Eight million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean annually, averaging to about 22,000 metric tons per day – roughly equivalent to dumping one garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute. That plastic ruins rivers and shorelines, affects fish, birds and corals, and harms ecosystems and communities.

We need both upstream (design, reduction) and downstream (collection, recycling) solutions. Felicia talks to Tom Peacock-Nazil, founder of Seven Clean Seas, an organisation with a dual approach: cleaning up plastic waste from the ocean while helping companies measure and reduce their plastic impact.

They discuss the importance of ocean conservation, the trouble with plastic and what we can do, as individuals and as companies, to address the challenge that it creates.

You can learn more about Seven Clean Seas and their work via Instagram or X; details of the HIPPO project and you can donate as well.

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Did you know that the Internet and communication technology (ICT) sector is estimated to account for 1.5% and 4% of the world’s carbon emissions? In comparison, aviation represented 2% of the global carbon footprint in 2022.

This figure doesn’t even take into account the use of water to cool down data centres, or the extraction and processing of materials to produce our devices, which have considerable impacts on climate and nature.

All data generated online (including this podcast) has its footprint, even if we can’t see it. The Internet’s emissions will continue to rise, especially as the use of artificial intelligence – which is extremely energy intensive – keeps skyrocketing. Considering that 90% of the world's data was generated in the last two years alone according to some estimates, it is not difficult to imagine that the Internet will soon become the largest-emitting sector of our economy.

But we all can take action, in some way. If you, or your company, have a website, you can design it to be as sustainable and accessible as possible.

In this week’s episode, Giulia talks to Sepas Seraj, founder of digital agency Pixeled Eggs, about sustainable web design and how the conversation has shifted in his industry. The attention is turning to lighter-weight websites, as they are increasingly being prioritised by SEO. Coincidentally, leaner websites also have a smaller footprint, proving that there are benefits in sustainability that go beyond doing the right thing.

Sepas shares tips on how to lower the impact of your website, make it more accessible and user-friendly without sacrificing aesthetics (sustainable design can be beautiful and impactful at the same time!), how to use AI mindfully, and how design trends have changed over the years.

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Businesses face challenges and opportunities in adapting to climate change regulations and sustainability reporting. Linking sustainability strategies to performance and progress is a crucial aspect of this journey.

In this episode, Felicia talks to Stuart McLachlan, chief executive of sustainability firm Anthesis, about the shift from traditional business models to sustainable practices, emphasising the need for organisations to take responsibility for their externalities and adopt circular economy principles.

Adaptability and collaboration are fundamental, as seen in sustainable agriculture and pre-competitive collaboration during the pandemic - in the end, so much of what we need to address comes down to the health of the soil. The conversation touches on the role of investors and regulators in driving sustainability, the urgency of transformation, and how we can shift to a low-carbon, nature-positive world through collective action.

Stuart's book, The Adventure of Sustainable Performance, is available on all major platforms.

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