Mindful Businesses: Recent Episodes
Vidhya Iyer - Host
In our podcast, we bring to you businesses that are mindful in their practices and processes. A mindful business adopts and employs sustainable social, economic, and environmental practices. Some of our past guests are Redecker, from Germany, MUDD Jeans from the Netherlands, Ricron Panels, Phool Co from India, Alabama Chanin, Reel Toilet Paper from the USA, Hinterland, Unscented Co from Canada, and Desserto from Mexico. We launched our first episode on July the 22nd., 2019 with a new episode every two weeks. Keep in touch with updates by subscribing to our newsletter at https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
Bringing about impactful change is a formidable challenge. Particularly, changing the lives of children in India, whose household income is not more than $3 a day - with opportunity rather than handouts. Dr. Abraham Goerge, Founder Shanti Bhavan, an army veteran, entrepreneur and returned, to what he believes is his purpose in life, to India to found Shanti Bhavan. He believed strongly that these children can be made unstoppable by giving them a holistic education and an opportunity to blossom. An education that helps them compete academically, become leaders and gain personal growth. The student body is comprised of children from the most disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds—environments where daily guidance and support, often taken for granted in other households, may be entirely absent.
Shanti Bhavan brings the children to a healthy, safe and nourishing boarding school set in over 38 acres in the outskirts of Bengaluru. The children not only learn academics, but valuable life skills that will train them to seize opportunities with confidence and authority and not by some government set-asides. The graduates of Shanti Bhavan have gone on to several of the top universities in the US and India. Come take a listen to learn more about this powerful and impactful organization.
https://www.shantibhavanchildren.org/about-us/
Today we have on our show the passionate and even maybe maverick Jonathan Lundgren, director and founder of Blue Acre Farms and Ecdysis foundation. The word ecdysis means the process of shedding the old skin and that is what Blue Dasher farms wants to do by operating regenerative farm and scientific research hub designed to help foster a revolution in our food system. Blue Dasher Farm combines cutting edge science with hands on experience to remove barriers to the adoption of regenerative agriculture.
They believe in a food system that promotes soil health, farm biodiversity, and nutrient dense food - all while benefiting the farmers who grow it. As a researcher who was honored by President Obama, in 2015 as one of the recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, Jonathan talks about his time at the USDA and how going against the grain is not easy. But he felt change was urgent and left his job at the USDA to start Ecdysis foundation and Blue Dasher Farms along with several of his research fellows. Blue Dasher Farm relies heavily on their ability to show that they can support. They want to take the wind out of the argument "that may work on a research farm, but it would not work on my place." They are transparent and willing to compare their profitability to other more conventional operations. Although Blue Dasher is a for-profit enterprise, their mission is to help promote the regenerative agriculture movement and strive to be financially solvent while farming in a sustainable way.
https://www.bluedasher.farm/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Our sponsor:
https://www.silverspungoods.com/
Most US elementary school students learn about photosynthesis in their science class. The process is very simple - chlorophyll in the leaves and green stems absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. It is nature's elegant way of capturing carbon dioxide. Carbon cycle is where humans and human activities put out carbon dioxide and processes such as photosynthesis absorb it. But when the NET carbon dioxide into the atmosphere exceeds what is absorbed - that to the extent of 30 - 50 gigatons of carbon dioxide, then we have a problem on our hands. Observing and learning from nature our guests Beth McDaniel, President and Dr. Steve McDaniel, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of Reactive Surfaces try to replicate the carbon capture process in nature in their solution. They have created coatings that can be applied to surfaces to capture carbon - just like nature does it with leaves and stems. Using polymeric materials thinly spread on a surface, adhere to the surface and then cured. These surfaces when exposed to sunlight, will photosynthesise, capturing and fixing carbon, using the photosynthetic process to carbohydrate. To learn more about this truly fascinating solution listen to our latest episode of Mindful Businesses.
Mentions:
Embassy Row Project - Envirotech Pre - accelerator
Xprize
Musk Foundation
climatechange #carboncapture #carbonsequestration #mindfulbusinesses #reactivesurfaces #photosythesis #learnfromnature #sustainablematerials
https://reactivesurfaces.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
When Jodi Bakst and Cor Rademaker, co - founders of Circular Design Consultants had the opportunity to develop oa piece of land in North Carolina, they had the vision to make it North Carolina’s first net-zero neighborhood. They put this vision to pen and paper to create Array Sustainable Design and bring to market a twelve lot neighborhood on 60 acres, in picturesque Orange County, North Carolina. In this episode they share how their homes are energy efficient and the challenges that they faced in creating this project. They sell individual lots to buyers who can build custom homes abiding by the neighborhood’s covenants. They believe developments like their net-zero neighborhoods will be the neighborhood of the future and they are excited to be the first of its kind in North Carolina. Listen to this lively and passionate couple on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
Mentions:
Array Sustainable Living
GAF Energy
Timberline Solar
Eric Corey Freed
netzero, #mindfulbusinesses, #solar, #GAF, #sustainabledesign, #aarayliving
https://arraysustainableliving.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
In this episode we talk with Greg Johnson, co-founder and CEO of AquiPor. AquiPor's unique permeable concrete material in conjunction with proprietary engineering technology can transform traditional hard surfaces into stormwater infiltration corridors.The technology utilizes inherently low carbon “cement” and upcycled industrial minerals. This new concrete technology eliminates the need for CO2 emitting cement plants.
AquiPor’s permeable concrete technology not only manages stormwater naturally, but our material utilizes an inherently low-carbon cement that requires a fraction of the energy and emits a fraction of the CO2 than that of traditional concrete. By developing solutions such as these, AquiPor is not only addressing climate change, but making our communities more resilient, but also bringing better economics to our physical infrastructure systems. Learn more in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://aquipor.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
The practice of manufacturing for planned obsolescence seems to be what most manufacturers in the present time follow. This means to make an item that will break down sooner than their earlier versions, lack of how-to-fix information or tutorials and even make it impossible to be repaired. The direct impact of such a philosophy increases the bottom line of the business at the cost of increasing e-waste and its impact on our planet. There needs to be a movement from a linear economy in which we take, make and waste to a circular economy. Complete circularity may be hard to achieve in all instances, repairing an item is an alternative that can reduce what ends up in the landfills. “Repair is such a low hanging fruit” says our guest Darren Cotton, Executive Director of The Tool Library.
The Tool Library is an all-volunteer nonprofit tool-lending library based on the mantra that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to fix up one’s home, grow food, or improve the community. Tools can range anywhere from hammers, screwdrivers, and shovels to power drills, circular saws, and sanders. Individuals and businesses can donate tools to the program which will then be circulated throughout the neighborhood for a small annual membership fee.Thus, people looking for an alternative to buying expensive tools that get little use now have this resource at their disposal. In addition, The Tool Library collaborates with the City of Buffalo to host once a month Repair Cafe, where volunteers help individuals repair an item that would have otherwise ended in the landfill. Learn more about this impactful non - profit organization in this episode.
circulareconimy
lineareconomy
mindfulbusinesses
repairability
repaircafe
righttorepair
thetoollibrary
https://thetoollibrary.org/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Today we talk on our show with Dr. Teresa Pruzner and Nick Langan, co-founders of Cerebelly who as parents of infants wanted to make sure that their kids get the best possible nutrition not only for their physical but also for brain development. They were surprised to learn when they flipped over a packet or bottle of baby food the mismatch between the actual stated ingredients and the nutrients in the baby food. Teresa knew that the baby brain, as complex as it is, develops in stages and each stage requires different nutrients for its optimal development. The brother and sister duo started experiment with baby foods with your own children and wanted to bring the art and science of baby food to other babies. Teresa and Nick teamed up with world-class pediatricians, nutritionists, and food scientists. Together, they created Cerebelly—delicious, farm-fresh, organic baby food that provides real nutrition for a growing brain and body. Cerebelly unites neuroscience, nutrition, and organic, farm-fresh food to give them the very best from the very start. Learn more about their attention to details and passion in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://cerebelly.com/about-cerebelly
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
eatcerebelly #babyfood #mindfulbusinessespodcast
In the United States, 90% of the lettuce is produced and shipped from California to the rest of the country. When we combine the impact of this long journey on the environment, cost and 30% loss in farm produce - makes vertical farms close to consumption a viable alternative. In this episode, we learn from Eddy Badrina, CEO of Eden Green Technology about Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) where plants are grown hydroponically, in greenhouses, and by using all kinds of methodologies to control the growing environment. Eden Green Technology has successfully grown 100 different types of produce in a vertical farm using hydroponics - in a greenhouse. They rely on sunlight that comes through the greenhouse panes as against other vertical farms that need to be artificially lit with LED or other types of light fixtures. This fascinating technology seeks to revolutionize the grocery retail industry by growing what the stores need nearby, thus reducing costs, waste and at the same time delivering fresh produce to the consumer at a reasonable price. By designing sustainable and scalable vertical greenhouse technology, deployable almost anywhere in the world, their vertical farming technology is helping the world sustainably grow large amounts of food to create a healthier and happier existence for all.
https://www.edengreen.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/all-episodes/
We talk with Ashay Bhave, founder of Thaely, who as a middle-schooler dreamt of becoming a sneaker designer. His journey begins at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, where disenchanted within the first year, he returned back to Dubai to pursue a degree in business at Amity University. As a designer Ashay wanted to solve problems - the problem of plastic grocery bag waste - we consume 3 trillion of them annually. After some near fires in his kitchen, he developed a product Thaely Tex. Thaely is made with 100% recycled raw materials. Each sneaker uses ThaelyTex that’s made using 10 upcycled waste plastic bags. ThaelyTex is made in collaboration with TrioTap Technologies in Gurugram, India. The waste plastic bags are collected from housing complexes, offices, and stores in and around Gurugram, India. The lining is made with rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate is a fabric made from recycling waste PET Plastic Bottles) using 12 Recycled waste plastic bottles. With their partnership with The Shoe Laundry, the sneakers are either refurbished or recycled. Each pair is also packaged in a reusable rPET. Every component of the shoe and its process is looked into great detail to achieve Thaely's sustainability goals. Come along and learn more in this episode.
https://thaely.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Here is the link to our website - https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://en.useahimsa.com/
We talk to Saiful Islam, Managing Director of Bengal Muslin, that has identified the DNA from the fossilized plants to revive and grow the plant again. He talks to us about the challenges that Bengal Muslin faced to find, train and motivate the traditional generational spinners - who still had the collective memory of the fabric to weave 400 count Dhaka muslin. Listen to this passionate Saiful Islam only on Mindful Businesses. Saiful's picture was taken through muslin for the cover for this episode.
http://bengalmuslin.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bengalmuslin/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/drik.net
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Africa with its rich arts and crafts have so much to offer to the world. We are excited to find online or in a nearby store a unique, one of a kind piece from a land far away. But we should pause to think as to how much of what we pay actually goes back to the artisans and their communities. Today we talk with Jenny Nuccio, Founder and CEO of Imani Collective - Global Social Enterprise Empowering Artisans, who wanted to not only promote the art from Kenya, but make sure that the artisans are paid two to three times the average wage and gain access for their art. She joins us from Mombasa, Kenya sharing her life's mission to provide a fair and living wage to the folks who work alongside her. Learn more in the latest episode of Mindful Businesses.
What does it take to start a business several thousands of miles away, and that too when you were just 19. Kate Holby co-founded Ajiri tea with her sister Sara Kolby, to create a full cycle of sustainable aid. Because education is a sustainable investment, 100% of the net profits go back to Kenya to pay school fees for orphans. Ajiri Tea Company is now sponsoring 29 orphans in school and is employing four different women’s groups. Learn more about these amazing young ladies. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://ajiritea.com/
Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of the profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Their condition inspired a special attention for details, a passion that carries over into the construction of their clothing line. Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch." Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://twoblindbrothers.com/
Swahili Coast partners with artisans in East Africa to craft ethically handmade, fair trade, adventure-ready accessories.It connects them to global markets using principles of fairness, dignity, and respect. Swahili Coast strives to support the creation of worker-owned cooperatives and provide continuing support through fair exchange and promotion of workers' rights in the East Africa region. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.swahilicoastdesign.com/
Buy handmade, change women's lives. We chat with Joan Shifrin and Catherine Shimony, extremely dynamic and creative women who run this New York-based non-profit brand Global Goods Partners, like a business and with the overall mission to do good and empower women. Their work, resources, and resolve are focused on bridging gaps, opening doors, and providing opportunities for artisan women to join the international marketplace. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://globalgoodspartners.org/
The core of Phool Co business and dear to the vision of the founder is women empowerment. Phool works with the women who worked as manual scavengers, cleaning dry toilets. They are committed to paying them fair wages, provides them with health insurance and retirement benefits. The impact of this can be seen within a few weeks of them working at Phool - from the increase in savings, everyday nutrition, and a life of dignity.
You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.co
Natural gas used to heat our homes, cook our meals and sometimes even to move our cars comprises mainly of Methane - a know greenhouse gas. While we go on this journey to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and green house gasses, there needs to be a sustainable alternative to conventional natural gas. The anaerobic activities in landfills creates Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). RNG is a hundred percent match to conventional natural gas and can thus be piped and supplied using the existing natural gas distribution pipelines. We talk with Grant Gibson, co-founder and CDO of Synthica Energy - that does exactly that. Their anaerobic digestion facilities receive industrial food wastes, organic by-products, brewery washout and they use them to produce biogas for commercial power plants. Learn more about this exciting solution on this latest episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://synthica.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We like to check in with some of our previous guests to see how their business has changed, what goals were achieved and the ones that were not. How they may have pivoted or continued the path they had chosen. It is a pleasure to have Shameek Ghosh, CEO of Trustrace -Tracing for Fashion. He joins us once again from Stockholm, Sweden. We talk about fashion traceability and regulations on this industry in Europe and North America. How they have changed and the impetus for these changes. Conversation about how a responsible and mindful brand can navigate the journey of traceability and abiding by the regulations smoothly. Trustrace offers a path and solution to these brands - from enterprise to mid-sized sustainable businesses. To learn more about their solution listen to the latest episode of Mindful Businesses.
Trsutrace
Mindfulbusinessespodcast
fashionindustry
sustainablefashion
traceability
supplychain
UFLPA
https://trustrace.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Cotton fiber and fabric is considered to be one of the most natural material. Given that, who would have thought that the process of manufacturing cotton fabric uses materials and techniques that cause environmental damage. Cotton needs to be cleaned and the “trash” removed for the cotton to become white and more absorbent to dyes. Alkaline and other harmful chemicals used to bleach in this process need to be washed out completely. The dyes in itself are harmful and their effluence further pollute our environment. Fibre 52 replaces these toxic chemicals with bio-products that do the job more sustainably and efficiently. Their patent - pending process reduces the processing time by up to 25%, up to 70% reduction in water consumption and up to 40% reduction in electricity without reducing the quality or dyeability of the cotton. Fibre 52 prepares cotton – knit, woven, non-wovens or raw fiber - for a perfect dye job without using harsh, toxic chemicals AND without stripping the unique properties that make everyday cotton resilient, naturally soft and breathable. It can be done using existing machinery and without additional capital investment. In this episode we chat with Graham Stewart, Executive Vice President of Fiber 52 who shares how their product helps the cotton mills consume less heat, energy, water and time. Learn more about this unique product on this episode of Mindful businesses.
https://www.fibre52.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
This episode was previously aired on April 23, 2023.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oil spills in our world where engines are omnipresent are almost inevitable. Larger accidental spills on land and water have catastrophic effects on the environment, plant and animal life. Ironically some of the industrial spill clean-up solutions often used may not always be eco-friendly. SaveSorb is a totally natural, sustainable plant material. Using sphagnum peat moss in a proprietary method, it is dried, sieved, blended and pH balanced to create the most effective absorbent of hydrocarbons (oil based compounds) and chemicals available.
SaveSorb absorbs almost all hydrocarbons, chemicals and their vapors. It encapsulates them within its molecular structure and will not leach contaminants into the environment, even under pressure. SaveSorb is very safe to handle. In its natural state it partially absorbs the fumes, making it useful for cleaning up small spills containing flammable liquids.
SaveSorb is available as a loose product in bags and in a variety of manufactured products from Spill Kits, absorbent mats and socks. Listen to the world renown jockey turned entrepreneur, Ronnie Ebanks who seized the opportunity when he was introduced to this “miracle-product”.
https://savesorb.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
oilspill #sustainablesolutions #ecofriiendly #ecofriiendlycleanup #sphagnumpeatmoss #mindfulbusinesses #savesorb
As we open our kitchen faucets and fill a glass with drinking water, we probably don’t realize that around 2 billion people globally do not have access to clean and safe drinking water. Clean and safe potable water is such a basic necessity but is still inaccessible to one-fourth of the population in the world. For them, bottled water is not a luxury but a necessity for a healthy and disease-free living. In the United States, municipalities are equipped with water treatment plants and the water is tested regularly, but old and often crumbling pipes tend to leech contaminants into the water. The tragic case of Flint, Michigan comes to mind. Our mindful guests Jess Page and Nicole Doucet, Co - founders of Open Water set out to offer a product to exactly this segment of the population. They explored a variety of options and came up with a rather elegant solution. Firstly, bottle the water close to their customers, reducing the carbon footprint of transportation. Secondly, using aluminum cans as against plastic bottles. Aluminum recycling rates far exceed the plastic recycling rates (around 65%) and do not lose their integrity - that means aluminum can be recycled infinitely. In fact, 50% of all aluminum used is post-consumer recycled. We asked our guests why aluminum is superior to even cartoned water, does water have a taste, and what was their journey and motivation to start this venture. To learn the answers these and other questions listen to the latest episode of Mindful Businesses.
mindfulbusinessespodcast
potablewater
cleanwater
recycledaluminum
aluminum
Water
aluminumbottle
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
https://drinkopenwater.com/
Friendship and support is what creates a community and a sense of belonging. That is exactly what our guest Priyasha Shah, Founder of Sakhya wanted to create amongst the women who love South Asian fashion and styles. She started the platform Sakhya where sellers could post their pre-loved saris, salwar kameez, lenghas to offer it to buyers who would love to own a piece of South Asian fashion. These outfits and saris woven with the memories, may it be a shopping trip with cousins in India or a special purchase for a wedding or Diwali - give the sellers a way to share that joy and warmth with the buyers in the Sakhya community. Sakhya’s mantra is “shop what you love, sell what you don't - but always keep it in rotation” From guidance on how to photograph the item to pricing strategies - Priyasha and the Sakhya team has created a sustainable community around South Asian fashion. These fashion articles are exquisitely designed with embroidery, in vibrant colors and made with unique fabrics are given a new life and maybe …glam to the wearer. Sakhya is A South Asian Fashion Resale platform for truly sustainable and accessible South Asian clothing. A community where anyone can recreate their South Asian wardrobes with ease and trust. Learn more about this sustainable business on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://shopsakhya.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
sustainablefashion #desifashion #desis #saris #lengha #prelovedfashion #diwali #mindfulbusinesses #sakhya #southasian
In this episode we chat with Ben Wan, Principal at RODE Architects about the roles architects can play in reducing the impact of climate change on our planet. Given that over 40% of all energy produced is used to run the buildings, how can architects reduce the energy consumption of these structures is the question we asked Ben. One of the goals is to use sustainable materials, may they be ones made out of recycled materials, easily recyclable, or far more durable than conventional products. We talked in detail about the Brucewood homes, a series of three single-family homes in West Roxbury, nestled into a rocky hillside overlooking the V.F.W. Parkway, are Boston’s first internationally certified Passive Houses designed by RODE Architects. Massing, orientation and a compact design are the starting points of designing an energy efficient home. The Brucewood homes are airtight and have an heavily-insulated shells with the facade R values of 40 with roof R Values of 60 - thus significantly reducing energy usage for heating and cooling all year round.
Fair and just transition is crucial. Sustainable solutions and in this context housing needs to be accessible. RODE Architects, a mission driven firm is now developing 106 units of family-oriented housing in their 52 New Street project that plans to be Passive House certified. Learn more in the latest episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://www.rodearchitects.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
rodearchitects,
mindfulbusinesses
justtransition
netzerohousing
passivehouse
sustainablehousing
thermalvalue
passivhaus
Most consumers are aware of the numbering 1 to 7, embedded in the recycle symbol under plastic items and they diligently put them in recycling bins. The numbers denote the type of plastic so that they may be recycled appropriately. The truth of the matter is that only the number 1 and 2 are easily recyclable and rest end up in the landfills. We ask our guest Donald Thomson, Founder and CEO OF CRDC Global (Center for Regenerative Design Collaboration) what happens to the numbers 3 to 7 and how they can be successfully recycled. In this episode, Donald shares how CRDC started as a simple program “Bag that Builds” that encouraged school children to collect the plastics from their homes to a now patented technology that offers a global solution.
Their expertise lay in construction projects and the realization that the construction industry contributes around 38% of the CO2 emissions led them on the mission to reduce CO2 emissions of their projects. Their patented technology enables them to use the plastics number 3 to 7 to manufacture s lightweight yet durable aggregate to be added cement- that means they can utilize all kinds of plastics even multi - layer plastics.
CRDC is a mindful company that employs REAP (Recover - Enrich - Appreciate - Prosper) - an approach that is based on a collaborative net-zero circular economy model that views the plastic and construction industries as a connected system to create inter-relationships between these industries where the plastic industry waste stream becomes the raw material and value stream for the construction and building industry. Learn about this fascinating technology and their approach to the market to bring maximum impact to the problem of recycling plastics.
https://crdc.global
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
recyclingplastics
recycling
mindfulbusinesses
CRDC
bagthatbuilds,
circulareconomy
co2emmisions
netzero
construction
sustainablecement
Met up with one our favorite guests Luis Fernando, Founder of Amor Perfecto, for breakfast in Bogota, Colombia. During our recording we had hoped to share our love for coffee over a cup of coffee in Bogota and we are happy that we were able to meet and catch-up. We loved learning about what the company its growth and future plans. Amor Perfecto has six locations in Bogota and is poised for a global expansion.
We also had a chance to visit the Amor Perfecto Cafe Laboratory where we experienced 3 different ways of processing coffee. Much like wine tasting, coffee tasting itself is an art. The flavors change from fruity to woody, smooth to bold, simply based on the way the beans are processed.
Headover to our instagram page to see some of these special moments. https://www.instagram.com/mindful_businesses_podcast/
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In this episode, we have Luis Fernando Velez founder of Amor Perfecto with whom our host Vidhya Iyer talks about their common love for a good cup of coffee - with its perfect aroma and complex flavors. Luis shares what is entailed in producing a rich and fragrant coffee. It starts from the coffee cherry picked at the exact ripeness using high-tech refractometers to find the optimal ripeness to pick each variety of dark red for one to purple for another. At Amor Perfecto each bean is hand-picked, unlike some other brands who prefer strip harvesting by machine, an efficient, affordable, but indiscriminate practice. The beans are then expertly processed and most importantly roasted close to where they are picked.
For over 200 years Colombia has been exporting green coffee beans to be roasted in consuming countries all over the world. In fact, it was illegal to roast quality coffee in Colombia until 2003. The government and the growers had been convinced that the consuming countries knew better than them how to perfectly roast coffee, robbing Colombians of additional revenues by adding value to their crop. Amor Perfecto fought to change the law and volunteered as guinea pigs to show lawmakers that their signature crop was not just for export. Grab a cup of coffee and tune in to listen to Luis’ fascinating stories.
https://amorperfecto.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Urban flight in America in the 1960s resulted in downtowns having empty abandoned buildings and structures. The city governments had to eventually demolish these structures and their debris ended up in the landfills. Our guests Michael Gainer and Ian MacDonald of Reuse Action, who live in Buffalo, NY, started thinking about the millions of dollars the demolishings would cost the city and the taxpayers and its impact on the environment. They believed that methodical deconstruction of the structures can create employment and be an economically viable business. They perform deconstructions and salvage floors, windows, doors, trims, kitchen cabinets, light fixtures and any other parts that can be resold, refurbished or transformed. They sell these articles in their store located on the Eastside of Buffalo, NY. Running a financially viable repurposed and salvage business is challenging with regards to understanding what to salvage, the customers wants and how much they are willing to pay. Learn about this truly sustainable business determined to make a difference in their community and the environment.
reuse #salvage #mindfulbusinesses #recycle #environment
https://www.reuseaction.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Sustainable products are priced out of reach of most Americans. They cost the consumers more due to a variety of reasons - higher costs of inputs and innovation, demand is higher than supply and sometimes…just because.. people are willing to pay more. If we are on this global journey to make our world sustainable we need everyone on board. Our guest on this episode Reid Edgar, Owner of Spot Detergent is committed to making his sustainable products accessible to everyone. His eco - friendly detergent sheets cost 12.5 cents per load comparable with conventional laundry detergents and clean just as well. Spot detergent sheets are made in Sweden with a plant-based formula that is paraben, phosphate and 1-dioxane free. The product has plastic free packaging and since the detergent sheets weigh around 90% less than liquid detergent it reduces their transportation carbon footprint substantially. Their sheets are environmentally-friendly but without the traditional “eco” price markup. With Spot’s unique entry to market strategy by targeting Dollar Stores and large discount stores like TJMaxx and Marshalls their green product will reach consumers who are often left out by sustainable brands. Learn more in the latest episode of Mindful Businesses.
ecofriendly #sustainability #zerowaste #gogreen #climatechange #spotdetrgent #mindfulbusinesses #sustainableliving #sustainableliving #ecofriendlydetergent
https://spotdetergent.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Today we talk with Ryan McPherson, Chief Sustainability Officer at University of Buffalo. He heads the Climate Action Plan at the university. The University has the goal of climate neutrality by 2030. They plan to achieve this goal by having 10 strategies to achieve it. Strategies such as “Not all electricity is created equal”, “Waste not”, and “putting a price on pollution”. These goals were driven by the availability of sustainable solutions, policy changes and by students demanding immediate action. These are actions for other universities and corporations to emulate. Learn more about these goals will be achieved in our latest episode.
https://www.buffalo.edu/climate-action.html
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
sustainableuniversity #solarfarms #reducefoodwaste #greenelectricity #electrifyingcommute
We talk with co-founders Sujata and Taniya (Su and Ta) who decided to quit their well-paying jobs and put their hearts and souls into spreading love through traditional hand-woven sarees. They have a family of 1400 weavers. The process of weaving every saree is a celebration of centuries of tradition and the authenticity of Indian arts. Suta strives to preserve the art of generational craftsman, guaranteeing them a living wage and bringing their products to the urban markets. Learn about their journey in this episode. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://suta.in/
The environmentally conscious you doesn't want to use plastic straws, but paper straws dissolve in your drinks. Here is the answer for you: Palm Straws! In this episode, we talk to Palm Straw co-founder Dave Mash about their bio-degradable plant-based straws. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
As formula companies’ productions are limping back to normal, after the recall, a question some people ask is why can't mother "just" switch to breastfeeding their infants. As most mothers know that it is not that easy to make that switch. Breastfeeding a baby can be hard - it needs support from the family, spouse, pediatrician and most importantly the medical community. Breast milk can be stored up to four days in the refrigerator giving the mothers some flexibility to return to work or even sometimes even share some of their milk with other mothers. This breast milk needs to be stored in a safe, convenient, and long-use product. Our guest in this episode, Nickey Ramsey, Founder & CEO of Junobie does just that, empowering women with a convenient pouch made of silicon. Learn more in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://www.junobie.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
The practice of manufacturing for planned obsolescence seems to be what most manufacturers in the present time follow. This means to make an item that will break down sooner than their earlier versions, lack of how-to-fix information or tutorials and even make it impossible to be repaired. The direct impact of such a philosophy increases the bottom line of the business at the cost of increasing e-waste and its impact on our planet. There needs to be a movement from a linear economy in which we take, make and waste to a circular economy. Complete circularity may be hard to achieve in all instances, repairing an item is an alternative that can reduce what ends up in the landfills. “Repair is such a low hanging fruit” says our guest Darren Cotton, Executive Director of The Tool Library.
The Tool Library is an all-volunteer nonprofit tool-lending library based on the mantra that cost shouldn’t be a barrier to fix up one’s home, grow food, or improve the community. Tools can range anywhere from hammers, screwdrivers, and shovels to power drills, circular saws, and sanders. Individuals and businesses can donate tools to the program which will then be circulated throughout the neighborhood for a small annual membership fee.Thus, people looking for an alternative to buying expensive tools that get little use now have this resource at their disposal. In addition, The Tool Library collaborates with the City of Buffalo to host once a month Repair Cafe, where volunteers help individuals repair an item that would have otherwise ended in the landfill. Learn more about this impactful non - profit organization in this episode.
circulareconimy
lineareconomy
mindfulbusinesses
repairability
repaircafe
righttorepair
thetoollibrary
https://thetoollibrary.org/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Repairing an item is an achievable and straightforward path to achieve sustainability goals. This "concept" is becoming more and more apparent with Right to Repair legislations being passed as laws in some states in the US and countries worldwide. In January 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Digital Fair Repair Act, a law that will increase the consumers ability to repair some electronics and reduce the e-wastes that end up in the landfills. In this context, we wanted to share an episode that we had aired earlier to showcase this business that in their CEO Gordon Smith's words "we don't manufacture - we re-manufacture." Learn more in this episode.
We talked with Sagent's CEO Gordon Smith about how Sagent works to reduce the environmental impact by lowering emissions, pollution, and energy investment. They do it a) by repairing and refurbishing networks they extend the useful equipment life with telecom repair services b) by maintaining an industry-leading network test, repair, and maintenance facility. They have expert technicians who perform network repair services, system-level testing and component-level repairs and extend the life of telecom equipment. They repair more than 850,000 devices annually, across 100,000 SKUs, from over 100 manufacturers - all with a 96% yield rate and standard repair cycle time of two weeks.
They deliver equipment repair services that give insight into your network to help reduce avoidable repairs. For each repair, they capture and report on the root cause of each failure and can pinpoint the means to avoid it in the future. Their software developed specifically for network operators tracks failure data at both macro and micro levels. It monitors data failure trends by geography, site location, technician responsibility, OEM platform and specific part numbers to deliver actionable data to help prevent future incidents. Rather than recycle network assets, Sagent Insights can develop a systematic program to reuse network assets and delay additions to the e-waste stream, by recycling and disposing of components only after they have achieved maximum service life. Learn more in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://sagent.net/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
digitalfairrepairact #ewaste #landfill #mindfulbusinesses #repairability #righttorepair #sagent
"No Mow May..." in Buffalo, NY was an cooperative effort by neighbors, municipalities, and counties to stop residents from mowing their lawns for month to help pollinators such as bees survive and help their population grow. Pollinators are an integral part of the global food supply. This episode delves into how the bee population has been affected by commercial and large scale farming practices. This summer, as we work in our gardens and pesky bee buzzes around you, if possible, take a pause to think about the role they play in our environment and food supply. Learn more about bees in this episode.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Next time we grab a packet of honey to add to our tea - we should stop and think how a commodity so valuable and nutritionally dense is given for free. According to Douglas Raggio, founder of Pass The Honey, 70% of all honey is not pure. There is rampant fraud and honey is adulterated by blending with sugar syrups or many other methods of adulteration. In order to address this level of fraud in the industry, Pass the Honey establishes trusting partnerships directly with beekeeper suppliers so we know how our honeycomb was produced and have full traceability and transparency from beekeeper to consumer.
Fake honey, deceives consumers and floods markets with a cheap product, driving honey prices so low beekeepers are having a hard time staying in business. The beekeepers have had to find alternate sources of livelihood, such as pollination services, that require them to travel far and wide to help farmers pollinate their crops. This further causes stress to the bees and they lose 45% of their bee population every year because of this movement. Why do the farmers require this service? Learn more about this and the importance of bees in our food systems in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://passthehoney.com/pages/about-us
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
regenerativeagriculture
beekeeping #nomowmay
sustainbleagriculture
passthehoney
With summer fast approaching, sipping a glass of wine, we wondered about the practices of vineyards - a highly competitive and commercialized industry. Around the same time we were pitched for an interview by Ehlers Estate for an interview with their General Manager and Winemaker. In our conversation with several of the mindful business leaders, we sought insights into the economics of running a sustainable and profitable business. The strategies that they use to achieve sustainable goals and still be profitable.
In this episode we talk with Laura Díaz Muñoz, Winemaker and GM of Ehlers Estate about her journey from a food scientist to a winemaker and a sustainable one at that. Ehlers is one of the oldest wineries in North America established in 1886 by a German immigrant Bernard Ehlers. Ehlers Estate wines are certified organic in 2009, but that was not enough for them, they went on to practice regenerative farming. Using nature to help solve nature's problems with minimal or no intervention. Interventions whether it be in the yeast or sulphurs in their heritage wine, use of fungicide or pesticides. They employ innovative techniques to reduce water consumption during irrigation and reuse the water used in the wine making process. In addition, with the use of technology, such as sensors in the soil they can determine accurately how much to irrigate the vines, further conserving water, a scarce resource. In this enjoyable conversation with Laura Díaz Muñoz, her passion for saving the heritage vines and artistically creating wine blends that bring out the flavor and aroma of each fruit in the blend. But for me, the cherry on the top of this business is that this for - profit business is part of the charitable trust Leducq Foundation - an international grant making organization to support research in cardiovascular disease and stroke. Learn more about this mindful business on this episode of Mindful Business.
https://www.ehlersestate.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
sustainablewines #sustainablefarming #wines #wineplague #deliucqfoundation #delucq #mindfulbusinesses #ehlersestate
When Jodi Bakst and Cor Rademaker, co - founders of Circular Design Consultants had the opportunity to develop oa piece of land in North Carolina, they had the vision to make it North Carolina’s first net-zero neighborhood. They put this vision to pen and paper to create Array Sustainable Design and bring to market a twelve lot neighborhood on 60 acres, in picturesque Orange County, North Carolina. In this episode they share how their homes are energy efficient and the challenges that they faced in creating this project. They sell individual lots to buyers who can build custom homes abiding by the neighborhood’s covenants. They believe developments like their net-zero neighborhoods will be the neighborhood of the future and they are excited to be the first of its kind in North Carolina. Listen to this lively and passionate couple on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
Mentions:
Array Sustainable Living
GAF Energy
Timberline Solar
Eric Corey Freed
netzero, #mindfulbusinesses, #solar, #GAF, #sustainabledesign, #aarayliving
https://arraysustainableliving.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We talk with Shameek Ghosh, co-founder of Trustrace a platform that brings traceability and transparency to the fashion brands such as #Adidas, #Decathalon, and #FjällRaven. It all started when one of his coworkers/friend decided to return to India from Sweden to take over his ancestral property. His friend was dismayed at the destruction that the fashion industry had caused to the lands owned by his family for three generations in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, India. When they started to talk to leading sustainable brands in Sweden to see if they collaborate with factories in India, they were hesitant to work with companies 1000s of miles away as they wouldn’t be able to control the products and quality. After talking to these brands they developed a B2B SaaS platform that empowers fashion and textile brands to fully understand and take responsibility for the social and environmental impact of their supply chains. The company is the one-stop platform for brands aiming to solve major challenges of sustainability, compliance, and transparency in the supply chains. They track transactions and scope certificates in a standardized, digital format using an AI-driven platform. Brands can get granular visibility into the chain of custody and gather evidence needed to meet compliance requirements. And furthermore they can see the status of the materials and goods as they move through the supply chain. Learn more about this fascinating AI driven platform on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://trustrace.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Mindfulbusinesses #Saas #Traceability #trustrace #supplychain
Receiving a gift makes people happy, incentivizes and motivates employees, and builds corporate morale. Businesses give gifts for various reasons - a promotion, to say thank you, reaching a milestone or even”just because”. The businesses try their level best to match the gift to the employees tastes. That can be a daunting task for the gifter. Loop and Tie aims at making corporate gifting intentional, sustainable and an opt-in gift experience. They have observed that with the opt-in gifting, the receiver can choose the gift of their liking. It helps businesses send unique, elevated gifts that help your brand stand out — and make a difference doing it. Loop and Tie are the first and only carbon regenerative gifting platform. For every gift shipped, through their land restoration and regenerative agriculture initiatives make a net positive carbon impact. Their gifts are thoughtfully sourced from independent creators, makers, and artisans. They even have a gift-it-forward capabilities that allow the receiver to support charities, non-profits, or causes that matter most to them. Learn more about giving sustainable from the Founder and CEO of Loop and Tie, Sara Rodell on the latest episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://www.loopandtie.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
sustainablegifting, #mindfulbusinesses, #loopandtie, #Carbonpositive, #corporategifting, #gifting #employeemorale
The cement industry puts out 8% of the world’s CO2 emissions, but having said that, it is very durable and technically made with natural materials. As we go along this journey to build a sustainable home, we look into options to reduce the consumption of cement and therefore concrete in our home. We delve into the techniques to build a strong and dry foundation or basement that can withstand the upward ground water pressure and the thrust from the ground on the side walls with minimal cement consumption. A sustainable house begins with a good system to envelop the home to minimize heat loss and energy consumption. Besides insulation and construction techniques we look to windows and how they can help us in creating a tightly sealed home. A well-designed and thought-through window placement design can also help us with solar gain and create desired airflows in the home reducing costs of heating and cooling the home. What are the factors to consider when selecting a foundation or window technology? We learn more from our expert Eric Corey Freed, LEED Fellow Principal, Director of Sustainability at Cannon Design on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://www.cannondesign.com/people/eric-corey-freed
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
sustainablehome #oursustainablehome #mindfulbusinesses #U-Values #Rvalues #superiorwalls #triplepanewindows #tiltandturn #cementindustry #greenhome
Carbon cycle occurs naturally in nature during photosynthesis. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen and when animals consume the plants they release the carbon dioxide that is again absorbed by the plants. Human activities put out more carbon than nature can handle. We have to use every possible way to absorb this excess carbon from the atmosphere. Soil is an excellent source to capture and sequester carbon.
In this episode we talk with the son of a generational farmer, Robin Salouks of eAgronom, who uses technology to provide solutions that encourage farmers to operate smarter and sustainably. eAgronom helps farmers monitor and verify sustainable practices, generate carbon credits, increase agricultural efficiency, and gain better access to financing in the future. They use data and technology to inform the farmers about the soil conditions and help them get financing to adopt sustainable farming practices. They then help the farmers sell their carbon credits in the carbon market thus helping them off set some of the costs of changing to sustainable farming. Learn more about this win-win solution from the founder and CEO of Eagronom Robin Salouks.
https://www.eagronom.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
carboncapture
sustainablefarming
Carboncredit
humous
carbonfarming
Carbonsequestration
mindfulbusinessespodcast
eagronom
Majority of the conversation around fashion waste revolves around finished products that end up in the landfill. But around 12 % that is around 6.3 million tonnes per year is sent by brands to the landfill in the design and development stage. These would be sample booklets with swatches and unused fabric rolls and prior to Fabscrap they ended up in the landfill. We talk with Jessica Schreiber CEO and founder of FabScrap, a non-profit whose 80% of earned income comes from service fees and fabric sales. They receive service fees from brands to Fabscrap to pick up their textile waste, similar to when they pay for recycling or trash pickup. They do this with an army of volunteers, almost 100 unique ones per month and their staff in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Their staff take extra precautions to assure brands that their copyrighted materials are shredded and don’t reenter the market. Fabscrap also sells the fabrics to quilters, sewing enthusiasts, fashion students and assuring nothing that is picked up by Fabscrap goes to the landfill. With the long-term goal to influence habit and policy they create impact reports that they share back with their brands - how much and what fabric they picked and how was it sorted and if reused or not. Jessica believes that this makes the brands internalize the cost of their waste and may help them reevaluate and optimize their design and planning process. Learn more about this first of its kind initiative and organization on this episode of Mindful businesses.
textilewaste
mindfulbusinesses
sustainablefashion
fabricwaste
fabscrap
sustainablefashion
This week we revisit an episode on innovative pumped energy storage with RheEnergise!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Energy systems need to decarbonise to prevent climate change. There are many solutions to generate energy without using fossil-fuels, but renewable sources of energy are intermittent, depending on how long the sun shines, number of windy days per week - leading to a mismatch between supply and consumer demand. Energy needs to be stored to match the demand with the supply. Presently energy produced is stored in hydroelectric pumps by pumping it up and releasing it as demanded. RheEnergise is bringing innovation to pumped energy storage, with a solution called High-Density Hydro®. They use a fluid with 2.5x the density of water, that means they can generate 2.5 times the energy generated by water and they can be installed on small hills instead of mountains. This opens up a number of feasible locations to store this energy - sites where you are not dependent on rainfall or a water source and hills instead of mountains. Learn more of this fascinating invention that will help us decarbonize energy production from Stephen Crosher, CEO of RheEnergise.
https://www.rheenergise.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
energystorage, #decarbonising, #sustainablenergy, #renewableenergy #mindfulbusinesses
Oil spills in our world where engines are omnipresent are almost inevitable. Larger accidental spills on land and water have catastrophic effects on the environment, plant and animal life. Ironically some of the industrial spill clean-up solutions often used may not always be eco-friendly. SaveSorb is a totally natural, sustainable plant material. Using sphagnum peat moss in a proprietary method, it is dried, sieved, blended and pH balanced to create the most effective absorbent of hydrocarbons (oil based compounds) and chemicals available.
SaveSorb absorbs almost all hydrocarbons, chemicals and their vapors. It encapsulates them within its molecular structure and will not leach contaminants into the environment, even under pressure SaveSorb is very safe to handle. In its natural state our product partially absorbs the fumes, making it useful for cleaning up small spills containing flammable liquids.
SaveSorb is available as a loose product in bags and in a variety of manufactured products from Spill Kits, absorbent mats and socks. Listen to the world renown jockey turned entrepreneur who seized the opportunity when he was introduced to this “miracle-product”.
https://savesorb.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
oilspill #sustainablesolutions #ecofriiendly #ecofriiendlycleanup #sphagnumpeatmoss #mindfulbusinesses #savesorb
As we sip our daily cup of tea, we may wonder how and where it was grown and its impact on our planet. Tea production impacts our planet and people on several layers. The farming practices employed, wages paid, living conditions of the workers and its overall impact on our planet. In 2006, Numi Organic Teas was one of the founding (amongst 30 businesses) to be certified as a B corp. They had been mindful of how and from whom they source their organic teas, procuring them from Fair Trade and Verified Labor farms, but they knew they had to do more.
The realization that there can be no tea without water - clean drinking water, made the brother and sister team, Ahmed Rahim and Reem Hassani, co-founders of Numi Organic Tea introspect the purpose of their company.They launched “Together For H2OPE” - a nonprofit program bringing clean, safe drinking water to tea farming communities around the world.
The journey from farm to cup requires raw materials, packaging, transportation and water for steeping. They established a “Climate Action Plan” with a detailed, measurable process to reduce and offset the impact of Numi Organic Teas on the planet. Climate action can’t wait. Numi is committed to giving you the tools to fight climate change, starting with their Carbon Footprint Label. In this episode we have Reem Hassani, who shares the vision and mission of Numi Organic Teas. Listen and learn.
https://numitea.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
tea #tealover #floraltea #teas #fairtrade #sustainablefarming #mindfulnusinesses #numitea
As a way of welcoming Spring let's learn about composting, specially curbside composting. The result - a beautiful rich soil ready for your spring planting. Let's hear more in this episode.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Black Earth Compost was founded in January 2011, in Gloucester, MA. Originally a one man, one truck, Cape Ann company, it has steadily grown to become the leading full-service compost company in New England. With over 25 trucks, they are dedicated to collecting food scraps from residents, schools, supermarkets, colleges, and more, all across eastern MA and RI. They are also the only vertically integrated company that composts the material too, returning it to customers and selling it in garden centers across Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. They are your one-stop-shop for all your organic waste collection or garden soil needs.
In this episode, we talk with Conor Miller, Partner, CEO of Black Earth Composting as he shares his journey and how the business had to pivot during the pandemic to moving from commercial pick-ups to residential pick-ups and compost delivery. Learn more in this episode.
garden #eco friendly #sustainability #greenliving #sustainablecooking #soil #dirt #rhodeisland #foodwaste×#newengland #composting #compost #gardening #zero waste #sustainable #planting #gloucestermassachussetts #organicwaste×
The risk assessments that governments and corporations make to encourage marginalized to uplift communities, have themselves become a hurdle to the assistance that they wish to provide. Honnold foundations wishes to fill that gap by partnering closely with nonprofits in a space where their needs are too small for governments and not profitable enough for businesses. The Honnold Foundation was founded by professional rock climber Alex Honnold in 2012. After a rock climbing expedition around the world, he decided to focus his giving on solar energy - as it was so tangible.
They engage and collaborate with these communities to expand equitable solar access. The Honnold Foundation is a proud partner with community-based organizations all over the world who are using solar energy to improve lives and reduce environmental impact. They partner with communities in Africa, Americas, Asia and in th eNative AMerican communities in North America. Native Renewables empowers Native American families to achieve energy independence by growing renewable energy capacity and affordable access to off-grid power. To learn more about this truly mindful and giving philanthropy listen to Emily Teitsworth, Executive Director of Honnold foundation, in our latest episode.
https://www.honnoldfoundation.org/
www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
solarenergy #marginalizedcommunities #mindfulbusinesses #honnoldfoundation
We just heard that “the Delhi High Court has granted an injunction in favor of Barefoot College restraining Barefoot College International (BCI) from using “Barefoot College” (and the two-feet logo) for any purpose whatsoever. More specifically, the Court has restrained BCI from continued use of the domain name www.barefootcollege.org. Further, the Court has also forbidden BCI from using “Barefoot College” as part of their company name.” We are happy for our guests who feel vindicated. On this occasion, we would like to re-air this very thought provoking and powerful episode.
Most US elementary school students learn about photosynthesis in their science class. The process is very simple - chlorophyll in the leaves and green stems absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. It is nature's elegant way of capturing carbon dioxide. Carbon cycle is where humans and human activities put out carbon dioxide and processes such as photosynthesis absorb it. But when the NET carbon dioxide into the atmosphere exceeds what is absorbed - that to the extent of 30 - 50 gigatons of carbon dioxide, then we have a problem on our hands. Observing and learning from nature our guests Beth McDaniel, President and Dr. Steve McDaniel, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of Reactive Surfaces try to replicate the carbon capture process in nature in their solution. They have created coatings that can be applied to surfaces to capture carbon - just like nature does it with leaves and stems. Using polymeric materials thinly spread on a surface, adhere to the surface and then cured. These surfaces when exposed to sunlight, will photosynthesise, capturing and fixing carbon, using the photosynthetic process to carbohydrate. To learn more about this truly fascinating solution listen to our latest episode of Mindful Businesses.
Mentions:
Embassy Row Project - Envirotech Pre - accelerator
Xprize
Musk Foundation
climatechange #carboncapture #carbonsequestration #mindfulbusinesses #reactivesurfaces #photosythesis #learnfromnature #sustainablematerials
https://reactivesurfaces.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We have this love-hate relationship with plastic. It is versatile, durable, light-weight and used in a multitude of applications. How do we recover and give this plastic a second life or third life?
Today we have with us Doug Woodring, Founder and Managing Director of the Ocean Recovery Alliance - Bringing Creative Surprise to Environmental Engagement. Ocean Recovery Alliance is focused on entrepreneuring programs to reduce plastic pollution, both on land and water, by creating strategic solutions for governments, industry and communities which lead to long-term, hands-on business practices that engage. They purposefully design programs to educate, build awareness and provide solutions which inspire positive societal change at the community, national and international levels. We learn more about their initiatives such as their global app that crowd sources and alerts authorities about trash on land along waterways. They have worked with cosmetic companies such as LUSH to help them look at their products and how they can reduce the plastic - for instance by eliminating glitter from all their products. Learn more of such efforts by the non-profit Ocean Recovery Project on this episode.
Mentions:
Ricron Panels
Lush Cosmetics
https://www.oceanrecov.org/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We decided to re-air this episode on Valentine's Day. A gift that keeps giving - maybe order a unique piece of jewelry for someone you care.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________This episode has two parts - in part one, we talk with Amy Peterson, the co-founder of Rebel Nell about her inspiration and motivation to start Rebel Nell. While living next to a homeless shelter in Detroit, MI, she got to learn up-close the women who lived there and their challenges. One day out on a jog she finds a piece of graffiti that she envisioned could be repurposed into meaningful wearable art. A fusion of these two ideas gave birth to Rebel Nell. Amy with her co-founder Diana Roginson started Rebel Nell in 2013 with the mission to provide employment, equitable opportunity, and wraparound support for women with barriers to employment. They seek to embolden women, to embrace their infinite strength, and to define their own future.
They partner with local organizations to seek out women who have struggled to find and retain employment. Their goal is to help the women move from a life of dependence to one of self-reliance, overcoming barriers to employment through the fruits of their own labor. Rebel Nell’s product line starts with repurposing graffiti, after it has fallen off the walls.
These are women who when hired have no background in jewelry become creative designers who make incredibly intricate and unique piece each one more beautiful than the next. In the part two we chat with one such woman - Ethel Rucker, Production Lead at Rebel Nell.
In addition to on-the-job training and guidance on how to make jewelry, Rebel Nell also provides them with life management, financial training and business education to make sure they have the confidence and knowledge that will enable them to leave homelessness/dependence behind permanently and move forward as strong independent women. Listen to this powerful story in this episode.
https://www.rebelnell.com/
To hire Ethel Rucker for your next photoshoot contact her via her website https://harteclectic.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
The Nobel prize winning economist Dr. Milton Friedman, said the business of a business is making money - but within the acceptable social norms. Dr. Raghuram Rajan, Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at Chicago Booth School and he was the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, looks into how “social norms” have changed and how the businesses need to adapt to adopt sustainable practices. May it be their impact on the planet, how they treat their employees and or make their products. He talks about how there needs to be regulations to guide and help the corporations to achieve these goals.
Further, with countries setting goals for netzero, how can we actually have a plan that is accountable and works. Dr. Rajan proposes a global incentive scheme to reduce carbon emissions. On April 19th, 2022 he presented this solution to The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action that required countries who exceed the per capita global country average for carbon emissions, estimated at 5 tons, will pay to a global carbon incentive fund. He calls this payment Global Carbon Incentives (GCI). He further explains - “this annual payment would be calculated by multiplying the excess emissions per capita by the country’s population and a dollar amount called the Global Carbon Incentive. So if the country’s population is 30 million, its per capita emission in 17 tons, and the GCI is set at $10, it would pay $30 million(17-5)10= $3.6 billion. Countries below the global per capita average would receive a payout commensurate with their “under-emission”.
This fund could be managed by a quasi government agency like the World Bank. Mindful Businesses is one of the first media outlets to share Dr. Rajan’s solution. Listen to it in our latest episode.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raghuram_Rajan
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Mentions:
Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.
Angad Daryani - Founder - Praan
Ram Palaniappan - Founder of Earnin
www.instagram.com/mindful_businesses_podcast
www.facebook.com/Mindfulbusinesses
raghuramrajan, #globalcarbonincentive, #carbonemmissions, #greenhousegases, #SDGs
Rainforests are the earth’s lungs and forests are a huge part of the solution to climate change. But on the other hand, wood is considered a sustainable and renewable raw material. How is that so? We ask these questions to Jonathan Orpin, the Founder of Pioneer Millworks, a company truly focused on the triple bottom line. I visited their plant in Farmington, NY to see firsthand how they work as a team.
In these tumultuous times of mass layoffs, we have to introspect as to what makes a business successful. Pioneer Millworks operates on a simple belief that people, planet, and profit work to ensure a better future - Pioneer Millworks operates on the triple bottom line. In terms of the products they carry - they reclaim wood from abandoned or structures about to be torn down and give them a new life by creating marketable products. On average we process 1,062,000 board feet of reclaimed wood yearly—by reclaiming and reusing, has been saved from ending up in landfills. The new wood is harvested sustainably with minimal impact on the forests and the local communities. Pioneer Millworks offers a variety of sustainable, fairly priced options for consumers seeking a sustainable wood source. One especially fascinating product is Shou Sugi Ban, that uses the Japanese age-old technique of scorching wood. This technique makes the wood resist rot and insects in a sustainable manner and most of the options last for decade without requiring refinishing.
On the people front, Jonathan talks about how a well-thought-out succession plan is part of good corporate governance. With that in mind, they are currently a 30% employee-owned company (an ESOP) working toward being 100% employee-owned. Learn more in this episode of Mindful Business, about how a company can focus on people and the planet, and still be prosperous.
sustainableforests, #reclaimedwood, #ESOP, #minfulbusinesses, #pioneermillworks, #FSCcertfied, #Triplebottomline, #shousugiban, #reclaimedtimber
https://pioneermillworks.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
www.instagram.com/mindful_businesses_podcast
www.facebook.com/Mindfulbusinesses
In the winter of 2012, I had the good fortune of visiting Barefoot College Tilonia - located in Tilonia, Rajasthan, India. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that visit was indeed life-transforming. The Barefoot College founded by Mr. Bunker Roy in 1972, is a community-based grassroots organization working to make marginalized communities sustainable and self-sufficient. sHe believes in the Gandhian philosophy that knowledge, skills and wisdom found in the villages should be used for their own development.
Though he went to the prestigious Doon School and St. Stephens College, he realized the wealth of wisdom in rural India (Bharath) needs to be harnessed and showcased.. The Barefoot College's one program in particular - Solar Mamas is filled with inspiring stories. Of women from around the globe who come to an unfamiliar country, where they don't understand the language, culture or food. These women come to become solar engineers. They come as mothers and grandmas, and return back as tigers - electrifying their villages with solar lamps. How do these illiterate women who have never left their villages become solar engineers? Listen to learn more in our latest episode.
https://www.barefootcollegetilonia.org/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
barefootcollegetilonia, #ruralpower, #culturalpreservation, #rajasthan, #tilonia, #Barefoot, #BarefootCollege, #barefootcollegetilonia,
In this episode, we talk with Jackson Wyatt, CEO of CABN - sustainable net-zero homes. We are in an housing crisis where traditionally built homes are slow to built, costly and inefficient. CABN is net-zero housing for everyone to live anywhere, live sustainably, and live connected. In an effort to making net-zero, sustainable homes available to all, CABN uses intelligent building design, fabrication, and assembly to build homes that cost the same as a home build with conventional methods. Using his expertise in manufacturing, shipping, and sustainability, Jackson founded CABN. Working with a team of industry experts, he developed a technology to offer affordable and sustainably-built off-grid housing that can be assembled anywhere, even in difficult-to-construct locations.
CABN's patent-pending Energy Informed Design (EID) process is one of the elements that excite him the most. EID, plus integrated renewable energy, mechanical systems, innovative materials, and building techniques, create a home that is truly the means to rapid, attainable and sustainable housing for anyone, anywhere.
In addition CABN Foundation, a non-profit organization, is committed accessible and affordable housing. It partners with municipalities and developers to bring affordable housing to to remote, low-income and indigenous communities. Learn more about this passionate social entrepreneur in this episode.
https://cabn.co/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
oursustainablehome, #mindfulkbusinesses, #sustainablebuilding, #netzerobuilding, #passivesolargain #affordablehousing #canada
What is a passive house? Is it economically feasible? Today we ask those questions of Matt Bowers of Rochester Passive House Consulting, a
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA) certified Passive House consultant. He gives us lucid and in-depth insights into how to build a passive house or at least an aspirational passive house. He recommends to start with a very tight envelope around the house. This not only reduces energy consumption but it increases durability. Along with this tightly sealed home, it is important to have ventilation to prevent moisture buildup and mold. Passive house principles focus on overall comfort level of a building - home, office or retail space. One of the passive house principles is that there shouldn’t be more than 6 degrees fahrenheit difference between different surfaces. Not only should the temperature be comfortable, it also aspires to have a very quiet home and good indoor air quality. This seemingly complex subject is simplified by Matt in this episode of Mindful Businesses. Take a listen. #passivehouse, #mindfubusinesseses #oursustainablehome #ventilators #solarpanels #energyefficiency
We talk to Patrick Graham, CEO of Unpaste - zero-waste toothpaste. Unpaste is disrupting the toothpaste market with it's Altoids like tablets. It gently polishes your teeth leaving fewer places for bacteria to attach and reducing the formation of plaque and tartar. It is manufactured sustainably with a minimalistic philosophy. Listen more from Patrick. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://unpaste.us/
Each year, industries such as Waste-to-Energy, Cement and Biomass for power generation, send millions of tonnes of thermal residues to landfill. At the same time, these thermal processes produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide that are released into the atmosphere. We talk with Maarten Van Roon, Chief Commercial Officer of Carbon8 Systems. Carbon8 solutions is the result of hard work and persistence of researchers - Dr Paula Carey and Prof. Colin Hills. Carbon8 Systems is the inventor and owner of a chemical process that treats industrial residues, including hazardous waste, using CO2 captured directly from flue gas to transform them into valuable low-carbon products. Through its innovation in engineering, it has developed an on-site containerized solution that operates at industrial sites. Each CO₂ntainer can treat up to 12,000 tonnes of input residue material annually. The innovation views CO₂ and landfill destined residues as resource – ingredients, to engineer valuable, low-carbon products. Listen to learn more.
https://c8s.co.uk/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
** Subscribe to our podcast to learn about our latest episodes
Malai is a newly developed biocomposite material based on Bacterial Cellulose is grown on water from mature coconuts and natural fibers from the banana stem, hemp, and sisal. A duo of designers and material researchers Zuzana Gombosova and Susmith Susheel have for the last 2 years have been based in Kerala where they continue building a pilot manufacturing unit and working on improving material properties and manufacturing processes. The essence of Malai is to find beauty in all-natural and design materials that can come from nature and safely return to it. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://malai.eco/
Icewind strives to be a global impact leader in decentralized energy generation through the democratized use of renewable power. Their vision is to contribute to a clean, efficient, and socially impactful energy solution that can be used by anyone, anywhere in the world.
Here is the link to our website - https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-1
https://www.icewindusa.com/
In this series Mindful Businesses - Our Sustainable Home, we will document the process and the choices a homeowner goes through in making their home sustainable. Not all choices are often ideal - it has to be a balance between what are the viable options available in the market, the cost and the associated capability in implementing the sustainable solutions. We reach out to our earlier guest who so eloquently shares his wisdom. Eric Corey Freed - a Leed Fellow, is the Director of Sustainability at Cannon Design, an architecture firm that creates living centered design, gives a step-by-step guide to make a home sustainable. In this episode we talk about the skeleton of the home - what are the construction methods to build a frame, insulation options and energy solutions. Learn more from the one and only one Eric Corey Freed.
**Mentions - Dandelion Energy, Zip Walls.
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
livingcentereddesign #oursustainablehome #Buffalony #mindfulbusinesses #Buffalo #ZIpwalls #Framebuilding #staggeredstuds #dandelionenergy #solarpanels #geothermal #construction #architecture #design #energy
Energy systems need to decarbonise to prevent climate change. There are many solutions to generate energy without using fossil-fuels, but renewable sources of energy are intermittent, depending on how long the sun shines, number of windy days per week - leading to a mismatch between supply and consumer demand. Energy needs to be stored to match the demand with the supply. Presently energy produced is stored in hydroelectric pumps by pumping it up and releasing it as demanded. RheEnergise is bringing innovation to pumped energy storage, with a solution called High-Density Hydro®. They use a fluid with 2.5x the density of water, that means they can generate 2.5 times the energy generated by water and they can be installed on small hills instead of mountains. This opens up a number of feasible locations to store this energy - sites where you are not dependent on rainfall or a water source and hills instead of mountains. Learn more of this fascinating invention that will help us decarbonize energy production from Stephen Crosher, CEO of RheEnergise.
https://www.rheenergise.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
energystorage, #decarbonising, #sudtainablenergy, #renewableenergy #mindfukbusinesses
Co-founder Rahul Choudhary of Ricron Panels talks about the motivation and the process of converting toothpaste and candy wrappers into a great cost-effective substitute for plywood and MDF. Join us on his journey. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.ricron.com/
In this episode we talk with Greg Johnson, co-founder and CEO of AquiPor. AquiPor's unique permeable concrete material in conjunction with proprietary engineering technology can transform traditional hard surfaces into stormwater infiltration corridors.The technology utilizes inherently low carbon “cement” and upcycled industrial minerals. This new concrete technology eliminates the need for CO2 emitting cement plants.
AquiPor’s permeable concrete technology not only manages stormwater naturally, but our material utilizes an inherently low-carbon cement that requires a fraction of the energy and emits a fraction of the CO2 than that of traditional concrete. By developing solutions such as these, AquiPor is not only addressing climate change, but making our communities more resilient, but also bringing better economics to our physical infrastructure systems. Learn more in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://aquipor.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
How do we know what forest comprises and value them? Presently the forests are inventoried using on the ground foresters data collected by them in 3-5 year cycles.This data collection is costly and often outdated with a large margin of error. Data is also collected by one - off scans, LIDAR and drones can be quickly outdated or has limited accuracy. Relying on conventional methods can lead to large errors in forest valuation, as these methods can be up to 60% inaccurate.
In this episode we talk with Rolf Schmitz, Co - CEO of Collective Crunch - AI Leader in Forestry. CollectiveCrunch originated from the idea that we could make a difference by combining climate and geo data with state-of-the-art analytics to develop new insights.Their mission is to change the world’s understanding of forests by providing the most accurate, scalable, timely analytics globally and enabling sustainable forestry and bring transparency to carbon trading markets. As we know Carbon trading essentially involves using carbon reductions in another activity to offset a company’s own emissions. Forestry is a popular and efficient method of capturing carbon and extracting carbon from the atmosphere. By applying the solutions offered by collective crunch to forests, gives companies upto date and accurate insights into their carbon stocks. Their tool Linda Planet makes carbon analytics transparent and provides you with up-to-date carbon inventories, giving corporate carbon investors the tool they need to enable investment on the scale required in order to mitigate the climate risks we are facing. Learn more how AI can be used to help us accurately buy carbon offsets in this episode.
https://www.collectivecrunch.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
The question we ask - why was meat production industrialized instead plant-based meat production. Plant based meat is far more eco-friendly that meat production. We speak with Christie Lagally, CEO of Rebellyous Foods, who states that most plant-based meat until now were primarily using processes and methods that were an extension of how we would make them in a kitchen. She got to rethink the chicken nugget from the ground up - and build a better one. This means tackling the insanely hard work of rethinking the way our food is made. Christie, an aerospace engineer and her team of talented engineers are developed the Mock Two - the most advanced plant-based meat manufacturing system on the planet, to make the best tasting nugget. Listen to her passion making a great tasting product along with her compassion for the planet and people.
https://www.rebellyous.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
fortheplanet, #innovativematerials, #mindfulbusinesses, #planbasedfoods, #rebellyousfoods, #sustianablefoodproduction, #vegan, #vegetarian,
Nature is the best teacher. Imagine we use the power power of nature to create a more sustainable, safer, and healthier world. Imagine there existed a fabric that repels bugs, dirt, viruses, eliminates bad odors, self-cleans, and repels stains naturally. That is what Moonlight Technologies strives to create. 100% natural, sustainable, and carbon negative technologies for fabrics, surfaces, and hardgoods that protect and enhance people's lives worldwide. In this episode we talk with Allie Sutton, CEO and Dr. Phyllis Levine, Global Medical Director of Moonlight Technologies who share their vision and passion of using plant extracts to improve lives by empowering humans to live more freely using nature’s innate abilities, Moonlight Technologies consists of an experienced team of doctors, scientists and entrepreneurs focused on providing sustainable innovation to the world. Together they have created:
1) EcoArmor - kills 99% of all bacteria, viruses, mold and fungus
2) Inspectproof - 100% plant based insect and pest repellent technology that repel mosquitos, fleas, ants, ticks, and mites
3) Ordorsafe - plant based odor eliminating and antimicrobial technology that permanently destroys all types of bad odors on fabrics
4) Mindfully Clean – self-cleaning technology that keeps the treated articles fresh and regardless of use
5) Natural and organic dyes – naturally derived, sustainable color-fast natural dyes.
Learn more about this fascinating invention and how it may change our lives forever.
https://www.moonlighttech.co/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
sustainabledyes
Our planet needs greenhouse gases (GHGs) that help trap the heat and keep our planet warm and without which, the earth would be a very cold place. There are four major components of greenhouse gases (GHGs) - Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and fluorinated gasses. But why are GHGs a problem? As the GHGs increases it heats up the planet - even 1.5 degrees C increase is enough to cause significant climate change. What if we take the problem (GHGs) and use it in our solution? That is what exactly AIRCARBON does. We talk with Mark Herrema, the CEO and co-founder of Newlight Technologies, who invented a process that by feeding greenhouse gasses to microorganisms found in the ocean, is able to extract the AirCarbon and use it to replace plastic, leather, acetate and other fibers.When made with renewable power, the production of AIRCARBON is a carbon-negative process, capturing or destroying more CO2e than was emitted to make it. Unlike synthetic materials, the AIRCARBON molecule is a molecule made throughout nature, and can be re-consumed by natural microorganisms like leaves or twigs, enabling life to restore itself.Learn more about this fascinating process on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://www.newlight.com/aircarbon
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
biomaterial #GHGs #sustainablematerial #compostable
We talk with Dr. David Stone, inventor of Ferrock - Carbon Negative Building Material. David as a doctoral candidate, at the Arizona State University, researched on how to prevent iron from rusting. It is especially challenging where iron exposed to humidity and oxygen in our atmosphere returns to its natural state - rust. During experimenting with silica as a rust-inhibitor, he saw the silica and rust reacting and bubbling. When cooled this compound became a very hard substance and David realized it could be a used as a substitute for cement. David disclosed his invention and has received a patent. What had caused this chemical reaction? What had caused this chemical reaction? Learn more on this episode.
N.B. Ferrock is at the moment seeking investors. David can be reached at davidstone@ironshellmaterials.com
We talk with Dr. David Stone, inventor of Ferrock - Carbon Negative Building Material. David as a doctoral candidate, at the Arizona State University, researched on how to prevent iron from rusting. It is especially challenging where iron exposed to humidity and oxygen in our atmosphere returns to its natural state - rust. During experimenting with silica as a rust-inhibitor, he saw the silica and rust reacting and bubbling. When cooled this compound became a very hard substance and David realized it could be a used as a substitute for cement. David disclosed his invention and has received a patent. What had caused this chemical reaction? What had caused this chemical reaction? Learn more on this episode.
N.B. Ferrock is at the moment seeking investors. David can be reached at davidstone@ironshellmaterials.com
We speak with John Salzinger founder and Seungah Jeong CEO of MPOWERD, about their company mission and passion to give back. In 2012 MPOWERD created Luci, the first inflatable solar light with the goal of making an affordable clean energy product that people could use in any situation. They create sustainable, affordable, and thoughtfully designed products that suit the needs of the many. The belief that everyone deserves access to clean, reliable and affordable energy, no matter how or where they live has driven them to create their sustainable products. For over 3 billion people, everyday tasks are made more difficult (and dangerous) than they should be. Access to clean energy can improve health, create education equality, economic empowerment, all the while combating climate change.
As a B Corp, they use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. As a social enterprise, they reinvest a majority of their gross revenue to achieve sustainability, increase their reach to enable them to fulfill their mission. Aside from the Give Luci Program - which donates lights to their partners - their sustainable business model means that the more they sell here at home, the more affordable they can sell to emerging markets and nonprofits. As a member of the American Sustainable Business Council along with other members like Patagonia, Ben and Jerry's, Greyston Bakery, Avocado Green Mattress, advocate for policy change and inform business owners, policymakers, and the public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant, broadly prosperous, sustainable economy. Listen to their journey in this episode.
https://mpowerd.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-links
We speak with John Salzinger founder and Seungah Jeong CEO of MPOWERD, about their company mission and passion to give back. In 2012 MPOWERD created Luci, the first inflatable solar light with the goal of making an affordable clean energy product that people could use in any situation. They create sustainable, affordable, and thoughtfully designed products that suit the needs of the many. The belief that everyone deserves access to clean, reliable and affordable energy, no matter how or where they live has driven them to create their sustainable products. For over 3 billion people, everyday tasks are made more difficult (and dangerous) than they should be. Access to clean energy can improve health, create education equality, economic empowerment, all the while combating climate change.
As a B Corp, they use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. As a social enterprise, they reinvest a majority of their gross revenue to achieve sustainability, increase their reach to enable them to fulfill their mission. Aside from the Give Luci Program - which donates lights to their partners - their sustainable business model means that the more they sell here at home, the more affordable they can sell to emerging markets and nonprofits. As a member of the American Sustainable Business Council along with other members like Patagonia, Ben and Jerry's, Greyston Bakery, Avocado Green Mattress, advocate for policy change and inform business owners, policymakers, and the public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant, broadly prosperous, sustainable economy. Listen to their journey in this episode.
https://mpowerd.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-links
What if there was a new kind of data center that could directly warm homes and heat hot water, instead of a gas boiler?
One that could use the energy used in cloud computing, not once but twice, and also take away the need for the additional energy used for cooling? That is exactly Thermify's innovation does. Using energy, twice. We talk with Garry Felgate Chair & Energy Lead at Thermify. The technology was invented by Adam Pulley in 2009 and Thermify is bringing to the UK market at the price comparable to heating a home with 2019 oil prices. From helping the environment to keeping senior citizens warm to offering relief for low-income families struggling to pay for their heat, to companies looking for environmentally friendly alternatives for their data centers, everyone benefits from joining this green revolution.
Thermify is committed to reducing the pressure on our environment, and on the pockets of our most vulnerable in society. Learn more about this win-win innovation in this episode.
https://thermify.cloud/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-1
Countries must meet their sustainability goals and head towards net-zero. These goals cannot be achieved in silos but need cooperation, trust, and partnerships. We bring two such sustainable start-ups which are from adjacent industries with one firm goal – to reduce the carbon emissions and air pollutants from the air. Today we speak with Angad Daryani – CEO and founder of Praan – Clean Air For all, and Tejas Sidnal – founder of Carbon Craft Design – Upcycled Carbon Tiles.
Praan captures the carbon with the world’s most advanced, low-cost, filterless, and artificially intelligent outdoor air purification system. Angad who, ranked amongst the top 3 in his class, dropped out of high school in 9th grade - though he stopped formal education, he continued learning and innovating. His passion for sustainability gave rise to the patented innovation that creates hyperlocal clean air zones within open areas on corporate campuses, schools, universities, hotels, hospitals, residential complexes, malls, industrial areas, and more!
Praan captures the CO2 and carbon particulates that they hand over to Carbon Craft Designs who then creates tiles. Each tile prevents 15 minutes of car pollution - 5 kgs of carbon - dioxide equivalents. Carbon Craft Design strives to be at the intersection of Craft, Design, and Technology with the sole aim of building scalable solutions. Tejas, a practicing architect, talks about the fact that the world builds twelve New Yorks every year. Its impact and his role as an architect and being part of the problem made him uneasy. He decided to do something about it and reduce the impact of new construction projects by developing carbon-neutral building materials. A chance meeting at a conference in 2016 and mutual respect brought Angad Daryani and Tejas Sidnal to collaborate to bring their solutions to market. Listen to this energetic duos' passion and story in this episode.
https://www.carboncraftdesign.com/
https://www.praan.io/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
When Tharun Kumar saw the lake where his housing complex empties their sewage burn for 14 hours non-stop, he decided to do something about it. He started asking around and realized that the overburdened municipalities had transferred the sewage treatment responsibilities to the home owners. We chat with Tharun Kumar, founder and CEO of EcoSTP Technologies - an IT professional who wanted to be the person who not just talks about change but brings about change. He did so by starting a mission-driven company that uses existing sustainable practices and knowledge to treat sewage and delivers executable DIY kits to home owners. Using biomimicry, regenerative innovation inspired by nature, the ECOSTP utilizes functional principles and strategies of microorganisms and ecosystems found in a cow’s stomach. Using gravity and anaerobic bacteria ECOSTP it treats sewage without the use of pumps/blowers used in conventional sewage treatment plants to convert sewage water into clear water. Their system overall has lower operational and maintenance costs and its flexible design can be adapted even in existing housing complexes and in new developments.
ECOSTP addresses six UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is selected as a Best Practice case study for United Nations ESCAP SDG Sustainability Asia Pac report. Learn more in this episode.
http://www.ecostp.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Every year, 15 Million trees are cut down to produce paper, build homes, and make furniture. From this, millions of tons of wood waste are generated annually. A portion of this waste is recovered and sold to downstream markets to make particle board or wood pellets for energy. The remaining sawdust is either burned - contributing to air pollution - or sent to landfill. Though biodegradable, sawdust can be harmful to the environment in large quantities when landfilled. As it decomposes, sawdust releases high concentrations of lignin and fatty acids, which can contaminate water supplies, potentially poisoning wildlife and micro-organisms. We speak with Andrew Jeffery, Co-founder of Forust, by Desktop Metal, uses the power of high-speed, high-resolution 3D printing to give a new life to a discarded resource - creating strong, beautiful and carbon-friendly wood products from wood waste. For each tree saved, we reduce the CO2 footprint by a metric ton over the tree’s life. Learn more in our next episode.
Mentions:
Virginia San Fratello
Ronald Rael
https://www.forust.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
When we initially recorded this episode in June of 2021, our host Vidhya Iyer and Jennifer Zeitler - Founder and CEO of Let’s Goat Buffalo, really connected and promised to visit each other. But little did either one of them know that in a year their paths would cross again - when Vidhya and her family relocate to Buffalo, NY. The two met for the first time this summer, but bonded like old friends. In honor of our new home and friend we decided to re-air this episode - Let's Goat Buffalo.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Let’s Goat Buffalo employs rescued goats to eat unwanted vegetation growth! Whether it’s a residential yard that needs clearing, a commercial property that has become overgrown and high-risk, or a park or highway that has become less accessible to the public, their herds are prepared to help! We chat with the bubbly Jennifer Zeitler - Founder and CEO of Let’s Goat Buffalo, on how she transitioned from Human Resources to goatscaping. The term "goatscaping" means grazing goats to manage vegetation growth in an environmentally sound manner. Goatscaping greatly reduces the use of toxic herbicides, and because the goat digestive process effectively sterilizes seeds and reproductive plant matter, they are an ideal treatment for invasive plants. Let’s Goat Buffalo offers grazing services within suburban, urban and rural environments. By choosing natural treatment, Let's Goat customers are choosing healthier soil, increased biodiversity, and a greener future. Jennifer Zeitler collaborated with a goat dairy farm Alpine Maid and rescued the goats to bring a sustainable solution to remove overgrown brush and weeds. She was also made a How I Built This, fellow, in 2021 by NPR. Come listen now to her journey.
Share this episode with ONE friend!
https://www.letsgoatbuffalo.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
As a corporate leader what if you were told you could increase employee retention by over 30% by using .behavioral and attitudinal nudges to bring improvement in both their commitment to ESG and their own company ecosystem, while keeping their most valuable asset – their people – engaged. With more than a decade of experience, WeSpire employee engagement consultants partner with organizations to create purpose-centric engagement strategies that help turn ambitious impact goals into reality. Each solution is customized to the organizations needs by first having a conversation to helps understand what they would like to achieve as well as your strategy and goals.They uncover and analyze not just the existing initiatives, but also the prevailing attitudes and behaviors that exist in the workplace that may accelerate or hinder success. These transformative behavioral and attitudinal insights help companies by shedding light on the standards and frameworks, and provide strategies for engaging employees around ESG.
https://www.wespire.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We talk with Shameek Ghosh, co-founder of Trustrace a platform that brings traceability and transparency to the fashion brands such as #Adidas, #Decathalon, and #FjällRaven. It all started when one of his coworkers/friend decided to return to India from Sweden to take over his ancestral property. His friend was dismayed at the destruction that the fashion industry had caused to the lands owned by his family for three generations in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, India. When they started to talk to leading sustainable brands in Sweden to see if they collaborate with factories in India, they were hesitant to work with companies 1000s of miles away as they wouldn’t be able to control the products and quality. After talking to these brands they developed a B2B SaaS platform that empowers fashion and textile brands to fully understand and take responsibility for the social and environmental impact of their supply chains. The company is the one-stop platform for brands aiming to solve major challenges of sustainability, compliance, and transparency in the supply chains. They track transactions and scope certificates in a standardized, digital format using an AI-driven platform. Brands can get granular visibility into the chain of custody and gather evidence needed to meet compliance requirements. And furthermore they can see the status of the materials and goods as they move through the supply chain. Learn more about this fascinating AI driven platform on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://trustrace.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Mindfulbusinesses #Saas #Traceability #trustrace #supplychain
This summer when we visited our favorite beach in Indiana - Indiana Dunes National Park - with its immense sand dunes, we were saddened by how much of the beach had been washed away. What used to be a gradual slope from the road to the water , now required a flight of 20 steps to reach the sand. Sand and beaches have always shifted and moved, but why are these shifts different. With climate change and changing weather patterns have increased the wave force and have disrupted the delicate eco-system in our oceans, seas and waterways. Today we speak with Dr. William Bateman, Founder and CEO of CCell, whose fascinating invention helps to build reefs to combat coastal erosion by working with nature to restore a sustainable balance to coastal environments and bring lasting protection to communities around the world.
CCell does it by designing high-tech structures that dampen waves both by inducing turbulence and by causing them to break before they impact the shore. These structures protect the coastline by interrupting waves well before they can reach the shore while also providing an ideal habitat for a wide range of marine life; becoming the heart of long-term living ecosystems. Learn how they do it on our latest episode.
https://www.ccell.co.uk/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
As we try to reduce the carbon we put out into the atmosphere, these efforts should be accompanied by carbon sequestering and removal. Carbon sequestration refers to CO2 that has been captured from the atmosphere and stored in a durable carbon sink, in contrast to traditional carbon offsets. Today we talk to Elba Horta, head of communications and Antti Vihavainen, CEO at Puro.Earth - the world’s first B2B marketplace, standard and registry focused solely on carbon removals. Puro.Earth’s carbon removal suppliers develop carbon net-negative processes or products. In other words, they remove carbon from the atmosphere - the process known as CDR – Carbon Dioxide Removal. These suppliers are verified by an independent third party based on the “Puro Standard” and issued CO2 Removal Certificates (CORCs) and added to the Puro Registry. Companies seeking to neutralize their carbon emissions buy CORCs from these verified suppliers. CORCs are retired when a beneficiary makes a net zero or carbon neutrality claim that is supported by the CORCs’ carbon sequestration properties. This registry is completely transparent and open to all. So for instance if you would like to see how many CROCs a company like Microsoft has retired, that is very easily available with a click of a button. To learn more about this intriguing topic, listen to our latest episode.
https://puro.earth/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
carbonremoval
CROC
CDR
Puroearth
Mindfulbusinesses
carbonsequestration
puroregistry
purostandard
You cannot switch on the radio, TV or online news any day without a mention of sustainability or climate change. One of the early thought leader in this field is Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of Seventh Generation. We enjoy always to listen to his words and thought process and decided to re-air this classic episode. Take a listen.
Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder and Board Chair of the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), which through its national member network represents more than 250,000 businesses in a wide range of industries. He was co-founder and CEO of Seventh Generation, which he built into a leading natural product brand known for its authenticity, transparency, and progressive business practices.
As an early thinker and adopter of sustainable practices, Jeffrey brought to market several green products. He talks about how and why is a living wage important. He talks about the impact of a living wage on an individual and societal level - both emotionally and financially. What sustainability means is far more than just doing no harm - we have to be a net positive. Do more good through regenerative practices. AT ASBC, he leads and lobbies for policy changes in these issues which he is passionate about. Listen now only on Mindful Businesses.
https://www.asbcouncil.org/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Summer construction activity is at its peak in the US. And as we look for sustainable alternatives for bricks or pavers or other construction materials, we look Eastwards to one of our guests whose journey I have followed since our last recording. He is a very creative solution made almost entirely of waste and 2.5 times stronger than regular brick. This episode we felt definitely needed an encore.
When Manish Kothari, Managing Director of Rhino Machines and a second-generation entrepreneur involved in the casting and foundry industry in India, saw how dark, dusty and dangerous this industry was to the environment and the workers, he decided to do something about it. He is a social entrepreneur with a passion for innovation who decided to tackle the dust and sand waste that the foundry creates. He reached out to Shridhar Rao, a partner in the architect firm R + D studio to make a brick by combining the foundry dust with plastic to create the first Silica Plastic Block (SPB). The SPB tested 2.5 times stronger than regular brick and it was comparable in cost to the regular bricks in Indian metro cities.
What makes this solution and entrepreneur special is Manish's obstinance about not patenting his innovation. He in fact believes in assisting and sharing the know-how with other sustainable entrepreneurs. Learn more about these enterprising, creative and forward-thinking entrepreneurs on Mindful Businesses podcast.
https://rhinospb.in/
https://www.MindfulBusinessespodcast.com
With all the talk of hydrogen as a green alternative, I wanted to go back and listen to an episode released almost exactly a year ago. It seemed pretty unachievable and different, but now almost viable and scalable commercially.
REVO ZERO is revolutionizing the transportation industry by bringing the most innovative, practical, and cost-effective technologies to support a zero-emission economy of the future. We talked to Ruben Creus, a serial entrepreneur with a passion and drive to create a zero-emission vehicle. He takes the best of the Electric Vehicle (EV) technology and the Plug-in Fuel Cells (PFC) and balances them to create a cost - efficient vehicle for local trips and quick refueling for longer trips. REVO ZERO is working on three different models of cars. In addition, they are creating an ecosystem of hydrogen generation, storage and fuel cells that is the perfect alternative for a clean, healthy and sustainable zero - emission future. Learn more by listening to this episode.
http://revozero.com/
Subscribe now
As formula companies’ productions are limping back to normal, after the recall, a question some people ask is why can't mother "just" switch to breastfeeding their infants. As most mothers know that it is not that easy to make that switch. Breastfeeding a baby can be hard - it needs support from the family, spouse, pediatrician and most importantly the medical community. Breast milk can be stored up to four days in the refrigerator giving the mothers some flexibility to return to work or even sometimes even share some of their milk with other mothers. This breast milk needs to be stored in a safe, convenient, and long-use product. Our guest in this episode, Nickey Ramsey, Founder & CEO of Junobie does just that, empowering women with a convenient pouch made of silicon. Learn more in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://www.junobie.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Next time we grab a packet of honey to add to our tea - we should stop and think how a commodity so valuable and nutritionally dense is given for free. According to Douglas Raggio, founder of Pass The Honey, 70% of all honey is not pure. There is rampant fraud and honey is adulterated by blending with sugar syrups or many other methods of adulteration. In order to address this level of fraud in the industry, Pass the Honey establishes trusting partnerships directly with beekeeper suppliers so we know how our honeycomb was produced and have full traceability and transparency from beekeeper to consumer.
Fake honey, deceives consumers and floods markets with a cheap product, driving honey prices so low beekeepers are having a hard time staying in business. The beekeepers have had to find alternate sources of livelihood, such as pollination services, that require them to travel far and wide to help farmers pollinate their crops. This further causes stress to the bees and they lose 45% of their bee population every year because of this movement. Why do the farmers require this service? Learn more about this and the importance of bees in our food systems in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://passthehoney.com/pages/about-us
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
regenerativeagriculture
beekeeping
sustainbleagriculture
passthehoney
mindfulbusinessespodcast
Today we talk on our show with Dr. Teresa Pruzner and Nick Langan, co-founders of Cerebelly who as parents of infants wanted to make sure that their kids get the best possible nutrition not only for their physical but also for brain development. They were surprised to learn when they flipped over a packet or bottle of baby food the mismatch between the actual stated ingredients and the nutrients in the baby food. Teresa knew that the baby brain, as complex as it is, develops in stages and each stage requires different nutrients for its optimal development. The brother and sister duo started experiment with baby foods with your own children and wanted to bring the art and science of baby food to other babies. Teresa and Nick teamed up with world-class pediatricians, nutritionists, and food scientists. Together, they created Cerebelly—delicious, farm-fresh, organic baby food that provides real nutrition for a growing brain and body. Cerebelly unites neuroscience, nutrition, and organic, farm-fresh food to give them the very best from the very start. Learn more about their attention to details and passion in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://cerebelly.com/about-cerebelly
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
eatcerebelly #babyfood #mindfulbusinessespodcast
Majority of the conversation around fashion waste revolves around finished products that end up in the landfill. But around 12 % that is around 6.3 million tonnes per year is sent by brands to the landfill in the design and development stage. These would be sample booklets with swatches and unused fabric rolls and prior to Fabscrap they ended up in the landfill. We talk with Jessica Schreiber CEO and founder of FabScrap, a non-profit whose 80% of earned income comes from service fees and fabric sales. They receive service fees from brands to Fabscrap to pick up their textile waste, similar to when they pay for recycling or trash pickup. They do this with an army of volunteers, almost 100 unique ones per month and their staff in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Their staff take extra precautions to assure brands that their copyrighted materials are shredded and don’t reenter the market. Fabscrap also sells the fabrics to quilters, sewing enthusiasts, fashion students and assuring nothing that is picked up by Fabscrap goes to the landfill. With the long-term goal to influence habit and policy they create impact reports that they share back with their brands - how much and what fabric they picked and how was it sorted and if reused or not. Jessica believes that this makes the brands internalize the cost of their waste and may help them reevaluate and optimize their design and planning process. Learn more about this first of its kind initiative and organization on this episode of Mindful businesses.
textilewaste
mindfulbusinesses
sustainablefashion
fabricwaste
fabscrap
sustainablefashion
Humans are inherently materialistic and seek happiness through objects, but what we get is enjoyment not happiness. Happiness tends to be more fulfilling and long term. Happiness often comes by connecting with your community, by sharing stories and creating trust. That is what The Buy Nothing Project does. We talk to the amazing Rebecca Rockefeller, co-founder of The Buy Nothing Project, who started the movement with her friend Liesl Clark, as a way for community members to gift things that they don’t need any longer. But how are they different from donating, is with the stories that they share with each other to create bonds and communities. Spring is around the corner and if you are anything like me, I am overwhelmed with the clutter around me and making frequent trips to the donation sites. But maybe this Spring gift it through your neighborhood's The Buy Nothing Project. Learn more from this amazing and truly authentic co-founder Rebecca Rockefeller on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
Mindful Businesses
TheBuyNothingProject
sustainability
eco-friendly
communitybuilding
http://buynothingproject.org/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Our planet needs greenhouse gases (GHGs) that help trap the heat and keep our planet warm and without which, the earth would be a very cold place. There are four major components of greenhouse gases (GHGs) - Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and fluorinated gasses. But why are GHGs a problem? As the GHGs increases it heats up the planet - even 1.5 degrees C increase is enough to cause significant climate change. What if we take the problem (GHGs) and use it in our solution? That is what exactly AIRCARBON does. We talk with Mark Herrema, the CEO and co-founder of Newlight Technologies, who invented a process that by feeding greenhouse gasses to microorganisms found in the ocean, is able to extract the AirCarbon and use it to replace plastic, leather, acetate and other fibers.When made with renewable power, the production of AIRCARBON is a carbon-negative process, capturing or destroying more CO2e than was emitted to make it. Unlike synthetic materials, the AIRCARBON molecule is a molecule made throughout nature, and can be re-consumed by natural microorganisms like leaves or twigs, enabling life to restore itself.Learn more about this fascinating process on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://www.newlight.com/aircarbon
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
biomaterial #GHGs #sustainablematerial #compostable
The Nobel prize winning economist Dr. Milton Friedman, said the business of a business is making money - but within the acceptable social norms. Dr. Raghuram Rajan, Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance at Chicago Booth School and he was the 23rd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, looks into how “social norms” have changed and how the businesses need to adapt to adopt sustainable practices. May it be their impact on the planet, how they treat their employees and or make their products. He talks about how there needs to be regulations to guide and help the corporations to achieve these goals.
Further, with countries setting goals for netzero, how can we actually have a plan that is accountable and works. Dr. Rajan proposes a global incentive scheme to reduce carbon emissions. On April 19th, 2022 he presented this solution to The Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action that required countries who exceed the per capita global country average for carbon emissions, estimated at 5 tons, will pay to a global carbon incentive fund. He calls this payment Global Carbon Incentives (GCI). He further explains - “this annual payment would be calculated by multiplying the excess emissions per capita by the country’s population and a dollar amount called the Global Carbon Incentive. So if the country’s population is 30 million, its per capita emission in 17 tons, and the GCI is set at $10, it would pay $30 million(17-5)10= $3.6 billion. Countries below the global per capita average would receive a payout commensurate with their “under-emission”.
This fund could be managed by a quasi government agency like the World Bank. Mindful Businesses is one of the first media outlets to share Dr. Rajan’s solution. Listen to it in our latest episode.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raghuram_Rajan
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Mentions:
Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.
Angad Daryani - Founder - Praan
Ram Palaniappan - Founder of Earnin
raghuramrajan, #globalcarbonincentive, #carbonemmissions, #greenhousegases, #SDGs
Alicia Wallace is the COO of Kazi, a Mindful Business she founded after years of working in emerging economies and seeing the need for job creation at an everyday living wage. Today, Kazi is the largest artisan employer in Africa with nearly 6,000 artisans who support 24,700 dependents. Nearly all the artists are women. Through the process, the artists become self-sufficient businesspeople, improve their economic situation and gain the dignity and sense of accomplishment that comes with it.
The items they create aren’t pieces you’ll find at just any gift shop or farmers’ market! These intricately handwoven items – including bold wall statements, multi-purpose baskets, lighting and more – are designed with fashion, home and color trends in mind, then made from all natural materials and dyes found in Africa and sold here in the US. What were the challenges in entering markets and countries who are so different than one is used to? Alicia talk about it and other challenges on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://kazigoods.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
It is really hard for a young person to their build credit. How does one navigate the complex and opaque credit rating system? We chat in this episode with Roger Morris, Co-Founder and COO of Zoro Card that hopes to help the 100 million Americans with subprime credit build credit with debit cards. Zoro Card began not as a company, but as a cause. Millions of Americans can’t access affordable credit, simply because they have never had credit in the past. Millions more are buried in debt and have no way out. Rather than help, many financial institutions profit off of people’s mistakes with hidden fees and unfair credit practices. Without good credit, everything becomes more expensive—cell phone contracts, loans, insurance rates, security deposits for utilities and rent—even job applications are affected by your credit score.
Their vision is simple, for college grads focused on building prosperous careers rather than paying off student loans, public school teachers and first responders able to afford homes, and soldiers healing from the wounds of war free from the shackles of debt - to offer a solution that's available to everyone, regardless of their credit history. Roger was so committed to be part of this solution, that he decided to drop out of college to pursue his start-up. Learn more only on Mindful Businesses.
https://zorocard.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
In the United States, 90% of the lettuce is produced and shipped from California to the rest of the country. When we combine the impact of this long journey on the environment, cost and 30% loss in farm produce - makes vertical farms close to consumption a viable alternative. In this episode, we learn from Eddy Badrina, CEO of Eden Green Technology about Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) where plants are grown hydroponically, in greenhouses, and by using all kinds of methodologies to control the growing environment. Eden Green Technology has successfully grown 100 different types of produce in a vertical farm using hydroponics - in a greenhouse. They rely on sunlight that comes through the greenhouse panes as against other vertical farms that need to be artificially lit with LED or other types of light fixtures. This fascinating technology seeks to revolutionize the grocery retail industry by growing what the stores need nearby, thus reducing costs, waste and at the same time delivering fresh produce to the consumer at a reasonable price. By designing sustainable and scalable vertical greenhouse technology, deployable almost anywhere in the world, their vertical farming technology is helping the world sustainably grow large amounts of food to create a healthier and happier existence for all.
https://www.edengreen.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/all-episodes/
Financial insecurity can be expensive, living paycheck to paycheck and with overdraft fees, penalties, higher interest and mortgage rates. Seven out ten households in America live paycheck to paycheck. Ram Palaniappan , founder of Earnin, noticed that one of his employees had to get payday loans to pay her expenses. Though she had worked her hours she got paid only after two weeks and her bills were due now. He decided to advance her salary as soon as she put in the hours. Soon the word got around, and other employees and non-employees reached out to Ram to avail of their earned wage. He realized the inequalities in our society further accentuates the mismatch between when an employee earns and when they get paid. He started Earnin to break down the barriers of an outdated financial system, to build new solutions that work for everyone. Using the time attendance systems already in place, they are able to provide Earned Wage Access - where their users can access the money as they earn it. This helps the users synchronize their income and expenses. They offer these services without any mandatory fees. They charge a nominal $3.99, only in case of instant transfers - which is much lower than the $15 that payday loans charge. I ask Ram - how can such a business model be profitable? To hear his answer, tune in to this weeks episode.
Mentions: Prof. Ananth Iyer, Purdue University
https://www.earnin.com/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
fintech, #financialsecurity, #earnedwage, #mindfulbusinesses, #paydayloans,
Today we talk with Jordan Rubin, CEO and co-founder of Ancient Nutrition, who encountered health challenges as a young boy turned towards food to solve his illness. He talks and educates us about what are superfoods and what would be a super plate. Super foods can be fruits, vegetables, plants, spices and even fungi. How is his company different? They practice regenerative farming and believe in the long run the nutritional values and the components in food that is grown using regenerative farming will be higher than even organic. They don't sell the food that they grow, but convert them into potent supplements. Learn more in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://ancientnutrition.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Today we have on our show the passionate and even maybe maverick Jonathan Lundgren, director and founder of Blue Acre Farms and Ecdysis foundation. The word ecdysis means the process of shedding the old skin and that is what Blue Dasher farms wants to do by operating regenerative farm and scientific research hub designed to help foster a revolution in our food system. Blue Dasher Farm combines cutting edge science with hands on experience to remove barriers to the adoption of regenerative agriculture.
They believe in a food system that promotes soil health, farm biodiversity, and nutrient dense food - all while benefiting the farmers who grow it. As a researcher who was honored by President Obama, in 2015 as one of the recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, Jonathan talks about his time at the USDA and how going against the grain is not easy. But he felt change was urgent and left his job at the USDA to start Ecdysis foundation and Blue Dasher Farms along with several of his research fellows. Blue Dasher Farm relies heavily on their ability to show that they can support. They want to take the wind out of the argument "that may work on a research farm, but it would not work on my place." They are transparent and willing to compare their profitability to other more conventional operations. Although Blue Dasher is a for-profit enterprise, their mission is to help promote the regenerative agriculture movement and strive to be financially solvent while farming in a sustainable way.
https://www.bluedasher.farm/
https://mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Our sponsor:
https://www.silverspungoods.com/
We have on our show Marc Plinke, founder/CEO, and Miriam Schaffer Marketing and Communications Specialist of Ceres Greenhouse Solutions. Inspired by the Roman Goddess of Agriculture, Ceres is a company devoted to growing plants. Their core team consists of engineers, architects, builders, plant experts, designers, and tinkerers. Founded in 2011, Ceres Greenhouse Solutions aims to reinvent the traditional greenhouse. They combine passive solar design principles with innovative heat-storage techniques to create the most energy-efficient and durable greenhouses for any climate in the world. The result is a smarter, ‘greener’ greenhouse design: one that regulates its own temperature, can grow year-round, withstands the harshest weather, and uses little to no fossil fuel energy. Ceres greenhouse solutions can be found around the world, in climates as far-ranging as Alaska to South Africa for backyard gardeners, sustainable farmers, school administrators, and big industrial growers. Listen to Marc Plinke and Miriam Shaffer on Mindful Businesses.
https://ceresgs.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
"Out beyond ideas of right angles and hard lines, there’s a bio-ceramic dome. A place where nature, community, and healing come full circle. We’ll meet you there." - Morgan Bierschenk, founder and CEO of Geoship, a homebuilding cooperative, owned by the people. Bioceramic domes combine the geometry/math of Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller with the material science of Rustum (Rusty) Roy - Geoship's Founding Fathers. Bucky was a legendary American polymath and future architect. He invented Synergetic Mathematics and introduced the geodesic dome into mass awareness. Rusty was a legendary professor of material science with a focus on crystal chemistry. Morgan is knowledgeable and visionary in how regenerative architecture can be used to build living environments that reconnect human communities with the natural world. Geoship domes are built with all-ceramic composite panels, struts, and hubs. The lightweight ceramic parts are fused together on-site with ceramic mortar. The dome is repaired and resurfaced with the same highly crystalline ceramic material. Learn more by listening to our episode.
https://geoship.is/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We talk with Dr. George Huber, Richard Antoine Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and the director of Center for Upcycling Waste Plastics (CUWP) about his research in recycling plastics. His technology offers a solution to filtrate the polymer from different plastics by applying solvents solvents. Though multi-layer plastics are more complicated his technology, solvent-targeted recovery and precipitation (STRAP), is able to use thermodynamics and solvents to disintegrate them into their constituent resins. It's a fascinating process - the key is to capture 99% of the polymer and make sure nothing is release into the atmosphere. With consumption of plastics showing no signs of abating, it is crucial to recycle efficiently to reduce the consumption of new plastics. CUWP consists of six universities, over ten industrial partners, one national laboratory, and one industry association. They also share with scientists, engineers, policy makers, business leaders, and the general public to help them make informed decisions about the costs and benefits of new technologies for plastic recycling. Learn all this and more from Dr. George Huber.
https://cuwp.org/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Art by Xin Zou, University of Wisconsin-Madison for Hochan Chang, Min Soo Kim, George W Huber, James A Dumesic, Design of closed-loop recycling production of a Diels Alder polymer from a biomass-derived difuran as a functional additive for polyurethanes, Green Chemistry (2021) 23, 9479-9488.
In this episode we talk with Eric Schwarz, General Manager of The Glad Products Company. He talks about Glad's commitment to reducing our environmental footprint, and helping consumers with their own green goals. Their sustainability journey focuses on 4 key areas: Products, Production, Packaging and Programs.
Products with less plastic - Glad has developed breakthrough technology that enables their most popular product, the drawstring kitchen trash bags to use less plastic than leading competition without sacrificing strength. They have to reduce 50% of virgin materials in Glad Trash by 2030 and have reduced it by 13% as of CY2020. Production with less pollution - they are improving manufacturing processes to reduce environmental impact. They have achieved the goal of Zero Waste to Landfill manufacturing for North American plants and utilize 100% renewable electricity in our North American plants. Packaging with less waste - reduce its environmental impact with the goal of 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable. They have achieved in making their packing 99% recyclable and have a 48% reduction in virgin packaging as of CY2020. Programs with more purpose - Glad teamed up with Recyclops to improve curbside recycling access across the U.S. Learn more in this episode.
https://www.glad.com/sustainability/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
sustainablepackaging, sustainability, #USA #gladproducts #mindfulbusinesses
Francisco Benedicto Valentine, CEO of CLIMATETRADE, shares with us the journey about how CLIMATETRADE connects companies willing to offset their carbon emissions to a large number of verified environmental projects. They help companies achieve carbon neutrality by providing innovative emission offsetting services. They work hard to maintain the trust of our clients by offering total traceability through the blockchain technology. CLIMATETRADE helps the consumer compute their carbon footprint, may it be for a flight, an event they are hosting or for their business, and connects them with developers of the projects and issues the certificate to assure that their certificate is not resold. Their projects are classified by territories and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to enable ease and simplicity in picking the project of their choice. CLIMATETRADE comprises of a team of environmentally-conscious professionals who apply the best technology to offer ease and transparency to companies to offset their environmental impact. Learn more about this cutting edge topic on this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://climatetrade.com/marketplace/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
mindfulbusinesses #climatetrade #proofofstake #carboncapture #blockchain #proofofwork #fintech #carboncredits #cryptocurrency
Zuleyka Strasner, founder of Zero Grocery moved from East London to San Francisco to work for Facebook. She saw the need to for a plastic - free grocery. To learn about customers needs and habits she started by delivering first in plastic containers and then in plastic-free containers. She soon learned that most of the customers were willing to try new products curated by her delivered in a sustainable packaging. She raised half a million dollars from venture capitalists within 4 months of starting the business. Pandemic with its mixed blessing brought exponential growth to Zero. They initially had a monthly subscription of $25 for unlimited delivery but as of Jan 1st they have done away with the subscription and have a guaranteed 2 hour delivery. Zuleyka talks about her experience in raising funds and how women should approach from a position of power and not weakness. Listen to this fascinating journey in this episode.
sustainablegrocery, zerowaste, #plasticfree, #USA, #mindfulbusinesses, #zerogrocery,
https://zerogrocery.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
70% of the world’s population lacks access to an electric washing machine.
Hand washing clothes sounds like a simple task but for many women around the world, it poses a significant obstacle to their wellbeing and livelihood.
Navjot Sawhney was a curious child always trying to figure out how things worked. He grew up to be an engineer and wanted to use his engineering and design skills for good. He quit his secure, highly respected job at Dyson to volunteer for Engineers Without Borders Uk and Prakti (an Indian NGO). He saw his friend Divya spend hours doing household chores and he promised her that he would design and make a hand-cranked washing machine for her. He returned to Uk and after a short stint with Jaguar he went to the drawing board to make good on his promise. He designed a hand-cranked washing machine that used fifty percent less water, saved time, avoided touching the detergent and completely off the grid. By providing displaced and low-income communities with an accessible, off-grid washing solution, The Washing Machine Project’s mission is to empower women with the time to take charge over their lives. They believe that when women rise, we all rise.
https://thewashingmachineproject.org/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
thewashingmachineproject #mindfulbusinesses #Uk #womenempowerment #sustainabledesign
Paul Shapiro, author, entrepreneur at the age of 13 told his parents that he wanted to become a vegetarian. Until that point every meal that Paul ate had meat. From that moment on, he has been on a journey to help reduce the consumption of meat on the planet. First by lobbying for better farm and agricultural practices to writing a book and talking about it. He soon realized that people have to be offered a better, whole and cheaper alternative to stop eating meat. Convincing people to give up meat on the basis of animal cruelty and its impact on our planet isn't sufficient. Better Meat Co grows plant based meat by fermenting Rhizas - mycoprotein, protein made from fungi. Rhiza is objectively superior to textured plant protein isolates commonly used to make plant-based meat today. When it comes to nutrition, meat-like texture, and efficiency, Rhiza is just better because of its exponentially quicker harvest cycle, while using fewer resources such as land and water. It's also a whole food with a complete amino acid profile, not a protein isolate or fractionate. They take common ingredients like potatoes and subject them to an age-old fermentation technique. Within hours, the result is an all-natural, high-protein, whole food with the natural texture of animal meat. If you are a meat lover committed to a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, this episode is for you.
https://www.bettermeat.co/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
When Tharun Kumar saw the lake where his housing complex empties their sewage burn for 14 hours non-stop, he decided to do something about it. He started asking around and realized that the overburdened municipalities had transferred the sewage treatment responsibilities to the home owners. We chat with Tharun Kumar, founder and CEO of EcoSTP Technologies - an IT professional who wanted to be the person who not just talks about change but brings about change. He did so by starting a mission-driven company that uses existing sustainable practices and knowledge to treat sewage and delivers executable DIY kits to home owners. Using biomimicry, regenerative innovation inspired by nature, the ECOSTP utilizes functional principles and strategies of microorganisms and ecosystems found in a cow’s stomach. Using gravity and anaerobic bacteria ECOSTP it treats sewage without the use of pumps/blowers used in conventional sewage treatment plants to convert sewage water into clear water. Their system overall has lower operational and maintenance costs and its flexible design can be adapted even in existing housing complexes and in new developments.
ECOSTP addresses six UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is selected as a Best Practice case study for United Nations ESCAP SDG Sustainability Asia Pac report. Learn more in this episode.
http://www.ecostp.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
In this episode, we have Luis Fernando Velez founder of Amor Perfecto with whom our host Vidhya Iyer talks about their common love for a good cup of coffee - with its perfect aroma and complex flavors. Luis shares what is entailed in producing a rich and fragrant coffee. It starts from the coffee cherry picked at the exact ripeness using high-tech refractometers to find the optimal ripeness to pick each variety of dark red for one to purple for another. At Amor Perfecto each bean is hand-picked, unlike some other brands who prefer strip harvesting by machine, an efficient, affordable, but indiscriminate practice. The beans are then expertly processed and most importantly roasted close to where they are picked.
For over 200 years Colombia has been exporting green coffee beans to be roasted in consuming countries all over the world. In fact, it was illegal to roast quality coffee in Colombia until 2003. The government and the growers had been convinced that the consuming countries knew better than them how to perfectly roast coffee, robbing Colombians of additional revenues by adding value to their crop. Amor Perfecto fought to change the law and volunteered as guinea pigs to show lawmakers that their signature crop was not just for export. Grab a cup of coffee and tune in to listen to Luis’ fascinating stories.
https://amorperfecto.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
This Holiday Season with so much uncertainty around we bring to you again an episode of hope and giving. Please donate generously to this non-profit The Farmlink Project started by Aidan Reilly and James Kanoff - winners of 2021 Congressional Medal of Honor Service Award.
The Farmlink Project was started at the height of the pandemic in April 2020 to fight food insecurity by repurposing surplus produce. Back home in Los Angeles at the start of the pandemic, with nothing but time on their hands, Aidan Reilly and James Kanoff were like many of us disturbed by the long lines at the food pantries alongside farmers throwing away their produce, eggs, milk ... and their harvest. The boon of an efficient supply chain in the food industry can be a major problem with any slight disruption. The Farmlink Project, a non-profit run by 200 plus volunteers, operates in 48 US states and Mexico bringing the excess produce of farmers to food banks. They are the recipient of the 2021 Congressional Medal of Honor - Citizen Honors Award - awarded to outstanding Americans who have gone above and beyond to perform extraordinary acts of courage or service. Listen to their story of compassion, drive, and vision on the Mindful Businesses podcast.
Remember to rate and review us on Apple podcast. Love our show share it, one friend.
https://www.farmlinkproject.org/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Every year, 15 Million trees are cut down to produce paper, build homes, and make furniture. From this, millions of tons of wood waste are generated annually. A portion of this waste is recovered and sold to downstream markets to make particle board or wood pellets for energy. The remaining sawdust is either burned - contributing to air pollution - or sent to landfill. Though biodegradable, sawdust can be harmful to the environment in large quantities when landfilled. As it decomposes, sawdust releases high concentrations of lignin and fatty acids, which can contaminate water supplies, potentially poisoning wildlife and micro-organisms. We speak with Andrew Jeffery, Co-founder of Forust, by Desktop Metal, uses the power of high-speed, high-resolution 3D printing to give a new life to a discarded resource - creating strong, beautiful and carbon-friendly wood products from wood waste. For each tree saved, we reduce the CO2 footprint by a metric ton over the tree’s life. Learn more in our next episode.
Mentions:
Virginia San Fratello
Ronald Rael
https://www.forust.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We talked with Sagent's CEO Gordon Smith about how Sagent works to reduce the environmental impact by lowering emissions, pollution, and energy investment. They do it a) by repairing and refurbishing networks they extend the useful equipment life with telecom repair services b) by maintaining an industry-leading network test, repair, and maintenance facility. They have expert technicians who perform network repair services, system-level testing and component-level repairs and extend the life of telecom equipment. They repair more than 850,000 devices annually, across 100,000 SKUs, from over 100 manufacturers - all with a 96% yield rate and standard repair cycle time of two weeks.
They deliver equipment repair services that give insight into your network to help reduce avoidable repairs. For each repair, they capture and report on the root cause of each failure and can pinpoint the means to avoid it in the future. Their software developed specifically for network operators tracks failure data at both macro and micro levels. It monitors data failure trends by geography, site location, technician responsibility, OEM platform and specific part numbers to deliver actionable data to help prevent future incidents. Rather than recycle network assets, Sagent Insights can develop a systematic program to reuse network assets and delay additions to the e-waste stream, by recycling and disposing of components only after they have achieved maximum service life. Learn more in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://sagent.net/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Countries must meet their sustainability goals and head towards net-zero. These goals cannot be achieved in silos but need cooperation, trust, and partnerships. We bring two such sustainable start-ups which are from adjacent industries with one firm goal – to reduce the carbon emissions and air pollutants from the air. Today we speak with Angad Daryani – CEO and founder of Praan – Clean Air For all, and Tejas Sidnal – founder of Carbon Craft Design – Upcycled Carbon Tiles.
Praan captures the carbon with the world’s most advanced, low-cost, filterless, and artificially intelligent outdoor air purification system. Angad who, ranked amongst the top 3 in his class, dropped out of high school in 9th grade - though he stopped formal education, he continued learning and innovating. His passion for sustainability gave rise to the patented innovation that creates hyperlocal clean air zones within open areas on corporate campuses, schools, universities, hotels, hospitals, residential complexes, malls, industrial areas, and more!
Praan captures the CO2 and carbon particulates that they hand over to Carbon Craft Designs who then creates tiles. Each tile prevents 15 minutes of car pollution - 5 kgs of carbon - dioxide equivalents. Carbon Craft Design strives to be at the intersection of Craft, Design, and Technology with the sole aim of building scalable solutions. Tejas, a practicing architect, talks about the fact that the world builds twelve New Yorks every year. Its impact and his role as an architect and being part of the problem made him uneasy. He decided to do something about it and reduce the impact of new construction projects by developing carbon-neutral building materials. A chance meeting at a conference in 2016 and mutual respect brought Angad Daryani and Tejas Sidnal to collaborate to bring their solutions to market. Listen to this energetic duos' passion and story in this episode.
https://www.carboncraftdesign.com/
https://www.praan.io/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
This episode has two parts - in part one, we talk with Amy Peterson, the co-founder of Rebel Nell about her inspiration and motivation to start Rebel Nell. While living next to a homeless shelter in Detroit, MI, she got to learn up-close the women who lived there and their challenges. One day out on a jog she finds a piece of graffiti that she envisioned could be repurposed into meaningful wearable art. A fusion of these two ideas gave birth to Rebel Nell. Amy with her co-founder Diana Roginson started Rebel Nell in 2013 with the mission to provide employment, equitable opportunity, and wraparound support for women with barriers to employment. They seek to embolden women, to embrace their infinite strength, and to define their own future.
They partner with local organizations to seek out women who have struggled to find and retain employment. Their goal is to help the women move from a life of dependence to one of self-reliance, overcoming barriers to employment through the fruits of their own labor. Rebel Nell’s product line starts with repurposing graffiti, after it has fallen off the walls.
These are women who when hired have no background in jewelry become creative designers who make incredibly intricate and unique piece each one more beautiful than the next. In the part two we chat with one such woman - Ethel Rucker, Production Lead at Rebel Nell.
In addition to on-the-job training and guidance on how to make jewelry, Rebel Nell also provides them with life management, financial training and business education to make sure they have the confidence and knowledge that will enable them to leave homelessness/dependence behind permanently and move forward as strong independent women. Listen to this powerful story in this episode.
https://www.rebelnell.com/
To hire Ethel Rucker for your next photoshoot contact her via her website https://harteclectic.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Each year, industries such as Waste-to-Energy, Cement and Biomass for power generation, send millions of tonnes of thermal residues to landfill. At the same time, these thermal processes produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide that are released into the atmosphere. We talk with Maarten Van Roon, Chief Commercial Officer of Carbon8 Systems. Carbon8 solutions is the result of hard work and persistence of researchers - Dr Paula Carey and Prof. Colin Hills. Carbon8 Systems is the inventor and owner of a chemical process that treats industrial residues, including hazardous waste, using CO2 captured directly from flue gas to transform them into valuable low-carbon products. Through its innovation in engineering, it has developed an on-site containerized solution that operates at industrial sites. Each CO₂ntainer can treat up to 12,000 tonnes of input residue material annually. The innovation views CO₂ and landfill destined residues as resource – ingredients, to engineer valuable, low-carbon products. Listen to learn more.
https://c8s.co.uk/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
** Subscribe to our podcast to learn about our latest episodes
We talk with Eric Schaffner, CEO and Founder of ZeLoop. A revolutionary and eco-friendly platform that makes consumers a crucial part of the plastic circular economy, allowing them to contribute to the reduction of plastic waste and be rewarded for it. This innovative and responsible app aims to reward the pro-environmental behaviors of consumers with the prime focus being on plastic bottle collection.
The ultimate goal that ZeLoop works towards is to become the main driver for consumers’ motivation to
act differently that will one-day make the Earth plastic litter-free.
All you have to do is:
– Gather used plastic bottles
– Drop them at collection centers for recycling
– Upload a picture of deposited bottles on the app
– Win tokens to get exciting rewards!
You can use these tokens, for instance to get a discount while purchasing one of our guests - Thaely's sneakers. Learn more on this episode.
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
https://zeloop.net/
📷 Ian McMillen Photography
We talk with Dr. David Stone, inventor of Ferrock - Carbon Negative Building Material. David as a doctoral candidate, at the Arizona State University, researched on how to prevent iron from rusting. It is especially challenging where iron exposed to humidity and oxygen in our atmosphere returns to its natural state - rust. During experimenting with silica as a rust-inhibitor, he saw the silica and rust reacting and bubbling. When cooled this compound became a very hard substance and David realized it could be a used as a substitute for cement. David disclosed his invention and has received a patent. What had caused this chemical reaction? What had caused this chemical reaction? Learn more on this episode.
N.B. Ferrock is at the moment seeking investors. David can be reached at davidstone@ironshellmaterials.com
What if there was a new kind of data center that could directly warm homes and heat hot water, instead of a gas boiler?
One that could use the energy used in cloud computing, not once but twice, and also take away the need for the additional energy used for cooling? That is exactly Thermify's innovation does. Using energy, twice. We talk with Garry Felgate Chair & Energy Lead at Thermify. The technology was invented by Adam Pulley in 2009 and Thermify is bringing to the UK market at the price comparable to heating a home with 2019 oil prices. From helping the environment to keeping senior citizens warm to offering relief for low-income families struggling to pay for their heat, to companies looking for environmentally friendly alternatives for their data centers, everyone benefits from joining this green revolution.
Thermify is committed to reducing the pressure on our environment, and on the pockets of our most vulnerable in society. Learn more about this win-win innovation in this episode.
https://thermify.cloud/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-1
We talk with Ashay Bhave, founder of Thaely, who as a middle-schooler dreamt of becoming a sneaker designer. His journey begins at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, where disenchanted within the first year, he returned back to Dubai to pursue a degree in business at Amity University. As a designer Ashay wanted to solve problems - the problem of plastic grocery bag waste - we consume 3 trillion of them annually. After some near fires in his kitchen, he developed a product Thaely Tex. Thaely is made with 100% recycled raw materials. Each sneaker uses ThaelyTex that’s made using 10 upcycled waste plastic bags. ThaelyTex is made in collaboration with TrioTap Technologies in Gurugram, India. The waste plastic bags are collected from housing complexes, offices, and stores in and around Gurugram, India. The lining is made with rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate is a fabric made from recycling waste PET Plastic Bottles) using 12 Recycled waste plastic bottles. With their partnership with The Shoe Laundry, the sneakers are either refurbished or recycled. Each pair is also packaged in a reusable rPET. Every component of the shoe and its process is looked into great detail to achieve Thaely's sustainability goals. Come along and learn more in this episode.
https://thaely.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Black Earth Compost was founded in January 2011, in Gloucester, MA. Originally a one man, one truck, Cape Ann company, it has steadily grown to become the leading full-service compost company in New England. With over 25 trucks, they are dedicated to collecting food scraps from residents, schools, supermarkets, colleges, and more, all across eastern MA and RI. They are also the only vertically integrated company that composts the material too, returning it to customers and selling it in garden centers across Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. They are your one-stop-shop for all your organic waste collection or garden soil needs.
In this episode, we talk with Conor Miller, Partner, CEO of Black Earth Composting as he shares his journey and how the business had to pivot during the pandemic to moving from commercial pick-ups to residential pick-ups and compost delivery. Learn more in this episode.
https://blackearthcompost.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
https://www.hexcelpack.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
HexcelPack™ was founded in 2014 using an updated version of a 30-year-old technology developed by David Goodrich, with the idea of using paper to replace the traditional, one-use plastic products that are prevalent throughout the world in the packaging industry. HexcelPack’s™ proprietary slit paper technology was developed in the early 90’s when it was discovered that the hexagon is one of the strongest shapes to engineer, and it was possible to successfully manufacture slit paper using the hexagon shape. Back then, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch was still unknown, and most people had little awareness of the wide-ranging negative impact of plastic waste on ocean ecosystems. Today, a concern for preserving ocean ecology is the company’s driving influence – making recyclable, sustainable paper packaging products in lieu of plastic. HexcelPack™ uses specialty kraft papers that make HexcelWrap™ completely unique. We talk to Lorne Herszkowicz - Partner of Hexcel Pak about how nature inspired this sustainable innovation. Learn more in this episode of Mindful Businesses.
https://mykudos.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
In this episode, we talk with Amrita Saigal, founder of Kudos, natural disposable diapers - the only disposable diaper that has 100% cotton touching baby's bum all day. Kudos is the only disposable diaper to have earned the cotton natural™ seal for being lined with 100% cotton instead of plastic. Kudos have also been certified to the strictest safety standard, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100. Designed by a team of MIT-trained engineers (and moms!), the patent-pending DoubleDry™ tech handles moisture and provides overnight-level reliability with two layers of protection instead of one. Amrita talks about her journey, setting up Sathi - a plant-based material maxi pads, to Google X, some sibling bonding time working at Thunkable, her brother's startup, and finally landing to launch Kudos. It has been a journey where with hard work and perseverance Kudos had received 2.4 million in VC funding. Listen now in this episode.
Remember to subscribe and rate us!
https://saathipads.com/
We speak with John Salzinger founder and Seungah Jeong CEO of MPOWERD, about their company mission and passion to give back. In 2012 MPOWERD created Luci, the first inflatable solar light with the goal of making an affordable clean energy product that people could use in any situation. They create sustainable, affordable, and thoughtfully designed products that suit the needs of the many. The belief that everyone deserves access to clean, reliable and affordable energy, no matter how or where they live has driven them to create their sustainable products. For over 3 billion people, everyday tasks are made more difficult (and dangerous) than they should be. Access to clean energy can improve health, create education equality, economic empowerment, all the while combating climate change.
As a B Corp, they use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. As a social enterprise, they reinvest a majority of their gross revenue to achieve sustainability, increase their reach to enable them to fulfill their mission. Aside from the Give Luci Program - which donates lights to their partners - their sustainable business model means that the more they sell here at home, the more affordable they can sell to emerging markets and nonprofits. As a member of the American Sustainable Business Council along with other members like Patagonia, Ben and Jerry's, Greyston Bakery, Avocado Green Mattress, advocate for policy change and inform business owners, policymakers, and the public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant, broadly prosperous, sustainable economy. Listen to their journey in this episode.
https://mpowerd.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-links
https://www.unrest.world/#apply
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We talk with Orr Vinegold, founder of UNREST, driving impact through ethical & sustainable businesses. He is hugely passionate about turning businesses into a force for good. UNREST supports founders ready to re-imagine what profitable companies can do for the planet and people. The program provides start-ups with the opportunity to take their business idea from MVP to the next level; ready to launch and solve global issues. Unrest prepares start-ups for seed funding, whilst helping them develop a world-class brand, through their partnership with award-winning Uncommon Creative Studios.
Unrest is a mission-driven accelerator based in London, on a mission to amplify the disruptive power of other ethical companies. Unrest empowers entrepreneurs to change the world through impactful, global businesses. The accelerator has been set up due to the desire for environmental and social change with the deep belief the solutions are in the hands of talented people using their ingenuity to build global companies. Within the next 30 years, every consumer company will be mission-led. Unrest wants to be the institution that launches the most successful of these.
Want to join us in making a difference? We are raising money to benefit Education Foundation for Afghanistan Inc, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.
A little bit about Education Foundation for Afghanistan (EFFA), - founded by Prof. Zarjon Baha, Purdue University, an octogenarian who emigrated to the United States in 1982 as a refugee after the Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan. He founded EFFA with the mission to promote education in Afghanistan. As a long-time educator, he believes that only education can help empower women. 100% of your donations will go to educate girls. The past two weeks' turmoil has made his mission even more difficult. Like Michelle Obama said “When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more prosperous," The need is immediate and urgent. Please don’t look away. Donate by clicking on the link
https://gofund.me/ea4e1401
We talk with Sarah Jackson (whose name has been changed due to security reasons), founder and CEO of Tahmina. Tahmina is an international brand with a vision to export transformational products from different conflict regions of the world. Their maiden project is saffron and saffron-infused teas from Afghanistan. Learn more about their work through this podcast.
Greyston Bakery partners with its non-profit arm Greyston Foundation to connect the community to the resources that they offer. They partner with other non-profits like Hope's Door (helping victims of domestic abuse) and Westchester Jewish Community Services to bring opportunities, support, and hope to the members of their community. Each day, they consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, the community, and the environment.Greyston is New York State's first Benefit Corporation and a proud certified B Corp that balances purpose with profit.
Share this episode with ONE friend.
Subscribe now
https://www.greyston.org/greyston-bakery
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
https://www.wideopendreamsfilm.com/
Let’s Goat Buffalo employs rescued goats to eat unwanted vegetation growth! Whether it’s a residential yard that needs clearing, a commercial property that has become overgrown and high-risk, or a park or highway that has become less accessible to the public, their herds are prepared to help! We chat with the bubbly Jennifer Zeitler - Founder and CEO of Let’s Goat Buffalo, on how she transitioned from Human Resources to goatscaping.
Share this episode with ONE friend.
Subscribe now
https://www.letsgoatbuffalo.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We talk to Tyler Chaffo - global sustainability manager, Avery -Dennison. Avery Dennison doesn’t just talk sustainability. Their commitment to people and the planet fuels social compliance internally and is the foundation of a broad offering of responsible, ingenious solutions.
Share this episode with ONE friend.
Subscribe now
https://rbis.averydennison.com/en/home/about-us/sustainability.html
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Beejom is an animal sanctuary and sustainable agricultural farm located in Western Uttar Pradesh. They use natural farming techniques to grow food. The agricultural practices at Beejom are farm animal-centric. We talk to the passionate and energetic Aparna Rajagopal, a lawyer turned conservationist, animal rescuer, and educator. While trying to rescue a horse, she leased farmland to board the horse, and while trying to improve its soil she bought some cows and bulls for their manure - about 150 of them. But they do not use them for dairy.
Share this episode with ONE friend.
Subscribe now
https://beejom.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
This week we talk with the Sustainability Director of Avocado mattresses, Bri Decker. Avocado organic mattresses are handmade with only the finest naturally non-toxic and 100% certified organic materials from their own farms in sunny California. A Certified B Corporation, Avocado mattress was born when one of the founders Jeff D'Andrea couldn't find a green mattress for his newborn baby. Their mission is to be the most respected source for organic mattresses and pillows at affordable prices — while maintaining environmentally conscious, ethical, and sustainable business practices — to help safeguard the health of people and the planet. Learn more about their journey in our next episode.
Share this episode with ONE friend.
Subscribe now
https://www.avocadogreenmattress.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
We talk to Saiful Islam, Managing Director of Bengal Muslin, that has identified the DNA from the fossilized plants to revive and grow the plant again. He talks to us about the challenges that Bengal Muslin faced to find, train and motivate the traditional generational spinners - who still had the collective memory of the fabric to weave 400 count Dhaka muslin. Listen to this passionate Saiful Islam only on Mindful Businesses. Saiful's picture was taken through muslin for the cover for this episode.
http://bengalmuslin.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bengalmuslin/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/drik.net
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
The Farmlink Project was started at the height of the pandemic in April 2020 to fight food insecurity by repurposing surplus produce. Back home in Los Angeles at the start of the pandemic, with nothing but time on their hands, Aidan Reilly and James Kanoff were like many of us disturbed by the long lines at the food pantries alongside farmers throwing away their produce, eggs, milk ... and their harvest. The boon of an efficient supply chain in the food industry can be a major problem with any slight disruption. The Farmlink Project, a non-profit run by 200 plus volunteers, operates in 48 US states and Mexico bringing the excess produce of farmers to food banks. They are the recipient of the 2021 Congressional Medal of Honor - Citizen Honors Award - awarded to outstanding Americans who have gone above and beyond to perform extraordinary acts of courage or service. Listen to their story of compassion, drive, and vision on the Mindful Businesses podcast.
Remember to rate and review us on Apple podcast. Love our show share it, one friend.
https://www.farmlinkproject.org/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
REVO ZERO is revolutionizing the transportation industry by bringing the most innovative, practical, and cost-effective technologies to support a zero-emission economy of the future. We talked to Ruben Creus, a serial entrepreneur with a passion and drive to create a zero-emission vehicle.
http://revozero.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Subscribe now
"Out beyond ideas of right angles and hard lines, there’s a bioceramic dome. A place where nature, community, and healing come full circle. We’ll meet you there." - Morgan Bierschenk, founder and CEO of Geoship, a homebuilding cooperative, owned by the people. Bioceramic domes combine the geometry/math of Buckminster (Bucky) Fuller with the material science of Rustum (Rusty) Roy - Geoship's Founding Fathers. Bucky was a legendary American polymath and future architect. He invented Synergetic Mathematics and introduced the geodesic dome into mass awareness. Rusty was a legendary professor of material science with a focus on crystal chemistry. Morgan is knowledgeable and visionary in how regenerative architecture can be used to build living environments that reconnect human communities with the natural world. Geoship domes are built with all-ceramic composite panels, struts, and hubs. The lightweight ceramic parts are fused together on-site with ceramic mortar. The dome is repaired and resurfaced with the same highly crystalline ceramic material. Learn more by listening to our episode.
The homes and villages we live in today are based upon templates created decades ago to serve the needs of a radically different era. Humankind has evolved from a dualistic worldview that turns people against each other and disconnects us from the natural world, to one of connection and interdependence.
https://geoship.is/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
https://sproutworld.com/the-original-plantable-pencil/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
https://cleanandproud-recycling.com/non-profit/our-story/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Whether it’s a winter cold snap or a summer scorcher, the ground five feet below the surface maintains a constant temperature year-round. This constant earth temperature is higher than average winter temperatures and lower than average summer temperatures.
Geothermal systems use this difference in temperature to transfer heat between your home and the earth with two key parts: A heat pump inside your home (usually in place of your traditional system) and buried pipe systems (called ground loops) circulate heat transfer fluid. During summer, the geothermal system draws heat from the air in your home and transfers it to the ground. During winter, it draws heat from the ground and transfers it to your home. Fascinated to learn how it works? Listen to our episode with Kathy Hannun, co-founder of Dandelion Energy - heat without fire.
For more information about this and other episodes go to www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com and https://dandelionenergy.com/
They have a unique financing plan, which is an affordable pay-as-you-go payment plan that saves the customers money now and for years to come. Once the loan is repaid the customer owns the unit outright and never has to make another payment.
How did Covid impact their business and how did they plan to serve the communities and their customers with a simple innovative solution. Learn more on our latest episode.
For more episodes go to our website:https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-1
https://solarpanda.com/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
Here is the link to our website - https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
https://www.polyfacefarms.com/our-story/
Icewind strives to be a global impact leader in decentralized energy generation through the democratized use of renewable power. Their vision is to contribute to a clean, efficient, and socially impactful energy solution that can be used by anyone, anywhere in the world.
Here is the link to our website - https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/podcast-1
https://www.icewindusa.com/
Here is the link to our website - https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.greenheirloom.in/
Here is the link to our website - https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://en.useahimsa.com/
You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.ecocart.io/
Rate the podcast.
The core of Phool Co business and dear to the vision of the founder is women empowerment. Phool works with the women who worked as manual scavengers, cleaning dry toilets. They are committed to paying them fair wages, provides them with health insurance and retirement benefits. The impact of this can be seen within a few weeks of them working at Phool - from the increase in savings, everyday nutrition, and a life of dignity.
You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.co
At Phoenix Solutions, your electronics will either be securely recycled or professionally refurbished and resold. The recycled IT Assets (electronics) get dismantled, sorted, refined, and repurposed. Reselling IT Assets enables Phoenix Solutions to channel revenue to social impact initiatives. Extending the life of an asset is not only good for the environment but it’s good for fixing big global problems too!
You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://phoenix-solutions.tech/
Civic Champs helps nonprofits get back their time to do the things that matter most. They have streamlined the volunteer process through a mobile-first platform to allow Executive Directors and Volunteer Coordinators to get more time in their week. These tools allow volunteers and coordinators to quickly and easily log the volunteer’s time directly into the platform where the data is easily accessible.
More recently, the company has developed a micro-donation feature that helps to convert volunteers to donors.
Learn more by visiting www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.civicchamps.com/
The Unscented Company was launched in 2016. Today, it’s carried by more than 2,000 retailers worldwide. The Unscented Company has been successfully redefining our notion of clean by introducing a range of effective, natural and exclusively unscented home and body care products that contain minimal ingredients—nothing but the good stuff. The smart packaging and refill station feature is designed to reduce our collective plastic footprint as much as possible. As a B Corp certified company since 2015, TUC proudly adheres to the highest socially and environmentally responsible standards and hopes to inspire others to follow suit.
Learn more by visiting www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://unscentedco.com/
LaRhea Pepper, managing director of Textile Exchange and her team, develop, manage, and promote a suite of leading industry standards, as well as collect and publish critical industry data and insights that enable brands and retailers to measure, manage, and track their use of preferred fiber and materials. They accomplish this through a robust membership representing leading brands, retailers, and suppliers.
To hear this and other episodes go to www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://textileexchange.org/
95% of plastic packaging material annually ends up in dumps or the natural environment, taking more than 400 years to decompose in our oceans and up to 1,000 years in landfills. Joseph Siani was determined to create a natural substitute to plastic by using the sugarcane pulp - a by-product of the sugar manufacturing process. Learn what it means to up-cycle and how SupraPulp™ is made keeping in mind the principles of circular design. Even though it is completely compostable and it can withstand temperature ranges of - 42 to 270 degrees Celsius.
To listen to more episodes go to www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://w-cycle.com/
9/11 changed how we travel and how we pack when we travel. The mini-size plastic bottles became an integral way to pack our toiletries, cosmetics, and beauty. But is anything smaller than 8" even truly and effectively recycled? Learn more in this episode. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.palettebypak.com/
We chat with founder Derin Oyekan, a 20-year digital marketing veteran about his journey in creating sustainable toilet paper and a brand that strives to give back by building toilets and empowering women. Learn how Reel does it in a mindful collaborative way. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://reelpaper.com/
Art and nature can have a deep impact on our well-being. we strengthen that connection by creating spaces that integrate them. We talk to the founder of Hinter Company creator of spaces, Mauricio Padilla. Hinter is no traditional hotel, it has spaces where guests can reconnect through nature and minimalism. Hinter sets a new norm on sustainability by giving more than what they take. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://hinter.com/
How a chance meeting in Taipei, Taiwan brings birthday twins together in their home country of Mexico, to create vegan leather. We talk to co-founders Adrian Lopez and Marte Cazarez of Desserto, where they create a highly sustainable plant-based vegan-leather made from cactus, with its characteristic softness to touch and yet a great performer in a wide variety of applications, complying with the most rigorous quality and environmental standards. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://desserto.com.mx/
We talk to the CEO of Dropps, Jonathan Propper, who reinvented the way consumers do laundry with the invention of the liquid laundry detergent pod. In 2017, Dropps became exclusively direct-to-consumer by offering cost-saving subscription plans shipped via sustainable packaging; eliminating third-party retailers from its distribution chain. This autonomy has allowed the brand to thrive in providing eco-responsible cleaning products with reduced environmental impact, which saves money, time, water, and plastic. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.dropps.com/
The original intent of colonial conquest of the Indian subcontinent was a desire for domination of the spice trade. 600+ years later, as a young woman born and raised in postcolonial Mumbai, working at the intersection of food and culture, Sana Javeri Kadri founder of @diasporaco, was slowly discovering that not much about that system had changed. Farmers made no money, spices changed hands upwards of 10 times between farmer and consumer, and the final spice on the shelf was usually an old, dusty, and flavorless shadow of what it once was. Living a life between two worlds - India and the USA, and mindfully impacting lives in both places. Listen to Sana’s passion in this episode. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.diasporaco.com/
We talk to Patrick Graham, CEO of Unpaste - zero-waste toothpaste. Unpaste is disrupting the toothpaste market with it's Altoids like tablets. It gently polishes your teeth leaving fewer places for bacteria to attach and reducing the formation of plaque and tartar. It is manufactured sustainably with a minimalistic philosophy. Listen more from Patrick. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://unpaste.us/
The first handcrafted Bürstenhaus Redecker brushes were produced in 1935. Their brushes are made with domestic wood and plant fibers and are natural, sustainable, functional, and very durable. A lot has changed since then. Today, the name stands, as it has for decades, for an ideal combination of natural quality, function, and design. Learn how this 3rd generation company has survived, grown, and transferred management through the generations. In this episode, we chat with Jana and Felix Redecker.
https://www.redecker.de/en/
https://www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com/
What does it take to start a business several thousands of miles away, and that too when you were just 19. Kate Holby co-founded Ajiri tea with her sister Sara Kolby, to create a full cycle of sustainable aid. Because education is a sustainable investment, 100% of the net profits go back to Kenya to pay school fees for orphans. Ajiri Tea Company is now sponsoring 29 orphans in school and is employing four different women’s groups. Learn more about these amazing young ladies. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://ajiritea.com/
Beyond Good, a pioneer in heirloom dark chocolate is the only brand in the U.S. market producing bean-to-bar chocolate at source in Africa. From an organic certified chocolate factory in Madagascar, Beyond Good produces the finest heirloom chocolate, while providing a stable pay price for cocoa farmers. By making finished products in Africa, Beyond Good is redefining high-quality chocolate and sustainability in the chocolate industry. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.beyondgood.com/
The world changed around us in just a month. The new normal and when will it all be normal again. We talk to 6 of our past guests to learn how they have coped, adapted, and are surviving the impact of COVID - 19 in their business and personal lives. Commiserate with them. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
We talk to Shruti Ashok, the founder of Inai. Inai is a creative space, where timeless leather pieces are crafted using upcycled Italian leathers, handmade by skilled Indian artisans in Madras, India. The designs are made to serve a specific purpose — a bag for everyday living, new adventures, emotional milestones and so much more.
'Inai’ is a Tamil word, derived from ‘Inaippu’ which translates to ‘connection’. - you to connect with what you buy. Inai aims to inspire people to treasure and value the products they consume and the stories behind them. You can also visit our website www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://inaistory.com/
We talk with the founder and slow design pioneer Natalie Chanin of Alabama Chanin. The company that has become what Alabama Chanin is today began early in 2000 with Natalie creating hand-sewn garments made from cotton jersey t-shirts. They are a leader in elevated craft due to a strong belief in tradition and dedication to locally sewn garments and goods—both hand and machine-sewn. They maintain responsible, ethical, and sustainable practices holding themselves to the highest standards for quality.
At Alabama Chanin, they preserve traditions of community, design, producing, and living arts by examining work and life through the acts of storytelling, photography, education, and making. Natalie in her soothing mellifluous voice walks us through her journey in creating Alabama Chanin. Come take a listen. Be the first to know by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://alabamachanin.com/
We speak to Mayura Davda Shah the founder of MAYU, a sustainable luxury lifestyle brand which promotes a conscious way of life. Designed in New York with fish leather and vegan materials sourced from Europe she crafts goods for the betterment of our people and planet. Learn how waste can be used to create a luxury premium accessories brand. In fact, L'Officiel placed Mayu as one of the top 5 sustainable brands to watch out for along with Stella McCartney. Be the first to know by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://worldofmayu.com/
Jai-Dee, ใจดีis Thai for kind-hearted, is a sustainable leotard company. We talk with founder and professional; ballet dancer Katherine Hartsell who has created this female-centered brand creating dancewear to empower women, support the arts, and honor the earth. Featuring luxurious Italian fabric made with ECONYL® regenerated nylon fiber. With a commitment to women who dance, the arts that uplift humanity, and the environment that we all call our creative home, Jai-Dee Dancewear is a small company with a big mission to help create a kinder, more creative, and more sustainable world for all. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://jaideedancewear.com/
Co-founders and runners Shriyans Bhandari and Ramesh Dhami ran through 3-4 pairs of sneakers every year. They realized that the soles were still in good condition though the uppers were worn out. They refurbished them into trendy footwear for sale and slippers for donation. In fact, they have donated half a million slippers since 2016. Listen to learn how Green Sole is socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.greensole.com/
We talk with co-founders Sujata and Taniya (Su and Ta) who decided to quit their well-paying jobs and put their hearts and souls into spreading love through traditional hand-woven sarees. They have a family of 1400 weavers. The process of weaving every saree is a celebration of centuries of tradition and the authenticity of Indian arts. Suta strives to preserve the art of generational craftsman, guaranteeing them a living wage and bringing their products to the urban markets. Learn about their journey in this episode. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://suta.in/
We talk with Sarah Jackson (whose name has been changed due to security reasons), founder and CEO of Tahmina. Tahmina is an international brand with a vision to export transformational products from different conflict regions of the world. Their maiden project is saffron and saffron-infused teas from Afghanistan. Learn more about their work through this podcast. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.tahminatea.com/
Co-founder Rahul Choudhary of Ricron Panels talks about the motivation and the process of converting toothpaste and candy wrappers into a great cost-effective substitute for plywood and MDF. Join us on his journey. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.ricron.com/
We talk to Megan Stoneburner Aseem, Director of Sustainability and Sourcing at Outerknown. At Outerknown every decision is made with the highest regard for the hands that build our clothes and the world we call home. From seeds to suppliers to a circular design, their mission is to protect natural resources, empower the people crafting the clothes, and inspire change within the industry and beyond. Learn how they do it. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.outerknown.com/
How does having a child change life perspectives? We talk to co-founders Anamika Sengupta and Biplap Dutta who decided to raise him in a plastic-free world. They designed and created earth-conscious products to raise a child who lives in co-existence with nature. They envision a world where we and our children can have their basic rights to breathe pure without fear and live in a world that thrives naturally. They share these views and products with our listeners. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.almitrasustainables.com/
Buy handmade, change women's lives. We chat with Joan Shifrin and Catherine Shimony, extremely dynamic and creative women who run this New York-based non-profit brand Global Goods Partners, like a business and with the overall mission to do good and empower women. Their work, resources, and resolve are focused on bridging gaps, opening doors, and providing opportunities for artisan women to join the international marketplace. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://globalgoodspartners.org/
Malai is a newly developed biocomposite material based on Bacterial Cellulose is grown on water from mature coconuts and natural fibers from the banana stem, hemp, and sisal. A duo of designers and material researchers Zuzana Gombosova and Susmith Susheel have for the last 2 years have been based in Kerala where they continue building a pilot manufacturing unit and working on improving material properties and manufacturing processes. The essence of Malai is to find beauty in all-natural and design materials that can come from nature and safely return to it. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://malai.eco/
MUD Jeans is a Dutch sustainable denim brand. In 2013 MUD Jeans introduced the innovative
‘Lease A Jeans’ fashion concept. With this concept MUD Jeans has won various prizes such as
the Edie Award for Sustainability Business Models and the Peta Vegan Award. On a daily basis,
the company engages and applies itself in the transition towards a circular fashion industry by
recycling or upcycling of resources where possible. MUD Jeans attains the high standards of
various sustainability organizations such as the worldwide B Corp. MUD Jeans is the first CO2
neutral denim brand according to the BLUEdot certificate process and participates via BLUEdot
in CO2 ‘positive’ projects by which it neutralizes its CO2 emission. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://mudjeans.eu/
The Farmer’s Dog was founded on the belief that, like people, pets should be enabled to lead their best possible lives. Their first product is a subscription service that delivers wholesome, freshly-cooked meals for dogs - an antidote to the unregulated, highly processed, preservative-fueled world of commercial pet food.
The Farmer’s Dog launched in 2014 after co-founder Brett Podolsky's battle to solve the stomach issues of his dog, Jada. After testing every pet food on the market without success, Brett tried a fresh, home-cooked diet at his vet’s recommendation. The results were staggering - Jada was cured. Having witnessed first-hand the power of fresh food, he teamed up with Jonathan to rethink the pet food industry from the ground-up and create the simple, healthy product they wished had existed for their own dogs (and dogs everywhere!). Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
Rate this episode
https://www.thefarmersdog.com/
Through her curiosity and love of knitting, Laurie Gonyea discovered the magical and therapeutic properties of yarn spun with pure silver. However, this extraordinary material was not being produced in the U.S. for the hand knitting market. Laurie set out to change that. The result is a collection of modern, elevated essentials that are kind to your skin and the world around you. Each collection is designed and made in the US, infused with pure silver throughout the pieces and is produced in limited runs. Naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial, pure silver inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria and promotes healthy skin. Silver also has great thermal properties and conducts energy, keeping your feet warm. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.silverspungoods.com/
Bradford and Bryan Manning are two blind brothers on a mission to cure blindness. At a young age, they were diagnosed with an eye disease that causes blindness over time. To fight back, they left their former careers to start Two Blind Brothers, a small charitable clothing company that donates 100% of the profits to drive life-changing research for a cure for blindness. Their condition inspired a special attention for details, a passion that carries over into the construction of their clothing line. Two Blind Brothers focuses on quality, comfort, and "sense of touch." Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://twoblindbrothers.com/
Swahili Coast partners with artisans in East Africa to craft ethically handmade, fair trade, adventure-ready accessories.It connects them to global markets using principles of fairness, dignity, and respect. Swahili Coast strives to support the creation of worker-owned cooperatives and provide continuing support through fair exchange and promotion of workers' rights in the East Africa region. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.swahilicoastdesign.com/
Muskaan's lipstick is more than just a pretty shade - it's a way to show your true colors. Look good and do good with Muskaan. Portions of the proceeds go towards funding a rotating lineup of local and global charity partners. They believe giving back is truly the most beautiful thing. Plus, they perform due diligence to ensure that the donations are given in the hands of those who need it most.
Muskaan takes the time to make sure our formula not only meets high industry standards and certifications but more importantly that it exceeds customers' standards. Look and feel good knowing your shade was mindfully created and lovingly made with your heart in mind. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.muskaanmakeup.com/
Hats that empower women & capture the energy of the Sacred Valley, infusing it into your everyday life. #WearYourIntention Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://andeanahats.com/
We talk with Kimberly McGlonn, a passionate founder/CEO, Grant Blvd about her mission and her vision in training returning citizens women to create clothes in West Philadelphia. Following her brand's goal to be inclusive, she has a wide range of sizes made from clothes that she gets from thrift stores. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.grantblvd.com/
ABLE is a lifestyle brand focused on ending generational poverty by providing an economic opportunity for women. We talk to Jen Milam, director of merchandise planning, about how the brand works to be transparent and accountable in an industry where women workers often cannot meet the basic needs for themselves and their children. She talks to us from their headquarters in Nashville, TN. You can book an #Airbnbexperience at their HQ in Nashville, TN, and leave with a piece of jewelry. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.livefashionable.com/
"Nature is the best designer as it has had 1000s of years to perfect it." - Rony Joseph, designer, and owner of Zojila.com. Listen to how nature inspires him to design your everyday kitchen products using minimalist principles. He talks about how he has in the 15 years of business hasn't bought new outer boxes - he is always able to find reusable boxes, savings that he passes on to his customers. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.zojila.com/
"Business best in the world" and "Business best FOR the world" - Susan Correa, Founder and CEO of Art and Eden talks to us from NYC, passionately about her desire to create sustainable organic and affordable children's clothing. Art and Eden is mindful in their sustainability practices from the cotton seed to the final product. Listen to learn more. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com
https://www.artandeden.com/
The environmentally conscious you doesn't want to use plastic straws, but paper straws dissolve in your drinks. Here is the answer for you: Palm Straws! In this episode, we talk to Palm Straw co-founder Dave Mash about their bio-degradable plant-based straws. Be the first to know about our latest episode by subscribing www.mindfulbusinessespodcast.com