Every year around Christmas, we wonder... What happens to these millions of Christmas trees - after Christmas? What's the impact this has on our environment? Should we put up a fake Christmas tree instead? Ecochain's two Christmas enthusiasts Zazala Quist and Host Hanni Larma answer the pressing question: Which tree is more sustainable? A real or a fake Christmas Tree? In this episode: What's the difference between a good fake Christmas tree you use for years vs cutting down a real tree...

MUD jeans is considered a frontrunner in the sustainable fashion space by insiders and the public alike. But what really makes them such a standout in the industry? To find out, we spoke to the man himself - Bert van Son the Founder and CEO of MUD Jeans. MUD Jeans being a client of Ecochain, we are very familiar with the measurement side of their sustainability, but we wanted to dig deeper. What do they do with this data and how do they operate sustainably? In the episode: What does it...

With energy prices rising exponentially in Europe at the moment, companies are paying attention. Paying attention to what their energy usage will ultimately cost them. Luckily there are company’s who can help them in this journey to energy efficiency - such as our guest and Ecochain's partner Sensorfact. The silver lining? Energy efficiency will also lower your company’s environmental footprint. With his head in the numbers, Sensorfact’s Founder and CEO Pieter Broekema was the perfect person...

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the scientific method for measuring the environmental footprint of your products. It’s often perceived as something ‘too complex’ & ‘academic’. Let’s make LCA accessible to businesses. So today we are breaking it down. Our environmental specialist Emma Thunnissen has dealt with just about everything concerning LCA with our clients. That’s why we thought she was the perfect person for the task of explaining the ins and outs of LCA. In the episode: How...

To make an LCA you first need DATA on your product(s). But what kind of data, often comes up in the conversation. In this podcast episode, we will go through the two main types of data - primary and secondary data. And what's the difference between them in LCA? So what kind of data do you actually need to make a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of your products? Think of the energy usage for your manufacturing and waste processes, data on your purchased & used raw materials, etc. Much data...

Navigating the world of sustainability claims has become hard work. When can you claim what and how do we know when claims are legitimate? Our consensus: It comes down to transparency. Companies must show their sustainability data, detail their methods of measuring AND talk about their failures. We spoke to Femke Lotgerink the sustainability manager of O My Bag, to find out her thoughts on the topic. With her sustainability expertise came a strong commitment to transparency. And a...

Have you ever thought about the environmental impact sitting in your closet? Yes, clothing can still have an impact even when it leaves the factory or shop shelves. This is called the ‘use phase’ of a product. Something our guest Olof Hoverfält is very familiar with. Olof conducted an extensive study where he documented EVERY single piece of clothing he wore every day (for 3 years!!) - And monitored the amount he used each piece. This taught him a thing or two about the value and...

Ecochain Webinar series #GotData. This is the first webinar in our new monthly webinar series #GotData. Every month we will discuss another topic in environmental footprinting with our own Environmental Specialists and inspiring guests. From practical topics on footprinting (data collection, how to model products, analyzing footprint results, etc.) to real-life examples & insights from companies embracing their sustainability journey. We got you covered - Stay tuned!   GotData -...

With EMMA Safety Footwear’s passion for creating a safe working environment for its customers and having social sustainability at its core, it only made sense that sustainability was the logical next step in their business practices. They had already implemented many sustainable improvements in their manufacturing processes & supply chain. But, lacked measurable environmental insights on the effectiveness of these initiatives. So - they measured the environmental footprint of their shoes...

We're accustomed to getting 'new' and ‘improved’ electronic products at a fast pace. Companies are racing to create the next best thing, so they don’t lose out on business. Is it time we re-evaluate the definition of 'new' and 'improved'? Jessica Klodnicki, Chief Marketing Officer at Skullcandy definitely thinks so. One of the biggest problems? Batteries. Audio lifestyle brand Skullcandy’s employees & customer base are made up of passionate outdoor enthusiasts. They care about the health...

By now it’s pretty obvious - but the fashion and textile industries are one of the BIGGEST polluters of all. We need transparency and sustainable product improvements to happen and fast. Whether it’s to answer consumer demand or keep up with new legislation (Such as the EU Textile Directive), fashion is in a state of transformation. But change is not always easy. Supply chain data collection, particularly in the fashion & textile industry, can be a bit of a pain. With over 10 years of...

Product design has a HUGE impact on the environment, and here’s why. We are constantly using an array of different products. Some last us years and years. Some get thrown away within a few months. Some are repairable. Some are only used once. You get the picture. All of these design choices have pretty direct impact on the environment around us. And legislation is catching up to this reality. The EU has recently announced several proposals for Ecodesign requirements. But waiting for...

Our daily lives revolve around the use of different products. We wake up to an alarm clock, we get dressed in our clothing, we rush to get breakfast from the fridge. But how are all of these products designed? AND more importantly how can they be innovated to fit the modern need for sustainability - while also being profitable for the company? With his expertise on sustainable product design our guest Felix Arand from Zuehlke talks to us about his tips and tricks on how to get started. In...

A governmental agreement - but one that COMPANIES will have to fulfil. A collective set of goals that will benefit each and everyone of us. We are talking about the UN Sustainable Developments Goal's (SDG’s) of course. A topic our guest Tuuli-Anna Tiuttu is very familiar with and will explain how you can apply them in your sustainability strategy. And she will also help you to effectively communicate this progress to your stakeholders. And not the boring way!  With her extensive work in the...

Ok - you’ve done the hard work and calculated your environmental footprint. But now what? What can you actually do with the results? We speak with one of our partners Nexio Projects to hear the ins and outs of utilising your data - AND building a sustainability report that catches peoples attention. In the episode: What are the first steps to take in building an impact reduction strategy; How to create a killer sustainability report; And why quality data is better than more data. Keep...

Ever heard someone in your company say ‘Yes, climate change is a big problem, but it’s not up to us to fix it, others produce more emissions than us.’  Or how about ‘Technology will happen eventually and fix our problems. So we can carry on as usual! We know these responses to sustainable action- and they are understandable. Because it's not an easy peasy lemon squeezy kind of responsibility we're talking about here.  Yet- in saving our planet, these responses only cause delays in...

Carbon offsetting at times gets a bad reputation. And for good reason.  But - If done correctly it can be a very beneficial aspect of your sustainability strategy!  That being said, there are a few crucial steps to take even before endeavouring into a carbon reduction project.  In this conversation we speak to Alessandra Souroujon the Senior Analyst Strategy and Development at ClimateSeed. A carbon offsetting company who aim to make the carbon market more transparent and beneficial for...

A furniture design brand that has always pride themselves on the longevity of their products. Now Fritz Hansen is ready to take their sustainability efforts to the next level. As everyday use products, to make furniture more sustainable is an essential step. And Fritz Hansen agrees. We speak to Morten Lund Petersen a sustainability manager, with years of experience leading a consumer brand to a more sustainable path. In the episode: How do they approach innovation in materials used in...

Plastic pollution is a global crisis. It risks the future of our planet's health. But what can we do about it? To find out we speak with Dr. Imogen Napper, an expedition scientist for National Geographic. She has investigated plastic pollution all over the the world, from the Ganges River to Mount Everest. We speak about her incredible research results and how we can tackle this issue, on both an individual and industry level. In the episode: What does the research tell us? Why plastic...

Organizations often struggle with effectively communicating the urgency and underlying motives behind their sustainable developments to employees. But, why is that? One of the factors that decrease the successful implementation of sustainability- is that top management often perceives sustainability to be something too academic or high-level for other employees to understand. So- they keep it within their own team/or relevant stakeholders who they feel do understand and don't involve other...

The textile industry is one of the worlds big polluters. The good news is there are companies out there looking for solutions. As founder & CEO of Dutch bedding company Yumeko- our guest Rob van den Dool wants to revolutionize the textile industry. In this episode? What are the main sustainable developments in the market? What are the impact reduction measures that need to be made in the textile industry? How to make sustainable fabrics scalable? Why re-examining the way we...

In a changing world, businesses must understand their own position and how to best navigate it. You may have heard the term 'future proofing'. Well Dr. Kimberly Miner from NASA gives us a whole new perspective for just why it's so important to harness. 

The CSRD will improve and replace the European Union's current Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD). Companies will have to publicly disclose detailed and transparent information on how sustainability issues.How can companies prepare for the Corporate Sustainability Directive (CSRD)?    This and more answered in this in-depth interview with Alain Deckers, Head of Unit, Corporate Reporting at the European Commission. He speaks with Ecochain's Hanni Larma to answer all your pressing...