Claim OwnershipState of Sustainability
Subscribed: 6Played: 280
Subscribe
© 2026 State of Sustainability
Description
Saif Hameed (CEO of Altruistiq) chats with sustainability leaders and industry pioneers.
80 Episodes
Reverse
This time we dive into the shifting landscape of corporate climate regulation, focusing specifically on the robust new rules emerging from New York State. Saif Hameed, Founder and CEO of Altruistiq, discusses a recent conversation with Anthony Scaramucci, highlighting how California and New York are forming a regulatory "pincer" that captures major American businesses. Because these two states mandate heavy compliance, federal rollbacks on SEC regulations are becoming somewhat moot. S...
While the corporate world remains laser-focused on decarbonisation and Net Zero targets, a critical component of climate strategy is being overlooked: Adaptation. In this episode, we sit down with Mekala Krishnan, partner at McKinsey Global Institute, to discuss why the world needs to simultaneously "walk and chew gum", managing the transition to a low-carbon economy while urgently preparing for the physical risks already locked into the system. Mekala breaks down the staggering economi...
If 90% of sustainability professionals believe their department won't exist in five years, where does that leave your career? In this episode of the State of Sustainability, host Saif Hameed tackles the "sustainability bear market". With roles increasingly absorbed into procurement and finance, professionals must go beyond resilience to become "anti-fragile" - a concept from Nassim Nicholas Taleb, describing systems that improve under pressure. To thrive in 2026, sustainability professionals ...
In this episode, Saif Hameed is joined by Shannon Bouton, CEO of Delterra, for a wide-ranging conversation about waste, climate and the systems that govern how materials move through our economy. Speaking from snowy Michigan, Shannon brings a global perspective shaped by years of hands-on work designing waste management systems across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and increasingly, the United States. The discussion explores the often-overlooked connection between waste and climate change, pa...
On the latest episode of the State of Sustainability, host Saif Hameed discusses the "wholesale functional shift" and organisational overhaul that defined 2025, where sustainability teams were frequently moved under procurement or legal departments to address supply chain resilience and compliance. Saif also highlights a "general demotion" of the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), noting that many of these roles have transitioned from reporting directly to the CEO to sitting deeper wit...
The State of Sustainability Podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability, hosted by Saif Hameed, Founder and CEO of Altruistiq. This time Saif speaks with Buffy CEO Leo Wang about how the bedding brand successfully built a sustainable product while pivoting its market message away from environmentalism toward consumer concerns about safety, comfort, and performance. Key Takeaways: • Initial Intent vs. Market Reality: Buffy began around 2017/2018 with the ...
The State of Sustainability Podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability, hosted by Saif Hameed, Founder and CEO of Altruistiq. This time, Saif takes the mic solo to dive into a topic that - according to former Starbucks CSO Michael Kobori - is about to become everyone’s priority: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. In this episode, Saif unpacks his "hot takes" on EPR that you won't find in standard reports. He explores: • The rise of EPR: How a c...
In this episode, host Saif Hameed takes a deep dive into Bill Gates‘s controversial COP 30 memo. Saif is joined by Faisal Tajdar, head of projects at Acasus. Acasus is an impact focus consultancy that partners with governments around the world on public sector reform. Across his time at Acasus, the Gates foundation and Mackenzie, Faisal has been involved in healthcare reform work in several countries and multiple continents. Ready to transform your sustainability reporting? Start ...
The State of Sustainability Podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability, hosted by Saif Hameed, Founder and CEO of Altruistiq. This time, Saif takes the mic solo for another short-form content byte, and he’s tackling one of his long-standing bugbears: ESG. Or more specifically, why it’s the end of ESG as we know it (and why that might not be a bad thing). In this episode, Saif unpacks why the term “ESG” has always bothered him - and why it might be time to fin...
The State of Sustainability Podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability, hosted by Saif Hameed, Founder and CEO of Altruistiq. This time, Saif takes the mic solo for a special short-form episode - part of a new series of “content bytes”, where he shares quick insights on what’s new and topical in the sustainability space. In this episode, Saif tackles one of the drier – but essential – topics shaping the future of corporate sustainability: regulation. Speci...
The State of Sustainability Podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability, hosted by Saif Hameed, Founder and CEO of Altruistiq. This time, Saif is joined by David Sykes. David is an independent consultant on Data Science and AI, and was formerly Global Head of Data Science, Analytics and Engineering at Octopus Energy Group, where he spent the better part of a decade building Octopus’s data and AI capabilities. His experience offers a unique perspective on how A...
"Keep in mind, we have IPCC 2019 telling us about the last decade, those words still ring in my ears loudly and clearly: we read in 2019 dear friends, you have one decade to go, if we are not managing to turn around climate change in the next decade, we're going to be shooting past 1.5 and even past two degrees." The State of Sustainability podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability with me, Saif Hameed, founder and CEO of Altruistiq. This time, I’m joined by...
"What we're going to see over the next probably 20 to 30 years is a profound value shift but it's not necessarily going to come where we most expect it. So Europe for example, I think is being left behind. It's doing a lot of regulation and all the rest of it but in a sense that's old order approach to the sustainability agenda." The State of Sustainability podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability with me Saif Hameed, founder and CEO of Altruistiq. Th...
We've spent the last few months working on improvements to the podcast, lining up a fantastic selection of guests to help us discuss a wide range of topics in the sustainability space. Ready to transform your sustainability reporting? Start your journey at Altruistiq.com This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach
We've been hearing whispers about this trend for months, and now it's time to address it head-on: sustainability teams across major corporations are being restructured, downsized, or absorbed into other departments. In this episode, we dive into this critical shift that's affecting sustainability professionals worldwide. We cover: The dramatic shift from the sustainability hiring boom of 2-3 years ago to today's restructuring waveWhich sustainability roles are most vulnerable (hint: it's not ...
What does “sustainable agriculture” look like from a farmer’s perspective? Saif Hameed sits down with Adam Henkel, a 7th-generation farmer and 3rd-generation conservationist from Illinois. They break down: The true meaning of sustainability on the farmBridging the farmer-corporate gapEasy wins vs real challenges in practiceHow corporations and sustainability professionals can help
In short… yes. But is that really a bad thing? In this week’s episode, we ask whether the hype around sustainability is deflating, and what that means for progress. We dive into the latest headlines: Is the UK on the brink of scaling back its climate ambitions?Are we stuck in a loop of ever-rising energy demand?What's next for sustainability-linked executive pay?PLUS: A climate tech reality check. Is climate tech entering its "trough of disillusionment"? Saif unpacks why corporate budgets ar...
This week’s headlines: Trump’s Tariff’s and the climate fall outSoaring commodity prices and what to doJust Stop Oil to disband - victory or retreat?PLUS: Our how-to segment tackles a question many of you have asked: how to run a board meeting that secures sustainability buy in. Got a question for the next ‘How-To’ segment? Join and drop us a message in the State of Sustainability Community: https://altruistiq.com/state-of-sustainability/community
What does it take to build a successful coral reef restoration program? In this episode, Saif Hameed dives into SHEBA®’s groundbreaking coral restoration program with Mars’ Chief Marine Scientist Prof. David Smith and SHEBA®’s Global VP of Marketing Mindy Barry. Points covered: Business + Science = Impact: How applying process engineering to conservation created unprecedented restoration scaleProject set up: Why success starts with understanding local needs, empowering communities, and tailor...
Plastic: The Most Sustainable Packaging? In the high-stakes world of sustainable packaging, incremental change isn't enough. Join Saif Hameed and Melissa Brice, Senior Sustainability Manager at Amcor, a global leader in sustainable packaging as they unpack the complex landscape of plastic decarbonisation. Key Insights: The true carbon impact of plastic vs. other packaging materialsThe hidden trade-offs between recyclability, emissions, and functionalityWhy recycling systems struggle and how E...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States