In this special finale to our Anthropy mini-series, we share the keynote speech from The Right Honourable Kemi Badenoch MP, Leader of the Conservative Party, followed by audience reactions and analysis. This unique episode provides insight into current political thinking on sustainability, business, and growth - including Badenoch's controversial comments questioning the UK's 2050 net zero targets and her perspective on "green jobs." After the speech, we gather reactions from business leaders attending Anthropy, including Ben Tolhurst from Business Declares, Alex Barker from Be More Pirate, and Joe Turnball from Bull & Wolf, who offer critical analysis of the speech and discuss its implications for sustainability efforts.

1. Business climate and bureaucracy concerns

• Criticism of excessive regulation and bureaucracy hampering business growth
• Call for focus on "real" productivity rather than "profiting from bureaucracy"
• Concern about rising tax burdens (reaching "70-year high") and regulatory costs
• Distinction between "real business" and what she termed the "business industry"

2. Challenge to Net Zero 2050 target

• Questioning of the 2050 net zero target as arbitrary and lacking a substantive plan
• Claim that decarbonisation efforts are contributing to de-industrialisation
• Assertion that businesses are struggling to meet transition demands without sufficient support
• Commitment to develop "a new plan that actually works" (though specifics were not provided)

3. Vision for national renewal

• Call for a renewed sense of national confidence and shared identity
• Focus on restoring the "social value of business and enterprise"
• Emphasis on a "virtuous circle" where business powers government
• Concern about young people becoming disillusioned and leaving the country

4. Position on government's role

• View that government should focus on core functions like defence and security
• Skepticism about government's role in creating growth or happiness
• Commitment to large-scale policy renewal for the Conservative Party
• Call for business to shape future policy direction

1. Ben Tolhurst (Business Declares)

• Highlighted the contradiction in Badenoch's growth narrative
• Emphasised the impossibility of decoupling economic growth from environmental extraction
• Challenged the "fallacy of green growth" and questioned the carbon budget implications
• Agreed with questioning the 2050 target's practicality but for different reasons

2. Alex Barker (Be More Pirate)

• Observed a disconnect between the speech and workforce realities
• Noted the omission of wealth inequality and environmental concerns until questioned
• Questioned the authenticity of the speech and its generalised approach
• Appreciated the willingness to engage but found the vision lacking

3. Joe Turnball (Bull & Wolf)

• Found the speech initially relatable but increasingly disconnected from the audience
• Objected to the characterisation of green jobs as "not real jobs"
• Noted the contradiction with previous Conservative policy on green jobs
• Questioned whether challenging questions were allowed

1. Political positioning shift

• The speech represents a break from previous Conservative Party position on net zero
• Contrasts with positions of other political parties and international commitments
• Signals potential policy changes should the Conservatives return to...

For the final episode in our Anthropy special series, we speak with Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), representing 48 unions and 5.5 million workers across every sector of the UK economy. Paul shares a powerful perspective on ensuring a just transition to a sustainable economy, drawing on his personal experience growing up in Merseyside during the industrial changes of the 1980s and 1990s. He discusses the importance of bringing workers to the table when planning for sustainability transitions, the role public services can play in reducing emissions, and why skills development is crucial to sustainable economic transformation. Paul argues that without fairness at the heart of the transition, we risk having no transition at all.

1. Just transition requires concrete plans, not warm words

• Workers in carbon-intensive industries need clear pathways for their future, not distant promises
• People have a right to be around the table and shape their own future
• Without fairness at the centre of sustainability transitions, there will be no transition at all
• Example: Oil and gas workers in Aberdeen need specific plans, not vague assurances

2. De-industrialisation is not a viable path to net zero

• Offshoring emissions by importing steel and other materials is not a sustainable solution
• Maintaining an industrial base in the UK that complements net zero objectives is essential
• Green technologies like electric arc furnaces for steel and carbon capture must be part of the mix
• The UK should maximise domestic supply chains in renewable industries to support good jobs

3. Public services can lead the way in emission reduction

• Government can use procurement power to ensure taxpayer money is spent sustainably
• 4 million union members in public services could help drive the transition
• Leading by example in the public sector makes it easier to ask private sector to follow
• Healthcare delivery models can be reimagined for better patient outcomes and sustainability

4. Workers need to be involved in net zero planning

• Companies should draw up net zero plans in consultation with their workforce
• "Union green reps" can function like shop stewards for climate change in workplaces
• Frontline workers often have the best insights into making operations more sustainable
• Small employers in transitioning sectors need particular support

5. Flexibility and lifelong learning are key skills for the future

• Employers themselves often don't know what skills they'll need in 5 years
• Education system should prioritise adaptability over specific employer requirements
• Retraining throughout working life needs to become normalised
• UK employers invest about half the EU average in skills and need to increase this

1. Establish workplace "green reps"

2. Develop transition plans collaboratively

3. Reimagine service delivery models

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In this episode of our Anthropy special series, we speak with Joanna Yarrow, who helps run Human Nature Places, a company creating neighbourhoods that make sustainable living easier. Joanna brings a unique perspective shaped by her upbringing in a Sussex woodland with "Good Life" parents who embraced sustainability before it was fashionable. Her journey from homemade clothes and organic sandwiches to working with IKEA on sustainability reveals how she's navigated the tension between sustainable values and modern aspirations. Joanna discusses how sustainability needs to connect to people's everyday lives to truly succeed, focusing particularly on food and transportation as key impact areas. She offers a refreshing take on joy as an important but overlooked sustainability metric.

1. Making sustainability relatable to everyday life

• Sustainability solutions need to connect to people's daily realities and aspirations
• Starting with people's needs (saving money, time, health goals) makes sustainability accessible
• At IKEA, sustainability was reframed as "creating a better everyday life with lower climate impact"
• Most organisations still fail to ground big existential challenges in people's daily experiences

2. Food and transportation offer the biggest impact opportunities

• Together they represent 60-70% of our climate and ecological impact
• We don't need high-tech solutions like lab-grown meat or flying cars
• Better design of neighbourhoods reduces car dependence
• More plant-based, less wasteful meals make a substantial difference
• These integrate with necessary everyday activities rather than becoming "extra tasks"

3. Joy deserves more attention as a sustainability metric

• Sustainability is often framed as difficult, worthy, and problem-focused, which isn't motivating
• Living sustainably should enhance quality of life - health, social connection, agency, place connection
• There's science showing these factors contribute to happiness and health
• A "joy matrix" could help accelerate sustainability adoption
• People are drawn to positive outcomes more than problem-solving

4. There's no silver bullet - action is what matters

• While we discuss theoretical perfect solutions, we're wasting time
• "Do everything everywhere all at once" is the pragmatic approach
• Focus on high-impact areas that people interact with frequently
• Prioritise solutions that also provide immediate benefits

5. Sustainable placemaking goes beyond efficient buildings

• Human Nature Places uses bio-based building materials
• Designs incorporate active travel (walking, biking) and car sharing
• Community food systems integrate growing spaces and canteens
• Looking at total lifestyle carbon footprint, not just operational building emissions

1. Prioritise food and transportation changes

2. Frame sustainability through personal benefits

3. Add joy and social connection to sustainability initiatives

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“That’s genius!” - Charlie Luxton in response to Gbemi’s revolutionary new idea… In this episode of our Anthropy special series recorded at the Eden Project, we speak with Dr. Gbemi Oluleye from Imperial College London. Gbemi brings a refreshing academic perspective to how businesses can make sustainable transitions affordable. As a lecturer at the Grantham Institute, she leads research on making sustainability economically viable for the manufacturing sector while also running executive education programs for sustainability officers. Gbemi discusses the need for convergent thinking, offers a sobering assessment of how late the sustainability movement started, and proposes a revolutionary new metric to track how planetary degradation impacts human productivity.

1. It's not just the cost, but how we see costs

• We tend to view sustainability as a burden rather than risk mitigation
• Poor accounting practices fail to consider whole system value
• What appears as a cost to one business may be value to another in the supply chain
• Example: Housing retrofit costs are viewed as a burden rather than as societal savings

2. Convergent thinking is the most valuable business skill for the future

• We've moved from multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary and now need convergent thinking
• Current education creates divergent thinkers who operate in silos
• Universities are restructuring around global problems rather than traditional disciplines
• Holistic perspectives are essential to extract economic value from sustainability

3. The sustainability movement started too late

• Materials like rubber, iron, steel, and cement were invented centuries before sustainability was considered
• We've "had years to do rubbish" and now face urgent pressure to fix it
• The delay makes the challenge harder, though opportunities still exist to catch up

4. We need a metric for planetary impact on human productivity

• Current metrics focus on human impact on planet, not how planetary degradation affects people
• A "Gbemi scale" would measure how environmental changes affect individuals
• People connect more with health impacts than abstract concepts like sea level rise
• Linking sustainability to personal productivity could be a game-changer for business adoption

5. Businesses need safe spaces to discuss implementation challenges

• Sustainability rhetoric vs. business reality creates a significant disconnect
• Companies put on a show of knowing what they're doing when many don't
• CSO teams often operate separately from core business functions
• Executives lack time to integrate sustainability into existing responsibilities

1. Adopt whole-system accounting practices in your organisation

2. Create cross-functional sustainability teams

3. Connect environmental metrics to human impacts

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Dr. Gbemi Oluleye is a lecturer at the Grantham Institute at...

Continuing our Anthropy special series from the Eden Project, we speak with Andy Jasper, CEO of the Eden Project itself. Andy shares his philosophy that sustainability should follow regeneration - that we need to boost and accelerate natural systems before we can sustain them. With a career spanning the RHS, National Trust, and now Eden Project, Andy brings a wealth of knowledge about how large-scale environmental projects can transform landscapes and communities. He discusses Eden's global expansion with projects in China, Costa Rica, and across the UK, and shares his perspective on the importance of confidence and optimism as key skills for business leaders navigating the sustainability transition.

1. Regeneration before sustainability

• Andy challenges the term "sustainability" itself, arguing we shouldn't just sustain everything at its current level
• First regenerate natural systems and accelerate restoration, then sustain them
• The Eden Project itself exemplifies this approach - transforming barren clay pits into thriving ecosystems

2. Global Eden Projects are expanding the model worldwide

• Eden Project China opening June 2025
• 65,000-hectare restoration project in Costa Rica transforming slash-and-burn farming to sustainable cacao production
• New UK Eden Project sites planned for Morecambe and Dundee with unique local connections

3. Confidence and optimism are essential business skills

• Having confidence to make decisions with incomplete information (80% is enough)
• Optimism allows better framing and solving of problems
• Willingness to embrace failure as part of the innovation process

4. Nature has no waste - and neither should we

• Everything in nature is repurposed as part of a system
• Human systems create unnecessary byproducts and waste
• Circular economy principles should be applied to all new projects

1. Focus on soil health in your garden or community

2. Involve diverse perspectives in decision-making

3. Try circular economy practices in your next project

❓ Got a question?

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Andy Jasper is the CEO of the Eden Project, a role he took up six months prior to this interview. With a background as Director of Gardens and Parklands for the National Trust and Director of the Investment Program for the Royal Horticultural Society, Andy has had what he describes as "one of the best careers in the world, working in gardens, traveling around the world, and helping make botanic gardens more beautiful and greener places." He previously worked at Eden as Head of Research and Evaluation, giving him deep insight into the organisation's operations and impact.

👫 Credits

• Hosts: Will Richardson, Charlie Luxton
• Production: Soundquake
• Exec-Producer: Sam Hamilton-Turner
• Producer: Jake Lee-Savage

💚 Help us make the show better!

Welcome to our special Anthropy25 mini-series, recorded live at the Eden Project in Cornwall! Anthropy brings together business leaders, politicians, NGOs, and emerging leaders to tackle society's biggest sustainability challenges. In this episode, we speak with Andy Middleton about place-based change, breakthrough businesses, and what he calls "the cool stuff that hasn't been tried yet." Andy shares insights on how funding structures often discourage collaboration and how changing this could accelerate sustainability solutions. He also discusses the potential of hyper-localism and the importance of embracing uncertainty as we transition to a more sustainable future.

1. The power of connecting the right people

• Some of the biggest sustainability breakthroughs happen when people who've never been in the same room start talking
• Example: The Wales Obesity Alliance has no food companies involved, showing a critical disconnect
• Bringing diverse stakeholders together can lead to "massive quick shifts" in solving complex problems

2. Short-term funding creates short-term thinking

• 75% of environmental funding in the UK is for one year or less
• This creates a "death spiral" where organisations are trained to think small and certain
• Shifting to longer-term funding (3+ years) would encourage more expansive thinking and innovation

3. Breakthrough businesses are ready to scale

• High-potential, high-impact businesses are already developing solutions that could transform entire industries
• Example: A company making powdered egg replacement from fungi that could eliminate 300 million tons of chicken feed annually
• These possibilities exist now but aren't talked about enough

4. Curiosity and embracing uncertainty are essential skills

• The ability to lean into uncertainty rather than shy away from it will be increasingly valuable
• Teaching this mindset to children creates flexibility and openness to new solutions
• Relationships will become more valued than material possessions in a post-growth world

1. Switch your pension to ethical investments

2. Talk about positive changes you want to see

3. Build your sustainability tribe

Books:

• "Hospicing Modernity" by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira - A powerful exploration of transitioning beyond modern society

Organizations:

• Unreasonable - An impact accelerator bringing together high-potential sustainability businesses
• The Path - Ethical financial planning and pension provider
• Do Good Faster - Andy's organization that helps businesses find and repurpose lost money for sustainability initiatives

Projects:

• Hard as Nails - Project to engage men in conversations about toxic masculinity

Andy Middleton has been an early pioneer in the B Corp movement in the UK. He founded TYF, an adventure and education company in Wales, and now runs multiple social impact initiatives including Do Good Faster. Andy's work focuses on accelerating sustainability...

Working with your competitors might sound counterintuitive, but it could be your smartest business strategy. In this revealing conversation with Sebastian Munden (Chair of Ad Net Zero) and Fiona Ball (Group Director for Sustainability at Sky), discover why sustainability challenges are creating unexpected alliances that benefit everyone's bottom line. Learn how standardised measurement tools, shared best practices, and coordinated action can reduce costs, accelerate innovation, and create market differentiation - while still maintaining healthy competition where it matters most. For business leaders looking beyond short-term thinking, this episode provides actionable frameworks to turn industry collaboration into competitive advantage.

🎯 Key Takeaways

• The Power of Industry Collaboration
• Breaking sustainability barriers often requires collective action across an entire industry. By working with peers and competitors on common environmental challenges, businesses can create standardised tools, share best practices, and solve systemic issues impossible to tackle alone. As Sebastian notes, "There are some problems that people can come together on, problems that they can't solve on their own."
• Target, Measure, Act: A Framework for Progress
• Successful sustainability collaboration hinges on clear goals and consistent measurement. By setting shared targets, agreeing on common metrics, and tracking progress together, industry-wide initiatives avoid getting sidetracked by competing methodologies. This approach has enabled Sky to reduce their absolute emissions by 17% since 2018 and provides smaller organisations with proven tools they couldn't develop independently.
• Balancing Competition and Collaboration
• The most effective industry initiatives clearly define where companies work together and where they compete. As Sebastian explains, "identify where collaborative action will really make a difference, and where competition might get you there faster." This carefully structured approach avoids legal pitfalls while encouraging innovation in areas where competition serves the greater good.

⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps

1️⃣Join Your Industry's Sustainability Initiative

2️⃣ Implement the "Target, Measure, Act" Approach

3️⃣ Share Your Sustainability Journey Transparently

🛠 Tools & Resources

• Ad Net Zero - Industry initiative for sustainability in advertising
• "Sustainable Advertising" book by Matt Bourne and Sebastian Munden
• Sky Zero Footprint Fund - £2 million fund for sustainable advertising
• WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) - NGO working on circular economy initiatives
• Kyoto @ Sohoplace

❓ Got a question?

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podcast@sustainabilitysolved.org

🔄 Share Your Impact

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• Submit your case study

With environmental legislation stalled in Parliament, forward-thinking businesses aren't waiting for government action. In this episode we go behind the scenes in Westminster with former ocean rower turned MP Roz Savage, who reveals why political uncertainty shouldn't slow your sustainability journey - and how proactive businesses are turning environmental leadership into competitive advantage. Learn practical strategies for future-proofing your organisation while building customer and employee loyalty through environmental innovation.

🎯 Key Takeaways

The Business Case for Environmental Leadership

• Political gridlock on environmental issues is creating opportunities for proactive businesses. Companies taking initiative on sustainability are seeing increased customer loyalty, stronger employee engagement, and better positioning for inevitable future regulations. As Roz notes, "Young people going into work want to do something that feels purpose-led."

Community-Driven Solutions Are Gaining Power

• With government action limited, local initiatives and business-community partnerships are becoming crucial drivers of environmental progress. From tool-sharing schemes to community fridges, organisations finding ways to support local sustainability efforts are building valuable goodwill and resilience.

Preparing for Future Regulation

• While the Climate and Nature Bill faced setbacks, similar measures are likely to return. Smart businesses are getting ahead by implementing environmental strategies now, rather than scrambling to comply later. As one law firm noted, clients without sustainability plans are increasingly seen as high-risk investments.

⚡ Quick Wins & Actionable Steps

1️⃣ Map Your Environmental Risk and Opportunity

• Time commitment: 2-3 hours
• Resource needed: Compare Your Footprint software (20% discount with code 'PODCAST')
• Success indicator: Clear understanding of your biggest environmental impacts and opportunities

2️⃣ Build Local Sustainability Partnerships

• Time commitment: 4-6 hours monthly
• Resource needed: Local business networks and community groups
• Success indicator: At least one active community environmental partnership established

3️⃣ Develop a Regulation-Ready Strategy

• Time commitment: 1-2 days
• Resource needed: Current environmental standards and industry benchmarks
• Success indicator: Environmental action plan that exceeds minimum compliance levels

❓ Got a question?

Ask us and we'll try our best to answer it in the show!

podcast@sustainabilitysolved.org

🔄 Share Your Impact

Help build our community of practice:

• Let us know how you implemented these actions
• Submit your case study
• Join our Sustainability Solved Hub

🎙 Guest

• Roz Savage MP - Liberal Democrat MP for South Cotswolds
• Connect: https://members.parliament.uk/member/5352/contact

🛠 Tools & Resources

• "The Ocean in a Drop" - Book by Roz Savage exploring why humans struggle to address environmental challenges
• Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester - Mentioned as a hub for agricultural knowledge sharing
• Better Business Act - Referenced in discussion of business-led environmental initiatives
• B Corp Certification - Highlighted as an example of business sustainability leadership
• Leaders Pledge for Nature -