Jamie Richards, Director of ESG for Bansk Beauty's portfolio including Amika, Eva NYC, and Ethique, explains how sustainability is not just a value but a core business strategy. She details how Bansk’s "Five Goods" ESG framework guides their mission, creating what she calls "extended valuation" for each brand. Jamie shares how this high-level strategy is tailored to the unique identity of each brand—from Amika's deep engagement with the professional stylist community to Eva NYC's focus on accessible sustainability for the mass-market consumer.

The heart of the conversation explores Jamie's champion story: a groundbreaking regenerative agriculture project in East Africa. Frustrated by opaque beauty supply chains, Jamie’s team invested their climate transition budget into a direct-trade shea butter source in Uganda. This initiative not only provides a transparent, high-quality ingredient but also creates a dual income stream for the local collective through a carbon insetting model, a practice that directly invests in the company's own value chain. Jamie also discusses her work with Ethique, a brand so sustainable it presents the unique challenge of finding new ways to innovate. She offers practical advice for consumers on how to spot genuinely sustainable products, from looking for robust certifications like B Corp to checking for transparency on a brand's website.

Episode in a glance

- ESG at Bansk Beauty The Five Goods
- Consumer Demand and Brand Strategy
- The Regenerative Agriculture Project in East Africa
- Measuring Impact From Carbon Sequestration to Social Value
- The B Corp Certification Journey
- Navigating Greenwashing and Empowering Consumers

About Jamie Richards

Jamie Richards is the Director of ESG at Bansk Beauty, where she leads the integration of sustainability into the company's core business strategies. With a background in environmental policy and decision-making, she brings a unique blend of scientific knowledge, consumer insights, and business acumen to her role. Jamie is a passionate advocate for creating a more sustainable and ethical beauty industry.

Connect with Jamie Richards and her work:

LinkedIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/richards-jamie/

Bansk Beauty Website → https://banskbeauty.com/

Amika → http://loveamika.com/

Eva NYC → http://evanyc.com/

Ethique → https://ethique.com/

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Jamie Richards, Director of ESG at Bansk Beauty, home to iconic brands like amika, Eva NYC, and Ethique, shares her journey from a 9-year-old with a "Save the Earth" sign above her bunk bed to a leader in corporate sustainability. Jamie shares her story of discovering her passion for environmentalism and how it led her to study environmental policy and decision-making at Ohio State University. She describes her unique path, from feeling like an outsider in a traditional environmental science program to finding her niche in understanding consumer behavior and the psychology of environmental decision-making. Jamie opens up about reconciling her love for the environment with her self-professed love for "materialistic things," a conflict that ultimately motivated her to change the system from within. Jamie talks about the challenges of navigating a less-traveled career path, the importance of paving your own way, and the value of starting in supply chain to gain a deeper understanding of the business world.

She discusses the importance of integrating sustainability into core business strategies, emphasizing the need for data-driven decision-making, lifecycle assessments, and a willingness to explore innovative solutions. She offers valuable advice for aspiring sustainability professionals, encouraging them to be open to unconventional career paths, to embrace their unique perspectives, and to never stop learning.

Episode in a glance

- Jamie’s Lifelong Passion for the Environment
- Environmental Policy and Decision Making
- From Product Purchasing to ESG
- Learning Curves and Challenges in Sustainable Beauty
- Advice for Aspiring Sustainability Professionals
- Staying Motivated in a Challenging Climate

About Jamie Richards

Jamie Richards is the Director of ESG at Bansk Beauty, where she leads the integration of sustainability into the company's core business strategies. With a background in environmental policy and decision-making, she brings a unique blend of scientific knowledge, consumer insights, and business acumen to her role. Jamie is a passionate advocate for creating a more sustainable and ethical beauty industry.

Connect with Jamie Richards and her work

LinkedIN → https://www.linkedin.com/in/richards-jamie/

Send us a message!

Nicholas Fox, is the 'Compost King' and founder of Soul and Soil, is on a mission to transform waste into a valuable resource in The Bahamas. He's building a movement from the ground up, proving that even a slow process can create profound change. Nicholas takes us into the daily life of a composter in The Bahamas, where he dodges the midday sun and turns community waste into black gold. He breaks down the science of composting with a brilliant and accessible analogy: baking a cake. By comparing greens and browns to wet and dry ingredients, he demystifies the process, making it feel achievable for anyone, regardless of their environment. He shares the core mission of Soul and Soil—to make composting accessible to all Bahamians through education and hands-on services.

Nicholas discusses the unique composting landscape in The Bahamas, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of leading this charge in an island nation. He reflects on the entrepreneurial journey, the periods of doubt, and the powerful moments of validation, like seeing a mother and daughter inspired to start their own compost pile because of his videos. He explains how he navigates a space with little government regulation by focusing on those eager for change and demonstrating the clear value of his services. Nicholas shares his vision for a more connected Caribbean community centered around sustainable practices and leaves listeners with a powerful reminder that making the planet just 1% better through small, consistent actions can lead to incredible growth.

Episode in a glance

- Composting is Like Baking a Cake
- The Mission of Soul and Soil
- The Entrepreneurial Journey and the Slow Process of Composting
- The Impact of Education and Inspiring a New Generation
- Making the Planet 1% Better The Avocado Tree Story

About Nicholas Fox

Nicholas Fox is the founder of Soul and Soil Composting and a passionate permaculture designer from The Bahamas. With a unique background that blends creative writing with a deep-rooted love for the environment, Nicholas is on a mission to tackle food waste and build a more resilient food system in the Caribbean. His work focuses on community-specific solutions, education, and restoring the vital connection between people, soil, and their food.

Connect with Nicholas Fox and his work

• Website → https://www.soulandsoilcomposting.com/
• Personal Socials:
  • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@dacompostking
  • X → https://x.com/DaCompostKing
  • Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/dacompostking/?hl=en
  • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089194027457#
• Soul and Soil Composting:
  • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/p/Soul-and-Soil-100076023579996/
  • Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/soulandsoil.composting/
• Emerging Composter Challenge: https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/EmergingComposterChallenge

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Nicholas Fox, the self-proclaimed 'Compost King' and founder of Soul and Soil Composting, is a permaculture designer and passionate advocate for turning waste into value in The Bahamas. His journey is a testament to how childhood curiosity and a deep love for one's homeland can blossom into a powerful mission for change. For Nicholas, it was a natural progression. He shares his story, from his grandmothers' self-sufficient farming out of necessity to his mother's simple request to start a backyard garden, which unearthed the critical problem of poor soil quality. This led him down a YouTube rabbit hole, where he discovered the transformative power of composting. Nicholas recounts his early efforts to combat food waste at his university and how his self-taught journey, fueled by free UN documents and a fascination with large-scale composting, shaped his vision.

Nicholas provides a unique and vital perspective on the cultural and environmental challenges in The Bahamas, discussing the legacy of colonization, the prevalence of littering, and the local perception of vital forests as mere "bush" to be cleared. He paints a vivid picture of the consequences, from devastating landfill fires to the threat of climate change on the islands' future. He shares how these realities drive his work to re-establish a connection between Bahamians and their land.

Episode in a glance

- From Legos to Boy Scouts Early Inspirations
- Connecting Food Waste, Health, and Hunger
- The Bahamian Soil
- From Local Piles to National Landfills
- Advice to a Younger Self It's Okay to Fail

About Nicholas Fox

Nicholas Fox is the founder of Soul and Soil Composting and a passionate permaculture designer from The Bahamas. With a unique background that blends creative writing with a deep-rooted love for the environment, Nicholas is on a mission to tackle food waste and build a more resilient food system in the Caribbean. His work focuses on community-specific solutions, education, and restoring the vital connection between people, soil, and their food.

Connect with Nicholas Fox and his work

• Website → https://www.soulandsoilcomposting.com/
• Personal Socials:
  • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@dacompostking
  • X → https://x.com/DaCompostKing
  • Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/dacompostking/?hl=en
  • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089194027457#
• Soul and Soil Composting:
  • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/p/Soul-and-Soil-100076023579996/
  • Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/soulandsoil.composting/
• Emerging Composter Challenge: https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/EmergingComposterChallenge

Send us a message!

Christy Cook is a seasoned sustainability consultant and entrepreneur, shares her expertise in building scalable and impactful sustainability programs. With over two decades of experience working with global giants like the United Nations, Sodexo, and Walmart, Christy discusses her approach to sustainability, emphasizing the importance of creating nimble, replicable programs that can be tailored to various situations. She shares her personal organizational strategies, highlighting how a structured approach is essential for managing multiple complex projects and maintaining focus on what truly matters. She delves into her work with Walmart and The Consumer Goods Forum, detailing a project aimed at reducing food waste through strategic consumer messaging and in-store merchandising. Christy explains how the "Save Some Dough" campaign not only increased overall bread sales but also enhanced food donation efforts, demonstrating the power of a data-driven approach to sustainability. She also recounts her experience leading the largest food waste prevention plan ever implemented, a 10-year journey with Sodexo and Leanpath that scaled from a small pilot program to a global initiative across tens of thousands of sites. Christy explains how this program utilized technology to measure and track food waste, empowering kitchen staff and driving significant cost savings. She emphasizes the importance of making a strong business case for sustainability, demonstrating how reducing waste can directly benefit a company's bottom line. Christy shares a heartwarming story about her mentees at the SEA Change accelerator program, highlighting the personal fulfillment she finds in empowering others to succeed.

Episode at a Glance

- Christy's Role in Sustainability and Building Scalable Programs
- Reducing Bread Waste at Walmart
- The Largest Food Waste Prevention Plan Ever
- The Business Case for Sustainability
- Mentoring at SEA Change
- Building Relationships and Driving Change

About Christy Cook

Christy Cook is a sustainability consultant and entrepreneur with a passion for creating a more just and sustainable food system. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked with some of the world's largest organizations to develop and implement impactful sustainability strategies. Christy's unique blend of operational expertise, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to empowering others makes her a true Green Champion.

Connect with Christy Cook and her work

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/christycook/ InvestHER Strategies → https://investherstrategies.com/ 4xi Global Consulting → https://www.4xiconsulting.com/

Send us a message!

Christy Cook is a seasoned sustainability consultant and entrepreneur. She shares her inspiring journey from a small farm in Georgia to working with global giants like the United Nations, Sodexo, and Walmart. With over two decades of experience, Christy is a leading voice in corporate sustainability, ESG, and food waste reduction.

Christy recounts how her upbringing on a farm, where her family grew and raised their own food, instilled in her a deep connection to food and a respect for resources. She shares how this foundation, combined with an unexpected opportunity at Emory University while working for Sodexo, launched her into the world of sustainability. Christy describes how she and a team of colleagues developed a groundbreaking local and sustainable sourcing program, a framework that is still being used by billion-dollar companies today.

She discusses the challenges and triumphs of her career, from navigating the complexities of a large food service company like Sodexo to launching her own consulting firm, InvestHER Strategies, which focuses on supporting women and people of color in business. Christy shares her "secret sauce" for success, emphasizing the importance of listening, understanding operational realities, and finding common ground between corporate goals and the passions of frontline employees. She shares a powerful story of how a simple conversation about food waste with kitchen staff led to unexpected and inspiring community-building initiatives. Christy also reflects on the importance of personal sustainability, the power of community, and the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-evolving field of sustainability.

Episode in a glance

- A Childhood on a Georgia Farm
- From a Degree to a Career in Sustainability
- Understanding Sodexo's Global Reach
- From Corporate Life to Entrepreneurship and Consulting
- Listening and Bridging the Gap
- Navigating a Changing World and Choosing Your Impact

About Christy Cook

Christy Cook is a sustainability consultant and entrepreneur with a passion for creating a more just and sustainable food system. With over 20 years of experience, she has worked with some of the world's largest organizations to develop and implement impactful sustainability strategies. Christy's unique blend of operational expertise, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to empowering others makes her a true Green Champion.

Connect with Christy Cook and her work

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/christycook/ InvestHER Strategies → https://investherstrategies.com/ 4xi Global Consulting → https://www.4xiconsulting.com/

Send us a message!

Bruce Bekkar is a former OB-GYN turned passionate climate advocate. Bruce recounts the "light bulb" moment that ignited his passion for climate action, a powerful article in an alumni newsletter that revealed the devastating impact of global warming on the coastlines he cherished. He discusses his transition from a successful medical practice to full-time climate advocacy, highlighting the power of health professionals as trusted messengers. He shares his research on the impacts of climate change on pregnancy, explaining how heat, air pollution, and other stressors are linked to adverse birth outcomes.

He also discusses his paper published in JAMA Network Open, which has helped to solidify pregnancy as a recognized vulnerability in the face of climate change. He also explains the work of ecoAmerica’s Climate for Health program, which provides health professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to become effective climate advocates. Bruce shares a success story from a keynote address in Australia, where a simple QR code on his final slide led to a surge of sign-ups for a local climate action group. He discusses the importance of collaboration across sectors, the need for "climate-smart" healthcare, and the power of reframing the climate crisis as an opportunity for positive change. He also previews the launch of Climate and Health Voices, a new speakers bureau that will connect leading experts with organizations and media outlets seeking to share the climate and health message.

Episode in a glance

- From OB-GYN to Climate Advocate
- The Health Impacts of Climate Change
- Climate Change and Pregnancy: A Critical Connection
- EcoAmerica's Climate for Health Program
- Climate-Smart Healthcare and Empowering Advocates

About Bruce Bekkar

Bruce Bekkar is a former OB-GYN, a passionate climate advocate, and a champion for a healthier, more sustainable future. Through his work with ecoAmerica and the Green Docs podcast, he is empowering health professionals to become leaders in the fight against climate change. Bruce's unique blend of medical expertise, communication skills, and unwavering dedication make him a powerful voice for change.

Connect with Bruce Bekkar and his work

• Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/greendocsd
• The climate crisis is not your fault, but it is your problem TED Talk → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPNr0QxhIcY
• Green Docs Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/green-docs/id1677670289

Send us a message!

Bruce Bekkar is a former OB-GYN turned climate activist who shares his remarkable journey from delivering babies to advocating for a healthier planet. Through his work with ecoAmerica and as co-host of the Green Docs podcast, he's empowering health professionals to become leaders in the climate movement. Bruce recounts his path into medicine, driven by respect for the physician who delivered him, and his early love for the coast that led to founding San Diego's first Surfrider Foundation chapter. His passion for protecting the environment evolved into a deep concern for the health impacts of climate change, particularly on maternal and infant health, as he discovered how increased heat, air pollution, and other climate-related stressors disproportionately affect pregnant women and developing babies.

After transitioning from full-time medical practice to dedicating his life to climate advocacy in 2013, Bruce leverages the power of health professionals as trusted voices in society. His unexpected journey into acting and stand-up comedy has shaped his communication style, allowing him to connect with diverse audiences while delivering serious messages. Bruce reframes the climate crisis as an immediate health crisis, comparing it to cancer that requires decisive treatment rather than mere adaptation, and emphasizes that climate action yields immediate health and economic benefits alongside long-term environmental protection. He offers practical advice for getting involved, from joining workplace green teams to attending local government meetings, promising that taking action will make people feel better and more connected to their community, transforming an overwhelming global problem into a source of personal empowerment and joy.

Episode in a Glance

- A Love for the Coast and the Surfrider Foundation
- The Climate Crisis as a Health Crisis
- The Power of a Doctor's Voice
- Engaging Busy Health Professionals
- Tailoring the Message to Different Audiences
- How to Get Involved in Climate Action

About Bruce Bekkar

Bruce Bekkar is a former OB-GYN, a passionate climate advocate, and a champion for a healthier, more sustainable future. Through his work with ecoAmerica and the Green Docs podcast, he is empowering health professionals to become leaders in the fight against climate change. Bruce's unique blend of medical expertise, communication skills, and unwavering dedication make him a powerful voice for change.

Connect with Bruce Bekkar and his work

• Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/greendocsd
• The climate crisis is not your fault, but it is your problem TED Talk → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPNr0QxhIcY
• Green Docs Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/green-docs/id1677670289

Send us a message!