Where Does It Come From? How our ’stuff’ impacts people and planet

Episode 35 - Balancing Acts: Navigating CSR, PR and Greenwashing with Sangeeta Waldron

In this episode of the Where Does It Come From? podcast, your host Jo Salter, founder of ethical textiles brand Where Does It Come From?, engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Sangeeta Waldron, an accomplished and multi-award-winning Public Relations professional. Jo, recently shortlisted as a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, brings well over a decade of experience running her own business dedicated to transparency, ethics, and sustainability.

Join Jo and Sangeeta as they dive into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public Relations (PR), exploring the delicate balance between authenticity and perception. Sangeeta, named in Commetric’s Top 100 of the PR Influencer Index, shares insights from her extensive career, working with diverse organisations and sectors to strengthen their brands through strategic CSR and sustainability initiatives.

Learn about Sangeeta's impactful contributions, from being a contributing global editor for the India CSR Network to her role as a board member for Together UK Foundation. Delve into her latest book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations, which challenges conventional notions and earned her a spot as a Business Book Awards finalist in 2022.

🔊 Tune in for an enlightening conversation that transcends the realms of CSR and PR, offering valuable insights for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone passionate about creating positive change in the world.

Links: 

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Serendipidy PR - https://www.serendipidypr.co.uk

 

#greenwashing #publicrelations #csr #sustainability #responsiblebusiness #responsiblegovernment

 

Episode 34 - Co-creating a Brand - Sanja Stories Regenerative Denim Jeans

Welcome back to the Where Does It Come From? podcast after our summer break. In this special episode, we're diving into an exciting project that brings together five passionate individuals to create something truly unique – Sanja Stories, a regenerative jeans brand.

Over the past year, as part of the Ecosystem Incubator, we've poured our time, energy, expertise, and creativity into crafting Sanja Stories' regenerative denim jeans. These aren't just any jeans; they're designed to transcend size, age, and gender, with adjustability at their core. No harmful chemicals, dyes, or prints here – just raw, organic cotton grown from indigenous seeds.

But here's where it gets really interesting. When you join our community and embrace the stories behind your jeans, you get to personalize them. We're talking natural dye workshops, print workshops, and patches – all to help you create a unique, personalized narrative with your jeans. These stories grow with each wearer, evolving and adapting as they're passed on, again and again, until one day, the jeans naturally return to the earth, leaving no harm to the soil or air.

In this podcast episode, you'll hear from the core Sanja Stories co-creation team, including:

• Jo Salter – Your podcast host, Founder/CEO of Where Does It Come From?, and Director of Khadi London.
• Rachel Sheila Kan – Founder of the Ecosystem Incubator, Circular Earth, and a Writer and Teacher.
• Kishore Shah – Founder of Khadi London, Social Change Activist, Writer, and Consultant.
• Abhishek Jain – Founder of Mishika Crafts, a textiles social enterprise in Jaipur, India, and a member of the Khadi London team.
• Claudia Coveyduck – A Garment technologist with two decades of experience in the industry and founder of the Sample Studio.

Special thanks go out to Jo Burston for her original 3D rendering of the Sanja Stories jeans and to Fonny Bunjamin for helping us envision the exciting 3D possibilities that will support Sanja Stories users in their customization journey.

For more details, visit our website at sanjastories.com and follow us on social media @sanjastoriesdenim.

Explore the links below to learn more about our collaborators:

• Where Does It Come From?
• Ecosystem Incubator
• Khadi London
• Sample Studio
• Circular Earth

Join us in this journey of sustainable fashion and regenerative denim with Sanja Stories. Together, we're weaving a tapestry of organic, circular, and timeless stories. #organicjeans #regenerativedenim #sanjastories #circular #sustainablefashion #podcast

Episode 33 - From Paddles to Poop: A Kayaker’s Climate Change Journey around Greenland - with Mike Keen

Welcome to the Where Does It Come From? Podcast, hosted by Jo Salter, founder of Where Does It Come From? – a social enterprise dedicated to kind clothes that tell tales. Where Does It Come From? believes in the power of transparency and ethical sourcing, ensuring that every garment has a unique story behind it, connecting consumers with the people and processes involved in its creation.

In this episode, Jo sits down with Mike Keen, an adventurous chef, kayaker, and explorer, who is currently embarking on an extraordinary journey. Mike's mission? Kayaking an astounding 3000km from the southern to the northern tip of Greenland, all in the name of raising awareness about climate change.

But Mike's journey goes beyond the physical challenge. He is actively participating in scientific experiments that involve collecting marine animal feces to study microplastics. Additionally, he's exploring the impact of a traditional Greenlandic diet on his own gut health. Along the way, Mike is supporting two charities through generous donations.

This episode delves into the motivations behind Mike's daring expedition, the challenges he faces, and the important discoveries he has made so far. From the breathtaking landscapes of Greenland to the urgent need for action on climate change, Jo and Mike engage in a thought-provoking conversation that inspires listeners to reflect on the state of our planet.

Furthermore, Mike is generously sponsored by a range of organizations, and he expresses his gratitude for their support. He also extends an invitation to adventure companies to consider joining as a key sponsor, furthering the impact of his journey.

Join Jo Salter, founder of Where Does It Come From?, and Mike Keen on this remarkable episode of the Where Does It Come From? Podcast, as they shed light on climate change, microplastics, gut health, and the power of adventure in making a difference.

 

Links:  

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Mike Keen - https://mikekeen.co

Mike Keen on Instagram - https://www.instragram.com/mikekeencooks

Contribute to Mike's charity fundraiser - https://www.mightycause.com/story/Mikekayak

Mike's sponsors - https://www.mikekeen.co/#Greenland-Expedition

You can also watch the video of this podcast (with stunning Greenlandic views!) on our Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUXM5kflEMW4uvrw3YcXjTg

 

#ClimateChangeAwareness

#KayakingAdventure

#GreenlandExpedition

#MicroplasticsResearch

#GutHealth

#SustainabilityJourney

#AdventureForACause

#EthicalExploration

#TransparencyMatters

#KindClothes

#EnvironmentalAction

#RaiseAwareness

#OutdoorExploration

#AdventureSponsorship

#MakingADifference

Episode 32 - A Dive Into Doughnut Economics With Erinch Sahan

Welcome to the Where Does It Come From? podcast where podcast host and social enterprise founder Jo Salter chats with a wide range of guests who are focused on creating positive change.  Jo founded ethical clothing business Where Does It Come From? in 2013 to create kind clothes that tell tales.  She is also a director of Khadi London, a regenerative textiles knowledge hub.

In this episode we are discussing economic models and specifically Doughnut Economics.  It's now recognised widely that economic models that focus on continual growth without considering needs of society or the environment are insufficient.  The Doughnut Economics model, created by Professor Kate Raworth, is a visual framework for development within these planetary and social boundaries.  It is now being adopted as a more '21st Century' approach to development.

In this episode of the Where Does It Come From? podcast host Jo Salter talks with Erinch Sahan, the business and enterprise lead at Doughnut Economics Action Lab. Previously, he was the chief executive of the World Fair Trade Organization and has spent 7 years at Oxfam working in campaigns and programmes. Erinch has also worked at Procter & Gamble as a market strategy manager, established a furniture business and worked for Australia's aid programme. Erinch is a board member of the Social Enterprise World Forum, a fellow at the Post Growth Institute and teaches sustainable value chains at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. He holds degrees in finance and law, and an honorary doctorate from Oxford Brookes University.

Please do rate and follow this podcast on your preferred platform and share this episode with your friends, this all helps us reach more people!  Thank you.

 

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) - https://doughnuteconomics.org/

#doughnuteconomics #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #podcast #economics #21stcenturyeconomics #sustainabledevelopment #regenerativesystems #climateemergency #climatecrisis #ethicalbusiness #socialenterprise #fairtrade 

Episode 31 Telling Producer Stories Through Technology with Ali Nourbakhsh

A growing number of people want to know where the items they use in their life come from - who made them and the impacts on people and planet.

 

The ethical market is growing.  In the UK ethical sales and investments grew by over 34% in 2021 and the trend looks set to continue.  

 

Businesses know that that customers are increasingly driven by their values - that's why greenwashing has become so common!  But if a business can share the stories behind their products it can help them attract those values driven customers.  It can also help build emotional connections between people and things - a key way to lead to positive behaviour change.   This is the key premise behind Where Does It Come From? the ethical clothing and textiles social enterprise founded by podcast host Jo Salter.

 

In this episode Jo talks with Ali Nourbakhsh, technologist and founder of Rootip.io. Ali is a serial digital product developer, producing software and apps in London over the last 20 years to solve problems from public transportation to financial services. He started Rootip to enable sustainable and ethical businesses to clearly communicate their impact at the point of sales in order to increase conversion and create transparency.

 

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Rootip - https://www.rootip.io

 

#transparency #blockchain #storytelling #techforchange #technology #authentic #kindclothesthattelltales #changemaker #ethicalbusiness #bethechange #sustainability #sustainableproducts #peopleandplanet #businesswithpurpose #responsiblebusiness

 

Episode 30 - Changing Cotton - Regenerative Farming and Partnership Value Chains with Aneel Kumar Ambavaram

Cotton is often criticized as being unsustainable, polluting and water thirsty.  However the truth is far more complex and such messaging is usually confused by the mass production and genetic modification that is a part of the current 'fast fashion' system.

Cotton has been farmed for fabric for thousands of years and supported livelihoods for farmers in many regions of the world.  Cotton is a natural fibre that, when farmed in harmony with nature and without exploiting farmers, can be part of a regenerative system.

In this episode of the Where Does It Come From? podcast, host Jo Salter talks with Raddis founder Aneel Kumar Ambavaram.  After studying agriculture and starting his career as a pesticide salesman, Aneel decided to change direction after seeing the effects of pesticides on farmers and soil.  He now  works with tribal cotton farmers on a radical new system - growing regenerative cotton and creating partnership models all the way from brands to farmers.

Raddis Cotton offers a way for brands to be part of the value chain instead of just purchasing what pops out of it at the end - creation connections, stories and transparency.

If you are brand who would like to be part of this, please do get in touch at hello@wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk to find out more 

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Raddis - https://www.raddiscotton.com

#regenerativecotton #sustainablefashion #ethicalfashion #transparency #valuechain #tribalfarmers #india #regenerativefashion #clothesthattellstories #sustainability #connectwithclothes #deeperconnection 

 

Episode 29 Creating a Gift Brand that supports artisans and heritage - Ethiqana with Arshad Khalid

Most of us still purchase gifts from time to time, even during a cost of living crisis and an environmental crisis.

So how can we turn this to good effect and ensure that the gifts we choose are helping to ensure positive outcomes for the people who made them and the planet?

Growing up in India Arshad Khalid was struck by the differences between artisan created item and their cheaper, plastic counterparts.  Even as a child he could see that there needed to be a way of supporting artisans to bring their products to a wider market so they could preserve the heritage crafts they use, earn sufficient income for quality of life and also contribute to environmental concerns through use of sustainable materials and the creation of quality, long lasting products.

In this episode Where Does It Come From? host Jo Salter chats with Arshad Khalid.  As founder of social enterprise clothing and textiles brand Where Does It Come From? Jo has a keen interest in the same drivers as Arshad - fair trade, sustainability and heritage craft.

Arshad is a social entrepreneur & a fairtrade proponent passionate about sustainable development. He spent more than 21 years in the field of IT before launching Ethiqana - a social enterprise focused on preserving earth friendly, nearly extinct crafts through sustainable livelihoods. Arshad was featured in the Social Entrepreneur Index 2022 and will also be speaking at the BAFTS Conference in Birmingham later this year.

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Ethiqana - https://www.ethiqana.com

Ebay for Change - https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/eBay-for-Change/bn_7117727277

For Ethiqana social media search on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin using @ethiqana

#sustainability #ethiqana #meetyourmakers #fairtrade #fairtradegifts #heritagegifts #artisanalgifts #woodentoys #handmadetoys #handmadecards #tradejustice #socialenterprise #ethicalbusiness 

Episode 28 - Talking Sustainable Periods with Christine McRitchie

Around half of the population will have monthly periods at some point in their life.  There's a growing recognition of the waste produced by period products - sanitary towels, tampons etc - which end up in landfill.  In recent years there has been a growing awareness of sustainability in period product choice with options such as moon cups, re-usable sanitary towels and period pants.

In this episode of the Where Does It Come From? podcast host Jo Salter chats with Christine McRitchie, founder of period product brand Earthwise Girls.  Christine has always had an interest in sustainability, growing up with parents who were born in the post-war era and found a use for nearly everything.  Christine took that to the next level, making her parents recycle their newspapers and glass bottles at the public recycling banks as a teenager, and going on to use washable nappies on her four children.  Her first business venture was a washable nappy business, and in 2008, she opened Earthwise Girls to cater specifically for sustainable period products.  She also hosts a Facebook group called The Bloody Waste, providing a safe space for conversations around reusable period products and all kinds of related issues. 

Please rate and follow this podcast on your preferred platform - this means that more people will get to hear about us!

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Earthwise Girls - https://earthwisegirls.co.uk/

The Bloody Waste Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/36730820911/ 

#sustainableperiods #menstrualproducts #greenperiods #sustainablemenstrual #reusablesanitary #mooncup #periodpants #bloodywaste #womensproblems #timeofthemonth #taboo

Episode 27 Green funerals: embedding sustainability at end of life with Claire Lyons and Simon Holden

Living more sustainably is something many of us feel passionate about, but how do we embed our values at those most challenging times?

In this episode we are discussing a sensitive topic, exploring the area of bereavement and how we balance grief with our personal values. 

Where Does It Come From? founder Jo Salter discusses the topic with guests Claire Lyons and Simon Holden.

Claire has been writing and speaking on issues related to health, sustainability and family life for over 15 years. Since the death of her son in 2019, the focus has moved to the funeral sector specifically.  Using other skills acquired over an eclectic working life, she writes for and supports businesses she feels share her passions

Simon is the Founder of the Faunus Group Ltd. He is passionate about the environment and has extensive experience in planning, project management and the application of research and development. Simon is also the CEO of The Woodland Burial Company and Natural Transitions. Both are focused on improving the impact of the funeral sector for people and planet.

We plan to cover this topic in more podcast episodes so please do get in touch if there is a particular aspect of this subject that you would like to know more about.  You can also watch a video of this podcast episode on the Where Does It Come From? Youtube channel.

Please follow this podcast and our Youtube channel.  Any feedback is always welcome!

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

The Woodland Burial Company - www.woodlandburialcompany.com

Living Memorial (Back to Nature Soil) - www.livingmemorial.co.uk

The Faunus Group - www.faunusgroup.co.uk

Claire Lyons on grief - www.clairelyons.co.uk

Rosedale Funeral Homes - www.rosedalefuneralhome.co.uk 

 

#sustainablefuneral #circleoflife #ethicalfuneral #greenfuneral #naturalfabric #biodegradable #grief #ecofuneral #backtonature 

Episode 26 - Going Away for Good - Sustainable Tourism with Vicky Smith

Here we are in January!  This month contains so-called 'Blue Monday' and is the time of year when many of us plan and book our holidays for the year.  We all need something to look forward to!

However there are hidden downsides to many of the trips we book, which can cause negative impacts to the communities and the environment in the places we are visiting.

Growing awareness of these problems has led to an increase in 'responsible' or 'sustainable' travel options, offering holidays that have direct benefits on local people and areas.

In this podcast episode our host Jo Salter, founder of social enterprise Where Does It Come From? is talking with Vicky Smith, responsible travel champion and founder of travel company Earth-changers.

Vicky has worked in tourism since the mid-90s, and sustainable tourism since the mid-00s.  She has worked in destinations, marketing and ecommerce, heading up operations abroad and online for major tour operators, online travel agents and media, in mainstream tourism, ski, safari, tours, charity challenges and voluntourism, NGOs and sustainable tourism accreditation organisations. She’s been a ski resort manager, a qualified ranger in Africa, charity challenge leader and is a charity trustee for SEED Madagascar. She's also on a global council for climate resilience in tourism, helps develop the Global and European Ecotourism Networks, and has been an Ambassador for the Year of Green Action for Defra – the UK’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. 

Vicky is the founder of startup Earth-Changers.com, a curated collection of positive impact tourism, winner of Travelmole UK's Best Responsible Travel & Tourism Website 2019, and helps people find and book trips that change the world (personal holidays, groups and corporates). 

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - Kind Clothes that Tell Tales https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Earth-changers - https://www.earth-changers.com 

Travel with Jules - https://www.travelwithjules.co.uk 

Green Tourism: https://www.green-tourism.com (Accreditation scheme - biggest for UK)

Global Sustainable Tourism Council:  https://www.gstcouncil.org/ (GSTC acts as the international accreditation body for sustainable tourism certification, managing global standards for sustainable travel and tourism)

If you enjoy this episode please consider following and rating us!  A video of this conversation can also be found on the Where Does It Come From? Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@wheredoesitcomefrom