In this episode, we dive deep into the world of composting and the circular economy with Tom Rohr, founder of Food Loops in northwest Arkansas. Listen in as Tom Rohr shares his journey from corporate America to sustainability entrepreneurship, reveals the challenges and rewards of tackling food waste at scale, and explains how strategic partnerships are helping to shift entire communities toward a zero-waste future.

You'll hear firsthand stories from large-scale events, learn common misconceptions about composting, and get inspired to take action—whether you’re an individual or a multinational company. If you're passionate about closing the loop on waste and building a greener future, this episode delivers actionable insights and true stories of impact.

Going Zero is proudly sponsored by Emerald Ecovations, the leader in sustainable solutions for foodservice, janitorial, packaging, and more. For more info, visit EmeraldEcovations.com.

Welcome back to the Going Zero Sustainability podcast! This week, host Seth Combs is joined by industry veteran Jim Green, whose four-decade career has helped shape the modern food service ecosystem. In this episode, Jim Green shares his journey from falling into food service in the 1980s to becoming a key coordinator for change, leading initiatives like the Agora Sustainability Leadership Team and the Optimize Ecosystem Team.

Together, they dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing operators, manufacturers, and the crucial "middleman" network that defines today’s food service landscape. Whether it’s tackling sustainability, driving innovation in supply chains, or empowering community action, you’ll hear insights and stories from the front lines — plus practical advice for anyone looking to make a difference in their workplace or their local environment.

Tune in to learn how on-premise food service operators are changing the narrative around sustainability, collaborating across industries, and proving that individual action can create sweeping impact. If you’re passionate about sustainable solutions and curious to hear from those driving real change in food service, this episode is for you!

Welcome to another episode of Going Zero, the podcast where we dive into real-world solutions to today’s toughest sustainability challenges. Our hosts, Christy Cook, Eric Passwalk, and Seth are joined by Amielle Lake, CEO of Carbonet, a company pioneering innovative chemistry to help industries recover, reuse, and waste less water—while dramatically cutting down on fossil fuel-based chemicals.

In this episode, Amielle shares her unique journey from digital marketing to sustainability entrepreneurship, and sheds light on the looming threat of global water scarcity. You’ll hear how Carbonet’s breakthrough technology is helping thousands of manufacturers, municipalities, and oil and gas operations treat wastewater more sustainably and cost-effectively—no environmental premium required.

We’ll dig into why water remains an underappreciated resource, the barriers to widespread adoption of new water tech, and the challenges of shaking up a multi-billion dollar chemical “cartel.” Plus, Amielle highlights Carbonet’s real-world impact stories, talks about safety improvements for workers, and discusses her work advancing women's representation in clean tech and investing through the Women’s Equity Lab.

Whether you’re a sustainability manager, a CEO, or just curious about how chemistry can help secure the future of our most vital resource, this episode will inspire you to rethink what’s possible—and the role every stakeholder can play in driving change.

This week, we're sitting down with Stephen O'Brien, formerly of the NY Dept of Education, to discuss driving healthy choices and sustainable solutions to a massive audience - 1.1 million students.

If you’re looking to drive real change—especially in education—Stephen O’Brien’s approach offers a playbook for creating measurable impact in even the biggest organizations. Here’s what you can learn from his experience leading sustainable food service transformation:

3 steps for successful, sustainable change:

**Step 1: Start with pilots, not mandates.**

Stephen didn’t try to overhaul everything at once—he launched small experiments like “Trayless Tuesdays” and salad bar pilots. Success with these prototypes gave him proof of concept and protected him from big, costly failures.

**Step 2: Build coalitions—especially with your end users.**

Lasting change came because he listened to students, staff, nonprofits, and policymakers, using their feedback to design solutions that actually worked for them. When students asked for better serviceware, he collaborated *with* them, not *for* them.

**Step 3: Use scale as leverage, not just as a challenge.**

Stephen pooled buying power through the Urban School Food Alliance. By aggregating demand, he negotiated better contracts for compostable plates and locally sourced food, making sustainable options affordable even in a giant system.

You may not be running the nation's largest school cafeteria, but you can always start smaller, test, scale, and invite others into the journey. Sustainable change is never solo work—and your allies may be waiting where you least expect them (including your youngest “customers”).

On the latest episode of Going Zero, hosts Christy Cook, Seth, and Eric sat down with Dominique Hadad, the founder of Green Scope Consulting. Unlike many established industry veterans, Dominique represents a powerful new generation in sustainability—young, bold, and determined to drive meaningful change from the ground up.

Dominique’s story begins with her Caribbean roots, where first-hand exposure to climate change impacts in Trinidad and Tobago created a deep awareness and resolve. In college at The Ohio State University, Dominique studied industrial engineering and soon found herself immersed in systems thinking—not just from textbooks but through real-world experience.

Some fun facts from the episode:

1. Dominique Hadad started her business right out of college, supported by winning Ohio State’s President’s Prize and a pitch competition—even though she didn’t see herself as an entrepreneur at first.
2. Dominique helped a local Columbus restaurant achieve over 90% waste diversion, making it functionally a zero-waste restaurant (and she “had to” eat their food during the process!).
3. Dominique crocheted a robot while studying engineering, earning her “engineering star”—but she was always more interested in connecting people and systems than building things.

As the conversation turns to the broader future of sustainability, Dominique observes a growing movement towards transparency and authenticity—especially among young professionals. Where once degrees in sustainability were rare, now they are proliferating, creating a richly diverse talent pool. She notes, too, that diversity must include age and difference in thinking—because innovation often comes from those who see the world differently.

Ever wondered how manufacturing efficiency tools like Lean Six Sigma can actually help save the planet? This episode of @GoingZero dives deep into this topic — and trust us, the ideas here are for ANY org trying to cut waste & boost impact.

Meet Brion Hurley, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. His mission: use process improvement for good — social & environmental.

Brion led a Six Sigma project to slash electricity use at a massive facility. By digging into utility data & piloting smart HVAC controls (with a clever override button!), they saved $200k+ AND cut emissions.

We’re back with a fresh episode, packed with real-world sustainability lessons straight from the source! This time, Christy, Seth, and Eric sit down with Brian Nash, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability at Ingredion—the Fortune 500 ingredient solutions powerhouse behind brands you know (and probably some you don’t).

Brian shares his remarkable journey from environmental health and safety into leading sustainability at Ingredion. He opens up about the company’s evolution toward embedding sustainability into its core strategy, from measuring its impact through cost control, risk mitigation, and brand enhancement, to creating real value through transparency and systems thinking.

Together, they unpack the complexities of global supply chains, the importance of transparent reporting, the realities of climate risk, and the ever-evolving landscape of sustainability education and careers. Brian even offers poignant advice for today’s business leaders and aspiring sustainability professionals on driving meaningful change—reminding us all that perfection shouldn’t stand in the way of progress.

Welcome to another episode of the Going Zero podcast, where we dive into the real-world challenges and bold solutions shaping the future of sustainability. In today’s episode, host Christy Cook is joined by Mike Wrathall, an sustainability strategist who’s helped organizations across sectors—from social housing to defense—navigate complexity and accelerate their impact on the environment.

Mike shares his journey from a childhood passion for recycling to leading sustainability and climate strategy efforts at major firms like Deloitte. We’ll uncover how agile methodologies, often associated with software development, are transforming traditional business models, enabling organizations to adapt, innovate, and make sustainability central to their mission. Mike brings us behind the scenes of organizations that have reinvented themselves, including a charity that spun out a for-profit enterprise and the Formula 1 powerhouse McLaren’s shift toward circularity.

Whether you’re running a business, working in government, or simply passionate about driving positive change, this conversation is packed with actionable insights. Mike explains why seeing sustainability as an opportunity—not just a compliance hurdle—unlocks new avenues for growth, cost savings, and resilience. Plus, he offers real steps for anyone looking to integrate agile thinking into their sustainability journey.