EP4 - Turning Textile Waste Into Opportunity with Jeff Vollebregt
Release Date: 11/06/2024
EP18 - Crafting Luxury with Purpose, The Deadly Ponies Story
Sustainably Ever After
In this season finale, Lilah McDonald sits down with Liam Bowden, the creative force behind New Zealand’s iconic leather accessories brand, Deadly Ponies. What began as a garage hobby in 2005 has evolved into an internationally recognised luxury label with sustainability at its core. Liam shares the brand’s two-decade journey, from scavenging scrap leather and selling one-off pieces, to becoming net carbon zero certified and committing to being the world’s most responsible handbag brand. Discover how Deadly Ponies is redefining ethical fashion through innovative design, waste reduction,...
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EP17 - Turning the Mic to Lilah McDonald
Sustainably Ever After
In this special bonus episode, we turn the tables on Sustainably Ever After host Lilah McDonald, and hear her story as a young entrepreneur, changemaker, and advocate for a more sustainable Aotearoa. At just 10 years old, Lilah founded Water Us, a purpose-led toilet paper company funding public drinking fountains across New Zealand. Now a teen, she’s already installed her first two fountains and is working toward a bold goal: 100 fountains nationwide. Lilah shares how a single moment during a childhood trip sparked her mission to reduce plastic waste and promote health in our communities....
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EP16 - Bryce Marsden on Sustainable Impact Through Education, Youth and Environment
Sustainably Ever After
In this episode of Sustainably Ever After, Lilah McDonald sits down with Bryce Marsden, Chief Executive of the Milford Foundation, to explore how long-term thinking and focused philanthropy can create real change across youth, education, and the environment in Aotearoa New Zealand. With over a decade of leadership experience at Milford Asset Management, Bryce brings a unique blend of business acumen and deep personal commitment to the Foundation’s mission. He shares what it was like to build the Milford Foundation from the ground up, why meaningful change takes generational thinking, and how...
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EP15 - Brianne West Is Back to Change the World Again
Sustainably Ever After
In this powerhouse episode, Lilah McDonald sits down with Brianne West, celebrated Founder of Ethique and now the brains behind Incrediballs, a first-of-its-kind waste-free beverage company launching in 2025. Brianne shares the unvarnished truth about start-up life, the challenges of scaling a purpose-led brand, and why building businesses that solve problems - not just make money - is the key to creating real change. From handcrafting shampoo bars in her kitchen to turning Ethique into a $100M global success that saved over 41 million plastic bottles from landfill, Brianne reflects on...
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EP14 - Redefining Fashion with Aidan Bartlett of Designer Wardrobe
Sustainably Ever After
In this episode of Sustainably Ever After, host Lilah McDonald chats with Aidan Bartlett, CEO of Designer Wardrobe – a fashion resale and rental platform that’s redefining how New Zealanders interact with clothing. From its humble beginnings as a Facebook group to a thriving online marketplace and rental service, Designer Wardrobe has become a standout player in New Zealand’s sustainable fashion movement. Aidan shares the evolution of the platform, the power of trust within a peer-to-peer community, and the conscious choices behind scaling a business with sustainability at its core. This...
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EP13 - Nick Sautner on Eden Park’s Green Game Plan
Sustainably Ever After
In this episode of Sustainably Ever After, host Lilah McDonald sits down with Nick Sautner, CEO of Eden Park, to discuss the stadium’s innovative approach to sustainability. As New Zealand’s most iconic sports venue, Eden Park is not just a stage for unforgettable sporting moments - it’s also leading the way in environmental and community-focused initiatives. Nick shares insights into how Eden Park is reducing its carbon footprint, implementing sustainable practices, and using its platform to create a lasting positive impact. From renewable energy initiatives to waste reduction...
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EP12 - Tackling food waste with Michal Garvey, Founder of Foodprint
Sustainably Ever After
In this episode of Sustainably Ever After, host Lilah McDonald speaks with Michal Garvey, Founder of Foodprint, a food rescue app helping cafes, restaurants, and supermarkets reduce food waste by selling surplus food at a discount. Michal shares her journey from witnessing food waste firsthand while working at a hotel in Colorado, to launching a star-tup that is actively fighting food waste across New Zealand. She shares the challenges of building a tech-based sustainability business, the role of food waste in climate change, and how small changes in consumer and business behaviour can have a...
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EP11 - Transforming Plastic Waste into Sustainable Building Materials with Rui Peng
Sustainably Ever After
Welcome back to Sustainably Ever After, in this episode, host Lilah McDonald speaks with Rui Peng, co-founder and Chief Executive of Critical., a clean-tech company turning plastic waste into durable construction panels called Cleanstone. Rui co-founded Critical. with the goal of building an enduring company that exists to manaaki (care for) people and land. He shares his inspiring journey from studying architecture to creating an innovative Māori-owned company that tackles plastic waste and carbon emissions in the construction industry. Key Takeaways: The shocking reality of plastic waste...
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EP10 - Rethinking Throwaway Culture with BLUNT's Greig Brebner
Sustainably Ever After
In this episode of Sustainably Ever After, host Lilah McDonald sits down with Greig Brebner, Founder of BLUNT Umbrellas, to explore the journey of rethinking one of the most mundane yet universally used products: the umbrella. From the rainy streets of London to global recognition, Greig shares his story of innovation, sustainability, and determination to challenge the world’s throwaway mentality. Key Takeaways: Greig’s rural upbringing outside Auckland shaped his creativity and passion for making better products. The breakthrough moment came when he realised small, incremental...
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EP9 - Steve Bonnici shares how Urgent Couriers is Delivering on Sustainability
Sustainably Ever After
In this bonus season-ending episode, Lilah McDonald interviews Steve Bonnici, the visionary behind Urgent Couriers, New Zealand's first carbon-neutral courier company. They dive into Steve’s journey from being a courier in the 1980s to building an innovative business committed to environmental responsibility. Key Takeaways: Steve shares his backstory, growing up on the West Coast and starting Urgent Couriers at 25. His early work as a courier inspired him to create a company focused on exceptional service. Steve speaks to the challenges of transitioning from being part of a team to leading...
info_outlineIn this episode of Sustainably Ever After, Lilah is joined by Jeff Vollebregt, Founder and Director of ImpacTex, a local company leading the way in textile recycling. Jeff shares how his company is tackling the ever-growing issue of textile waste by diverting unwanted uniforms and old clothing from landfill and turning them into valuable products, all while reducing environmental harm.
Jeff explains how ImpacTex treats waste as a resource, believing that sustainability leads to better outcomes for everyone but especially for future generations. Jeff’s passion for sustainable practices has allowed him to extend ImpacTex beyond environmental stewardship to making a meaningful social impact by improving social outcomes for local communities and educating others on sustainable business practices.
Key Takeaways:
- Textile Waste in New Zealand: Did you know that Kiwis throw out 220,000 tonnes of textiles each year? ImpacTex is addressing this issue head-on, having divertedover 300 tonnes of textile waste from landfills in just over two years.
- Jeff explains how textile waste, especially non-biodegradable materials like polyester and polycottons, contribute to greenhouse gases when they break down in landfills. Recycling these textiles not only prevents emissions but also reduces the need for new manufacturing, helping to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the production of new materials.
- ImpacTex doesn’t just recycle textiles, they up-cycle them into useful products such as acoustic panels, coasters, and road signs. These items are durable, sustainable, and can be reprocessed back into new products, closing the loop on waste.
- Jeff highlights how the company is constantly looking for ways to expand its impact, including developing new solutions for recycling challenging materials like PVC and nitrile gloves.
- Jeff also discusses how businesses can reduce textile waste by choosing recyclable materials and making smarter purchasing decisions.
Whether you’e a business looking to reduce your environmental footprint or a consumer interested in making more sustainable choices, this episode is packed with insights on how we can all contribute to a circular economy and reduce textile waste.
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A special thanks to sponsors of this podcast, OfficeMax, whose vision it is to empower sustainable and successful workplaces. Learn more about how they can help your business at www.officemax.co.nz
Get in touch:
Website - nzbusiness.co.nz/podcasts
Instagram - @sustainablyeverafterpodcast
Find out more about ImpacTex:
Website - impactex.nz
LinkedIn - @impactexNZ
Instagram - @impactex.nz