Business of Sustainability

Hosted by FuturePlus

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Aug 2026

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About the show

If you’re passionate about building a more sustainable future and curious about the business models making it possible, you’re in the right place. Join Alex Smith, CEO of FuturePlus , to dive into the world of sustainable business, talking to founders and industry pioneers who are redefining success with the planet and society in mind. This isn’t just another business podcast. At FuturePlus , we’re redefining ESG, Environmental, Social, and Governance, by bringing you data-driven insights and future-focused actions that make a real impact. From breakthrough technologies to bold new policies, FuturePlus explores the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the global shift toward sustainability. So, whether you're a business leader, investor, or sustainability enthusiast, join us to stay ahead of the curve. Find out more about FuturePlus .Connect on Linkedin .

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54 recent

August 5, 2026Episode 5436 min

54: Building a World-Class ESG Strategy: Arena Group's Global Ambition

What does sustainability look like when your business builds the infrastructure for the world's biggest sports events? In this episode, Alex Smith is joined by Paul Berger, Group CEO of Arena Group, the company behind the temporary structures, grandstands, and hospitality venues at events including the Paris Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and Wimbledon. Paul shares the story behind Arena's first global ESG strategy, why a company already doing so much good had to bring it all together under one framework, and what it means to embed sustainability into the DNA of a fast-moving, high-pressure global business. From managing supply chains across four continents to converting a Paris rugby stadium into an Olympic swimming venue, this conversation explores the real business case for ESG; and what progress over perfection actually looks like in practice. If you're a business leader thinking about how to move from fragmented sustainability efforts to a coherent, credible strategy, this episode is for you. Arena Group is a retained FuturePlus sustainability partner, IMPACT CERTIFIED, and works with FuturePlus across consultancy services including PlusCarbon and fractionalised Head of Sustainability support. Visit arenagroup.com to learn more. For more episodes and resources, visit future-plus.co.uk .

July 29, 2026Episode 5312 min

53: Responsible AI Adoption: What Business Leaders Need to Get Right Before Scaling

Most businesses are already using AI. Far fewer have the governance in place to use it well. In this bitesize episode, FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith and COO, Polly Milne explore what responsible AI adoption actually looks like through an ESG lens. They cover why governance needs to come before scaling, what safe experimentation looks like in practice, how to think about the environmental cost of AI use, and why human oversight is still the most important factor in getting real value from the technology. A practical listen for any business leader navigating AI adoption right now. More at future-plus.co.uk

July 22, 2026Episode 5212 min

52: The New Rules of Sustainability Claims in Hospitality

Sustainability claims in hospitality are under more scrutiny than ever. A new EU directive coming into force in September means vague language like "eco-friendly" or "green" won't cut it without verified evidence to back it up. And it doesn't just apply to businesses based in the EU, it applies to any business marketing to EU travellers. In this bitesize episode, FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith and COO, Polly Milne break down what the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition directive means in practice, why corporate bookings are going to drive faster change than you might expect, and how the link between sustainability certification and major booking platforms like Booking.com and Expedia is reshaping how hotels compete for business. For more information on FuturePlus: https://future-plus.co.uk/

July 15, 2026Episode 5139 min

51: Why Every SME Should Start Its Sustainability Journey Now

Most SMEs assume sustainability is something to tackle once the business is bigger, better resourced, or more mature. Ray Stephens, Founder and MD of Reuben Digital, disagrees. In this episode of the Business of Sustainability, Alex Smith sits down with Ray to talk about what it actually looks like for a small digital agency to take sustainability seriously, not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a genuine business strategy. They cover: Why Ray's sustainability journey started with becoming vegan, and where it led The commercial case for SMEs acting now, from cost savings to staff retention Why the Triple Bottom Line (people, planet, profit) changed how Reuben Digital thinks about its business How to green your tech stack without it becoming overwhelming Why Ray stepped back from B Corp and what FuturePlus gave him instead The AI energy problem and why governance matters more than enthusiasm Learn more about Reuben Digital: reubendigital.co.uk Learn more about FuturePlus: future-plus.co.uk

July 8, 2026Episode 509 min

50: Ambition: The Sustainability Metric That Actually Matters

Most businesses track what they've already achieved on sustainability. Fewer have a clear picture of where they're heading and why that gap matters. In this bite-size episode, Alex Smith speaks with Leo Cohen, Sustainability Executive at FuturePlus, about why the distinction between actual and ambition scores is so important for SMEs, how a three-year roadmap helps businesses work on the right things at the right time, and why accountability, not just policy, is what separates credible ESG from box-ticking. For more information on FuturePlus: https://future-plus.co.uk/

July 1, 2026Episode 497 min

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 than most businesses realise, and how to make stakeholder engagement a two-way conversation rather than a one-off survey. If your business is serious about sustainability but struggling to show it, this is a practical starting point. Subscribe for more practical insight on sustainability, ESG, and responsible business. Find out more at www.future-plus.co.uk

June 24, 2026Episode 4837 min

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 giving 10% of profits to charity and why they kept quiet about it for years Achieving carbon neutrality on scope one and two emissions and what came next Tackling the complexity of food distribution supply chains Getting colleagues genuinely engaged rather than just compliant Practical advice for any business at the start of its sustainability journey Whether you lead a family business, manage a supply chain, or are trying to build a culture where sustainability sticks, this conversation is full of honest, practical insight. Subscribe for new episodes every week. Learn more about RH Amar: rhamar.com Learn more about FuturePlus: future-plus.co.uk

June 17, 2026Episode 4739 min

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, why hybrid working is hiding conflict rather than resolving it, and what separates businesses that will thrive over the next decade from those that won't. Byrne Dean has worked with hundreds of global organisations across 50 countries for over 20 years. Nick brings clarity, experience and some uncomfortable truths for business leaders. For more on Byrne Dean , and more information on FuturePlus .

June 10, 2026Episode 4612 min

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. Discover more at https://future-plus.co.uk/

June 3, 2026Episode 4513 min

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 platform and consultancy team work together to take businesses from where they are to where they need to be.