Building Better Business: Recent Episodes
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We all want a healthier planet and fairer future to look forward to. Building Better Business explores how business has a huge impact - and how, as informed customers, we can become part of a positive movement for change through our consumer choice.
The podcast features straight talking conversations with global thought leaders and professionals, asking: ‘What are businesses doing to protect our future and what more can be done?’
Hosted by John Steel, CEO of popular British ethical pioneer coffee brand Cafédirect.
Claire Rhodes (CEO, Producers Direct), Ed Gillespie (the Futurenauts podcast, Greenpeace Director) and Sir Tim Smit (founder of the Eden Project) join John for a live recording of this Fairtrade Fortnight special edition.
Our guests delve into how climate change is affecting the farmers that grow our food, what that means for all of us and how we can all help.
We cover:
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The reliance on small-scale farmers for food and commodities and their vulnerability to climate shocks
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The challenges facing small-scale farmers and who benefits from the trading system
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The reasons behind monocrop farming and its consequences
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Business greenwashing and the need to democratise climate data access
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How and why we need to create resilient landscapes to grow crops
See Cafédirect website for more information.
Mike Brehme took a leading role bringing good quality, ethical tea to the UK market and Clipper Teas is now the world’s largest Fairtrade tea brand.
Mike established Clipper in the mid 1980’s and as Managing Director, he ran the business for 25 years until 2008. Mike worked with the Fairtrade Foundation in their early days and defined what Fairtrade looked like in the tea industry.
He shares how he’s seen Fairtrade tackle the extreme inequality that exists in these tea communities, and how he’s witnessed the wildlife benefits of organic tea plantations.
Erinch’s career at Oxfam and then CEO of the World Fair Trade Organisation has led him to his latest endeavour at Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL).
Erinch tells us about doughnut economics – the theory by British economist Kate Raworth, which argues that 20th century economic thinking is not equipped to deal with the 21st century reality of a planet teetering on the edge of climate breakdown. The theory calls for a new way of business that will better serve our communities within the planet’s boundaries, rather than an endless pursuit of profit.
Erich shares how DEAL is turning this radical idea into transformative action.
Peter joins us from the UK body for social enterprise, which is a business with a social or environmental mission.
From building markets for social enterprises to public facing campaigns, they amplify the voice of their members and influence decision makers.
Peter has had a fascinating career working at Oxfam, Greenpeace and other charities, and now campaigns for economic change by advocating business models that consider all its stakeholders and the environment.
Most of our valued commodities, including coffee, are produced by people in some of the poorest conditions in the world.
Albert Tucker’s career has been dedicated to working to create equal partnerships with producer cooperatives and community leaders to change the way trade is done.
Albert was instrumental in pushing for farmers to take leadership roles at Fairtrade and Cafédirect and he tells us how this brought their entrepreneurial expertise and origin knowledge to great advantage, something he strongly advocates for all businesses.
Kresse Wesling is an environmental entrepreneur that set up Elvis & Kresse – a company that makes gorgeous luxury accessories from reclaimed materials.
Kresse inspires us to think about the huge potential of the waste that normally goes into landfill, and how we can make something truly special out of it.
We get Kresse’s thoughts on what solutions are needed to tackle waste, one of the biggest environmental challenges we face, and hear about the remarkable regenerative agriculture project that she is undertaking.
Child-labour and slavery in the cocoa industry is rife but Tony’s Chocolonely uses its delicious tasting chocolate and its different business model to make change across the industry.
Ben Greensmith started his career in food and drink over 20 years ago, and he has grown brands including Innocent and Proper Snacks and now as UK Country Manager at the sixth biggest chocolate brand in the UK, Tony’s Chocolonely.
Ben tells us who are the culprits, what Tony’s Chocolonely is doing to change consumers’ habits and industry practice, and how their how their sourcing principles are helping other businesses.
Jenny Costa founder of Rubies in the Rubble, a sustainable condiments brand that uses surplus fruit and vegetables, joins John this week.
Jenny started the business through her passion for avoiding food waste and desire to tackle the enormous problem that it poses globally. Food production and waste is a huge contributor to climate change, and Jenny saw a situation so wrong that she wanted to make change.
Here is her story on how she started Rubies in the Rubble and how she grew it into the successful business it is today.
Fairtrade works to provide worker’s rights, safer working conditions and fairer pay to farmers and workers who are marginalised from trade in various ways. Trade on favourable terms strengthens economies by improving livelihoods and communities, and helps farmers adapt to and mitigate against climate change.
Mike explains how working closely with producers and leveraging these relationships has incredible advantages for a business.
COOK is a hugely impressive company. Caring about people is in their DNA and they’re always coming up with new ways to help the people in their communities and see the potential in their staff.
The hand-made frozen food company has been ranked in the top 100 Best Companies To Work For every year since 2013 and Chief Creative Officer, James Rutter, shares how being people focused has been their recipe for success.
Andrew Ethuru, Kenyan tea farmer and former Cafédirect Board Director
Andrew gives us insights into where our tea comes from and why buying ethical tea that pays a fair price to farmers is vital in ensuring its future. We discuss how tea prices and climate change are the biggest challenges faced by tea farmers, which can only be combated collectively.
Andrew recalls his time as a Director on the Cafédirect Board and how his farming experience was valuable in shaping the business.
Hear his accounts of some of Cafédirect’s producer support programmes that worked alongside tea co-operatives to strengthen their businesses.
The power of enterprise, Danny Sriskandarajah, CEO Oxfam GB
Oxfam sees enterprise as a hugely powerful tool to tackle poverty, improve lives and livelihoods where it’s needed most.
CEO Danny Sriskandarajah notes how current levels of global consumerism are deeply unsustainable and that business as usual must change urgently so that resources are shared more fairly and to live safely within the planet’s boundaries.
Hear him explain the direct link between climate action and tackling poverty and hunger, both of which are on the rise as inequality rises in countries around the world.
Kate Sandle Director of Programmes and Engagement, B Corp UK.
Kate Sandle Director of Programmes and Engagement at B Lab tells us about B Corps who are leading the way in transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet.
Kate explains how business is the key to tackling the climate emergency, racial injustice and social inequality and offers insights into what support is on offer for businesses and how to get certified.
We discuss how society’s expectations of business have changed and how both business and the legal system needs to catch up with modern demands.
Claire Rhodes is CEO of Producers Direct, a charity set up by Cafedirect in 2009 to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Producers Direct is led by farmers and runs programmes to turn smallholder farms into sustainable businesses. Claire talks about the advantages of a charity led by international smallholder farmers and how its seen huge entrepreneurial successes by harnessing their knowledge.
With 80% of the world’s food and commodities coming from smallholder farmers, they are essential to our food and agricultural systems. As farmers battle with the effects of climate change Claire explains how urgently businesses need to protect and replenish the environment they operate in for the survival of their livelihoods and our food supply. And only by collaborating – across organisations and countries – can we do this.
This week’s guest is Sophi Tranchell, former Managing Director of Fairtrade chocolate brand Divine.
Sophi shares her experiences of 21 years leading a truly unique business that was set up by cocoa farmers in Ghana who also sit on the Board and own shares in the company.
Sophi recollects the thrills of working for a radical business model that has improved the lives of cocoa farmers in West Africa and through its success has been the catalyst for change in the chocolate industry.
Hear Sophi’s views on inhouse ethical certifications on chocolate and her excellent advice for those looking to start a purpose-driven business.
And for all of us as consumers, Sophi explains how shoppers can identify which companies are running their businesses responsibly, and which are not.
As head of Twin Trading Pauline Tiffen led the work to set up ground-breaking companies like Cafédirect and Divine Chocolate and created linkages for farmers and artisans from all over the world.
Pauline has worked to make trade fair for over 30 years: as company director, innovator, advisor, consultant and writer.
Pauline explains how she sees recent social movements like Black Lives Matter as an evolution of the fair trade movement and what consumers need to look out for when trying to buy ethically.
Pauline is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Fair Trade which brings together critical thinking on how to make trade fairer to people and planet – which is free to view online.
Our money has huge potential to create positive change.
In this episode we speak to Bevis Watts, UK CEO of sustainable bank Triodos. Triodos only invests in sustainable projects that benefit both people and planet. They work side by side with social enterprises and companies looking to invest in a brighter, purpose-driven future.
It’s clear banking needs to play a different role in society if we’re going to rectify our current climate crisis – investments need to be made based more on their societal value rather than the financial returns.
Hear Bevis explain why dramatic action needs to take place now – and why those businesses that don’t, will be left behind.
The leadership of any business is critical for its success – but what does that look like for a social enterprise? What challenges and advantages can be harnessed by a business with purpose, to compete in a competitive marketplace? And what should be an absolute priority to be a best-in-class business?
John Philips has over 30 years of experience in building successful global businesses and brands including DIAGEO, Barcardi and Fosters.
In recent years, John joined as Chair of Cafédirect where he has been instrumental in modernising the business. He shares his wisdom on the fundamentals to get right, both externally and internally, so that the business can deliver on people, planet and profit.
In an incredibly inspiring episode, Paul Chandler shows how the small actions of individuals can make big changes. And that we all hold the power to make positive change in our own way.
Paul is the previous Chief Executive of the online fair trade organisation, Traidcraft and former President of the European Fair Trade Association. He is a Board member of the Co-op Group amongst other Board positions within other ethical companies.
We discuss the need for the right guardianship in any business with purpose, to ensure it stays true to its values – and how credibility and diversity is critical for this.
Paul reflects on the growth of Fairtrade movement over his career, from a time when big corporations thought it had no future, to customers demanding Fairtrade products in their supermarkets.
Richard has dedicated the past 30 years to connecting coffee farmers to markets that have the most impact on the communities they come from. He pioneered the UK's direct coffee trading in the early 1990s for Cafédirect.
It’s taken him to remote farming communities across the globe in search of small coffee cooperatives. He’s had tremendously exciting and challenging journeys, the greatest reward being the pride farmers took in having their coffee and hard work recognized and rewarded for the first time. Through discovery and development, the cooperatives realised the potential of their coffee.
He explains how this relationship worked for both sides – better income and market knowledge for the seller and better coffee for the buyer.
As an academic Bob has published extensively on social enterprise business models including Cafédirect and is a trustee on the board of the Fairtrade Foundation. Before his life in academia Bob worked as Head of Sales at social enterprise, Divine Chocolate.
Bob explains why the traditional pursuit of business profit is destructive and offers advice to businesses and consumers on what we can do in our daily lives to do better and make change.
He explores where our food comes from and comments on the fragility of a food system under threat and how beneficial it is for academia and business to work together in finding solutions.
And we also gain insight from Bob’s marketing expertise as he tells us what’s important for a social enterprise to get right and how rewarding working in the sector has been.
The food and drink we buy has a monumental impact on the lives of farmers and their communities throughout the globe.
Each week, join John Steel, CEO of Cafédirect, the pioneering social enterprise that works in direct partnership with the farmers that grow your coffee, tea and cocoa. We’ll be exploring extraordinary tales of 30 years of doing business differently, speaking with those that believe business is more than making money and looking forward to how we all can build better business.
If you want to hear personal stories about the birth of a different business, the challenges of scaling a purpose driven enterprise and the impact this can have on producers, business and the environment, then this podcast is for you.
Join us as we share the stories of those on the front line of social enterprise from business leaders, academics and farmers themselves and hear how we can all contribute to the evolution of sustainable 21st century food and drink production.