Makers, host Elena Lambros sits down with John Mellowes, the chief engineer and co-founder of BioCarbon, an innovative Australian company that is turning low-value biomass streams into high-value carbon renewal products through advanced manufacturing.

In this episode, John discusses the importance of decarbonising the steel industry, which is responsible for 7-9% of the world's CO2 emissions, and shares insights into BioCarbon's groundbreaking technology that converts biomass into charcoal and then into products that can replace coal in steel-making.

Throughout, John emphasises the importance of embracing and supporting even small steps towards sustainability, warning against letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, and encourages listeners to appreciate and build upon incremental improvements in the industry.

For more insights on how innovative companies are revolutionising their way to net zero, subscribe to Ashurst ESG Matters on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

Makers, host Elena Lambros sits down with John Mellowes, the chief engineer and co-founder of <a href="https://biocarbon.com.au/">BioCarbon</a>, an innovative Australian company that is turning low-value biomass streams into high-value carbon renewal products through advanced manufacturing.
In this episode, John discusses the importance of decarbonising the steel industry, which is responsible for 7-9% of the world's CO2 emissions, and shares insights into BioCarbon's groundbreaking technology that converts biomass into charcoal and then into products that can replace coal in steel-making.
Throughout, John emphasises the importance of embracing and supporting even small steps towards sustainability, warning against letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, and encourages listeners to appreciate and build upon incremental improvements in the industry.
For more insights on how innovative companies are revolutionising their way to net zero, subscribe to Ashurst ESG Matters on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

Sustainability is an issue that affects us all, but how can we take steps to provoke meaningful change and make a lasting impact on environmental, social and governance issues across the globe? We explore the intersection of business value with business values for a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Sustainability is an issue that affects us all, but how can we take steps to provoke meaningful change and make a lasting impact on environmental, social and governance issues across the globe? We explore the intersection of business value with business values for a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Join us for our first podcast series, ESG Matters @ Ashurst as we go searching for answers and providing practical advice to help you address the challenges facing your organisation.

ESG Matters @ Ashurst Podcast

ESG Matters @ Ashurst

Delve into the groundbreaking journey of John Mellowes and BioCarbon, an inspiring Australian startup transforming low-value biomass into valuable carbon renewal products.

Game Changers and Transition Makers: How to turn biomass into green steel

“A lot of the keys to decarbonisation are really simple, cheap ones if only we could break ourselves out of our normal patterns,” says Arup’s Joan Ko in this illuminating episode of Game Changers and Transition Makers.

In conversation with Ashurst’s Elena Lambros, Joan describes how Arup works with clients to engineer more sustainable environments and communities. Joan advocates a place-based approach to decarbonisation, where local infrastructure and social networks are reimagined to create climate-positive outcomes. She also emphasises the value of leveraging existing resources, such as under-used buildings, to achieve cost effective low-carbon solutions.

Along the way, Joan and Elena zoom in and out from the private sector to the public sector and from the personal to the political to reveal smarter ways to achieve climate action.

Listen back to the complete Game Changers mini-series – featuring an array of inspiring guests – by subscribing to ESG Matters @ Ashurst on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

“A lot of the keys to decarbonisation are really simple, cheap ones if only we could break ourselves out of our normal patterns,” says <a href="https://www.arup.com/">Arup</a>’s Joan Ko in this illuminating episode of Game Changers and Transition Makers.
In conversation with Ashurst’s <a href="https://www.ashurst.com/en/people/elena-lambros/">Elena Lambros</a>, Joan describes how Arup works with clients to engineer more sustainable environments and communities. Joan advocates a place-based approach to decarbonisation, where local infrastructure and social networks are reimagined to create climate-positive outcomes. She also emphasises the value of leveraging existing resources, such as under-used buildings, to achieve cost effective low-carbon solutions.
Along the way, Joan and Elena zoom in and out from the private sector to the public sector and from the personal to the political to reveal smarter ways to achieve climate action.
Listen back to the complete <a href="https://www.ashurst.com/en/podcasts/game-changers-and-transition-makers/">Game Changers</a> mini-series – featuring an array of inspiring guests – by subscribing to ESG Matters @ Ashurst on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

When it comes to the built environment, acting on climate change is less risky and less costly than you might expect. In this episode, Joan Ko explains how to get a bigger bang for your capex buck. 

Game Changers & Transition Makers: Engineering a more sustainable world

Perhaps surprisingly, this is one of the most uplifting and positive episodes of Game Changers and Transition Makers to date. If you’re wondering how that’s possible – when talking about death, bereavement and funerals – then you probably haven’t come across our guest, Poppy Mardall.

Poppy is the inspirational founder of Poppy’s Funerals in London. Since 2012, she’s made it her mission to offer Londoners more thoughtful, sustainable options that can be tailored to individual needs. In the episode, Poppy talks candidly about the lack of regulation in the funeral sector and her vision to change the industry from within by building quality services around customers’ preferences rather than sticking with traditional, outdated norms that are often impersonal, inflexible and unnecessarily harmful for the environment.

In conversation with Ashurst’s Lorraine Johnston, Poppy explains how staff engagement propelled her business to achieve and maintain B Corp Certification. And she explains why she doesn’t describe Poppy’s Funerals as ‘green’ funeral directors: “We consider ourselves to be a modern business that is prioritising sustainability in all ways. We want our business to exist in 50 years' time, and we want the planet to be in good shape in 50 years' time. It’s much more about just being responsible and being thoughtful, rather than any ‘gimmicky’ kind of branding.”

Listen to more episodes in the Game Changers mini-series – featuring an array of thought-provoking guests – by subscribing to ESG Matters @ Ashurst on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Perhaps surprisingly, this is one of the most uplifting and positive episodes of Game Changers and Transition Makers to date. If you’re wondering how that’s possible – when talking about death, bereavement and funerals – then you probably haven’t come across our guest, <a href="https://www.poppysfunerals.co.uk/our-story/">Poppy Mardall</a>.
Poppy is the inspirational founder of <a href="https://www.poppysfunerals.co.uk/">Poppy’s Funerals</a> in London. Since 2012, she’s made it her mission to offer Londoners more thoughtful, sustainable options that can be tailored to individual needs. In the episode, Poppy talks candidly about the lack of regulation in the funeral sector and her vision to change the industry from within by building quality services around customers’ preferences rather than sticking with traditional, outdated norms that are often impersonal, inflexible and unnecessarily harmful for the environment.
In conversation with Ashurst’s <a href="https://www.ashurst.com/en/people/lorraine-johnston/">Lorraine Johnston</a>, Poppy explains how staff engagement propelled her business to achieve and maintain B Corp Certification. And she explains why she doesn’t describe Poppy’s Funerals as ‘green’ funeral directors: “We consider ourselves to be a modern business that is prioritising sustainability in all ways. We want our business to exist in 50 years' time, and we want the planet to be in good shape in 50 years' time. It’s much more about just being responsible and being thoughtful, rather than any ‘gimmicky’ kind of branding.”
Listen to more episodes in the <a href="https://www.ashurst.com/en/podcasts/game-changers-and-transition-makers/">Game Changers</a> mini-series – featuring an array of thought-provoking guests – by subscribing to ESG Matters @ Ashurst on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

After media exposés of the UK’s funeral industry revealed unethical practices and poor standards of care by some businesses, Poppy Mardall set out to change the sector from within.

Game Changers & Transition Makers: When the norm is not normal, find a better way

As Ash Knop, CEO and Co-Founder of Wilderlands, tells host Elena Lambros, the vision to create a simple yet powerful way to value and protect nature through the introduction of one of the world's first voluntary biodiversity credits, the Biological Diversity Unit (BDU) was one made to recognise the value of nature and to put a price on it.

Throughout the discussion, Ash highlights how Wilderlands collaborates with landholders, conservation organisations, and businesses to create meaningful and scalable conservation projects. These projects not only safeguard precious habitats but also integrate First Nations perspectives, ensuring a more holistic approach to environmental stewardship.

Discussing the challenges and aspirations of scaling Wilderlands' impact, and off the back of Cop 16, Ash speaks of the importance of leadership in driving the nature-positive movement, advocating for proactive business and individual engagement to preserve the planet’s biodiversity for future generations rather than waiting for policy mandates.

For more insights on how innovative companies are revolutionising their way to net-zero, subscribe to Ashurst ESG Matters on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

As Ash Knop, CEO and Co-Founder of Wilderlands, tells host Elena Lambros, the vision to create a simple yet powerful way to value and protect nature through the introduction of one of the world's first voluntary biodiversity credits, the Biological Diversity Unit (BDU) was one made to recognise the value of nature and to put a price on it.
Throughout the discussion, Ash highlights how Wilderlands collaborates with landholders, conservation organisations, and businesses to create meaningful and scalable conservation projects. These projects not only safeguard precious habitats but also integrate First Nations perspectives, ensuring a more holistic approach to environmental stewardship.
Discussing the challenges and aspirations of scaling Wilderlands' impact, and off the back of Cop 16, Ash speaks of the importance of leadership in driving the nature-positive movement, advocating for proactive business and individual engagement to preserve the planet’s biodiversity for future generations rather than waiting for policy mandates.
For more insights on how innovative companies are revolutionising their way to net-zero, subscribe to Ashurst ESG Matters on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

Find out how one of the world's first voluntary biodiversity credit systems is making biodiversity protection accessible and impactful for all.

Game Changers and Transition Makers: How to turn biomass into green steel

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