Over the last year the UK launched more plant-based products than any other nation, making it the country’s fastest growing culinary trend and resulting in a market worth of £310m.   This growth, coupled with research out of Oxford University finding that cutting meat and dairy products can reduce an individual's carbon footprint (from food) by up to 73 per cent, is resonating with start-ups across the UK.   In this week’s episode of Earth Unscrewed you’ll hear from Virgin StartUp – the...

It’s been predicted that there will be nine million electric cars on the road by 2030 – and with sales of pure electric vehicles (EVs) going up by almost 160 per cent between July 2018 and 2019 (despite a general demand for new cars declining) – it’s impossible to ignore that the revolution is here! In this week’s episode of Earth Unscrewed you’ll hear from Envision Virgin Racing – a team in Formula E – the all-electric motorsport championship which is proving hat EVs can be just as sleek...

As the world’s population continues to grow and global demand for rapid, seamless transport continues to rise, we must meet this challenge in a way that is efficient, clean, and safe for the future of the planet. In this week’s episode of Earth Unscrewed you’ll hear from Virgin Hyperloop – the world’s leading hyperloop company, building the fastest, most energy-efficient, most environmentally friendly transport system… ever. As Virgin Group founder Richard Branson puts it: “We need big...

In this week’s episode of Earth Unscrewed we’re introduced to Zero Mass Water, the renewable water company creating delicious water from just sunlight and air. As global access to clean drinking water continues to decrease, the very smart people at Zero Mass Water are creating solutions to ensure that everyone has access to drinking water – no matter where they are in the world.  In this, the fifth episode of Earth Unscrewed’s second season, we learn how the team from Zero Mass Water...

In this week’s episode of Earth Unscrewed we learn about some of the incredible things that are being done to make the aviation industry more sustainable. Over the last century air travel has completely transformed the way we live – connecting distant lands and communities and allowing us to become a truly global economy. While there have been many benefits accompanying the evolution of global travel and the transformation of how we work and play, it has also come with costs – a notable one...

In this week’s episode of Earth Unscrewed our presenters, Helen Scales and Seyi Rhodes, speak to Karen Sack, President and CEO of Ocean Unite, about the important things each of us can do to help restore the health of the ocean.  For years, scientists have been telling us that at least 30 per cent of the Ocean should be declared strongly protected in marine reserves by 2030  – that this is critical both for marine biodiversity and to build climate resilience. So in this, the third episode of...

In this week’s episode of Earth Unscrewed our presenters, Helen Scales and Seyi Rhodes, speak to Radhika Lalit from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI).  Radhika manages the Global Cooling Prize and in this second episode of our second season, she talks about the incredibly troubling position the planet is in due to inefficient room air conditioners.  If you haven't stopped to think about your room air conditioner and its potential impact on a warming planet – here’s some context to help...

To launch Season 2 of Earth Unscrewed our presenters Helen and Seyi had the pleasure of interviewing one of the world’s most renowned and respected Earth system and sustainability scientists – Johan Rockstrom.  In this episode Johan calls on all of us to show some ‘climate anger’. Along with his top tips on what we can all do to address the climate crisis, Johan is calling on everyone to step up and make our collective voices heard.  According to the great scientist himself, we have good...

Presenters Dr Helen Scales and Seyi Rhodes are back together to take a look at some very exciting - and unexpected - solutions to the Earth’s most pressing problems. While the world is facing a climate crisis and massive systemic change, we’re confident that if you listen to these episodes you’ll feel more hopeful for the future of our planet. Join us in season two as we explore sci-fi-turned-reality modes of transport, bacteria that can turn CO2 into jet fuel, and tech that can harvest...

Water is the most abundant molecule on the surface of the Earth, and covers nearly 3/4 of the whole planet. Yet, in many places, water is the most precious commodity there is. As the climate changes, both urban and rural communities are facing water scarcity, and we need to start thinking about how to value and conserve this precious resource. In this final episode of the inaugural series of Earth Unscrewed, Helen and Seyi learn where and why there isn't enough water to go around, and meet...

Can the earth help to save The Earth? Helen and Seyi explore some dirty impacts of food production, and meet people breaking new ground when it comes to restoring the ground itself. To read more about our featured guests, check out our website at https://www.virgin.com/in-focus/earth-unscrewed-podcast

In this episode, Helen and Seyi explore the link between space exploration and improving things on Earth for all its inhabitants. They speak to a man who has travelled into space four times, astronaut Mark Kelly. They also hear from Will Pomerantz of Virgin Orbit, working to make space more accessible.Their third guest, David Grinspoon, is an astrobiologist and author. His books include Earth in Human Hands: Shaping Our Planet’s Future, and Chasing New Horizons: Inside the Epic First Mission...

Fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world today. In this episode, Helen and Seyi ask whether it needs to be that way. On the road in London, they speak to creators and innovators striving to improve the way we make clothes. For more information on the contributors in this episode: Better Cotton Initiative, VIGGA and Ananas Anam - head to our website https://www.virgin.com/in-focus/earth-unscrewed-podcast.

In this episode, Helen and Seyi look to Kenya to learn how electric power can help unscrew the planet whilst empowering economies and societies. They hear from two guests, each taking a different approach to the challenge. Crystal Adero Okudo works on better grid connectivity, and Simon Bransfield Garth from Azuri tech offers pay-go solar home systems. 

What if we could reduce the amount of landfill? What if we could mine rubbish to save cash and the planet? What if we could turn supply chains into supply webs? Well maybe we can. In this episode, Helen and Seyi hear how one person’s rubbish is another person’s gold dust. By exploring two case studies, Aeropowder and Interface - they get beneath the buzz words to understand what is meant by ‘closed loop production’ and how it can ‘unscrew' the planet. Head to our home page for further...

This week, Helen and Seyi are joined by two very special guests, ocean plastics specialist, Dr. Lucy Woodall and Raw Foundation anti-plastic activist, Melinda Watson. They discuss the perils of the plastic problem. A special feature with Hugo Tagholm from Surfers against Sewage gives some tops tips for the everyday things you can do to fight the plastic plague. 

In this first episode of Earth Unscrewed, a new podcast powered by Virgin, presenters Dr. Helen Scales and Seyi Rhodes get into the topic of cars. With over a billion vehicles on the world’s roads, air-pollution levels are reaching deadly highs. Helen and Seyi explore some breakthroughs that are gaining traction, and that might help ‘un-screw’ the planet. Delve into London’s sewers in search of a surprising clean fuel, and meet the innovators working hard to make costly and polluting cars a...