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Straight Talking Sustainability: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Emma Burlow
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- Yesterday21 min
Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
This podcast tackles the often overwhelming world of sustainable practices with straightforward advice and relatable insight. Key Topics CoveredOverwhelm and where to start with sustainability at work or at homeThe importance of mindset: "putting your green glasses on"Visible actions vs. invisible actions for sustainabilityHow small changes shift social norms and influence othersThe underestimated impact of talking about and sharing your choicesTangible & easy sustainability actions you can take right nowActionable TakeawaysBegin with Visible ChangesUse a reusable coffee cup and water bottle.Choose walking, cycling, or public transport over driving.Reduce food waste and try more plant-based meals.Visible changes subtly shift social norms .Tackle the Invisible (But High Impact) ActionsSwitch your bank to one with ethical investment policies.Review and update your pension to an ethical or low-carbon fund.Change your energy provider to a green tariff.These background actions move far more carbon and money than daily visible actions .Share What You’re DoingTalk about your green choices with friends, family, and colleagues.Don’t hide or apologize for sustainable choices; sharing normalizes these behaviors and builds momentum .Community connections, whether local or at work, create a warm glow and reinforce positive changes.Mindset ShiftDon’t see “everything, everywhere, all at once” as pressure—it means there’s endless possibility.You can’t get it wrong if you try, learn, and keep going .Change happens through people, not just policies .Show Links£50 credit for Octopus Energy Bank Green Tool52 Simple Sustainability Hacks E-BookBook a Power Hour with Emma https://calendly.com/emma-lighthouse/power-hourConnect with EmmaWebsiteEmailEmma Burlow | LinkedIn
- 1 weeks ago50 min
Shifting Mindsets with Charly Cox
In this episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, Emma welcomes Charly Cox, Executive Director of Climate Change Coaches and a pioneer in the field of climate coaching. Together, they explore the psychological aspects of driving sustainable change in organizations, the unique challenges faced by sustainability professionals, and practical strategies for overcoming barriers to effective climate action.Charlie Cox's journey from coaching in West Africa to leading a team of climate coaches 01:01The psychological barriers to action in climate and sustainability work 02:00Why being a good leader is often more important than having large budgets in sustainability projects 03:21The "stuck" feeling experienced by many sustainability professionals, and the overwhelming scope of their roles 06:37The technical vs. people/communications skills required for effectiveness in sustainability roles 07:04The organizational challenges: lack of executive sponsorship and belief leadership 07:54The importance of coaching skills for sustainability professionals—especially introverts 10:12How climate change coaching differs from general business coaching 11:25Dealing with existential dread, burnout, and organizational contempt 12:27The power of using strengths-based and asset-based coaching approaches 17:31Shifting the identity from “knowledge holder” to “thought partner” 19:48Why self-regulation and deep listening are key for influencing others 18:06Strategies for maintaining belief and hope in the face of setbacks 14:20Insights into the Green Transition Coach course and its modules (building ecosystems, challenging mindsets, working with barriers, emotional regulation, and building ownership) 25:00The risks of becoming subservient or stuck in "servant mode" 27:43Mindset shifts, overcoming imposter syndrome, and changing organizational perspectives 31:05Practical communication tactics for influencing stakeholders and navigating difficult conversations 32:24Tips for making change appealing: make it familiar, reversible, and easy 47:41Key TakeawaysSustainability is a people-centered job: Technical skills are important, but communication, influence, and psychological insight are critical for success.Belief leadership matters: Executive sponsorship must translate to active participation, not merely delegating responsibility to underpowered teams.Coaching skills enable action: Learning to ask powerful questions and adopting a strengths-based approach helps "stuck" professionals and organizations move forward.You don't need to be the font of all knowledge: Focusing on being a “thought partner” and building organizational belief in change is more effective than relying solely on technical expertise.Make change accessible: Breaking actions into small, reversible, and familiar steps can help overcome overwhelm—both for sustainability professionals and organizational decision makers.Find out more about Charlie and Climate Change CoachesLighthouse Sustainability and the Beacon newsletterIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it, rate, and review to help others find the podcast. For more straight-talking sustainability advice, subscribe to the show and join us next week!Book a Power Hour with Emma https://calendly.com/emma-lighthouse/power-hourConnect with EmmaWebsiteEmailEmma Burlow | LinkedIn
- 2 weeks ago21 min
How to scale sustainability and the Prisoner’s Dilemma
In this episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, Emma explores the limitations of competitive mindsets in tackling systemic challenges like climate change. Drawing on the concept of the Prisoner’s Dilemma, Emma illustrates how organizations acting in self-interest by hoarding knowledge or refusing to collaborate actually end up moving slower and increasing costs for themselves and the sector as a whole. She emphasizes that issues such as secrecy and siloed efforts lead to fragmented results, ultimately weakening both individual organizations and collective impact. Instead, Emma challenges listeners to reconsider the dominant business paradigms rooted in scarcity and competition, arguing that these are outdated and fragile when it comes to solving urgent, complex problems.Key TopicsLeadership and the Race Against Climate ChangeEmma discusses the urgency around climate action but questions whether the competitive, race-like mentality is actually hindering meaningful progress 00:30.Prisoner’s Dilemma in SustainabilityThe classic dilemma is used as a metaphor for what happens when organizations protect their own interests at the expense of collective progress 02:40.Downsides of CompetitionEmma illustrates how competing in silos leads to duplication of effort, wasted resources, and slower progress—commercially and environmentally 03:31.Real-World Collaboration ExampleEmma shares a partnership story with Vicki Mistry, showing the benefits and challenges of genuine cooperation instead of competition 06:09.Scarcity vs. Abundance MindsetThe problems of business models based on scarcity of knowledge are unpacked, with a strong call to switch towards sharing, open training, and empowerment 08:47.The Train the Trainer ModelEmma introduces a pyramid, scale-through-empowerment approach: embedding expertise in client organizations, rather than trying to own all the knowledge 12:45.Getting Beyond EgoFocusing on the mission—climate impact—over egotistical or short-term wins; sharing knowledge leads to more robust businesses and greater long-term success 09:00.If this episode challenged your thinking, please share it with a colleague or partner.Subscribe, rate, and review to help more people discover Straight Talking Sustainability.Next week: Another guest and more hard-hitting insights into sustainable business. Until then: keep challenging and stay curious!prisoners-dilemmaBook a Power Hour with Emma https://calendly.com/emma-lighthouse/power-hourConnect with EmmaWebsiteEmailEmma Burlow | LinkedIn
- 3 weeks ago41 min
Speak Up Woman! Uncomfortable conversations with Annie Beavis
In this episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, host Emma welcomes Annie Beavis to discuss navigating difficult conversations in sustainability, building resilience during economic turbulence, and supporting each other within the industry.The episode highlights the work of Not Sustainable, a collective focused on impact, and dives into the realities of driving change, especially in medium-sized enterprises.Key TopicsThe origins and mission of Not Sustainable Economic pressures and resilience in sustainability roles Changing industry attitudes—showcasing sustainability less and its consequences Marketing, messaging, and sales as fundamental skills for sustainability professionals Strategies for having difficult conversations and pushing back constructively The value of leveraging previous experience (finance, procurement, social housing) in sustainability roles Importance of trust-building and self-awareness for gaining traction Insights on imperfection, authenticity, and working with boards Advice for new entrants in sustainability: take your time, build trust, and don’t carry all the weight yourself Quotes"It’s not about perfection, but about building trust and staying resilient—business is always hard, sustainability shouldn’t be treated as an optional extra." — Emma "Ground yourself in business reality first, because if you carry an expectation of perfection, leaders are less likely to be honest." — Annie Beavis TakeawaysBuild trust before pushing difficult conversationsResilience and adaptability are crucial as the sustainability agenda fluctuatesUse your background and diverse skills to open doors in sustainability rolesDon’t strive for perfection—progress is about small, authentic stepsSupport networks like Not Sustainable can help practitioners maintain perspective and avoid burnoutNext StepsIf you enjoyed the insights from Emma and Annie Beavis, please:Subscribe and leave a reviewShare this episode with colleagues or friends working in sustainabilityJoin the conversation on LinkedIn and check out the Beacon newsletter for more straight talking sustainability contentResources & LinksConnect with Annie Beavis on LinkedInVisit Not Sustainable: Learn more about the collective, their projects and join the communityLighthouse Sustainability: Subscribe to the Beacon newsletterBook a Power Hour with Emma https://calendly.com/emma-lighthouse/power-hourConnect with EmmaWebsiteEmailEmma Burlow | LinkedIn
- 4 weeks ago16 min
Building an Army - The Secret to Scaling Sustainability
In this solo episode, Emma discusses the importance of building capacity, capability, and resources—what she analogizes as "building an army"—to effectively drive sustainability initiatives in businesses and organizations. She shares her personal journey into carbon literacy training, the challenges of scaling training across large organizations, and the development of her “Train the Trainer” model as a solution. Emma highlights key milestones, such as reaching the 100th trainer mark, and emphasizes the power of collaboration, sharing, and building resilient networks for greater impact.Key TopicsWhy engaging people (not just increasing knowledge) is crucial for successful sustainabilityThe “knowledge-action gap” and how training addresses itEmma’s journey into carbon literacy and the evolution of her training approachThe challenges of reaching scale and maintaining quality at speedThe importance and impact of the “Train the Trainer” modelThe upcoming milestone: 100th trainer to be trainedCommitment to diversity and accessibility in trainingThe value of creating a supportive, collaborative community of trainersMilestones and OpportunitiesUpcoming Train the Trainer course in May; the 100th place is free (regular price £750-£850; discounts available)Over 1600 employees trained so far, across major organizations and sectorsEmma has recently become a Carbon Literacy Consultant, achieving one of the highest standards in the field01:00 — The Challenge of Organizational Buy-InEmma discusses the gap between sustainability strategies and actual employee engagement. Notes that many companies have good intentions, but most employees are not truly engaged or understanding the strategy.01:58 — Knowledge-Action Gap & People as the KeyEmma explains that the primary barrier is not knowledge, but getting people on board. Introduces her experience as a carbon literacy trainer and the "train the trainer" model as a solution for scale.03:36 — Personal Journey into Carbon LiteracyEmma recounts becoming carbon literate in 2021 and realizing how it addressed the gap between what people know and feel confident acting on. Describes the initial steps to develop and deliver a course in 2022, including rapid growth in demand.04:41 — Working with Prominent Businesses and Growing DemandEmma mentions clients such as BT, Openreach, Kingfisher, and B&Q. Highlights the accelerating demand for training and the challenge of scaling up without compromising quality.05:40 — The Need to Scale: Train the Trainer ApproachEmma explains the practical problem of expansion, needing multiple trainers to meet the needs of large clients such as NHS and BT. Emphasizes the move to a "train the trainer" model in 2023 to build training capacity and ensure quality.06:38 — Why a Trainer Network MattersEmma stresses that without building a pool of trainers, progress is confined to silos. Describes efforts to develop a comprehensive foundational training that equips people with skills, not just knowledge.09:05 — Creating a Trainer Community & The Next StepsEmma describes creating ongoing support such as a WhatsApp group for trainers and plans to formalize this into an academy to support individualized trainer pathways, maintain quality, and serve clients’ diverse needs.10:02 — Milestone: Approaching 100th Trainer TrainedEmma announces an upcoming milestone: training the 100th "train the trainer" participant. Mentions a free place for the 100th trainee and acknowledges Farah Lodhy’s contribution to course development.10:45 — Making Training Accessible & DiverseEmma discusses the financial investment (typically £750-£850 per course), discounts for people between jobs and those from diverse backgrounds, and international reach (training in 25–30 countries).11:36 — Recognition as a Carbon Literacy ConsultantEmma shares a personal milestone: becoming a carbon literacy consultant, placing her among a small group at the top of her field with the Carbon Literacy Project.12:12 — Broad Impact: From Consultancy to Large-Scale TrainingEmma reflects on moving from consultancy (reaching limited people) to training (reaching 1500–1600 across major organizations), and the importance of scale and replication for meaningful impact.13:24 — The Vision: Building a Lasting "Army" of TrainersEmma sets a new target of training 1,000 trainers over the next decade, emphasizing the importance of quality, resilience, mutual support, and rapid, reliable client response.14:09 — Collaboration and the "Stronger Together" MottoEmma stresses c
- Apr 12, 202649 min
You Cant Make Money From a Dead Planet with Mark Shayler
This week, Emma is joined by sustainability sector stalwart and optimist Mark Shayler for a deep dive into his book You Cant Make Money From a Dead Planet. Mark shares his career journey, the challenges and lessons of working in sustainability, and his recent personal health scare.The conversation tackles why businesses must embed sustainability at their core, the importance of systems thinking, and the danger of reducing sustainability to PR or compliance.Mark and Emma discuss the sector’s obsession with targets, why missing them isn’t a scandal, and how real progress means looking forward, not just reporting on the past.Key TopicsMark Shayler’s career journey: from environmental science to council, consultancy, Asda, and beyond Why disaster is not always personal and the importance of resilience What businesses get wrong about sustainability strategy The pitfalls of putting sustainability in PR, marketing, or as just compliance Reconciling economics and ecology—the two are deeply connected Targets, failure, and the opportunity for a ‘mass awakening’ in the industry Circularity, systems thinking, and the consumer’s role in change The need to focus on system and government change, not just individual action Mark’s Book: You Cant Make Money From a Dead PlanetWritten to reclaim his authority as an environmental scientist and offer practical pathways for businesses from “zero to net zero” Challenges the sector’s myopic focus on totem issues (e.g., plastic) rather than systemic impact Advocates for democratizing sustainability—making it accessible beyond a middle class concern Key TakeawaysSustainability should be at the heart of business—not a marketing bolt-on or compliance tick-box.Hitting (or missing) targets isn’t the main thing: direction, transparency, and a willingness to improve matter more .True change comes from systems, not just individual guilt—push for policy and industry reform .The world is facing interconnected crises—now is the time for businesses to wake up and act.Resources & LinksMark Shayler’s book: You Cant Make Money From a Dead Planet [Available from the usual outlets]Connect with Mark:LinkedIn: Mark ShaylerWebsite: markshayler.comlighthousesustainability.co.uk – subscribe to The Beacon newsletterBook a Power Hour with Emma https://calendly.com/emma-lighthouse/power-hourConnect with EmmaWebsiteEmailEmma Burlow | LinkedIn
- Apr 5, 202620 min
Know When To Hold 'em
Welcome to this week's episode of Straight Talking Sustainability! Host Emma Burlow takes inspiration from "The Gambler" song to explore when to push, pause, pivot, or fold your sustainability efforts within your business, particularly when sustainability is being deprioritised.Key Topics CoveredSustainability's Changing EnvironmentThe landscape for sustainability in business has shifted dramatically, with economic, political, and leadership pressures reshaping priorities. warns that sticking to outdated strategies risks "extinction" and stresses the importance of adapting to survive .Survival of the FittestDrawing on the analogy from a previous episode, reminds listeners that survival isn't about being the strongest, but best fitting the environment as it changes . The ability to evolve, morph, and pause is emphasized as vital.Knowing When to Hold Your CardsSustainability professionals often feel compelled to defend their initiatives relentlessly. The episode argues that sometimes, holding your cards—pausing a project or delaying an initiative—is actually the winning move . Pushing sustainability when it's unpopular can lead to burnout and resistance.Building Trust and Embedding SustainabilityThis period of pause is reframed as an opportunity to build trust within an organization.For stepping out of the "sustainability silo," truly listening to colleagues, and aligning with their current business needs . This foundational work makes sustainability more likely to succeed when momentum swings back.Consistency vs. PassionThe episode stresses that consistency, reliability, and adaptability trump intense passion. Long-term influence is built by showing up, being practical, and creating value, not just by pushing sustainability for its own sake .Takeaways and Action PointsPause and read the room before pushing sustainability initiatives.Focus on trust-building by understanding and supporting other business priorities.Use this downtime to review and simplify sustainability goals, dropping unowned or resistant projects .Reflection & Practical ToolsDownload the episode's reflection sheet to analyze your current blockers, identify your true "cards," and decide what to push, pause, or release .Revisit earlier podcast episodes for tips on root cause investigation ("Five Whys"), creating joy through initiatives, and activating key players—not just the whole workforce .Dig deeper into what's really holding you back (beyond standard excuses like "too busy" or "budget cuts") .Evaluate which of your sustainability projects are high-resistance, unowned, or not delivering value—these may be your "fold" cards .Steer your focus to areas where you can realistically build trust and influence in the current environment .Remember: Sometimes folding or pausing isn't failure—it's adaptation. Consistency and value create influence for the sustainability journey ahead!Expand Reflection sheetNot SustainableThe GamblerBook a Power Hour with Emma https://calendly.com/emma-lighthouse/power-hourConnect with EmmaWebsiteEmailEmma Burlow | LinkedIn
- Mar 29, 202642 min
Why Poor Design Still Blocks Progress with Dr Vicky Lofthouse
In this practical product design episode of Straight Talking Sustainability, host Emma Burlow sits down with Dr Vicky Lofthouse (industrial designer, sustainable innovation consultant working across aerospace to face cream) to explore why circularity remains frustratingly niche despite massive opportunities, how Triton Showers removed single-use plastic whilst reducing costs through unexpected secondary packaging savings, why cheap virgin plastic blocks progress, and Vicky's pet peeve: bad design creating products that break instead of lasting (function must come first, otherwise completely pointless).Both celebrating 30-year sustainability anniversaries (starting 1996 when it was super niche), Emma and Vicky reflect on progress: awareness is no longer niche, CSR is embedded, OEMs recognise risks and opportunities, yet familiar conversations persist (aerospace discovering circularity 20 years late feels baffling given sector intelligence).Vicky's background spans industrial design undergraduate, PhD with Electrolux at Cranfield, designing the "world's first most eco cooker," now consulting across sectors because learning is cross-disciplinary, whilst solutions remain context-specific.Packaging Regulations Impact:Legislation has had phenomenal reach beyond obvious food packaging sectors. Defence-ish companies freaked out about packaging regs, demonstrating massive unexpected scope. When price tags attach to fairly easily resolved issues (not food industry ironically), businesses act.Legislation is slow but can be an effective lever, though unintended consequences emerge: complexity overwhelms (where do we start?), people think they know the right solutions without data (everything in massive cardboard boxes, ignoring that plastic is light and functional), biodegradable NHS gloves going into orange clinical waste bags legally requiring incineration.Lack of lifecycle thinking creates these problems; sustainability perspectives recognise examining whole lifecycles, not isolated elements.Triton Showers Case Study:Inspired partly by packaging regs, the supply chain asked Triton to remove plastic after packaging (misaligned with the brand doing great sustainable showers work). Carbon analysis compared solutions rather than just swapping materials, removing nearly all single-use packaging except chrome-finished parts needing protection.Massive plastic spend reduction, big cardboard reduction, but brilliant unintended consequence: old packs were printed blue shiny with windows needing transit protection from scuffing; new brown printed cardboard didn't need protecting, enabling flat-packed delivery in big returnable cardboard dolufs (massive crates).Secondary packaging wrapping primary packaging completely removed, dolufs returned flat-packed for refilling. Reduced packaging tax liability, strengthened brand, internal excitement ("my god, look at all these positives"), message carrying even to non-sustainability people. Multiple wins speaking to different drivers and interests.Why Cheap Virgin Plastic Blocks Progress:Virgin plastic remaining very cheap is probably the biggest circularity problem, not hitting hard enough to force companies thinking differently. If prices shot through the roof (may still happen with rising oil prices), that would make a massive difference to product construction.Critical materials tied up in products sitting in drawers, going to tips, shipped elsewhere, draining away whilst we lose domestic resource. Solving this requires big collaboration thinking, conversations Vicky had three-four times in recent weeks about closing loops and capturing materials rather than paying to give them away.Funding is a big challenge (within business, within country); putting money behind things shows value and enables action beyond goodwill.Bad Design Pet Peeve:Vicky's absolute pet peeve is bad design, creating rubbish stuff that breaks easily. Products getting lighter/cheaper/breaking isn't lightweighting done properly; it's just bad design. Functionality must come first, otherwise it's completely pointless (product purpose is delivering function).Within that, bring sustainability and circularity options, but not at function expense. Aerospace, medtech, medical sectors make this undeniably critical. European right to repair conversations are fantastic, repair cafes bridge gaps between designers (understanding why products are made certain ways) and consumers (wanting modular 20-year washing machines), with Kibu headphones demonstrating playful building/repair/education for children (and adults wanting Mother's Day presents).Practical Starting Points:Think about personal practices as humans buying products daily (purchasing decisions, usage, lifes
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About Straight Talking Sustainability
Welcome to Straight Talking Sustainability! I'm your host, Emma Burlow.If you're feeling lost in all the sustainability talk or struggling to see real results in your business, this podcast is for you.We’ll clear up the confusion and focus on practical, straightforward actions that actually work.Join me as I talk with experts, share real-world stories, and tackle the common roadblocks that stop businesses from making progress.This is all about making sustainability easier and sharing what truly makes a difference.Let’s keep it simple, effective, and make sustainability stick!
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