The NatureBacked Podcast

In this conversation, Thom Norman from FarmKind discusses the critical issues surrounding factory farming, its impact on animal welfare and climate change, and the importance of charitable donations in addressing these challenges.He emphasizes that individuals can make a difference without necessarily changing their diets and highlights the global perspective on factory farming, including the role of EU policies and the progress being made in animal welfare advocacy.TAKEAWAYS: FarmKind helps tackle factory farming through charity recommendations. Factory farming refers to industrial agriculture with large numbers of animals. Animal agriculture significantly contributes to global emissions. Changing diets is not the only way to make an impact. Donating to effective charities can offset dietary impacts. Factory farming is growing rapidly in Asia and Latin America. EU policies have mixed effects on animal welfare. There are innovative solutions to reduce animal suffering. Progress in animal welfare is being made despite industry challenges. Elevating animal voices is crucial in advocacy efforts. Episode cover picture made with Designer. Powered by DALL·E 3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the NatureBacked podcast, Fiona Alston interviews Sarah Fleischer, co-founder and CEO of tozero, a company focused on lithium-ion battery recycling.They discuss the journey of starting tozero, the challenges of being a female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, and the innovative processes involved in recycling lithium.Sarah shares her insights on the importance of purpose-driven entrepreneurship and the need for sustainable practices to combat the climate crisis.In November tozero raised 11 million euros in a seed round led by NordicNinja. This fresh capital will be used to build tozero’s first industrial deployment plant, often referred to as a First-Of-A-Kind (FOAK) plant, boosting production of recycled lithium following the first commercial delivery in April by its operational Pilot Plant, and expand the team to support its ambitious growth plans. Chapters00:00 Introduction to tozero and Its mission07:42 The Journey of a Repeat Founder13:20 Innovative Lithium Recycling Process19:19 Female Leadership in Tech21:32 Vision for a Sustainable Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Erik Kolehmainen discusses his role at Metsä Spring, the innovation arm of Metsä Group, focusing on sustainable forestry practices and developing new bio-based products. He highlights the unique co-operative structure of Metsä Group, which forest owners own, and how this influences long-term business strategies. The discussion covers various innovative projects, including textile fibers, carbon capture technologies, and the potential of mycelium in the bioeconomy. Takeaways:Sustainable use of raw materials is crucial for the future.Innovations in textiles and carbon capture are key projects.Mycelium and mushroom-based solutions are gaining traction.Collaboration with external companies enhances innovation efforts.The bioeconomy is a rapidly evolving field with many opportunities.Investing in pilot plants is essential for scaling new technologies.Networking is vital for discovering new investment opportunities.The textile waste problem presents significant business opportunities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The episode explores Lithuania's vibrant green tech ecosystem, focusing on the growth of renewable energy, mobility, and circular economy innovations, and the challenges startups face. Teresė Škutaitė, head of the Green Tech Hub, discusses the impact of geopolitical shifts on the cleantech sector and the importance of energy independence. At the same time, Biohifas founder Tomas Byckovas talks about the potential of alternative proteins and mycelium-based solutions. He highlights the supportive environment for startups and the need for improved access to capital and talent in the region.TakeawaysLithuania's green tech sector is rapidly growing due to geopolitical shifts.Energy independence is a key driver for renewable energy innovation.The startup ecosystem is diverse, with strong mobility and circular economy sectors.Solar and wind energy are the main focuses of Lithuania's renewable energy strategy.Challenges include access to capital and attracting talent in cleantech.Alternative proteins and agri-food tech are emerging areas of innovation.The government and agencies provide significant support for startups.The EU's regulatory environment poses challenges for scaling businesses.Mycelium startups are gaining traction in the alternative protein space.Lithuania is positioning itself as a hub for green technology innovation.The episode was recorded on the sidelines of Startup Fair conference in Vilnius in October 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Jenks discusses Rare's mission to inspire change for the benefit of both people and nature. He emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior in conservation efforts and shares insights on how community engagement and behavioral science can drive sustainable practices."People are a huge opportunity for conservation," he said. "We need both policy change and individual action."Jenks highlights successful initiatives by Rare, the impact of media on climate action, and the need for individual action in addressing climate change. He concludes with a call for a collective effort to shift behaviors and achieve conservation goals."Your individual behavior matters in climate change."Rare is a global leader in driving social change for people and nature. For over 50 years, across 60 countries, it has inspired and empowered millions of people and their communities to protect our shared planet.Each of Rare’s programs today — The Center for Behavior & the Environment, Fish Forever, Lands for Life, Climate Culture, and Innovative Finance — support the shared goal of driving collective action at the local level to address global challenges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Climate activist Niklas Kaskeala, founder and chief impact officer at ImpactOffice.Earth, highlights the urgency of addressing climate change and the role of corporate responsibility in fostering a sustainable future.Kaskeala emphasizes the need for businesses to move beyond traditional sustainability practices and focus on creating positive impacts, questioning existing business models and advocating for broader societal change.Takeaways Kaskela has over 20 years of experience in sustainability. Protect Our Winters mobilizes the winter sports community against climate change. Climate change poses an existential threat to winter sports. Sustainability should focus on creating positive impact, not just minimizing harm. Businesses need to rethink their models for a sustainable future. The climate crisis has already crossed several planetary boundaries. Traveling to ski resorts contributes significantly to emissions. Companies must take ownership of their entire supply chain emissions. Corporate sustainability should not be a box-ticking exercise. The safe limit for CO2 in the atmosphere is 350 ppm, which we have exceeded decades ago. "We've gone way beyond the point of the safe limit, but what are we doing every day? We're adding more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Each and every one of us, each and every company. So even if we miraculously stopped emitting today, we would still have a huge issue with too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere," Kaskeala said."It's like having a bathtub. If the bathtub is the atmosphere and the water running in there is the carbon dioxide, we've had the tap on for centuries, decades, and the water is already overflowing. It's so high up that it's flowing over the edges of the bathtub. So our solution can't be just to turn the tap off by 5% this year, 5% next year. It'll just contribute to the problem even more. We need to close it, but then we also need to remove the plug and drain the excess water out," he said.The episode was first aired live from the Impact Day event in Tallinn.Kaskeala was interviewed by Fiona Alston.Since the recording in October, Kaskeala also co-founded The Activist AgencyThe episode cover picture was made with Designer. Powered by DALL·E 3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Martin Villig, co-founder of Bolt, discusses his journey towards a sustainable lifestyle and the importance of urban planning that prioritizes people over cars.He shares insights on how his personal experiences led to a shift in his lifestyle and the mission of Bolt to create cities that foster independence and community engagement. Villig emphasizes the role of education in building strong communities and advocates for a society where everyone cares for each other and the environment.TakeawaysSustainable living can lead to a happier lifestyle.Urban planning should prioritize people, not cars.Community independence is essential for family well-being.Education is key to creating equal opportunities.Leadership in schools can significantly impact student success.Awareness of transportation choices can influence city planning.Scaling a company requires a mission-driven approach.Shared mobility can reduce the need for personal cars.Building a community can combat loneliness and mental health issues.A caring society is one where everyone looks out for each other.The episode was recorded live at Impact Day in Tallinn by Fiona Alston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast episode with Larry Selzer from the Conservation Fund discusses balancing economic development with environmental conservation. Larry discusses the Fund's mission to protect critical lands in the U.S. while supporting sustainable economic activities. "It's not an easy endeavour, because there's a long history, over a century, of keeping these two powerful forces, the environmental movement and the free enterprise system separate in the United States. Our mission is to bring them together to create a mighty river of action," Selzer said.The fund aims to protect five million acres of forest and contribute to the national goal of conserving 30% of U.S. land by 2030. The conversation highlights the importance of integrating conservation with economic vitality and the unique challenges and strategies in achieving these ambitious goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this conversation, Kari Sinivuori discusses the significant health benefits of nature and the alarming trend of urbanization leading to a disconnect from natural environments. The discussion highlights a research study that emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature, particularly through innovative products that incorporate natural microbes. "We need to reconnect people back to nature," Sinivuori said. "Every second person has a disease caused by one's own immune system."Kari explains how urban living contributes to health issues and how their company, Uute, is working to bridge this gap by providing nature-derived solutions in consumer products. The conversation also touches on future aspirations for the company and the potential for their technology to revolutionize health and wellness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NuCicer is a startup focused on breeding better chickpeas to have a positive impact on the environment and the growing population. The founders, Kathryn Cook and her father, aim to connect the fragmented food and agriculture system by bridging the gap between ag technologies and food brands. "By understanding the challenges that consumer brands and formulators are having, we can take those challenges and bring them back to the seed level," said Kathryn Cook.NuCicer's promises its first commercial variety, NC1, has up to 75% more protein than a standard chickpea and offers strong yields and a shorter time to maturity. "Our long-term vision is to provide growers with a regenerative crop that can be grown on tens of millions of acres," Cook said.By increasing the adoption of chickpeas, NuCicer aims to replace animal-based products, improve soil health, and reduce the use of chemicals in agriculture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices