Business of Sustainability
Business of Sustainability is a podcast hosted by Alex Smith, CEO of FuturePlus, that explores the intersection of business and sustainability. It features conversations with founders and industry pioneers who are redefining success with the planet and society in mind. The show provides data-driven insights and future-focused actions on ESG topics, covering breakthrough technologies, bold new policies, and strategies driving the global shift toward sustainability. It is aimed at business leaders, investors, and sustainability enthusiasts.
Episodes
49: Why Sustainability Communication Breaks Down
Most businesses have sustainability goals. Far fewer can communicate them credibly. In this bite-size episode, Alex Smith sits down with Sophie Davies, Sustainability Consultant at FuturePlus, to unpack why there's so often a gap between what companies do and what they say.Sophie covers what separates a genuine impact report from a box-ticking exercise, why materiality assessments matter more tha
48: How a Family Business Built Sustainability Into Its DNA
RH Amar has been operating as a family-owned food importer and distributor for over 80 years. Long before ESG became mainstream, they were making decisions rooted in doing business the right way.In this episode of the Business of Sustainability Podcast, Alex Smith sits down with James Amar and Simon Fry to talk about what that actually looks like in practice.They cover:
How RH Amar formalised giv
47: Why Workplace Culture Is a Business Risk
Workplace culture has been pushed back into the "soft and fluffy" bucket. Nick McClelland, CEO of Byrne Dean, thinks that's a serious commercial mistake.In this episode, Nick joins host and FuturePlus CEO, Alex Smith to make the hard-nosed business case for people-first culture. They dig into why organisations are sleepwalking into major people risk, the psychological impact of AI on employees, w
46: The Human Element in Sustainability
Clare Toombs joins Alex in the studio to share her journey from tech consulting in Australia to ESG and sustainability advisory at FuturePlus.Clare reflects on what sparked her passion for sustainability as a teenager, why she believes sustainability is still too siloed in most businesses, and why the human element is the critical differentiator when it comes to turning data into real progress.Di
45: Verified, Not Vibes: Carbon, Consultancy and Getting Started with Sustainability | Business of Sustainability Bitesize
Molly Todd, sustainability and carbon consultant at FuturePlus, joins Alexandra to talk about her journey from nearly a decade in hospitality to becoming one of the team's go-to experts on carbon and ESG consultancy.Molly breaks down the three types of clients FuturePlus typically works with, why so many businesses are doing good things without the evidence to back it up, and how the FuturePlus p
44: The AI Advantage: How Smart Bidding is Transforming Sustainability in Procurement
Procurement is where sustainability commitments get made or broken. But most businesses don't realise that the bid process itself is being transformed by AI, and that social value is increasingly the deciding factor in who wins.In this episode, FuturePlus CEO, Alex Smith sits down with Tricia Blatherwick, Chief Evangelist at AutoGenAI, to explore what is really happening at the intersection of AI
43: What Everest Teaches Us About Sustainable Leadership with Kenton Cool
What can the world's highest mountains tell us about building a sustainable future?Kenton Cool has summited Everest 19 times, each time as a guide. He's spent 35 years operating in environments where resources are scarce, conditions are unpredictable, and the margin for error is razor thin. In those environments, sustainability isn't a strategy; it's survival.In this episode, Alex Smith talks to
42: Are You Getting Sustainability Hiring Wrong? | Business of Sustainability Bitesize
Sustainability hiring has grown fast. But a lot of businesses are still getting it wrong, writing job specs that are too broad, hiring without knowing where sustainability fits in their organisation, and then wondering why it isn't working.In this episode, FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith talks to Sustainability Executive Poppy Clarke, who spent two and a half years recruiting in the climate tech space
41: AI and Sustainability: What Every Business Needs to Think About Now | Business of Sustainability Bitesize | FuturePlus
AI is changing how every business operates. But how many are thinking about what that means for their sustainability?FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith and COO Polly Milne sit at the intersection of sustainability and AI every day, and in this episode they share what that looks like in practice, from how FuturePlus is integrating AI into its own platform to the practical steps any business can take right
40: Where Should Sustainability Sit in Your Business? | Business of Sustainability Bitesize | FuturePlus
Put sustainability in marketing and you risk it becoming a storytelling exercise without the substance behind it. Put it too far from the boardroom and it loses the weight to drive real change. So where should it actually sit?In this episode, FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith and Sustainability Consultant Ana Biedermann Villagra work through that question from multiple angles, drawing on Ana's experience
39: Sustainability Through Fresh Eyes | Business of Sustainability Bitesize | FuturePlus
Poppy Clarke spent time in climate tech recruitment, watching other people do the jobs she wanted. So she made the move.In this episode, FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith talks to Poppy, now a Sustainability Executive at FuturePlus, about what the industry looks like when you're new to it, what surprised her, what confused her from the outside, and what she's found most engaging in her first few months.I
38: Roots, Resilience and Real Impact
Tuppenny Barn started with a single hectare of land and a simple idea: teach children where their food comes from and grow it organically.Over 21 years later, it has become one of the most quietly impressive sustainability success stories in the South East. In this episode, Alex Smith sits down with Maggie Haynes, founder and outgoing CEO of Tuppenny Barn, an accredited education charity based in
37: Greenwashing and Green Hushing | Business of Sustainability Bitesize | FuturePlus
Two of the biggest sustainability communication mistakes businesses make sit at opposite ends of the same spectrum. Overclaiming. And saying nothing at all.In this episode, FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith and COO Polly Milne discuss both, why they happen, what the consequences can be, and how businesses can find a more confident, authentic middle ground.Polly shares a practical example of a company tha
36: Sport as a Sustainability Tool | Business of Sustainability Bitesize | FuturePlus
Sport has a reach that almost no other industry can match. In this episode, Sustainability Consultant Ana Biedermann Villagra joins CEO Alex Smith to explore how sporting events and organisations can use that reach for genuine social and environmental impact, and what happens when they don't.Ana brings a perspective shaped by her background in sports sustainability and her passion for women's foo
35: SECR Reporting Explained: UK Carbon Compliance Deadlines Approaching | Business of Sustainability Bitesize | FuturePlus
Louisa Hoy, Junior Sustainability Consultant at FuturePlus, returns to explain SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting), the UK regulation requiring businesses above certain thresholds to report energy use and carbon emissions in their annual financial accounts.With reporting deadlines approaching, Louisa breaks down who needs to comply (the three-threshold test), why voluntary reporting ma
34: Human Sustainability: Why Feelings Are Your Most Important Business Data
Damien Stork and Jonathan Hook from CHX Performance return to discuss with FuturePlus CEO, Alex Smith, why workplace sickness has increased 60% since pre-COVID levels and what businesses are fundamentally missing about human sustainability.In this conversation, we explore why feelings aren't fluffy; they're biological signals telling us how well resourced we are to meet demands. We discuss the ri
33: Supporting Sustainability Professionals Working Solo | Business of Sustainability Bitesize | FuturePlus
Louisa Hoy, Junior Sustainability Consultant at FuturePlus, works primarily with sustainability professionals who are either a team of one or managing ESG as an add-on to their primary role. It's a growing reality in businesses of all sizes; someone has the job title, but not the team or the capacity to match.In this conversation, Louisa explains why data-led platforms need human guidance to be e
32: The Rise of Fractional Sustainability Leadership | Business of Sustainability Bitesize | FuturePlus
Ellen Hughes, Head of Consultancy at FuturePlus, walks through what sustainability consultancy looks like in practice; from government-funded food redistribution projects to investor presentations and global ESG strategies, often all in one day.In this conversation, Ellen reveals three key trends emerging in the sustainability space: the explosion of materiality-led strategies as businesses navig
31: What Does a Sustainability Manager Do? | Business of Sustainability Bitesize | FuturePlus
Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a sustainability management business?Sam Sweeney, Sustainability Manager at FuturePlus, walks through what a typical day looks like, from delivering waste workshops to client meetings, navigating legislation changes, and helping businesses prepare for supply chain requirements they didn't see coming.We discuss:→ How advisory support works through th
30: How London's Top Businesses Grow Sustainably - London & Partners
Sara French, Head of Scale-Up Programmes at London & Partners, shares insights from supporting over 4,500 businesses through international growth. In this conversation with Alex Smith, Sara reveals why companies that embed sustainability early scale 50% faster, how governance strengthens business foundations, and what VCs really look for in scale-ups today.We discuss the practical realities o
29: 2026 Sustainability Trends: From Performance to Action | Alex Smith & Polly Milne
Welcome to our new bitesize episodes - a new series of shorter conversations (around 10-15 minutes) where members of the FuturePlus team discuss what we're actually seeing in sustainability right now.In this first episode, CEO Alex Smith and COO Polly Milne talk about what 2026 holds.Despite regulatory rollbacks and green claims pressures, there's a clear shift happening: sustainability is moving
28: How Ape2o is Making Single-Use Water Bottles Obsolete
Bottled water is a £2 billion market in the UK, but at what cost?In this episode, FuturePlus CEO, Alex Smith sits down with Anthony Newman, CEO of Ape2o, who's on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic water bottles through innovation, not shame.After witnessing the devastating impact of marine plastics on turtles in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, Anthony knew he had to act. The result? High-t
27: Social Sustainability: From Compliance to Value Creation
In this episode, FuturePlus CEO and host, Alex Smith sits down with Rachel Sadka, Director of Social Sustainability at EY, to explore how businesses can move beyond compliance to create genuine transformation through social sustainability and DEI initiatives.Rachel shares insights from her 13+ years at EY, including her work developing the National Equality Standard and Global Equality Standard. T
26: Bridging Global Standards & Caribbean Innovation
In this special episode recorded on location in Trinidad & Tobago, FuturePlus CEO, Alex Smith sits down with Maria-Elena Navarro and Anya Ayoung-Chee from We Are Soveryn to explore how their partnership is transforming sustainability practices across the Caribbean.Fresh from exhibiting at the AMCHAM T&T HSSE Conference 2025, the conversation explores the unique challenges and opportunities
25: Bid-Ready: How Sustainability Evidence Wins Contracts
Sustainability criteria now account for up to 20% of tender scores, often the difference between winning and losing contracts.In this episode, FuturePlus CEO, Alex Smith speaks with Celestine Ekpenyong, Head of Bids and Business Development at LMAC Group, about how procurement is driving business sustainability forward.With nearly 20 years of experience, Celestine explains why evidence matters mor
24: Sustainability, from Cost Centre to Competitive Edge in Care
Our host Alex Smith speaks with Paul Hayes, CEO of Cornerstone Health Group, a specialist care provider serving people with complex needs.Paul Hayes has turned sustainability into a competitive advantage in one of the UK's most challenging sectors. While most care providers struggle with staffing shortages and thin margins, Cornerstone Health Group improved its FuturePlus sustainability score from
23: Purpose Meets Profit, Lessons in Sustainable Entrepreneurship
Our host Alex Smith speaks with Saira Khan, founder of SAIRA Skin, a Certified Organic skincare brand focused on ethical beauty practices.What You'll Learn:Saira Khan has built a successful skincare business by putting sustainability first. Drawing on business lessons learned early in her career (including her appearance on The Apprentice), she created SAIRA Skin as a Soil Association certified br
22: Law Meets Impact, Rethinking Sustainability in Professional Services
In this episode of The Business of Sustainability, we speak to Phil Hails‑Smith Managing Partner at Joelson, a forward-thinking law firm helping businesses grow with purpose.We explore how sustainability is being redefined in sectors not traditionally seen as green, why environmental and social factors are now a key part of mergers and acquisitions, and how internal culture can be a company’s stro
21: Redefining Sustainability in Hospitality with Cliveden House and Strand Palace
In this episode of The Business of Sustainability, hosts Alex Smith and Mike Penrose sit down with Alexandra Berry, Executive Assistant and Head of Sustainability at Strand Palace, and Jordan Hughes, Hotel Manager at the iconic Cliveden House.Together, they explore how two very different hotels, one nestled in the luxury of the English countryside and the other in the heart of London, are embeddin
20: How SURI is Reinventing the Toothbrush Industry
In this episode of the Business of Sustainability by FuturePlus, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Mark Rushmore, co-founder and COO of SURI, the electric toothbrush brand that’s giving a traditional industry a fresh, sustainability makeover.They discuss and explore SURI’s origins, the innovations behind its sustainable design, and what it takes to challenge legacy industries.From bristles
19: Sustainable Investing with Julia Groves
In this episode of the Business of Sustainability from FuturePlus, co-hosts Alex Smith and Mike Penrose sit down with Julia Groves, Investment Partner at Sustainable Ventures, to explore the evolving landscape of sustainable investing.With a background in renewable energy and startups, Julia shares her insights on the opportunities and challenges in making sustainable investment more accessible. S
18: World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
In this episode of The Business of Sustainability from FuturePlus, hosts Alex Smith and Mike Penrose sit down with Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.With a network spanning over 300 brands and 8 million rooms worldwide, the Alliance is driving change across the hospitality industry, tackling key environmental and social challenges.Join us as we explore the most impa
17: Adventure for Good with Clipper Ventures
In this episode, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose welcome Laura Ayres, Managing Director of Clipper Ventures, the company behind the Clipper Race, the world’s longest yacht race.They explore Clipper Ventures' mission to drive positive change through sport, adventure, collaboration, and innovation, while also addressing the challenges faced by the business and the wider industry.Discover how Clipper Ven
16: Tech-Driven Sustainability with Tech Zero
FuturePlus co-founders and show co-hosts, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Sophia Kesteven, General Manager at TechZero, the climate action group for tech companies.This episode explores and highlights the importance of transparency and planning in achieving sustainability goals, and the role of technology in facilitating these efforts.Sophia showcases the success stories of TechZero memb
15: Grind - Brewing Innovation with David Abrahamovitch
FuturePlus Co-founders and Business of Sustainability co-hosts Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Grind's Founder and CEO, David Abrahamovitch, for a very special podcast recorded live at Sustainable Ventures.David will take us on a journey through his entrepreneurial evolution, from the opening of his iconic Shoreditch café in 2011 to building a brand synonymous with sustainability through
14: Business of Sustainability - E14: Mastercard - How to Tackle the Transition to More Sustainable Consumption and Production
FuturePlus co-founders, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Malin Berge, SVP, Sustainability Innovation at Mastercard to explore how to tackle the transition to more sustainable consumption and production.The discussion comes as Mastercard this week announced at Climate Week NYC, a new dedicated set of sustainability-focused start-ups are joining its Start Path’s Emerging Fintech program.Ch
13: Sustainability for SMEs: Unlocking Value and Growth
On this episode of the ‘Business of Sustainability’, FuturePlus co-founders Mike Penrose and Alex Smith, are joined by Matt Bullivant, Director of ESG Strategy at OakNorth Bank.In this episode, we’ll be discussing sustainability and what its value is to SMEs, as well as exploring OakNorth’s work and expertise.The Business of Sustainability podcast is created in partnership with FuturePlus and City
12: Placing Sustainability at a Business' Core with Zeno
In this episode of Business of Sustainability, FuturePlus co-founders Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Managing Director of Zeno, London, Jo Patterson.We’ll be exploring Zeno’s mission, objectives, what sets them apart from competitors in terms of how they value sustainability as well as advice for businesses on how to communicate its sustainability.The Business of Sustainability podcast
11: Dr.PAWPAW - Building a Sustainable Business
In the latest episode of the Business of Sustainability podcast, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Jim Higginson, Chief Operating Officer at Dr.PAWPAW and Laura Frankland, Dr.PAWPAW’s Head of Marketing.In this episode, we discuss a range of topics, including supply chain management, changes in consumer demand and how to communicate sustainability credentials.This podcast is produced in par
10: Sustainable Ventures - The Home of Climate Tech
In our latest episode, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Andrew Wordsworth, Managing Partner at Sustainable Ventures to explore Sustainable Ventures’ mission and objectives and what makes its ecosystem truly unique.--This podcast series is for anyone looking for valuable insights on sustainability in business. We’ll be hearing from a range of experts in the ESG and sustainability sectors i
9: Climate Comedy with Stuart Goldsmith
Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by award-winning comic, podcaster, and climate speaker: Stuart Goldsmith to talk 'Climate Comedy'.Stuart discusses the inspiration for his climate crisis comedy show ‘Spoilers’, one of the best-reviewed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe last year, and how he's taking it to businesses.Click here to find out more about Stuart.To discover how FuturePlus can help you
8: Embedding Sustainability during the Ukraine Conflict with The Ridne Consortium
On a very special episode FuturePlus Co-Founders, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose, introduce and discuss one of the most inspiring stories to come from the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine.Sergii Kovalchuk, Founder of the Ridne Consortium kindly joined Alex and Mike remotely from Ukraine to share his and the group's story.The Ridne Consortium is a group which brings together food and agricultural enter
7: Inspiring Inclusion with the England and Wales Cricket Board
In a very special episode of the Business of Sustainability podcast, we celebrate International Women’s Day, by highlighting the excellent work being done by the England and Wales Cricket Board to inspire inclusion.Alex Smith, Co-Founder of FuturePlus and Polly Milne, Project Director at FuturePlus are joined by Tessa Whieldon, Head of Female Participation and Growth at the England and Wales Crick
6: How Do Supply Chains Best Manage Sustainability And Procurement?
FuturePlus co-founders, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Jessica Bonner, Director at Capita Scaling Partner and Jonjo Hobbs, Managing Director at Capita Procurement Solutions.In this episode, they explore how supply chains and businesses best manage sustainability and procurement.Find out more about FuturePlus: https://www.future-plus.co.uk/Find out more about Capita: https://www.capita.c
5: Oxwash, space exploration to sustainable laundry
FuturePlus co-founders, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Dr. Kyle Grant, founder of Oxwash, the world's first truly sustainable commercial laundry cleaning service.In this episode, they explore Dr. Kyle's journey from a space engineer at NASA to a founder of Oxwash, a company intent on disrupting one of the most traditional industries and making it more sustainable.To find out more about
4: Adding Diversity, Equality & Inclusion to Business' Talent Acquisition Strategies
In the latest episode of the Business of Sustainability, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by CandidateX Co-Founders Man Wong and Sunil Dial to discuss the importance of adding Diversity, Equality & Inclusion to business' talent acquisition strategies.-This podcast series is created by FuturePlus in partnership with City AM.-CandidateX is the first talent platform with a DEI (diversity, e
3: Becoming a Sustainable Startup with BLOCKHEAD
In our latest episode, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose from FuturePlus are joined by Danny Lowe, founder of startup BLOCKHEAD and Jess Pritchard, BLOCKHEAD's Head of Commercial Operations & Finance.They explore what it means to be a 'functional chewing gum', the company's story and vision including the business’ commitments to inclusivity, creativity and integrity as well as the challenges that fa
2: Sustainability & Hospitality with L+R Hotels
In our latest episode, we’ll be exploring the current sustainability challenges facing the hospitality industry, how the industry might look in the future and what innovations are being created in business.Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Tristin Swales, L+R Hotels' Asset Management Director and Operations Director, Francisco Macedo.L+R Hotels, owns and manages an extensive hotel portfoli
1: 'People Sustainability' with CHX Performance
In this episode, Alex Smith and Mike Penrose are joined by Damien Stork, founder of CHX Performance and his colleague Jonathan Hook, Director of Learning.Alex and Mike draw upon Damien’s and Jonathan’s knowledge and expertise to explore ‘People Sustainability’ and what that means for individuals, businesses and organisations.--The Business of Sustainability podcast from FuturePlus is the latest sh
