State of Sustainability

The State of Sustainability Podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability, hosted by Saif Hameed, Founder and CEO of Altruistiq.This time, Saif is joined by David Sykes. David is an independent consultant on Data Science and AI, and was formerly Global Head of Data Science, Analytics and Engineering at Octopus Energy Group, where he spent the better part of a decade building Octopus’s data and AI capabilities.His experience offers a unique perspective on how AI can unlock value across business functions - particularly in advancing sustainability and operational impact.In this episode, David and Saif discuss how AI is reshaping the sustainability landscape - from tools and teams to the mindset shifts needed to make it work. They explore where AI is already creating rapid value, which levers are harder to pull, and what sustainability professionals can do to stay ahead of the curve.As David puts it:"Stop using AI just through the chat window and start figuring out what else it can do. Workflows, tool use, MCP which is this protocol for how you connect AIs to other tools so that’s how you might go and connect to Spotify or something like that and then maybe try a vibe coding platform something like Lovable to build something and see how it works. Just push yourself and you’ll learn a lot and upskill through that."Links to content mentioned in the episode:How people are using ChatGPT (OpenAI)State of AI in Business 2025 Report (MLQ.ai)AI and the Future of Work (YouTube)Harvard Business School Working Paper 24-013To find out more about what we do at Altruistiq, visit www.altruistiq.comThis podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

"Keep in mind, we have IPCC 2019 telling us about the last decade, those words still ring in my ears loudly and clearly: we read in 2019 dear friends, you have one decade to go, if we are not managing to turn around climate change in the next decade, we're going to be shooting past 1.5 and even past two degrees."The State of Sustainability podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability with me, Saif Hameed, founder and CEO of Altruistiq.This time, I’m joined by Renat Heuberger. Renat is a Swiss climate activist, serial entrepreneur and impact investor. He co-founded myclimate and South Pole, two pioneering organisations in carbon markets, and today leads Terra Impact Ventures. Over the past two decades, his work has mobilised billions of dollars into climate projects across more than 50 countries, avoiding over a billion tonnes of CO₂. In recognition of his impact, he was named a Social Entrepreneur by the World Economic Forum’s Schwab Foundation.Renat and I explore the beginnings of the carbon market, the journey of South Pole, and his perspective on what the future holds for carbon markets.To find out more about what we do at Altruistiq, visit https://www.altruistiq.com/This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

"What we're going to see over the next probably 20 to 30 years is a profound value shift but it's not necessarily going to come where we most expect it. So Europe for example, I think is being left behind. It's doing a lot of regulation and all the rest of it but in a sense that's old order approach to the sustainability agenda."The State of Sustainability podcast is where we unpack the topics and trends of corporate sustainability with me Saif Hameed, founder and CEO of Altruistiq. This time I'm joined by John Elkington. John is a serial sustainability entrepreneur and has been an observer and collaborator of corporate sustainability since the 80s. He’s credited with coining the terms 'green growth' and 'triple bottom line' and has been called the 'dean of the corporate sustainability movement' by Business week. John and I explore the current ESG downturn, lessons learned through previous downturns and we look at how companies and countries are adapting. We also  discuss what makes a high performing sustainability professional today. To find out more about what we do at Altruistiq, visit altruistiq.comThis podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

We've spent the last few months working on improvements to the podcast, lining up a fantastic selection of guests to help us discuss a wide range of topics in the sustainability space. 

We've been hearing whispers about this trend for months, and now it's time to address it head-on: sustainability teams across major corporations are being restructured, downsized, or absorbed into other departments. In this episode, we dive into this critical shift that's affecting sustainability professionals worldwide. We cover:The dramatic shift from the sustainability hiring boom of 2-3 years ago to today's restructuring waveWhich sustainability roles are most vulnerable (hint: it's not who you might think)Where sustainability functions are being relocated within organisational structuresWhether this integration is actually good for sustainability's long-term impactPractical advice for navigating your career during this transitionWe're going on a season break and will be back with you in June.

What does “sustainable agriculture” look like from a farmer’s perspective?Saif Hameed sits down with Adam Henkel, a 7th-generation farmer and 3rd-generation conservationist from Illinois. They break down:The true meaning of sustainability on the farmBridging the farmer-corporate gapEasy wins vs real challenges in practiceHow corporations and sustainability professionals can help

In short… yes. But is that really a bad thing?In this week’s episode, we ask whether the hype around sustainability is deflating, and what that means for progress.We dive into the latest headlines:Is the UK on the brink of scaling back its climate ambitions?Are we stuck in a loop of ever-rising energy demand?What's next for sustainability-linked executive pay?PLUS: A climate tech reality check. Is climate tech entering its "trough of disillusionment"? Saif unpacks why corporate budgets are tightening, which solutions are struggling, and what climate tech founders need to hear.

This week’s headlines:Trump’s Tariff’s and the climate fall outSoaring commodity prices and what to doJust Stop Oil to disband - victory or retreat?PLUS: Our how-to segment tackles a question many of you have asked: how to run a board meeting that secures sustainability buy in.Got a question for the next ‘How-To’ segment? Join and drop us a message in the State of Sustainability Community: https://altruistiq.com/state-of-sustainability/community

What does it take to build a successful coral reef restoration program? In this episode, Saif Hameed dives into SHEBA®’s groundbreaking coral restoration program with Mars’ Chief Marine Scientist Prof. David Smith and SHEBA®’s Global VP of Marketing Mindy Barry. Points covered:Business + Science = Impact: How applying process engineering to conservation created unprecedented restoration scaleProject set up: Why success starts with understanding local needs, empowering communities, and tailoring interventions to contextMeasuring what matters: Beyond basic coral counts, why and how the team tracks ecosystem health, skills transfer, and ROI.Practical takeaways: Consumer insights, cross-team collaboration, and stakeholder alignment strategiesRead more about the SHEBA® Hope Program here: https://www.shebahopegrows.com/uk

Plastic: The Most Sustainable Packaging?In the high-stakes world of sustainable packaging, incremental change isn't enough. Join Saif Hameed and Melissa Brice, Senior Sustainability Manager at Amcor, a global leader in sustainable packaging as they unpack the complex landscape of plastic decarbonisation.Key Insights:The true carbon impact of plastic vs. other packaging materialsThe hidden trade-offs between recyclability, emissions, and functionalityWhy recycling systems struggle and how EPR can helpInnovations transforming packaging, from light-weighting to full recyclabilityHow businesses can navigate legislation and consumer expectationsListen now to rethink your approach to sustainable packaging.