Join Brianne West, environmentalist and social entrepreneur, as she wanders through the world of 'sustainability'. "Now, That's What I Call Green" busts myths, ...
It’s 2025, and the drastic changes in the world might have many of you feeling a bit hopeless. I know I am - but I’m also feeling angry and ready to make some change.
This year is set to bring some big things from our end, so I wanted to give you a heads-up as well as explain why plastic packaging is truly, truly terrible - and why we should be doing much more about it.
In this episode, I share:
A quick recap of what to expect from us this year
The horrible moves Coke has made recently
The terrifying statistics about single-use plastic packaging
Some alarming plastic recycling statistics
An easy solution to reducing plastic packaging
Why I’m focusing on the drinks industry to drive change
Why Incrediballs is different from other effervescent tablets
The massive amount of plastic waste we could remove if 10% of the population shifted to plastic-free drinks options
The other actions we need to take to ensure positive environmental change this year
How history shows that social change often follows periods of extreme conservatism
The positives we can look forward to in 2025
Key Quotes:
“2025 feels different—it feels more urgent.”
“Now Coke is saying they will help ensure that 70-75% of all the packaging they’ve introduced to the market will be collected. Collected, not recycled.”
“I have naked balls sitting on my shelf.”
“If we just shifted 10% of the global drinks market to some kind of plastic-free option, we’d eliminate 50 billion plastic bottles annually.”
You can get involved with the podcast online:Find our full podcast via the website: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/now-that-s-what-i-call-podcasts
Follow me on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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19:27
Facing Climate Anxiety: Practical Tools for Hope with Dr. Susie Burke
This is a surprisingly uplifting conversation about climate change—yes, really. I spoke with psychologist Dr Susie Burke on managing climate distress (anger, sadness, anxiety) while staying hopeful, because unchecked, these feelings often lead to apathy just when we need action most.
After recent events, this episode feels especially timely. With years of experience in climate psychology, Dr. Susie offers practical insights for managing eco-anxiety and other intense emotions, reminding us that positive change is happening elsewhere and within our reach. This episode is a breath of fresh air for anyone overwhelmed by constant climate news.
In this episode, we cover:
The perception gap: why more people care about climate change than you might think
The mental health impact of climate change and why eco-anxiety is normal
Strategies to cope with climate emotions, from small practical steps to collective action
How shifting business and consumer behavior can drive more change than waiting for governments
Why we are the first generation with a real shot at creating a sustainable world
How to support children in understanding and feeling empowered about environmental issues
Key Quotes:
“Climate distress isn’t just anxiety—it’s a whole mix of emotions like guilt, anger, and sadness that are natural responses to a real crisis.”
“We have never been closer to achieving a sustainable world. For the first time, sustainability means a healthy life for all and an end to environmental destruction. We can make this happen.”
More About Dr. Susie Burke
Check out her website here
More about Hannah Ritchie
Author of Not the End of the World, check out her website and books here
More about The Conceivable Future
Written by Meghan Elizabeth Kallman and Josephine Ferorelli, their website is here
Tedx Talk: Changing the World: Why it Fails and What Works
By Winnifred Louis, watch it here
You can get involved with the podcast online:Find our full podcast via the website: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
Follow me on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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59:09
Carbon Inequality Kills: the Oxfam Report, Super-Rich, and the Climate Crisis
This is an episode that is probably going to make a lot of you angry. I know it’s making me angry right now.
A few days ago, Oxfam released their latest report called “Carbon Inequality Kills,” and we’ll be talking about that today.
This is a damning report on just how much carbon the billionaires of the world are producing and why it dwarfs any possible emissions you could be producing on your own.
In this episode I share:
The importance of personal lifestyle changes to combat climate change
The climate crisis as a collective issue, not an individual fault
How billionaires contribute disproportionately to global emissions
The luxury lifestyle items, such as private jets and superyachts, that have massive environmental impacts
Why investment emissions from the wealthy are even worse than their personal emissions
The ways that poor communities bear the brunt of climate change
How much control billionaires have over global companies
Why policy changes are necessary to regulate luxury emissions and promote transparency in investments
The power of consumer choices and how they can influence big business to change
Voting for climate-conscious leaders as crucial for systemic change
How we have more power than we think to address climate change collectively
More info
You can find the full report from Oxfam here: https://www.oxfam.org.au/2024/10/carbon-inequality-kills-report/
Key Quotes
“50 of the world’s richest billionaires emit more carbon in just 90 minutes that your average person emits over their entire lifetime.”
“If everyone began emitting at the same rate as the world’s richest 10% the world's remaining carbon budget would be depleted in 1.5 years. If we all acted like the top 1% that budget would be used up in less that 5 months.”
You can get involved with the podcast online
Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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22:03
Why the Beauty Industry Sucks: Packaging, Marketing, and Supply Chain Solutions (Part Two)
Welcome to part 2 of my mini-series on the beauty industry.
In the last episode, we discussed all the issues with the beauty industry, and I’ll be honest, it wasn’t super cheerful. So, for this episode, we're changing things up and exploring the various solutions currently available to the problems we previously mentioned.
In this episode, I share:
What circular beauty is and whether it helps reduce waste
The core problem with refillable options for beauty products
How biodegradable packaging works
The one issue that could hinder the effectiveness of biodegradable packaging
Why mono material packaging could help with waste management
Why solid beauty products are one of the best ways to solve the waste problem
How microbial fermentation could help combat the palm oil issue
The pros and cons of synthetic mica
How you can determine if a company is ethical by the availability of their supply chain information
The movement towards waterless beauty and its potential benefits
The most significant way to reduce the environmental impact of beauty products
The different types of transparency a company can offer
How to consider the life cycle of a product
Key Quotes
"Chemicals are not the enemy; you are made of chemicals… so remember that the next time someone tries to sell you something that is 'chemical-free.'"
"If you don’t see any information about a product's supply chain, that’s kind of a red flag."
"Overconsumption is the single biggest issue in the beauty industry."
You can get involved with the podcast online
Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/green
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
You can follow me on socials on the below
accounts.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more
about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
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20:29
Why the Beauty Industry Sucks: The Reality of Packaging, Marketing, and Supply Chains (Part One)
In this episode, we’re kicking off a mini-series on the beauty industry, focusing on what’s wrong with it. But don’t worry—it won’t be all doom and gloom! We’ll also be looking at solutions to these problems.
I’ve spent over a decade in this industry, and to be honest, it really kind of sucks. That’s actually where Ethique came from—a desire to tackle all the waste the beauty industry creates. So join me in this episode as we take a look behind the pretty packaging and sparkly glitter to uncover what’s really going on behind the scenes.
In this episode, I share:
The biggest problem with the beauty industry
How much money the beauty industry makes
The role packaging plays in the industry’s waste issue
What it really means when a brand says they use recycled plastic
The problem of overpackaging
How marketing has influenced the beauty industry’s waste problem
How modern marketing convinces us to buy more
The darker, less beautiful side of the beauty industry
The people problem within the supply chain of the beauty industry
Key Quotes:
“There is an enormous amount of waste driven by this idea of consumption at all costs.”
“The average person uses 12 beauty products every single day.”
“It's all built on aspirational beauty. Selling you the idea that you need this stuff to look confident.”
You can get involved with the podcast online
Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/
You can follow me on socials on the below
accounts.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwest
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/
For our latest big project, find out more
about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
Join Brianne West, environmentalist and social entrepreneur, as she wanders through the world of 'sustainability'. "Now, That's What I Call Green" busts myths, shares the science, and talks about the amazing world we live in (with lots of cute animals). Does rewilding help? But what can I do? Are electric cars better? Is it too late to do something about climate change? Why don't sharks have bones? For those curious about the environment and eager to make a difference, tune in for a non-judgmental, evidence-based approach that is all about progress over perfection.
New Zealand