Road to Forest Valley: Recent Episodes
Road to Forest Valley
Welcome to green voices by Road to Forest Valley!
We meet founders, innovators, managers, activists, researchers and institutions that are playing a central role in the transition to a more sustainable, regenerative way of living.
In this podcast, Florin Irimescu, CEO of Bluana, discusses innovative plant-based seafood, emphasizing taste, nutrition, and sustainability, transforming the way we enjoy sushi.
Explore Agrovisio's innovative use of satellite and drone technology to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability, shared by co-founder Emre Tunali.
In this podcast, Gonca Kara, co-founder of Grawindy, discusses their innovative technology, designed to make wind energy accessible and efficient for small and medium enterprises, especially dairy farm
Explore Evercity's innovative approach to climate finance with CEO Alexey Shadrin, discussing blockchain integration, stakeholder collaboration, and global initiatives driving sustainable development.
Join us as we explore Clean Cooking Technologies with CEO Fabio Parigi, discussing innovative IoT stoves, affordable solutions, and their impact on health, environment, and global sustainability.
Coperni Labs' Aurelia Scheck discusses tackling critical infrastructure security with TwilumX, their AI-driven platform providing massive data analysis, predictive insights, and real-time threat detection for a safer world.
Discover how CoffeeFrom transforms coffee waste into eco-friendly thermoplastics, revolutionizing sustainability and reducing environmental impact. Join us for an inspiring journey of innovation with CEO Laura Gallo.
Exploring Reli's journey with CEO Laura Laringe in revolutionizing energy storage by optimizing battery lifespan and efficiency, enhancing sustainability and profitability in renewable energy projects.
Join us for an insightful podcast with Gerod Carfantan, Managing Partner at Sente Ventures, as he discusses their strategic investments in deep tech and business model innovation, sharing success stories, lessons learned, and valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in sustainability tech.
Solmeyea, a pioneering Greek biotech startup, is transforming CO2 into sustainable, non-GMO, single-cell proteins suitable for human consumption
Join us as we explore the world of BlockCO2 with Silvia Scozzafava. This Italian startup is transforming the carbon credit market using blockchain technology, ensuring transparency, sustainability, and maximizing ecological benefits in carbon removal projects.
Meet SurplusMap, a comprehensive platform that not only tackles surplus energy but also spearheads the development of efficient EV charging infrastructures.
New Energy Nexus champions clean energy entrepreneurship with equitable, innovative programs and strategic capital to foster global sustainable transitions.
Hexem is pioneering biogas production from industrial wastewater, developing compact, modular reactors that transform waste into energy, enhancing sustainability and reducing costs in the food and beverage industry.
Discover the only packaging-return system in the world that works without deposit and user apps!
Explore how Nova Biochem transforms agri-waste into valuable chemicals, reducing CO2 emissions and advancing sustainable industry practices
Explore how Nectaware is revolutionizing photovoltaic management using AI, driving cities towards sustainability with unparalleled data insights.
Jos Den Besten, a Business Developer at Hamwells, introduces a sustainable approach to showering that does not compromise on quality or comfort.
Tom Siekmann, managing director at Voodin Blades, discusses how their innovative blade technology is setting new standards in sustainability and efficiency through automated manufacturing systems and new blade materials.
Christopher Edwards, Co-Founder and CEO at Xylene, developed a platform for increased supply chain transparency, regulatory compliance, and clear communication of sustainability efforts.
Matteo Aghemo, Co-Founder of Must Had, explains how we can boost sustainable fashion by connecting brands with upcyclers, recyclers, and resellers to reduce textile waste.
Discover Persee's vision for a sustainable hydrogen future with their discussions in the evolving energy landscape.
Aqua Alarm's CEO, Hasse Storebakken, is explaining how reshaping water utilities can address critical challenges in the industry. Dive into concise insights on advanced sensors and AI innovations shaping global drinking water quality.
Inteligg's C-BEMS software revolutionizes energy management worldwide with expertise and innovation, paving the way for sustainability
Discover Birds.ai's game-changing AI technology, using affordable hardware to redefine industry excellence in the manufacturing and energy sectors.
Explore Kinsect's innovative approach to insect farming, revolutionizing sustainable protein production through advanced automation and optimized cages. Learn how they address environmental challenges and drive the future of sustainable agriculture.
VoltWALL introduces a modular energy storage solution that sets new standards in the industry. With its advanced design, enhanced safety features, and flexible scalability, it offers unmatched performance for residential and commercial applications. Experience the future of energy storage with VoltWALL’s innovative technology
Articae is a leading startup revolutionizing energy consumption in refrigeration systems. With their AI-driven IoT platform, they optimize efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact. Serving a wide range of industrial plants across Europe, Artica delivers measurable results and a scalable solution. Listen to our podcast to find out the details!
Get an insider's perspective in an interview with Chiara Verderese, as she unveils the revolutionary air purification technology developed by their team. Discover how their innovative air pollution abatement (APA) solution sets new benchmarks in air quality improvement, providing effective pollution abatement for indoor and outdoor environments.
Miguel Clemente, along with Noemi, explains Noytrall's technology that helps hotels become more sustainable. From IoT-based sensors to data analytics, he explains how their solution reduces hotels' carbon footprint and improves the guest experience. Learn how Noytrall is at the forefront of sustainability in the hotel industry.
The main goal of B4Waste is to reduce food waste and make the entire food production chain as sustainable as possible.
Listen to the podcast to learn how to make food waste an opportunity✨
Mads Emil Dalsgaard told us about how at Klimate.co they create portfolios that combine different CO2 removal solutions to make them more affordable for companies.
Remi Charpentier tells us how in Tesselo they design solutions to support companies in managing land resources more safely, efficiently and sustainably, using the power of satellite imagery and artificial intelligence.
Nadia Paleari works as Partnerships & Events Project Officer at the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network and, among the many insights she illustrated, explained how sustainability creates value within companies.
Jyotsna Budideti explained how using satellite imagery, machine learning and the cloud, at SpaceSense they develop tools to enable organizations in all sectors to create high-impact environmental solutions.
Ingmar Høgøy told us how at GreenTech Innovators they use biotechnology to turn organic waste into single-cell protein and omega-3s for use as aquaculture feed.
At Byewaste, Tommaso Troiani and his co-founder Francisco Rivera, have developed a platform for up-cycling that combines AI and smart logistics to eliminate clutter around citizens.
Teresa Agovino explained how, with her startup Faroo, intends to pursue a sustainable style of tourism which creates only positive impacts for the planet.
Fabio Dalmonte and his colleagues from SEADS, told us how they put circular economy principles into practice, succeeding in reusing plastic collected from rivers.
In this episode, Giacomo explains how difficult it is to create an industrial symbiosis and how, at BugsLife, they have harnessed it to create a sustainable insect-based protein flour.
Luca Medeghini and his colleagues at AIRA have found a device that responds to the problem of rubbish left on the ground during concerts and events: which can also be extended to city use!
Shyaam illustrates the benefits of building relationships among companies: finding the right partner that can influence the whole network and sharing sustainable innovations with it.
Noemi De Santis is the co-founder of Junker: an app that scans product labels and tells you where to throw them away, helping you to sort your waste easily, quickly and above all without mistakes.
In this episode Rob talks about how to integrate Sustainable Development Goals in companies. In the role of judge in fact, there are the youngest generations: they expect companies absolute transparency and to make a significant contribution towards achieving a greater ethical goal. Purenessity is a consulting company that helps the process of building brands around purpose and supports the integration.
In this episode we explore the meaning of sustainability in business and its crucial link with ethics. How can ethics be applied to different types of business strategies both for start-ups and established companies, and some useful tips on how to start a journey towards sustainable ethics.
"What I'm trying to signal, and I try to research in my work, is that sustainability transformation requires the full set: you need the heart, you need the moral element, you need the moral conviction that is the right thing to do and not only doing the right things... and the self-interest and drive of a corporation, an entrepreneur for market competitiveness."
Environmental Grants helps conservationists from all around the world to find available funds, coming from the private and public sectors and related research for environmental and wildlife research management and conservation.
Katerina explainshow a house can be sustainable and compostable by using the rice waste and how it can last up to 70 years.
"From the beginning of our activity in 2016, we managed to reduce around 400 tons of CO2 just by preventing the burning of the rice residues. And to this data, we need to add up the CO2 that is trapped during the life cycle of the buildings...in fact, the rice husk and straw continue to absorb CO2 during the entire life cycle of the building in which they're inserted."
If you think recycling is the solution for a more sustainable economy, well, unfortunately you are wrong: from a Circular perspective is the worst option! What are better ones then?
Fabian Takacs, from St. Gallen University examines the concept of circular economy with a focus on business model innovation and ecosystems. Small and medium enterprises that want to transition to a circular product offering can follow these four steps: Close, Improve, Monetise, Excite the loop. How? And what about the role of consumers?
In this episode, Serena Rebecca Moro from Cikis, a sustainable fashion consultancy, interviews Dario, trying to revolutionise the textile industry step by step with Muntagnard.
Ryan talks about how the ecosystem approach works in Agrifood innovation.
*“We defined challenge areas, one around sustainable agriculture, on digital traceability, circular economy and healthy nutrition.
With those we can attract these business people and these tech people together, and come together to find each other's co-founders and try to solve or build a startup together”.*
Patricia talks about circular economy and strategies that can act as a vehicle to address the 9 planetary boundaries. What does it mean to build a sustainable business model and how can organisations join forces to guarantee a sustainable living for current and future generations?
“What is really important to us is to set the topic of circular economy within the context of the planetary boundaries, which essentially ensure the stability of all of our ecosystems [..] and to show the opportunities that are related to transition from a linear to circular model.”
Phil talks about how collaborative innovation and information transparency, enabled by blockchain, could unlock the potential of Circular Economy, by informing decision making. Circularise provides the information highway to do so. A system for actors in the chain to upload the relevant info for materials, components and products, while keeping proprietary and sensitive data behind the 'zero knowledge proof' protection.
"Trying to innovate within the circular economy is like driving a car down a highway while changing your tires at the same time [...] The challenge is making proof of concepts tangible enough that the large incumbents and the OEMs of the world say 'let's do it'. Once they do the impact will be huge".
Alessandro illustrates the impact and technical challenges associated with recovering oil spills in waters. With Test1 he patented Foam Flex 200, a sponge designed to be very effective in absorbing high quantities of oils in different contexts.
"The main problems with oil spilling are environmental and human damages and costs (oil lost plus clean up costs). Foam Flex 200 is not toxic, reduces by 10 times clean up costs and recovers up to 70% of the spill."
Giovanni Bottazzi, Head of Sales at Plastic Bank, tells us about his transition from consumer good corporates to a social store chain where plastic waste turns into currency for local communities.
"We are not in the business of fighting for price. We are in business of fighting for change and for the world, and we believe that the world doesn't change at commodity price."
Brian - Post Doctoral researcher in circular economy business models at Technische Universiteit Delft - explains the gap between academic research and business practice and illustrates tools to facilitate circular economy transition.
"We require establishing collaborative capacity between multiple organizations. And this is not only a technical challenge, but it's also a social challenge. You need to get people in the same room and discuss how all of this can happen."
"Pioneers, entrepreneurs and citizens building tomorrow's economy can be found everywhere. Now, in order to make the big scale needed transition happen, we need ambitious political action. Time is running and it has never been more needed to act fast, together."
Valerio Barberis - Deputy Maior on Urban Planning, Environment and Circular Economy at Municipality of Prato - shares his experience as public administrator of Prato, a city that is becoming a reference point at European level for urban forestry, circular and collaborative economy practices
"We need to engage all the stakeholders of the cities, but also citizens, children in schools, with a coherent strategy of co-design and participatory processes in order to get people to be part and feeling part of this transformation process."
Grammenos Mastrojeni, Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, talks about the importance of cooperation dynamics at different levels and the related barriers.
"We discovered that what is unsustainable is not development, but unfair development. A development that leaves out women and more fragile communities is not sustainable for nature."
Alessandro Galimberti, Senior Socioeconomic Development Expert and Technical Advisor for Energy, Clean Cooking and Climate Change and Urban Develop at AVSI, illustrates the main issues related to the introduction of sustainable cooking in developing countries.
"The digital gap is an important issue but it does not impede you to bring innovation in developing countries. The lack of a technology background, instead, allows a leapfrog in innovation."
Celeste illustrates the impact of sustainable agronomics practices and the role of being an activist in everyday life.
"Also at an international level, everyone is aware about the potential that humanity has in combating climate change. It's just a matter of doing it because we have all the tools we have all the resources we need."
Oriana, Head of the OECD program of Circular Economy in Cities and Regions, explains the role of policy makers and local authorities in the transition from a linear to a circular economy.
"While climate change is one of the major driver for cities to apply circular economy, in reality circular economy is about how economic activities or services and infrastructure in cities can change"
Enzo, co-founder at ECo, illustrate the role of communities as an instrument to move individuals and businesses to innovative sustainable behaviours.
"At EcoChange we are helping companies in achieving their sustainability goals via a rewarding transformational journey, a step by step approach which is sustainable from both an economic and environmental level."
Federica, Lawyer in the EU Regulatory field, explains how EU Policies can promote sustainable practices without this being in contrast with the pursuit of profit.
"European institutions are having a profound influence on green regulation of Member States: it is estimated than, since 1990, 80% of Italian environmental laws is an effect of EU initiatives."
Maria Eugenia, VP of ESG & Impact Investing, talks about the role sustainable finance is playing in leading climate innovation toward a greener and safer planet.
"Impact investing is truly linked at climate innovation at its core, because the challenges we are investing in are manifesting now, and we haven't found a solution yet."
Rosa, PhD in International Environmental Law and Climate Change Law, explains the role of European Regulation in making businesses steer to climate-friendlier decisions.
"We need an international effort: climate change is such a gloobal problem, we have global emissions in the atmosphere. This means that every country has to sit around the table and work together to set common standards and change the way we make products and consume."
Valerio, Managing Partner at Circularity, an Italian startup which is revolutionizing waste management, explains how to leverage platforms and education can help pursuing climate innovation.
"The main incentive for companies to embrace more sustainable behaviours is economic: they need to see that they can obtain a reduction of costs by applying virtuous approaches connected to the reduction of waste and the use of discarded materials in closed or open loops."
Lorenzo, Principal Teaching Fellow in Economics of Energy and the Environment at UCL, talks about how behavioural economics can help in designing incentives for economic actors to pursue environmental goals.
"You may not appreciate the benefits of having a healthy diet across 50 years, but in 50 years you will. One of the biggest problems in climate change is that policy makers tend to carry out behaviours which have immediate benefits, but lead to negative consequences for the planet which are far away in the future, so that it is difficult to see the tangibility of the problem now."
Andrea, Head of Circular Economy at Cariplo Factory, shares his thoughts about the relationship between startups and corporation and their role in the transition toward cirular economy.
"After the digitalization wave, circular transformation is the new innovation wave. Most companies are a bit late and don't see the circular transformation coming yet: those who do and are ahead of schedule will be the winners in a few years."