Business of Sustainability

What can the world's highest mountains tell us about building a sustainable future?Kenton Cool has summited Everest 19 times, each time as a guide. He's spent 35 years operating in environments where resources are scarce, conditions are unpredictable, and the margin for error is razor thin. In those environments, sustainability isn't a strategy; it's survival.In this episode, Alex Smith talks to Kenton about the visible impact of climate change on glaciers across Europe and the Himalayas, the tension between pursuing adventure and reducing your environmental footprint, what "leave no trace" really means in practice, and how the lessons of high-altitude leadership translate directly into how businesses respond to complexity, risk, and long-term thinking.This one is a little different. But the core message is the same: what you do today has consequences, and the best leaders understand that clearly.For More InformationFuturePlus: https://future-plus.co.uk/In Cool Company: https://www.incoolcompany.com/

AI is changing how every business operates. But how many are thinking about what that means for their sustainability?FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith and COO Polly Milne sit at the intersection of sustainability and AI every day, and in this episode they share what that looks like in practice, from how FuturePlus is integrating AI into its own platform to the practical steps any business can take right now.They cover: How AI is being integrated into the FuturePlus platform to speed up client assessments Why AI's environmental footprint is bigger than most businesses realise The governance questions every SME should be asking about their AI tools today Bias, gender, and the social implications of how AI is being trained and adopted Why responsible AI adoption and ESG are more connected than people think 🌐 future-plus.co.uk

Poppy Clarke spent time in climate tech recruitment, watching other people do the jobs she wanted. So she made the move.In this episode, FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith talks to Poppy, now a Sustainability Executive at FuturePlus, about what the industry looks like when you're new to it, what surprised her, what confused her from the outside, and what she's found most engaging in her first few months.It's a short, honest conversation that covers the real breadth of what sustainability means inside a business, and why treating it as a tick-box exercise means leaving most of the value on the table.🌐 future-plus.co.uk

Two of the biggest sustainability communication mistakes businesses make sit at opposite ends of the same spectrum. Overclaiming. And saying nothing at all.In this episode, FuturePlus CEO Alex Smith and COO Polly Milne discuss both, why they happen, what the consequences can be, and how businesses can find a more confident, authentic middle ground.Polly shares a practical example of a company that accidentally misrepresented their carbon position with entirely good intentions, explains why the regulatory landscape around green claims is tightening fast, and makes the case for why starting small and talking honestly about progress is far more powerful than waiting until everything is perfect.🌐 www.future-plus.co.uk

Louisa Hoy, Junior Sustainability Consultant at FuturePlus, returns to explain SECR (Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting), the UK regulation requiring businesses above certain thresholds to report energy use and carbon emissions in their annual financial accounts.With reporting deadlines approaching, Louisa breaks down who needs to comply (the three-threshold test), why voluntary reporting makes strategic sense even before you're required to, and how SECR forms the foundation for broader ESG compliance.We discuss why carbon data should be treated with the same importance as financial data, how to improve data quality over time, and what businesses approaching the thresholds should do now to get ahead of compliance requirements.Whether you're already in scope, approaching the thresholds, or simply want to understand UK carbon reporting obligations, this episode offers a practical guide to SECR and what it means for your business.Learn more about FuturePlus Carbon: future-plus.co.uk

Louisa Hoy, Junior Sustainability Consultant at FuturePlus, works primarily with sustainability professionals who are either a team of one or managing ESG as an add-on to their primary role. It's a growing reality in businesses of all sizes; someone has the job title, but not the team or the capacity to match.In this conversation, Louisa explains why data-led platforms need human guidance to be effective, how advisors provide the confidence and support to help businesses "do sustainability properly," and why having someone outside the organization to talk things through with matters when you're the only person working on it internally.We discuss the complementary nature of data and expertise, the challenges of limited capacity when sustainability isn't your main role, and how shared learnings from working across multiple clients help solve common industry challenges.Whether you're a sustainability professional working solo, a business leader trying to support your team's ESG efforts, or simply curious about how sustainability programs actually work in practice, this episode offers insight into what makes the difference between having a sustainability title and making real progress.Learn more about FuturePlus: future-plus.co.uk

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a sustainability management business?Sam Sweeney, Sustainability Manager at FuturePlus, walks through what a typical day looks like, from delivering waste workshops to client meetings, navigating legislation changes, and helping businesses prepare for supply chain requirements they didn't see coming.We discuss:→ How advisory support works through the FuturePlus platform→ Why supply chain pressure is forcing smaller companies to act faster→ The difference between sustainability advice and accountability→ How the team shares expertise across 30+ sectors and 17 countriesIf you're working in sustainability, managing ESG requirements, or just curious about what actually goes into sustainability management, this is a practical look at the work that helps businesses measure, improve, and report their impact.Learn more about FuturePlus: future-plus.co.uk

Welcome to our new bitesize episodes - a new series of shorter conversations (around 10-15 minutes) where members of the FuturePlus team discuss what we're actually seeing in sustainability right now.In this first episode, CEO Alex Smith and COO Polly Milne talk about what 2026 holds.Despite regulatory rollbacks and green claims pressures, there's a clear shift happening: sustainability is moving from performative to action-driven, and businesses are doing it because it genuinely makes them stronger.What we cover: 00:37 - Why 2025 was tough for sustainability teams 01:57 - Sustainability as business resilience, not just marketing 03:28 - Evidence and verification in procurement 04:01 - AI's role in sustainability (and its challenges) 07:04 - The ethics and carbon footprint of AI 07:29 - The future of lean sustainability teams 09:47 - Embedding sustainability across departments About FuturePlus: FuturePlus is a sustainability intelligence platform helping businesses measure, manage and improve their environmental and social impact. Our platform brings together climate, environment, social, economic and diversity & inclusion data in one accessible framework.🌐 www.future-plus.co.uk

In this episode, FuturePlus CEO and host, Alex Smith sits down with Rachel Sadka, Director of Social Sustainability at EY, to explore how businesses can move beyond compliance to create genuine transformation through social sustainability and DEI initiatives.Rachel shares insights from her 13+ years at EY, including her work developing the National Equality Standard and Global Equality Standard. The conversation covers navigating DEI backlash, measuring social impact, embedding sustainability across all business functions, and why socioeconomic diversity matters.Rachel explains how leading organisations link social sustainability to value creation, the role of AI in recruitment and performance management, and why transparency about challenges builds trust.Click here to learn more about FuturePlus, or here for EY.

Sustainability criteria now account for up to 20% of tender scores, often the difference between winning and losing contracts.In this episode, FuturePlus CEO, Alex Smith speaks with Celestine Ekpenyong, Head of Bids and Business Development at LMAC Group, about how procurement is driving business sustainability forward.With nearly 20 years of experience, Celestine explains why evidence matters more than intentions when responding to tenders.The conversation covers practical steps for building a sustainability library, competing against larger companies with limited resources, and why authenticity outperforms copying competitors.Celestine shares how LMAC transitioned 50% of their fleet to electric vehicles, engages their supply chain through quarterly innovation competitions, and approaches tender responses with structured evidence.Key topics include the gap between tender requirements and business capabilities, why smaller companies can win against corporates, and how to translate sustainability actions into winning bid responses. Celestine also explains why starting small beats waiting for perfection, and how to sell sustainability investment to leadership.Whether you're preparing your first tender or strengthening existing sustainability credentials, this episode provides clear guidance on turning ESG action into commercial advantage.Learn more about FuturePlus and LMAC Group.

Our host Alex Smith speaks with Saira Khan, founder of SAIRA Skin, a Certified Organic skincare brand focused on ethical beauty practices.What You'll Learn:Saira Khan has built a successful skincare business by putting sustainability first. Drawing on business lessons learned early in her career (including her appearance on The Apprentice), she created SAIRA Skin as a Soil Association certified brand that removes harmful ingredients while honouring traditional Himalayan beauty practices.Key Topics: How effective communication drives business success The decision to eliminate microplastics from skincare formulations Building a profitable business with strong ethical foundations Creating customer trust through transparent practices Practical steps for integrating sustainability into any business Balancing commercial goals with environmental responsibility Saira offers straightforward advice for entrepreneurs who want to build businesses that make money and create positive impact. Her approach shows how sustainable practices can strengthen rather than limit business growth.About Our Guest: Saira Khan is a broadcaster, speaker, and founder of SAIRA Skin - a certified organic skincare brand inspired by Himalayan beauty rituals. She focuses on building businesses through clear communication and ethical practices.Perfect for: Business owners, entrepreneurs, sustainability professionals, and anyone interested in building profitable companies with strong values.Listen now to learn practical strategies for creating a business that succeeds while doing good.FuturePlus helps business of all sizes, understand, measure, evidence, improve and report on their sustainability impact and goals. Click here to find out more.

In this episode of The Business of Sustainability, hosts Alex Smith and Mike Penrose sit down with Alexandra Berry, Executive Assistant and Head of Sustainability at Strand Palace, and Jordan Hughes, Hotel Manager at the iconic Cliveden House.Together, they explore how two very different hotels, one nestled in the luxury of the English countryside and the other in the heart of London, are embedding sustainability at the core of their operations.From employee engagement initiatives like Green Ducks and Sustainability Committees to guest education and avoiding greenwashing, this episode dives into the practical and strategic actions redefining sustainability in the hospitality industry.Plus, hear how both hotels earned IMPACT CERTIFIED status with FuturePlus, and why collaboration across the sector could be the key to long-term change.Whether you're a hotelier, sustainability leader, or conscious traveller, this is a conversation not to miss.Subscribe and listen now to learn how the future of hospitality is being shaped, one sustainable decision at a time.Click here to learn more about how FuturePlus can help your business make a positive impact.Click here to learn more about Strand Palace's sustainability strategies, or here for Cliveden House's.Strand Palace and Cliveden House are both part of L+R Hotels’ portfolio, one of Europe’s largest privately-owned global investment firms and home to some of the finest hotels and resorts in the world.Clivden House is also part of Iconic Luxury Hotels, a collection of six uniquely luxurious award winning hotels located in highly desirable locations through Britain and overseas.

In this episode of the Business of Sustainability from FuturePlus, co-hosts Alex Smith and Mike Penrose sit down with Julia Groves, Investment Partner at Sustainable Ventures, to explore the evolving landscape of sustainable investing.With a background in renewable energy and startups, Julia shares her insights on the opportunities and challenges in making sustainable investment more accessible. She breaks down the new FCA sustainable impact label and how it’s shaping transparency in the sector.We also discuss the power of diverse entrepreneurial teams, the role of financial literacy in driving change, and the game-changing potential of AI in climate tech.Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the future of sustainability-focused investments.Click here to find out more about Sustainable Ventures or here for specifically for the new investment funds.FuturePlus is your key to future-proofing your positive impact, helping you integrate sustainable practices into your operations, communicate your ambitions, and report on your progress. Click here to find out more.