10 of the Best Sustainability Podcasts

If you’re anything like me, you love listening to podcasts. They’re a terrific way to learn and be entertained while relaxing at home, exercising, or on the daily commute. But there's a plethora of podcasts out there and it's tough to find the ones that cover topics expertly and keep you coming back for more.

Amcor’s aspiration is to be the leading global packaging company and that means winning on behalf of stakeholders including the environment, and in ways that differentiate Amcor and generate growth. So, I’m always on the look-out for podcasts from global experts that explore environmental challenges and share ground-breaking thinking and innovations. Here are 10 that I think hit the mark…

1. GLOBAL GOALSCAST

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a big deal – in 2015, 193 world leaders put signatures against this landmark in global cooperation, working towards ambitious targets on everything from climate change to education and gender equality. This podcast shines a spotlight on these development goals as we all head towards the 2030 deadline. Amcor’s own commitments to three of the SDGs (water, responsible consumption, and food) are explained in more detail here.

Available on: iTunes; Google Play; Spotify

2. THE CIRCULATE PODCAST

Circulate, run by The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, is an essential news source for anyone interested in sustainability and the circular economy, covering everything from energy and materials to food and business. The Foundation works to promote and implement circular economies. And we’re big fans of what they do – in fact, we are the core packaging partner to the Foundation's New Plastics Economy initiative (find out more in our 2018 Sustainability Review).

Available on: iTunes; Google Play; Spotify

3. THE SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA

A weekly podcast presented by researcher and writer Fergal Byrne, investigating some of the world’s biggest sustainability challenges through interviews with leaders in the field. A rich source of insight and fact-based reporting.

Available on: iTunes; Google Play; Spotify

4. THE ENERGY GANG

Headed up by the editor of Greentech Media, Stephen Lacey, The Energy Gang takes a deep dive into the world of energy, cleantech and the environment. If you want more of a business perspective, Stephen and the team also produce a second series called The Interchange.

Available on: iTunes; Google Play; Spotify

5. EDIE'S SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS COVERED PODCAST

Edie.net is a UK-based trade site for the renewables and sustainable energy professionals. As you’d expect, its regular podcast series gives you the inside-track on everything surrounding sustainability in business.

Available on: iTunes; Google Play; Spotify

6. THE SUSTAINABLE JUNGLE PODCAST

Hosted by green-living couple Lyall and Joy, this is a personal guide to living a more sustainable life and reducing your impact on the planet. You’ll hear from conservationists and environmental experts, each living proof that greener living is a viable lifestyle.

Available on: iTunes; Google Play; Spotify

7. SUSTAINABILITY DEFINED

Want to refresh or top-up your knowledge of all things sustainable? The Sustainability Defined podcast is the place to start. Each episode zeroes in on a single topic, helping you understand the role it plays in the wider sustainability landscape.

Available on: iTunes; Google Play; Spotify

8. FULLY CHARGED

Ok, so this is the odd one out on this list – it’s not a podcast, it’s a YouTube TV show. Hosted by actor and presenter Robert Llewellyn, Fully Charged’s focus is electric cars, but it also reports on a range of related green energy stories. Tune in to get the latest renewables news, from battery innovations to wind turbines and solar.

Available on: YouTube; Website

9. THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME’S FOOD FACTOR PODCAST

On any given day, the 5,000 trucks, 20 ships and 92 planes of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) bring food and other assistance to those who need it around the world. Its excellent Food Factor Podcast delivers a pragmatic and often sobering look at global hunger and development, brought to you by the aid experts at the WFP. We’re proud of our long-term partnership with the World Food Programme – you can find out more here.

__Available on: iTunes; Google Play; Spotify __

10. AMCOR’S BIG IDEAS PODCAST

We couldn’t let this round-up come to an end without mentioning our own podcast. Amcor's Big Ideas sits at the intersection of business and sustainability, and provides real-world insight from leading figures from across the world of recycling, packaging and sustainability on a fortnightly basis. It's focused on helping you get under the skin of the challenges facing businesses today – and looking at the solutions available.

Available on: iTunes; Google Play; Spotify

Remember, you heard it here first
Podcasts can help us all understand the world a little better. If you like what you hear, remember to hit the subscribe button to hear brand new episodes as they become available.

Got any unmissable podcasts you want to share? Feel free to tweet them to us @Amcorpackaging.