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Mastering Sustainability offers mini masterclasses on a myriad of topics that fall under the vast umbrella of Sustainability. Hosted by Okeanos Sustainable Partnerships Manager, Madeline Armstrong, who holds a masters degree in Sustainable Business, and co-host Degredation Innovation Director Ray Loflin, Mastering Sustainability brings together experts and academics to break down topics that many emerging sustainability professionals have yet to master.
26 Episodes
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In this episode of Mastering Sustainability, we're turning to an expert of our own. Estefania Xuclà, Government Affairs Director at Okeanos®, breaks down the rapidly evolving world of EPR and PCR legislation, the ongoing challenges of securing high-quality recyclate, and why upstream material reduction is becoming essential for brands worldwide. She also unpacks the crucial difference between good politics and good policy, offering clear, practical insight into how regulations are shaped, how...
In this episode of Mastering Sustainability, Madeline & Ray sit down with UN photographer and visual storyteller Kiara Worth, whose lens has captured some of the most defining moments in global climate negotiations. From COP conferences to communities on the frontlines of environmental change, Kiara shares what it means to bear witness to both the urgency and the humanity behind sustainability. Together, they explore how images can move policy, inspire action, and remind us of the shared ...
On this episode of Mastering Sustainability, we sit down with Kelvin Okamoto, Ph.D., CEO of Green Bottom Line, Inc., to unpack the complex and often misunderstood world of biodegradability. Kelvin takes us inside the role of ASTM standards in separating science from marketing claims—sharing why rigorous testing is essential to cut through greenwashing and ensure real environmental impact. From clarifying what “biodegradable” truly means to exploring how standards shape policy, industry adopti...
On this episode of Mastering Sustainability, we sit down with Caroline DeLoach, Director of Sustainability at Atlantic Packaging, to explore how a legacy packaging company is rethinking its role in the fight against plastic pollution. Caroline takes us inside her journey of driving change from within a 75-year-old family-owned business—sharing what it means to push for bold innovation in an industry often defined by tradition. From partnering with global brands to scale sustainable packaging ...
On the Season Finale of Mastering Sustainability, we’re thrilled to welcome Nathalie Flores - a powerhouse voice for climate action from the Dominican Republic. In this episode, Nathalie shares her inspiring career journey from public service to the private sector, highlighting what it means to lead with purpose and create lasting environmental impact across borders. From shaping sustainability policy in Latin America to engaging in the critical work of global climate legislation, her perspec...
In this episode of Mastering Sustainability, Maddie & Ray sit down with Martin Wolf, founder of Wolf Sustainability and former Director of Sustainability & Authenticity for Seventh Generation. With over three decades of experience challenging the status quo, Martin shares insights on what it really means to embed sustainability into every business layer, from product formulation to policy advocacy. We discuss the power (and limits) of green chemistry, the importance of transparency, a...
In Episode 6 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Neil Shackleton, founder of Medoola. This sustainability consultancy aims to transform packaging supply chains and material efficiency to protect brand equity and triple bottom lines. In this episode, Neil takes us through the evolution of LCA’s over time, how businesses can use them to refine their supply chain while increasing their bottom line, and why your sustainability savings may not always be found in the places you’d think to look....
On Episode 4 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Alyson Fick, Standards Manager for ASTM International. In this episode, Alyson explains why having a common set of standards is important, how they are established, how they embrace new technologies, and a surprising new Santa Claus standard just in time for the holidays. Alyson's Links: ASTM WebsiteConnect with ASTM and Alyson on Linkedin! ASTM PodcastStandardization News
On Episode 3 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Ruben Nance, Program Director for the Design Recognition Pathway for the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). In this episode, Ruben guides us through the sea of acronyms found throughout recycling, talks about how AI is changing the industry, and imagines what the future of recycling could look like. Ruben's Links: Association of Plastic Recyclers Website Connect with Ruben on Linkedin! APR’s Recycled Content Podcast
On Episode 2 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Ed Shepherd, Senior Global Sustainability Manager for a Circular Economy, at Unilever. In this episode, Ed discusses why businesses need global rules, the importance of public/private sector collaboration, and what must be included in a Global Plastics Treaty to drive real change. Learn more about Unilever’s Sustainability Commitments Ed’s Resources: Connect with Ed on Linkedin! Business Coalition For a Global Plastic Treaty&nbs...
We’re Back! On Episode 1 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Brandi Parker of Parker Brands. In this episode, Brandi breaks down the evolving role of designers and producers in sustainable packaging, learning about why we must avoid green hushing, and how she’s working with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) to advance How2Recycle’s iconic chasing arrows symbol. Brandi’s Links: Connect with Brandi on Linkedin! Parker Brands Website Zero Waste Creatives Brandi’s Favorite...
On Episode 8 of Mastering Sustainability, we’re sitting down with Jeremy Lang, founder of Lomi, the world's first Smart Waste™ kitchen composter to talk about all things composting. In this conversation, we dig into the dirty side of waste management infrastructure, new technologies that are changing the game, and the opportunity to decentralize a decades-long industry. Reference Links: https://lomi.com https://pelacase.com
On Episode 7 of Mastering Sustainability, we're wading into the nuances of global climate meetings including COP28 with Mike Green, leader of the Climate & Energy Working group at the American Sustainable Business Network and Director of Carbon Markets at Native, A Public Benefit Corporation. Together, we’re breaking these giant conferences and the topics they’ll tackle into bitesized pieces, including the forthcoming Global Plastics Treaty, the impact of the first Global Stocktake, and c...
On Episode 6 of Mastering Sustainability, we're diving into sustainable supply chains with Jamie Mudrick and Sarah Moasser from EcoVadis, an ESG consultancy that helps companies to evaluate and improve the Environmental, Social and Governance aspects of their business. Together, we'll break down these three pivotal metrics, understand what drives corporations to be better, and though the task often seems insurmountable, learn how companies and their suppliers can make incremental improvements...
On Episode 5 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Matt Wampler, CEO of Clear Cogs, an AI solution helping restaurants tackle food waste. With years of experience in Food & Beverage, Matt asks us to take a look at the intersection of food waste and sustainability, the pivotal role line-level operators play in believing in and pushing for new technologies, and the need for innovation to be simple to understand and immediate in order to make real change.
On Episode 4 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome our very own Martina Hauser, Chief Government Affairs Officer at Okeanos. Martina brings a myriad of life experiences to the pod from her extensive career crisscrossing public affairs as Chief Climate Negotiator for the Italian government to her time with the United Nations, and now driving change from within the private sector. In this episode, we’ll tackle the role of science in positions of power, replicating climate strategies around th...
On Episode 3 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Heidi Sanborn, founding director of the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) and the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC), two organizations that advocate for equitable circular economy. Heidi joins us for a fiery, candid chat about about the evolution of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, California’s new SB54 law, and the role of consumers in driving legislative change.
In episode 2, we’re chatting with Claudia Herbert Colfer, USA Head of Programming for the UN Global Compact Network (UNGC). Together, we take a bite out of the alphabet soup of acronyms that is the sustainability space, gain a better understanding of the different organs of the UN, and break down the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's). In the Masters Class section of the pod, we’ll turn our focus to what’s actually being accomplished in the private sector to tackle the issues facing all of...
In episode 1, we sit down with Dr. Claudia Townsend, associate professor of Marketing at the Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami and an expert in consumer behavior and decision-making. In the first 20 minutes of the mini-class, we discuss the most common indicators of greenwashing, and the role nutrition labels have played in changing the way we communicate science to consumers. In the Masters Class portion of the pod, we tackle greenwashing across different sustainability sect...
In Episode 8 of Mastering Sustainability, we welcome Todd Pooser, founder of the Virtual Commonwealth, a sustainability and social equity investment platform where members agree to self-tax on their sustainable purchases. That money is then used to crowdfund companies with strong sustainability and social equity profiles in which all members become equity partners. In this episode, Todd discusses the ethos behind the platform, the ways that sustainability and social equity are inextricably li...
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