn’t want to lose a drop of John’s experience and inspirational wisdom in the editing suite. Enjoy Part 1 and Part 2.

For more information about Greener Marketing, John Grant, Wiley

Enjoy the podcast - and any comments, questions, ideas, suggestions… get in touch.

Due to the COVID19 situation, our podcasts are currently being recorded purely via online conferencing platforms, we apologise for any minor sound quality issues.

Part 1: The Role of ‘Greener Marketing’ in Evolving Marketing and Driving Societal Change - John Grant, Author and the definitive ‘green marketing guy’.

In this episode we’re joined by John Grant, Author and truly, the definitive ‘green marketing guy’. Having recently read John’s latest book, ‘Greener Marketing’ - we discuss a range of topics about what ‘greener marketing’ really looks like today. John’s passion for driving an environmental and green agenda stems from the start of his career in the 90’s. We discuss some of the many projects he’s embarked upon and the role of being a marketer in ‘green land’ rather than a ‘green’ champion in marketing land. He shares his formula around green-washing, and making green ‘normal’ - the reality of driving behavioural change and the role of consumer behaviour. It’s packed with practical gems for marketers - like getting out of the ‘ivory tower’ to gain real world perspective - and much more. This episode has been split into Part 1 and Part 2 - because there was just so much to talk about, so many insights… we didn’t want to lose a drop of John’s experience and inspirational wisdom in the editing suite. Enjoy Part 1 and Part 2.

For more information about Greener Marketing, John Grant, Wiley

Enjoy the podcast - and any comments, questions, ideas, suggestions… get in touch.

Due to the COVID19 situation, our podcasts are currently being recorded purely via online conferencing platforms, we apologise for any minor sound quality issues.

Sustainable Reporting - Unravelling the GRI standards with Simon Pitsillides - Managing Director, FBRH Consultants

Whilst more organisations are starting to drive a more sustainable agenda - reporting on the impact and outcomes of those initiatives has never been more important. Consumers, employees and investors are calling for more transparency and visibility. We discuss current reporting frameworks, CSR, ESG, GRI and how organisations are working together to create a single reporting standard. No easy task considering the breadth of organisations, sectors, issue. Simon shares his  experience, expertise, real world challenges and advice as to how organisations navigate this particularly thorny path.  

For more information visit https://fbrh.co.uk/en/

Enjoy the podcast - and any comments, questions, ideas, suggestions… get in touch.

Due to the COVID19 situation, our podcasts are currently being recorded purely via online conferencing platforms, we apologise for any minor sound quality issues.

Sustainability and 'authentic' storytelling... an inextricable link

A story in the right hands can change the way the world thinks - hence why, In this episode we're joined by storyteller extraordinaire, Jeremy Connell-Waite, who as Global Communications Designer at IBM, helps purpose-driven brands to tell more meaningful stories that impact people, profits and the planet. 

Tune in as we discuss purpose, greenwashing, getting the story straight, what matters to audiences, what matters to brands, who's getting it right and why marketers are perfectly positioned to drive positive change in the world.

A passionate environmentalist and force for addressing climate change, Jeremy is also a European leader for Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. He's written four books around 'story' and has worked with brands such as Facebook, Twitter, Salesforce and Adobe.  

For more information about Jeremy, we urge you to take a look at his site Good Humans, Technology and Climate Change .

Enjoy the podcast - and any comments, questions, ideas, suggestions… get in touch.

Due to the COVID19 situation, our podcasts are currently being recorded purely via online conferencing platforms, we apologise for any minor sound quality issues.