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The Lens – UK Responsible Business Podcast

ICELAND FOODS: Activist businesses: palm oil, plastic pollution, paddle boarding and frozen peas.

Season 2, Ep. 11

In this episode, Oli is joined by Richard Walker of Iceland Foods and Cal Major of Paddle Against Plastic. The three discuss what makes an activist business, how to raise the bar for environmental conservation, solo adventures, surfing, paddle boarding and not-to-be-missed books and documentaries. And of course, our host asks Cal Major and Richard Walker who they’d most like to meet and what might be first in their agenda, were they handed the keys to Number 10. Richard Walker also details his support of BITC initiatives, how Iceland’s stand against palm oil triggered a response from consumers and businesses across the world and his plans to continue tackling single-use plastic. 


Cal Major, Founder of Paddle Against Plastic, describes her epic journey around the Cornish coast on a stand-up paddle board to raise awareness of and inspire people to act on plastic pollution. Cal explains how businesses, consumers and government all have a role to play in environmental change and announces her new project: Vitamin Sea, a film about her work with Paddle Against Plastic and Richard Walker recommends a look at eco awareness project Backyard Nature.







The Lens Reading List 


Richard recommends Eco Barons: The Dreamers, Schemers, and Millionaires who are saving our planet, a fascinating business book by Edward Humes. Cal recommends Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do by Wallace J. Nichols. Cal also recommends The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams and Netflix Documentary, Mission Blue.


iceland.co.uk/


midcounties.coop/


paddleagainstplastic.com/


backyardnature.org/


calmajor.com/vitamin-sea


bitc.org.uk






The Lens Podcast


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Each episode brings together a business and future leader to foster disruptive conversations and fresh connections. Innovators and CEOs join Oli Barrett in the studio for a unique conversation covering their journeys, lessons learned, advice, insight and of course, the inspirational person they’d most like to meet for coffee. 


Business in the Community is The Prince's Responsible Business Network. We convene a unique network of purposeful leaders to share insight, expertise and create innovative programmes that deliver impact. Together our ambition is to make the UK the world leader at responsible business. 


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