Episode 46: VITA Group and Foodsteps
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Fresh from his time on the slopes, Dexter is back with his fellow hosts Ollie and Tom to explore how businesses are moving from measurement to real transformation across their value chains.
First, Ollie speaks with the team at The Vita Group, a global manufacturer of polyurethane foam used in everything from mattresses to car seats. Natalie Watson (Group Director of Sustainability), Georgie Taylor (Group Sustainability Manager) and Mike Murray (Global Leader in Sustainable Innovation) share how sustainability, procurement and innovation teams are working together to rethink materials, redesign products and build circular supply chains. The conversation reveals how data, supplier partnerships and bold innovation can turn environmental challenges into commercial opportunities.
Then, Tom speaks with Anya Doherty, founder and CEO of Foodsteps, about how better environmental data can transform decision-making in the food industry. From ingredient-level analysis to supplier engagement, Food Steps is helping major food companies understand the impact of what they produce – and how small changes in recipes and sourcing can deliver significant reductions.
Elsewhere on the episode, there’s chatter about:
Why data quality is becoming critical as sustainability budgets face scrutiny
The growing importance of supplier engagement and product-level insights
Debates around product footprinting and why some practitioners are pushing back on criticism of PCFs
New initiatives helping suppliers learn how to calculate product footprints
Oh, and why the popularity of the Scope 3 Podcast is on a par with niche hobbyist favourite, The Caving Podcast.
Links to references made during this episode:
