E#1 | Radical collaboration for a circular economy

This first episode sets the standards for my future conversations: genuine, authentic and pragmatic.

In fact, I could not have been able to imagine a better guest for the first episode of the Circular Collaboration podcast: Aidan Mullan, Sustainability Manager at Interface.

Interface is a commercial flooring manufacturer and a global leader in sustainability. I discovered Interface 5 years ago when I had the opportunity to visit one of their factories in Sydney as part of a sustainability training. I was blown away by their leadership and level of maturity in this space. To find out more about Interface's inspiring journey, I recommend to watch Beyond Zero by independent documentary maker Nathan Harvey.

In this episode, we talk about reducing waste using bio mimetic design, collaborating with competitors, educating employees and stakeholders, closing the loop, reverse logistics, relationship building and competitiveness.

3 quotes from the episode:

1. 'Think circular and focus on the economy. It has to make good business sense, it will not work unless you collaborate with the key players in your supply chain to ensure all see a benefit.'

2. 'We can’t use the circular economy as a point of difference to gain market shares. A circular model should apply to everyone within our industry.'

3. 'The main skill is relationship building throughout the supply chain, understanding that we all depend on each other'

Thank you/merci Aidan!

If you would like to share your journey related to circularity, email me at podcast@renaissense.com.au