In the world of sports fandom, loyalty isn't just measured by cheers and game attendance—it's increasingly gauged by the latest team gear adorning fans' closets. But as teams constantly unveil new "looks" and limited-edition merchandise, we're faced with a growing problem: the unsustainable cycle of sports apparel purchase and use. The Annual Uniform Carousel Every year, professional and college sports teams introduce new uniforms, "alternate" jerseys, and special edition gear. While the excitem...
Aug 26, 2024•57 sec
In today's episode, Ken Alston talks with Mahasen Gunawardena, a.k.a. "Lanks" who is co-founder of Sustain Credits. Remove your carbon & nature footprint through Earth Doctors -> buy trees, remove waste, improve biodiversity, protect animals - visit the SUstaina Credits website and find out about their monthly plans: https://sustaincredits.com/plans To join the movement as an Earth Doctor and get rewarded: https://sustaincredits.com/earthdoctor 1️⃣ heal the earth ➕🌐 2️⃣ send photos, vide...
May 05, 2023•39 min
As co-founder of the Bank & Vogue family of companies, Steven Bethell has been a thought leader and pioneer in the post-consumer textile space for over 20 years. Unwanted garments across the world normally make their way to landfill - Bank & Vogue is here with the purpose to develop innovative and relevant solutions for the "Crisis of Stuff". Every month the ompany receives 300 containers of old clothes. Sellable items are sent to Beyond Retro whilst Beyond Remade brings new life to old ...
Feb 13, 2023•50 min
In this episode, Rob Oomen is my guest. Rob is the Director General of Vytal, Mexico. He recently introduced the Vytal reusable food and drink container system in Guadalajara, Mexico. 2023 is primed for expanding this important reusable container system in restaurants, company, and university cafeterias. Already successful in Germany, this is the first use of this type of reusable container system in Mexico. Vytal Mexico Get full access to SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS at kenalston.substack.com/subscri...
Jan 25, 2023•24 min
Today I am talking with Tricia Carey, Chief Commercial Officer of Renewcell. Tricia held various commercial management positions at Lenzing Fibers to establish the TENCEL™ brand, build mill partners and set retailer specifications. Tricia is an advocate for innovation and circularity in the textile and apparel industry. She recently joined Renewcell to accelerate the commercial development of Circulose®, making fashion circular. Founded by innovators from Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Techn...
Jan 12, 2023•31 min
Five years ago, I went into the high Andes to pick coffee cherries and experience for myself the processes that are needed before we get that delicious taste of coffee in the morning. In this podcast episode I welcome Josh Ziegelbaum, Director of Investor Relations for Legacy Group to talk about a new roasted coffee brand called Abira, recently launched in the USA. Listen in as we talk about the sustainably circular business practices that Green Coffee Company (GCC) is pioneering in Colombia. Cu...
Jan 03, 2023•25 min
Here's my recent conversation with long-time friend and fellow Cradle to Cradle design practitioner, Albin Kaelin. I've known Albin for over 22 years. His story starts with the Genesis of the Cradle to Cradle design collaboration of William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart. Namely, creating the Climatex Lifecycle textile that confounded the Swiss water authorities because they could not find any trace of pollution in the factory wastewater. Albin talks about his journey as CEO of a small Swis...
Dec 08, 2022•38 min
Catherine Roggero-Lovisi is CEO of Modern Meadows. The Modern Meadows website states: "Where Natural Inspiration Meets Extraordinary innovation". The company describes themselves as a purpose-driven, protein application powerhouse - building the sustainable bioeconomy. Catherine and Ken talk about the company's protein-based products and how they are intentionally designed with both performance and sustainability in mind from the outset. Catherine discusses the positive impacts and scalability o...
Nov 03, 2022•25 min
In this episode Ken Alston brings the story of "From Belo" up to date. First shared here in July 2021, Belo bags is a sustainable circular economy success story in progress. Today Ken talks again with Co-founder Maria Costa about the growth and recognition that From Belo is now garnering. From a small start-up in Belo Horizonte, Brazil as a new brand celebrating ethical craftsmanship, circular practices and a strong social connection, From Belo is now being showcased in one of the top retail sto...
Sep 02, 2022•32 min
Podcast discussion with Wajahat Hussain, Founder/CEO AT Biorestore. Biorestore is a new laundry solution that restores used and worn clothing to new. This is a new way to extend the use period of cotton garments and so help to reduce the negative impacts of fashion on the environment by enabling use over a longer time period. For more information: https://bio-restore.com/ Get full access to SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS at kenalston.substack.com/subscribe...
Aug 23, 2022•37 min
Shikha Rathi is an enterprising one-woman solopreneur making a difference in the local community in Pune, India. Her business is called The Reup Studio. Shikha takes wastes from the Indian textile industry and turns them into one of a kind garments. As the waste offcuts are always different shapes and sizes, by necessity this requires Shikha to be creative in how her clothing is put together to achieve a similar look and feel. She is especially proud of her team of expert local artisans who sew ...
May 17, 2022•42 min
Part 2 of Ken Alston in conversation with David Ferninand. This recording was made on December 11th, 2021 to coincide with David's "Quantum Pay It Forward" event and the recording of his Biodome film on the island of Ilha das Couves, Sao Sebastiao, Brazil. Note: Ken's conversations with David cover a diverse range of topics! In this episode they talk about David's Quantum Giving event and the coincidence of recording on the 90th birthday of OSHO (the Enlightened Mystic of 21st century) and of va...
Dec 12, 2021•52 min
Ken Alston in conversation with Michiel Doorn, co-founder of Circularity Edge about Michiel's new report on the Circular Economy. Michiel talks about why he decided to write this report and reveals some of the pitfalls about creating a sustainable, circular economy based on recent work he's carried out at Circularity Edge. Download Michiel's new report --> HERE . Get full access to SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS at kenalston.substack.com/subscribe...
Dec 08, 2021•37 min
A recent connection to David Ferdinand led to recording this conversation. David is an American citizen living on an island off the coast of Brazil near to São Sebastião, São Paulo. Our conversation covers a range of issues related to susctainability, circular economy and life in general. I like islands as a geographically constrained model for thinking about the input and output of materials in the "system" of the island. The story of David the Indian which we talk about is one worth listening ...
Oct 23, 2021•55 min
It’s the eve of the 20-year anniversary of the 9-11-2001 terrorist attacks as I publish this short episode. Today, as then, I’d normally I’d be thinking and working on matters relating to how we can change the way the global economy operates so that it creates positive, beneficial economic, environmental and social outcomes, in place of the many un-sustainable outcomes we still generate today. But today (9/10/21) and tomorrow (9/11/21) space needs to be made for somber reflection on the attack o...
Sep 10, 2021•6 min
Hi, Today I'm talking with Maria Costa of From Belo in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I'm excited to bring you this episode as Maria and her colleagues are woderful ambassadors for what's possible when you take your VALUES and create VALUE - social, environmental and economic intentionally, by design. For those of you who don’t know From Belo – they create long lasting, beautiful fashion accessories that carry kindness in every seam. As you will hear they address the biggest issues in their community i...
Jul 06, 2021•52 min
The new builing at Universidad EAN in Bogota, Colombia is arguably Colombia's most sustaining building to date! Listen to my interview with Jose Alejandro Martinez Sepulveda. Jose is a long-time friend and colleague of mine. He is the strategic development advisor for Sustainability coordination at Universidad EAN in Bogota, Colombia. The combination of leadership and a vision in the University allied to a terrific team of people who led the conceptulatization, development, planning and construc...
Jul 31, 2020•58 min
This week I enjoyed a restful conversation about beds with fellow ex-Brit Len Laycock who is now based in Vancouver, Canada. Len is the designer of the new Horizontal Bed which boasts several unique design differences to conventional beds. The Horizontal bed is is durable, long lasting and has replaceable parts to extend it's USE even further. Materials are chosen with care to ensure they are safe in use and can cycle safely after use. Listen now as Len explains all about the features and benefi...
Jun 16, 2020•33 min
Join me in conversation with Stefan Mathys of Vyn as we discuss the evolution of thinking and design of a new sneaker that is made to last and is arguably the first repairable sneaker brand. This is an inside look at a new entrepreneurial venture with the intention to become increasingly sustainable and circular, by design. Our talk was recorded just a few weeks before the first invitation goes out to the public to become one of the first "VYNNERS" to own this innovative sneaker. VYN was founded...
May 12, 2020•42 min
Frankly, I’m tired of the green gloss that’s still being put on things. Actually, I’ve been tired of it for over 20 years, but in recent weeks as more people are talking again about what the “new normal”, post-Covid-19 world might look like, there’s a resurgence of what I call “green speak”. People calling for a green new deal... ...John Elkington riffing on Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s “Black Swan” concept with “Green Swan”. ...Even the Ellen MacArthur foundation joining Green Recovery’s call for mo...
May 06, 2020•10 min
Today's podcast is a conversation I had yesterday with Walter Stahel. Walter is one of the leading thinkers on matters concerning the circular economy and has been actively engaged on this subject for a lifetime. Walter is the founder-director of the Product-Life institute based in Switzerland. It is the oldest established consultancy in Europe devoted to developing sustainable strategies and policies. Walter is the author of the book “The Circular Economy – A User’s Guide” published last year. ...
Apr 22, 2020•48 min
Hi, this is Ken Alston with the Circularity Edge podcast. Today is April 8th, 2020. On the last episode I made an open invitation to you. A personal invitation to help you with your biggest challenges and the opportunity to talk together about big questions like: WHAT NOW? And WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Well as the title of the podcast says, yesterday was a wild and wonderful day. I’m extremely happy that some of you decided to take me up on my offer to talk because you’re the reason for my wild ...
Apr 08, 2020•8 min
Hi, this is Ken Alston with the Circularity Edge podcast. Today is March 30th, 2020. I’m starting right out of the gate with a personal offer to you. A personal invitation to help you with your biggest challenges and the opportunity to talk together about WHAT NOW? And WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. You can schedule time on my calendar by going to: https://calendly.com/kenalston/challenge Along with my colleagues in Circularity Edge, I’m creating a new community of committed individuals who want to chan...
Mar 31, 2020•11 min
Reading is a vitally important activity to gain wisdom and learn from the past. I urge you to read 20 miniutes a day - every day. I'll talk about two books, Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" (pictured) and Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs & Steel". There's ample evidence in Jarod's book of the history of germs and their evolution from domesticated animals to infect humans. We should have been and going forward need to be - better prepared. I'll discuss the LOCAL significance of the coronavirus out...
Mar 23, 2020•11 min
It's a stark choice we face. The good news is - there is an upside, there is a wealth of opportunity in front of us. It's nature's way of improving things over geologic time. The most important thing right now is looking after yourself and your extended family so you are in good shape to survive, grow stronger and sustain your leadership to help others, for the short, medium and long term.survice-evolve-die It’s a marathon we face, so find a pace you can maintain. Frankly speaking, no one gives ...
Mar 21, 2020•6 min
In this podcast Ken talks about making New Year's Resolutions as we move into 2020. Not just STARTING, but acting with VISION (20:20) and accepting fate as we play the game, as we are NOT in control of the complex world we live in. In renewing his personal commitment to working to design and implement a sustainable, circular economy Ken talks about the 2 main areas of his focus in 2020 and invites YOU to work with him in your city, mentoring and taking actions locally wherever you are in the wor...
Jan 06, 2020•6 min
In this podcast Ken reflects on 2019, the end of the decade and looks forward to the new year, the decade of the 2020's. He calls for this to be the "Year (and Decade) of the RE-'s": RE-VOLUTION now, starting on January 1st 2020. RE-DO everything for positive, beneficial outcomes. RE-THINK – Rethink the linear business model RE-DESIGN – Redesign for circular business models RE-USE – Reuse materials at the end of use which RE-QUIRES new product designs and new reverse logistics systems capable of...
Dec 31, 2019•9 min
I've known and worked with Alexandre Fernades for about ten years now! I first met him in Berlin and we've worked together in Brazil, the Carribean islands and across South America. This podcast was recorded during the Circular Economy Forum of the Americas (#CEFA2019) in Medellin, Colombia. We talk about the sustainable circular economy and developments in Brazil. Alexandre is an urbanist, Associate Consultant at GeoCidades, Senior advisor for the Circular Economy Platform for the Americas, CEP...
Dec 01, 2019•23 min
Today's episode tells the story of a humble pencil - Lapiz Grun. It's an entrepreneurial venture to benefit vulnerable people in Colombia financially while simultaneously creating a closed loop cycle - for a sustainable circular economy - in graphite and in paper. I am indebted to Juan David Pinzon, Jeffrey Jimenez and Ian Carlo Jimenez for contributing to this episode with their creativity and passion for making a difference in Bogota, In Colombia and the world. Ken Alston with Jeffrey Jimenez ...
Oct 30, 2019•16 min
In this edition, Ken Alston interviews Mauricio Zenteno, co-founder of the Camelhub in Medellin, Colombia. Ken and Mauricio discuss the definition of Circular Economy, how the term is often misunderstood and the emerging opportunities in startups and the value of connecting through the Circular Economy Platform of the Americas network. Get full access to SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS at kenalston.substack.com/subscribe...
Oct 04, 2019•17 min
