State of Sustainability

In the second part of this two part series, we discuss essential leadership strategies to supercharge your sustainability team. We cover:Team retention: How to retain and motivate top talent in a competitive marketSkill development: Where and when to invest in upskillingPerformance metrics: What metrics and bonus schemes are useful to track and implementHeadcount budget and resource management: How to optimise team resourcesTeam culture: Observed tactics for building team culture from Nando's and Starbucks

In this two-part series, we dive deep into the essential components of creating and managing a world-class sustainability team.In part one, we discuss:Core characteristics: The key attributes contributing to a well-structured and effective sustainability team.Must-have roles: The indispensable positions that every sustainability team needs to function optimally.Internal vs. external: When to prioritise internal hiring and when to seek external expertise through consultants or software.Budgeting: How to secure the necessary headcount budget for your sustainability team.Attracting talent: The best strategies to attract top talent

Saif Hameed and Piers Cooper, Senior Sustainability Research Manager (LCA) at Altruistiq discuss FLAG, what it is, if you should prioritise it, and if you do prioritise it, how to maximise your ROI. They cover:A recap: What is FLAG and the measurement requirementsStrategic importance: When and why should a company prioritise FLAG over other sustainability initiativesMeasurement challenges: The primary FLAG challenges and solutions to overcome themCommercial opportunities: How to leverage FLAG to create competitive advantages and unlock commercial opportunitiesTrend watch: The upcoming changes to FLAG and trends to be aware of.

In this episode, we explore current agricultural supply chain risks and mitigation measures. We cover:Emerging threats: The macro and micro risks and specific commodities most vulnerable to climate-related disruptions.Building resilience: Strategies to strengthen your supply chain.Environmental data impact: The impact on your environmental data and the role of technology to mitigate these risks.Business case: How to value and communicate risk to bolster your sustainability business case.

Saif Hameed and Jesica Sansom, Sustainability Director at Huel discuss how to set up product carbon footprints (PCFs) to deliver real business value. We cover:Data collection: The challenges and workarounds in collecting the granular data needed for reliable PCFsActionable insights: Best practices for using PCF to inform sustainable product designSupplier collaboration: How Huel are fostering innovative solutions with suppliers e.g., rethinking ingredient production methods & running field trials with oat farmersClaims & comms: How to communicate and demonstrate sustainability progress and why product labelling is not the silver bullet solution.

In this episode, we highlight the common mistakes that sustainability professionals make and sound out the solutions. We discuss:Market insight: Is SBTi still credible?Mistake trends: The most common pitfalls that sustainability professionals face.Root causes: The underlying reasons behind these mistakes.Data challenges: The limitations of working with aggregate data and best practices for overcoming them.GHG to PCF: How professionals can effectively gather and manage supplier data for greenhouse gas emissions reporting.Commercial opportunities: Understand the benefits and competitive advantages

Camilla Riddiford, Head of Sustainability at Arla UK, shares her advice on how to turn colleagues from bystanders to sustainability champions (without breaking the bank or your sanity).In this episode, we discuss:Tailored communication strategies for diverse audiencesEffective content formats that resonateBalancing data and narratives for a compelling business casePrioritising upskilling, and training programs for key teamsLink to event: https://www.altruistiq.com/events/women-in-sustainability-summer-garden-mixer

The complex structure of supply chains can make tracking the impact of sustainability-related interventions a challenge. Supplier-specific information is often lacking and/or hard to come by. However, a lack of traceability shouldn’t deter companies from efforts to drive progress. There's a solution: supply sheds.This episode dives deep into:What is a supply shed, and how can it help you overcome challenges in reduction trackingThe benefits of using supply sheds include incentivising traceability and enabling collaboration.Challenges to consider, like changes in your supplier base and attribution of reductions.Recommendations for companies, from identifying key suppliers to monitoring interventions.Is the supply shed here to stay?

Does the world on-pack green claims make you nervous? We get it. Green claims are a minefield. Today, we're bringing in a veteran of bold sustainability messaging to help us navigate the dark and somewhat dangerous world of sustainability comms. Shaunagh Duncan, Head of Sustainability at Oatly EU & I walks us through making strategic green claims, teaching us when to push boundaries and when to play it safe.We cover how to :Define a bold and impactful communication styleWalk the line between “greenwashing” and “green hushing”Approach on-pack PCFsCapitalise on the commercial opportunities of carbon labellingShow notes: According to a recent study, Oatly Barista sold in the UK has a 58% lower climate impact than comparable cow’s milk.From: Blonk Consultants (2022), LCA of Oatly Barista, and comparison with cow's milk. Gouda, the Netherlands. Stages include raw material to the point of sale and packaging waste management for average L *produced in the Netherlands and sold in the UK. Findings are subject to assumptions, limitations, conclusions, and critical review statements. See full report here.

We bust the 3 of the biggest sustainability myths in the industry:Myth 1: We should be fazing out plasticMyth 2: Feed supplements are the silver bullet to methane reductionMyth 3: The future of ‘green transportation’ should be electrified.P.S. Don't forget to rate and review our podcast to help others discover tactics for corporate sustainability change transformation.