The Responsible Edge Podcast

👋 Welcome to @ResponsibleEdge — the podcast that explores what it really takes to grow ethically, lead responsibly, and communicate with transparency. 🎙 Join host Charlie Martin as he sits down with senior professionals and industry leaders to unpack the headlines and hard questions shaping ethical leadership today — from greenwash scandals to boardroom dilemmas. If you're a business leader, marketer, or changemaker looking for honest conversations and bold ideas to navigate ethical growth, this is the place for you. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: 📺 YouTube: @TheResponsibleEdgePodcast" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">youtube.com/@TheResponsibl… 🎵 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7kNqh2fm2… 🍏 Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the… 🌐 Website: theresponsibleedge.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-re… 🔔 Subscribe to The Responsible Edge and discover how to lead with integrity — without losing your edge. All episodes brought to you by @truMRK, the independent mark of integrity for sustainability reporting. Visit trumrk.com to learn more. #TheResponsibleEdge #EthicalBusiness #ResponsibleLeadership #Greenwashing #CorporateEthics #SustainableBusiness

Communicating sustainability in the built environment has become a high-stakes, complex balancing act. As we know, many are starting to step back from the conversation altogether. Why? It relies on modelling, supply chains, evolving standards and accurately forecasting future performance. And as scrutiny from regulators, investors and the public increases, organisations are being forced to rethink not just what they say, but how they say it. Our new article reflects on findings from the Australian Built Environment Communications Report, developed following a December 2025 industry roundtable. The session brought together leaders across sustainability, communications and design to unpack how organisations are navigating rising scrutiny on green claims in the region. What emerged is less of a comms challenge and more of a governance one, where three pressures have to align: • technical complexity • legal defensibility • the need to show progress The organisations in the room, including Tzannes, Karndean Designflooring ANZ, @SefianiComms, @ArchitectusMelb, ResiLoop, the Office of the @Global_Vic Architect (OVGA) and @nswdphi, are all confronting the same reality: sustainability comms are no longer just about ambition, they need clear evidence, internal alignment and the confidence to stand up to scrutiny. A huge thank you to the individuals who contributed their insight: John Pabon, Alec Tzannes, Anita P, Julia Hoy, Nigel Justins, Sophi MacMillan, Stefan Preuss and Abbie Galvin. John, the author of the full report, builds on this in his recent op-ed in @FifthEstateAU, calling for radical transparency. Not perfect claims, but honest ones that reflect the reality of progress. If trust is becoming the most valuable sustainability asset, we believe this is where it starts. What do you think? #AntiGreenwash #SustainabilityComms #BuiltEnvironment #GreenClaims #Trust #ClimateAction

Watch, listen or read the full episode here: theresponsibleedge.com/when-green-pai…

When you approve a paint spec, do you know what it’s actually made from? On The Responsible Edge Podcast, Charlie speaks with Michiel Brouns, Founder of Brouns & Co and historic building consultant, in the 150th episode of the show. Michiel’s argument is pretty straightforward: while the language around paint has evolved, with terms like water-based, low-VOC, and environmentally friendly becoming standard, the underlying materials often have not, as many products still rely on petrochemical polymers. The industry, he suggests, has focused its attention on emissions and claims rather than composition itself. In contrast, Brouns & Co produces linseed oil paints and is a signatory of @theagcharter, reflecting a commitment to more accountable sustainability communication. 💡 The article discussed Charlie and Michiel discuss guidance from the @BCFcoatings on environmental claims in paint: coatings.org.uk/page/GreenClai… 🎯 Who’s this for? Architects, specifiers, and property leaders making material decisions. #MaterialSpecification #BuiltEnvironment #HeritageConstruction #ResponsibleMarketing

At the core, the idea behind truMRK is simple. A third party transparency check for sustainability communications. A simple idea, with a potentially enormous impact. If you're interested in learning more about the vision, head to: trumrk.com/how-trumrk-wil… #truMRK

For context, this is the @ISEALalliance article referenced in the conversation: isealalliance.org/sustainability…

If a company has the certification, who is checking whether the underlying practice actually improved? On @ResponsibleEdge , Charlie speaks with Pooran Desai, Founder of @OnePlanet and creator of the One Planet Living framework, about the limits of sustainability standards. Drawing on his experience building sustainable forestry enterprises, Pooran describes how certification shifted authority from practitioners to auditors. Knowledge was replaced by documentation. Stewardship became box-ticking. His view is clear: standards should set the floor, not define leadership. 💡 The article discussed Charlie and Pooran also reflect on the @ISEALalliance article written by Vidya Rangan, How are sustainability standards driving real world change?, which presents evidence of measurable gains from certification schemes. Pooran’s counterpoint: evidence only reflects what we choose to measure. 🎯 Who’s this for? ESG leaders, procurement teams and sustainability strategists questioning whether certification is driving real system change. #ESGGovernance #SustainabilityStandards #SystemsThinking #ResponsibleBusiness

Watch, listen or read the full episode here: theresponsibleedge.com/when-certifica…

Sustainability communication today sits between accusations of greenwashing and the caution of greenhushing, all within a wider erosion of trust. @truMRK was created to change that by making evidence, clarity and context visible standards. #TransparencyMatters

For context, this is the @McKinsey article referenced in the conversation: mckinsey.com/industries/rea…

Watch, listen or read the full episode here: theresponsibleedge.com/why-only-1-of-…

If reused materials can count as zero CO₂ in Denmark, why is demolition still priced and planned for speed, not recovery? On @ResponsibleEdge, Charlie speaks with Tina Snedker Kristensen, Founder of BuildDirection and former Head of Sustainability and Communications at @Troldtekt, about what really holds circular construction back. Labour. Liability. Missing documentation. And who carries the cost of extra time on site. 💡 The article discussed Charlie and Tina also reflect on the @McKinsey piece by Daniele Chiarella, Hemant Ahlawat, Jukka Maksimainen and Sebastian Reiter, How circularity can make the built environment more sustainable, which argues circular construction could unlock $360 billion in value by 2050. The opportunity is significant. The system conditions to deliver it are still catching up. 🎯 Who’s this for? Property leaders, contractors and sustainability teams who want ESG to shape procurement decisions, design briefs and project timelines. #CircularEconomy #BuiltEnvironment #SustainableConstruction #ESG

For those interested, you can grab your own copy of The Financial Times Guide to Business Ethics here: amazon.co.uk/Financial-Time…

Last week, @pabloheplo joined us to record an upcoming episode of @ResponsibleEdge and kindly brought along a copy of his new book, The @FinancialTimes Guide to Business Ethics. What we did not expect was his generous note to Charlie: “Charlie, in appreciation of your principled leadership and in support of @truMRK and your transformative work.” When you are building something new, encouragement like that really matters. We have spoken to many founders who say support at the right moment can be the fuel that keeps you going. It is also great to see Pablo receiving strong backing for the book, with endorsements from leaders including Charles Conn, Dame Sally Dicketts DBE, @RonanDunne, @AllisonQTaylor, @SeanWilliamsTw1, @MarkMalcomson, Sarah Gillard, Michael Davis, Katherine (Kate) Marshall, @HaydenTaylorUK, Laura J. Spence FAcSS, Guido Palazzo and @pgwalkersmith. We feel fortunate to be part of a growing community of people who care about doing business the right way. Stay tuned for the episode. We will be exploring the key themes from the book very soon.

Sustainability progress in the built environment is often framed around innovation. New materials. Better performance. Lower carbon. But the pace of progress also depends on something simpler. Clear, honest communication. @BacktoEarthLTD, @EBnaturalpaint and Brouns & Co are among @theagcharter signatories leading the way. Across different parts of the building materials sector, they have aligned with the Charter and strengthened standards around transparency, accountability, fairness and honesty. In practice, that means reviewing language. Formalising Green Claims Policies. Backing statements with credible evidence. Being ready to explain claims in their full context. They are doing this to demonstrate professional integrity and build long term trust with customers, specifiers and partners. If you manufacture or supply materials in the built environment, the responsibility is shared. We encourage you to read the article and consider how your own claims stand up to scrutiny. Higher collective standards will support more credible sustainability progress across the sector. #AntiGreenwash #BuiltEnvironment #GreenClaims #SustainabilityComms #Trust #ClimateAction

Watch, listen or read the full episode here: theresponsibleedge.com/why-compostabl…

Are compostables fixing waste, or just protecting the single use model? In Episode #147 of The Responsible Edge Podcast, Charlie sits down with Clare Brass, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Moree - reusable food packaging, to challenge the reassurance economy around packaging. Clare, a self described product design engineer and waste hater, argues that swapping plastic for compostable film keeps the same linear flow intact. “Very often if you switch one material for another material, you’re just putting the problem somewhere else.” Drawing on her experience at the @designcouncil and founding SustainRCA at the @RCA, she makes the case that the issue is not just material choice. It is volume and throughput. At Moree, the response is practical. Reusable packaging for coffee roasteries. Engineered vessels. Tracking software. Clear cost savings over time. The decision point is simple. Change the material, or change the model? #CircularEconomy #ResponsibleBusiness #Reuse

Watch, listen or read the full episode here: theresponsibleedge.com/boards-say-the…

How confident is your board that the business would stay standing after a cyber attack? In Episode #146 of @ResponsibleEdge , Charlie speaks with @JosephHubback, Advisory Partner and CISO at @TheELIXIRR, about a statistic that deserves closer attention. Joseph reviewed research across roughly 1,000 companies. Ninety four percent of boards said they felt comfortable with their security posture. At the same time, attacks are no longer rare events. Ransomware halts operations. Data breaches expose customers. Supply chains stall. As Joseph said in conversation with Charlie, when an attack happens the CISO will do all they can, but it is the CEO and executives who will be in the spotlight. Joseph’s perspective is shaped by a career that spans ICI plc, @McKinsey, ISTARI, @sygnia_labs, and now @TheELIXIRR. Across those roles, one theme is consistent. Cyber security is not primarily a technical issue. It is a governance question. He described working with leadership teams to map value streams. Which digital systems enable revenue. Which processes protect liquidity. Which interruptions would damage trust. That exercise shifts the conversation. Security moves from compliance to continuity. Joseph also referenced the response to the #NotPetya attack on @DLA_Piper. Clients and competitors provided operational support. Recovery depended on relationships and practical cooperation, not just policies on paper. The leadership lesson is clear. Controls and certifications may provide comfort. Resilience comes from agreeing in advance what matters most and who is responsible when disruption occurs. That same discipline applies beyond cyber. In our work building @truMRK, the focus is similarly on defining the asset at risk and testing whether governance stands up before scrutiny arrives. Preparation is quiet. Exposure is public. If systems failed tomorrow, would your leadership team be aligned on what must be protected first? Listen to the full episode on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. #CyberSecurity #Governance #Leadership #RiskManagement #Resilience #Trust #truMRK

Having had the chance to reflect on our January event, The Future of Responsible Communication, and catch up with many of those who attended (thank you), we’ve been really encouraged by the feedback. A number of people mentioned the energy in the room and a real appetite to keep the conversation going around trust, transparency, and responsibility in communications. As a result, we’re already starting to plan our next session for later in 2026, which we’re aiming to shape around the key concerns facing sustainability, marketing, and communications teams. We’d really appreciate any input. The more voices involved, the better these discussions become. Also a thank you to those who helped make the last session such a strong conversation, including Alastair McCapra (@CIPR_Global), Saul Humphrey 🌍 (@theCIOB), Lara Sharrock (@EmperorTalks) and our own team. Looking forward to continuing the discussion. #ResponsibleCommunication #TrustInBusiness #Transparency #BusinessEthics #MarketingCommunications

Watch, listen or read the full episode here: theresponsibleedge.com/when-behaviour…

If a piece of work reduces harm, does it matter who pays for it? That question is central to this episode of The Responsible Edge Podcast, hosted by Charlie, with Becky Holland, founder and CEO of BH&P. Becky was clear. Ethics cannot be judged by sector alone. They have to be judged by outcomes. She described how BH&P interrogates briefs before accepting them. Not what the work claims to do, but what it actually enables. Is the client able to change? Will they act differently? Or is this reputation management? Some work looks uncomfortable from the outside. Staying inside flawed systems can be criticised. Walking away can feel cleaner. But it can also leave harm untouched. In your work, how do you decide when walking away is responsible, and when staying involved might matter more? This episode was brought to you by @truMRK, the mark of trusted communications. Visit trumrk.com to learn more. #EthicalConsulting #BehaviourChange #ResponsibleBusiness #SustainabilityInPractice #PurposeAndProfit #SystemsChange #AgencyLife #Leadership #TheResponsibleEdge