Transforming Tomorrow

How much waste is produced then your clothes are manufactured? And it there anything that can be done to reduce that? The Pentland Centre’s Dr Madiha Ahmad joins us to talk about her PhD research at Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, which involved looking at sew-free techniques that dramatically reduce fabric wastage. Madiha tells us about textiles in her Pakistan homeland, where it is an $18bn industry, and we go in-depth on how fibres become yarn becomes fabric, spanning global supply chains and representing a more complicated process than you might imagine. We learn about the lifecycle of fibres as they become fabrics and garments; about issues of over-consumption, fast fashion, and landfill, but also how waste is created when a garment is produced; and about the many technicalities of weaving. Madiha reveals the many layers of sustainability that need to be considered, and how knowledge and practice in this area can be part of a company’s international competitiveness. We talk about fabric waste, and how this is both a natural part of the standard manufacturing process but also something that could be tackled with a different weaving method – one that will have you checking how many seams you have on your clothing. We even take the concepts of sew-free and see how similar ideas can be applied in aerospace. Plus, Jan tells us about being raised to be a farmer’s wife; Paul objects to Jan’s suggestion he doesn’t think about how and where his clothes are made as he reveals he is made in Egypt on this particular day; and the horrible idea of square scones rears its ugly head. Here is a handy outline of how textiles are manufactured: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile_manufacturing If you want to understand more about weaving, see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaving And if you want to listen to our previous episode on the Uzbek cotton industry, this is the place: https://pod.fo/e/3cf0a4

You need individual accountability if you are going to be a good leader, but not everyone has it. Sanjay Rishi is a leadership coach with experience around the world, and the founder of @intersections. He is also an Entrepreneur in Residence in Lancaster University Management School, and he comes to us having seen how sustainability and leadership go together (or not). Sanjay talks us through his nomadic existence, a stint as a film student, and his life consulting on organisational change and coaching leaders – via his studies at Lancaster. We take a dive into transitions – where individuals and companies are moving from one reality to another, and where old tools and skillsets are no longer relevant. In this context, what are sustainable transitions, and how do you build an organisation and yourself to make it possible? We look at the conflicts between attitudes and behaviours, the importance of knowing your own role and story – not just what your organisation expects of you, and how intent among leaders plays a big role no matter where you are in the world. How do geography and generations play a role in approaches? Can younger leaders pull themselves away from the idea that success equals fast cars, big houses and private planes to move towards a more environmentally friendly approach? And how can organisations rewire themselves to consider the sustainability of their people? Plus, is Jan a good leader? Is Paul planning to start a dictatorship? And do we use the word joy enough? Find out more about Sanjay here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjay-rishi-26-intersections And read about his thoughts on the interplay between families and business for leaders here: https://doc.your-brochure-online.co.uk/Lancaster-University_FiftyFourDegrees_Issue_20/38/ Episode Transcript

What can be done to make your building greener? How can centuries old castles and churches be sensitively adapted to the modern age – becoming more sustainable while retaining their historic character? Alfie Stephenson-Boyles is an architect with Donald Insall Associates, who specialise in conservation and heritage architecture. He brings his experience across working on ancient buildings and new builds to the show, and of working with clients to show them the impact sustainable actions can have. Alfie tells us how sustainability has grown as a key aspect for clients, and we look at the many ways sustainability and architecture go together; the key issue of decarbonisation in new constructions and renovations; and the importance of considering sustainability from the start of a project and not putting it in as a late-stage ‘eco-bling’ bolt-on. Discover the difficulties of working in heritage buildings – and the opportunities to make changes; the myths and reality of Passivhaus, and the concept’s application both around the world and in Jan’s home; and the problems with retrofitting UK homes to – in theory – make them more energy efficient and sustainable. Learn why you should never speak to strangers on a train; what architects actually do – it’s much more than drawing nice pictures with crayons (though Alfie is a self-professed colouring-in specialist); whether Paul rabbits on too much; and about the oil age of architecture. Plus, ask yourself if Windsor Castle has a podcast studio. You can find more information about the idea of ‘Passivhaus’ here: https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/what_is_passivhaus.php And the wonderfully named Association for Environmental Conscious Building can be found here: https://aecb.net/ Episode Transcript

Step onto the terraces and discover how sustainable – or not – the global phenomenon that is football really is. Paul puts his decades of sports reporting experience to good use as we talk to Dr Idlan Zakaria, from the University of Birmingham. Idlan returns to her old Lancaster University stamping grounds and brings with her passions for both football and sustainability. She talks us through a love of football sparked by the 1982 World Cup and nurtured through years of supporting – to Paul’s annoyance firstly Manchester United, but now mainly Arsenal Women – watching, playing, and then coaching, and how sustainability ties into it all. From the greenhouse gas emissions of clubs, fans and major global and continental tournaments, to the ‘world’s greenest football club’ Forest Green Rovers and their vegan-only diets across staff and players, and the rationality (or lack thereof) of supporting Barrow AFC, we look at how the beautiful game affects the planet. We analyse the climate impact of constructing and maintaining stadiums – from carbon footprints to single-use plastic waste to water use to floodlight usage; become diverted by the Olympics; talk fast fashion football-style; consider the huge pay disparity between world-famous players and other club staff; and praise the power of grassroots organisations in instigating change among fans and clubs. Can footballers be sustainability influencers? Can more clubs follow the Forest Green model? Why do clubs have so many different shirts? Plus, Paul takes the chance to have a rant or two; Jan faces awkward questions about football; Dundee United, Aberdeen and Partick Thistle take some unwarranted abuse; the definition of a good Geordie comes into question; and Jan is bafflingly compared for the first – and probably last – time to pop megastar Taylor Swift! Read more about sports sustainability charity Pledgeball, who support fans and players to take meaningful climate action, here: https://pledgeball.org/about-us/ And you can discover more about Forest Green Rovers – minus why other teams don’t like them – here: https://www.fgr.co.uk/another-way/ Episode Transcript

How do teachers, students and researchers carry on in a time of war. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, and life changed overnight. Dniprotech University, in Dnipro, is in an area that has experienced power outages, bombing, drones and jets flying over. Yet, they have maintained a full education programme – utilising blended learning – and continue to build relationships with business and with international partners. We spoke to Kseniia Tiukhmenova, Olena Krasovska and Tetiana Kuvaieva, from Dniprotech, in late 2025 about how they are operating in such a difficult situation. Lancaster is twinned with Dniprotech as part of Universities UK’s Twin for Hope initiative, supporting Ukrainian universities through the crisis in matters relating to the brain drain, resilience, research, skills and knowledge exchange. We learn how this works, and the benefits both sides are gaining from the new relationship – even if our guests are too polite to admit they had not heard of Lancaster before the partnership started! We find out about how a university in the industrial heart of Ukraine has grown and developed, how it has built expertise around sustainability, the enthusiasm of students for these topics, and the setting up a new rival (or partner) to the Pentland Centre. Kseniia, Olena and Tetiana tell us about the power of universities in uniting people in a time of war, the importance of relationships with business, and the strength they gain from their endeavours now as they plan for post-war recovery. Plus, Paul finds something positive to say about rankings, Jan smiles as the word benchmarking comes up unprompted, and there is talk of the legendary status of Ukrainian soil. Find out more about the Twin for Hope initiative here: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/creating-voice-our-members/campaigns/twinforhope-uk-universities-standing Episode Transcript