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

Episode 11 Reducing the environmental impact of our online lives - with Vic Stevens

Usually when we consider being green, we think of reducing our consumption.  However as we do more and more online - attending meetings, watching videos, digital marketing and more - we are actually growing our consumption of data!

Data is unseen but we are using it at quite a rate and this has a big impact on the environment.

In this episode our podcast host Jo Salter, founder of ethical textiles business Where Does It Come From?, talks with Vic Stevens.  Vic and partner Jez founded Make Hay Ethical Web Design and Green Hosting 17 years ago to offer a greener alternative to website development and web hosting.  Vic is passionate about raising awareness and helping people reduce the environmental impact of their online lives.

Make Hay Web Design - https://www.makehay.co.uk/

Green Hosting - https://www.green-hosting.co.uk/

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

 

 

Episode 10 - Creating Greener and Healthier Communities with Stephen McPeake

Most of us do want to live greener, healthier lives but sometimes it just takes a little nudge.

Civic Dollars works in partnership with local councils and businesses to incentivise citizens to get out into parks and local spaces - with rewards such as vouchers or discounts. Yes it really is as simple as a walk in the park!

In this episode Jo Salter, Where Does It Come From? podcast host and founder of the ethical clothing brand of the same name, talks with Stephen McPeake.  Stephen is CEO & Founder of Civic Dollars, a health based community currency that is being used to improve public health and wellbeing by incentivising greater use of local open spaces.

Stephen has been working on Smart City technology for the last 9 years and  on the theory behind Civic Dollars since 2018. Using research and expertise from universities and corporations on nudge theory and digitising community currencies he has developed a platform that can provide a multi faceted nudge solution to improve public health.

Civic Dollars launched in Belfast in June 2021 and will go live in Leeds, Dublin and other UK cities later in the year.

Find out more at:

Civic Dollars - https://civicdollars.com/

Local media coverage - https://www.ulstertatler.com/2021/07/earning-civic-dollars-is-a-walk-in-the-park/

Here's links to the research from the team at Queen’s University Belfast’s Centre of Excellence for Public Health that Stephen mentions in the discussion -

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-018-6305-9

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mark-Tully/publication/267784802_The_Physical_Activity_Loyalty_Card_Scheme_Development_and_Application_of_a_Novel_System_for_Incentivizing_Behaviour_Change/links/54b7f49e0cf28faced60fbef/The-Physical-Activity-Loyalty-Card-Scheme-Development-and-Application-of-a-Novel-System-for-Incentivizing-Behaviour-Change.pdf

https://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreofExcellenceforPublicHealthNorthernIreland/Research/PhysicalActivityResearch/ThePALStudy/

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

 

Episode 9 - Moving to Green Energy ... with John Taylor

The recent IPCC report has made it clear that we need to move away from using fossil fuels and reduce our emissions of harmful greenhouse gases.

Changing the way we source and use our energy - used for our transport, running our homes and more - can make a huge impact.  

In this episode of the Where Does It Come From? podcast host Jo Salter talks to John Taylor, green energy specialist and currently energy projects manager at the Greater South East Energy Hub in the UK.

John says 'It is entirely possible for us to turn this around and actually end up with a way of life that's better - this isn't as good as it gets'.

Links mentioned during the discussion:

World Wildlife Fund carbon management tool https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/#/

The People vs Climate Change - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p097sbzc/the-people-vs-climate-change

The Climate Change Committee - https://www.theccc.org.uk/

Ripple Energy co-operative - https://rippleenergy.com/

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

 

Episode 8 - Electric Vehicles - Making The Switch ... With Rebecca Hansen

We all know that reducing our reliance on fossil fuels is key to tackling the climate emergency.  Electric Vehicles are often put forward as a solution, with technology and infrastructure improving rapidly.

However making the switch to an electric vehicle can seem a large leap - requiring change in behaviour and a learning curve, as well as concerns about costs, battery life and charging stations.

So what are the actual barriers and how can we find out which electric vehicle would work best for us?

In this episode Where Does It Come From?'s Jo Salter talks to Rebecca Hansen, director of TryWyre, a online tool designed to help people find and purchase the right electric vehicle for them.  A life long environmentalist, Rebecca has over 20 years experience of delivering mission critical projects for large companies and government organizations.

TryWyre - www.trywyre.com

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

 

Episode 7 - Creating Positive Impacts in Africa through Fashion - Paola Masperi

The fashion industry is one of the most harmful, both to the people involved and to the planet.

So how do we harness fashion for good?

In this episode Jo Salter, founder of ethical clothing and textiles business Where Does It Come From? interviews Paola Masperi of Mayamiko.

Paola Masperi set up Mayamiko Trust in 2008 as a social enterprise to create livelihoods and skills for people in Malawi.  She then launched the Mayamiko fashion brand in 2015.  Mayamiko hit the headlines in 2019 when Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex wore one of their beautiful dresses on her African tour.

Jo and Paola worked together in 2018/19 on Where Does It Come From?'s African Tunics and Accessories collection.

Mayamiko Brand - https://mayamiko.com/

Mayamiko Trust - https://www.mayamiko.org/

Where Does It Come From? African project (with video) - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk/transparent-supply-chain-in-africa/

Where Does It Come From? African Tunic - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk/product/african-tunics/

 

 

 

Episode 6 - Fair Trade - Collaboration for Global Good, with Laura Cave

One of the big challenges with 'stuff' is knowing whether the people involved in creating our products are being paid and treated fairly.

Improvements in supply chain transparency are bringing to light abuses such as unsafe working conditions, slave wages and other unacceptable practices.  Many consumers are now seeking reassurance that what they buy isn't harming other people.

This podcast episode is a discussion between Jo Salter. founder of fair trade textile brand Where Does It Come From? and Laura Cave.  Laura has a long term commitment to fair trade with over 20 years experience of working co-creatively with artisan craft makers in emerging economies.

She is the founder and director of Just Trade, a fair trade jewellery brand, and was Chair of BAFTS Fair Trade Network UK from May 2018 - May 2021.  She remains as a committee member.

Just Trade supply over 300 retail outlets in the UK and internationally, including independent boutiques and leading Museums and Galleries.

BAFTS is a membership network of independent shops and suppliers dedicated to partnering with disadvantaged producer groups in order to provide long-term market access for their work.

Find out more at:

Where Does It Come From? - wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Just Trade - justtrade.co.uk

BAFTS - bafts.org.uk

Episode 5 - Talking Rubbish with Jason Alexander

This episode of the Where Does It Come From? podcast focuses on what happens to our 'stuff' when we've finished with it.

Jason Alexander, Wildlife Gadgetman and founder of Rubbish Walks CIC talks about his litter picking and campaigning role.  He also tells us about some of the more unusual rubbish he has collected and his plans to encourage more and more people to think about what happens to their stuff and to protect our planet with their litter picking powers.

Rubbish Walks - https://rubbishwalks.co.uk/

Wildlife Gadget Man - https://wildlifegadgetman.com/

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

 

Episode 4 - Being Sustainable(ish) - Using Our Everyday Powers To Make Change with Jen Gale

Do you feel powerless to make a difference?

Does the idea of living more sustainably just fill you with overwhelm?

Does everyone else seem to be much better at it than you?

You are not alone!

Author and Campaigner Jen Gale joins host Jo Salter on the Where Does It Come From? podcast to discuss how we can all make small changes, lose the anxiety and feel proud of what we do.

Let's all be sustainable(ish)!

Sustainableish - https://www.asustainablelife.co.uk/

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

 

Episode 3 - The Chemicals in our Clothes with Peter Gorse

Did you know that chemicals are routinely added to our clothing and other textiles?

Most of these chemicals - synthetic or otherwise - are not harmful but just a few could be, so how are they monitored and who is checking?

In this episode we hear from textile researcher Peter Gorse about some of the chemicals and processes used in textile production and how we can find out more about them.

 

Episode 2 - When Does Marketing Become Greenwashing? with Sian Conway-Wood

We know that marketing techniques are used to 'persuade' us to buy stuff we don't really need.  More recently, as we've become more eco aware, brands are tripping over themselves to persuade us that they are green, a strategy known as 'green washing'.

In this episode our host Jo Salter interviews Sian Conway-Wood, a marketing strategist and author, who explains more and gives us some tips on how to uncover some of the key strategies that are persuading us to part with our money.