The Green Hour

by Preston Poag Jr.

Uniting Leaders for Positive Change: Concordia's Global Commitment to Sustainability with Matthew Swift, Co-Founder and CEO of Concordia

Imagine a place where world-renowned government officials, heads of state, C-suite executives, and leaders of nonprofits all come together to speak on the world's most pressing issues. It would be the event of the year! Well, I'm not talking in hypotheticals because this event is real, and it is called the Concordia Annual Summit. The Concordia Annual Summit is the largest and most inclusive nonpartisan forum alongside the UN General Assembly. Our guest on The Green Hour today is Matthew Swift, Co-founder and CEO of Concordia. Since its inception in 2011, Matthew has grown Concordia into the leading nonpartisan global affairs forum dedicated to forming cross-sector partnerships that address the greatest challenges and opportunities of our time. Hosting summits in New York City, Miami, Bogotá, Athens, Madrid, and London, Concordia actively bridges the divide between the business, government, and nonprofit communities. The speakers at the Concordia Annual Summit are distinguished. Among them are former US President George W. Bush, former US President Bill Clinton, current US President Joe Biden, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. The presidents of Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ghana, Rwanda, and Liberia have also appeared, as have business legends Warren Buffett, George Soros, and Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia. Entertainers Jennifer Lawrence, Jameela Jamil, and Chris Paul have all spoken at the summit. Let's not forget Ivanka Trump, Lara Trump, First Ladies Jill Biden, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, the Concordia Annual Summit has become the meeting ground of the world's trailblazers in sustainability. Each year, new discussions around sustainability are held with government officials, C-suite executives, and nonprofit leaders.

E14

Jun 6, 2023

58:45

Sustainable Packaging Unwrapped: Insights and Innovations with Cory Connors, Director of Sustainable Packaging for Orora Packaging Solutions

Picture the last time you received a package - can you even remember what it looked like, or were you more concerned with the contents inside? Most of us see packaging as a shell that protects our items, and we often discard packaging after we take out the contents. You would be surprised to know that packaging contributes a fair amount to global waste each year. In this episode, we are joined by Cory Connors, Director of Sustainable Packaging for Orora Packaging Solutions and Host of the Sustainable Packaging Podcast. Cory has dedicated his life to finding solutions to the global issue of packaging waste. Not only does Cory excel in his role as the Director of Sustainable Packaging, but he has also made a significant impact through his popular TikTok channel (89,000 followers and 2.5m likes) and his own podcast, "The Sustainable Packaging Podcast." With over 100 episodes and a wide range of influential guests, Cory's podcast has become a go-to resource for anyone interested in sustainability and packaging. Prepare to be enlightened as we explore the essence of sustainable packaging, the power of innovative design, and the crucial role of consumer education. Together, we will uncover the advantages of embracing sustainable packaging practices and the impact they can have on the business realm. Looking into the future, we catch a glimpse of the upcoming trends and developments that will shape the future of packaging. Join the conversation as we leave you with a powerful realization: packaging is more than just a means to protect and deliver products—it is a gateway to a sustainable future. Follow Cory on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@corygated?lang=en Follow Cory's Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sustainable-packaging/id1566653160

E13

May 25, 2023

1:14:30

Beyond Disposable Design: Unveiling the Sustainable Architecture Movement with Blake Jackson, Global Sustainability Director at NORR

It's easy to overlook the beauty and craftsmanship that architecture offers. But what if we could shift our perspective and reconnect with the spaces that surround us? In this episode, we are joined by Blake Jackson, the Global Director of Sustainability for NORR, a renowned architecture, engineering, and design firm. Blake's journey in architecture began in the rural town of Chatsworth, GA, where his passion for shaping spaces took root. Blake has cultivated an impressive career spanning over 22 years in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Currently serving as the Global Director of Sustainability for NORR, a prestigious integrated firm with over 800 professionals in architecture, interior design, planning, and engineering, Blake's expertise influences projects across 14 locations worldwide, including the US, UK, UAE, and Canada. With a focus on 12 major building sectors, Blake spearheads NORR's commitment to sustainable design and practices. Beyond his role at NORR, Blake is also dedicated to sharing his knowledge and shaping the next generation of architects as a professor. His contributions extend to various advisory boards, including the esteemed University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's Interior Design Program. Blake's passion for advocacy has led him to serve as the Vice President of Advocacy for the Boston Society of Architects from 2016 to 2018. He is also an invited lecturer at prestigious universities such as Harvard, Columbia, and Clemson. Blake's remarkable contributions have not gone unnoticed. In 2015, he was recognized as one of the "40 under 40" by the Building Design and Construction Magazine, acknowledging his outstanding achievements and impact in the industry. Furthermore, in 2021, Blake was honored as a LEED Fellow by the US Green Building Council, solidifying his expertise and leadership in sustainable architecture.

E12

May 19, 2023

1:10:41

How State Farm Arena stayed TRUE to its green goals with Sofi Armenakian, Head of Sustainability for the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena

Have you ever been to a large stadium or arena for an athletic event and wondered what happens to all of the food left under the seats? If not, look at how much food is left under the seats next time you are at a game. The amount will astonish you and make you wonder if it is a human problem or an infrastructure issue in the arena. Bin placement in arenas is very strategic, as is educational material(s) explaining where items should go. No longer does it only matter about picking up the trash, but what is more important is where that trash goes. One arena has become the prototype for managing waste and prioritizing sustainability. State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks, not only believes in environmental sustainability, it is woven into their DNA and every decision they make. Our guest on The Green Hour today is Sofi Armenakian, Head of Sustainability for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. Sofi is a trailblazer for sustainability in the sports and entertainment industries. She was the first in the NBA to hold a director-level sustainability title, and she led the arena to become the first arena in the world to achieve TRUE platinum zero waste certification. Under her leadership, State Farm Arena has become a case study for sustainability in large arenas. In 2022 alone, the arena diverted 2.5 million pounds of waste from landfills, composted 734,000 pounds of food and organic material, reused or donated 610,000 pounds of materials like food, electronics, clothing, crates, and pallets, and reduced annual waste by 160,000 pounds by eliminating paper tickets, individual condiment packets, and disposable service ware. Sofi's path to where she is today is everything but ordinary - being born in Armenia, growing up in Germany, and moving to the US without knowing any English. She overcame the language barrier and is now trilingual (Armenian, German, and English). State Farm Arena is a sustainability success story, but as you will hear, so is Sofi's life, which is the embodiment of the American Dream.

E11

May 9, 2023

1:15:01

Building SaaS platforms to bridge the gap between ESG, technology, and mining with Trevor Jones, CEO and Founder of Lynx Global Intelligence

When I say the word ‘mining,’ where does your mind go? Do you think of heavy machinery digging into the ground? Or think of specific mining like coal mining? Or maybe you think of crypto mining which an entirely different ballgame. One aspect of mining that most people are unaware of is the ESG data collection on mine sites. Mining companies have to comply with specific ESG standards, so entire teams are designated for the tracking, gathering, and reporting of ESG data. The current method of tracking and gathering this data is inefficient and non-scalable. The method involves an individual writing the findings in a field notebook, translating that data into a spreadsheet, and creating a report for senior management. Multiple steps and people involved when there should be only one person and system. Our guest on The Green Hour today solved this very problem by creating a Software-as-a-Service platform for ESG data collection in the mining industry. Trevor Jones is the CEO and founder of Lynx Global Intelligence, a company bridging the gap between ESG, technology, and mining. With Lynx’s platform, people on the mine sites can ditch the field notebooks and spreadsheets, replacing them with an intuitive software solution. Lynx’s platform provides real-time capabilities, allows forward planning and responsiveness, and brings cost and time savings. Now, instead of using multiple platforms to achieve ESG data collection and reporting, you only need one. Check out Lynx's website - https://www.lynxglobalintelligence.com/

E10

Apr 26, 2023

1:03:33

Solving the problems of nuclear using Thorium as a fuel source with John Kutsch, Executive Director of the Thorium Energy Alliance (Part 2 of 2)

In Part 1 of our series with John Kutsch, you learned about the history of nuclear, the problems of nuclear, and the public’s fear of nuclear. We looked into Plant Voggle in Georgia to understand the elements of building nuclear reactors. Lastly, we looked deeply into uranium to understand what fuels nuclear reactors today. Today, you are going to hear part 2 of this series. You will hear from John Kutsch on a very special element on the periodic table called Thorium, you will learn about the importance of rare earth elements for the nuclear industry, specifically monazite for thorium extraction, you will uncover China’s approach to thorium-based reactors and see how the nation has become a leader, you will learn what John and his team are doing at The Thorium Energy Alliance, and lastly, you will hear how policy is aiding the nuclear energy. Our guest on The Green Hour today is someone who has dedicated his life to finding cleaner and more efficient methods of energy through nuclear, specifically using Thorium. John Kutsch is the Executive Director for the Thorium Energy Alliance, a non-governmental, non-profit educational organization based in the United States, which seeks to promote energy security to the world through the use of Thorium as a fuel source.

Apr 12, 2023

1:06:03

Solving the problems of nuclear using Thorium as a fuel source with John Kutsch, Executive Director of the Thorium Energy Alliance (Part 1 of 2)

What is nuclear? Is it bombs? Is it energy? Is it the future? Growing up, the little I heard about nuclear was negative – learning about World War 2 and the atomic bombs that wiped out Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the meltdowns at nuclear plants in the US, and the constant posed threat of nuclear war by Eastern nations. Nuclear is the cleanest form of energy we have, and if we want to hit the Biden administration's target of 80% renewable energy generation by 2030, nuclear is the only answer. Nuclear is the only form of renewable energy that can scale – and why is scale important, you may ask? According to the United Nations, the world population is projected to reach 8.5 billion in 2030 and increase further to 9.7 billion in 2050. Without a cohesive approach to energy, we will suffer significantly as a world. Our guest on The Green Hour today is someone who has dedicated his life to finding cleaner and more efficient methods of energy through nuclear, specifically using Thorium. John Kutsch is the Executive Director for the Thorium Energy Alliance, a non-governmental, non-profit educational organization based in the United States, which seeks to promote energy security to the world through the use of Thorium as a fuel source. In Part 1 of this 2-part series, you will hear about the creation of the Thorium Energy Alliance, the history of nuclear, the problems of nuclear and the public's fear, and uranium to understand what fuels nuclear reactors today.

Apr 4, 2023

58:47

Building the blueprint to protect North America’s Critical Rare Earth Future with Emma Ernst, Government Affairs Director at GreenMet

What if I told you that components from your cellphone, computer, television, and electric vehicle all came from mining? As with components for X-ray and MRI machines, military weaponry, and advanced military aircraft. These components are rare earth minerals, and they are extracted from the earth through rare earth mining. Most people would not be too happy to know that most rare earth minerals in our objects come from China, which has a stronghold on the market. Our guest on The Green Hour today is Emma Ernst, Government Affairs Director at GreenMet. GreenMet accelerates the development of safe, reliable rare earth mineral supply chains. Former Green Berets founded GreenMet after they realized the overwhelming need for sustainable and secure supply chains for rare earth metals, magnets, and green steel in North America. Emma has been involved in several different forms of policy over her career. She started with educational policy with the US Department of Education, Meeting Street Schools, and Stanford’s Hoover Institution. From there, she interned in the prestigious White House Internship Program in the Office of Vice President Mike Pence. In her internship, she worked with the administration during the COVID-19 response, the 2020 election, and the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. She later served as a Special Assistant for Communication and Strategy in the Council of Economic Advisers in the White House. From there, she worked with Congressman Morgan Griffith, the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Today, Emma works for GreenMet, a company trying to build back domestic supply chains for rare earth minerals.

Mar 14, 2023

1:05:51

Moving to Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) in the Flooring Industry with Russ DeLozier, Former Director of Sustainability at Engineered Floors

Russ DeLozier knew early in his career that sustainability would play a significant role in the rest of his life. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology, majoring in chemical engineering, and found himself working at The DOW Chemical Company. From there, he began a career in sustainability, specifically in the flooring industry, leading sustainability efforts for Shaw Industries, J+J Flooring Group, and Engineered Floors. While at Shaw, Russ established the largest nationwide carpet recycling program and was directly involved in the reverse logistics of over half-billion pounds of post-consumer carpet. While at J+J Flooring Group, Russ helped lead the company to become the first in the industry to achieve 3rd party certification for Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL). Until 2020, Russ was the longest-serving Mill representative to the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) Board, where he was actively involved in the 2012 CARE MOU Negotiation process and the implementation of California’s trial Carpet EPR legislation, AB-2398. He is the past recipient of CARE’s Carpet Recycler of the Year and one of only two two-time recipients of CRI’s distinguished Joseph J. Smrekar Memorial Award, which recognizes individuals who show exemplary service to the carpet and rug industry.

Mar 7, 2023

1:19:57

Deconstruct or Demolish: Building and Unbuilding with the Environment in Mind with Brandie Townsend, Senior Consultant at Gershman, Brickner & Bratton, Inc.

Brandie Townsend grew up on a dairy farm in western New York and knew the importance of environmental sustainability from a young age. She attended the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and received a master's degree in architecture. Fueled by a desire to build and create, it led her into various industries, but all of those industries included her original passion for sustainability. Her experience includes hospitality (InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott, and Rubicon Global), government (City of Atlanta), consulting, and starting recycling and waste removal businesses. Through her studies at SCAD, she learned the basics of building, but over time she has learned about the importance of green building – constructing and deconstructing buildings with the environment in mind. The Construction and Demolition (C&D) industry has been at a crossroads in terms of unbuilding. Buildings are dismantled for a number of reasons - it could be for safety, space, rebuilding, etc. It isn't the reason for unbuilding that puts the C&D industry at a crossroads - however, it's the process of demolition versus deconstruction. Demolition takes the form of complete destruction, an example being dynamite used to implode buildings. In contrast, deconstruction looks at all of the internal elements of the building to find new uses. With the C&D industry being the most significant contributor to greenhouse gases, deconstruction becomes even more critical.

Feb 22, 2023

59:47

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