RENEWables #60: Revolutionizing Self-Care: Sustainable Beauty and the Fight Against Single-Use Plastic
Season 4 kicks off with an interview with Lindsay McCoy, CEO and Co-Founder of Plaine Products. Plaine Products is natural, vegan, and cruelty-free hair and body products in reusable, returnable, refillable aluminum bottles. Founded in 2017 by Lindsey and her sister Alison, they have changed the way the world thinks about all of those plastic bottles filling up our shower! They are working to reduce waste and help stop single-use plastic with their subscription program. This episode shows us that we can still look good while doing good for the environment.
Tune in and subscribe.
Show Notes:
For more info on Plaine Products, follow them below.
Website: plaineproducts.com
Instagram
Facebook
Linked In
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RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation. Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here. |
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RENEWables #59: Empowering Social Impact Organizations to Catalyze Real World Change
Today, our social feeds are flooded with so much information, it has become increasingly challenging to cut through all the noise making it all too easy to miss valuable information. That is why creating captivating content that compels people to pause their scrolling and engage with the message is so important. In the world of social impact organizations, creating meaningful change requires more than just a noble mission. It demands strategic thinking, effective communication, and a compelling brand that captures the attention of the audience. By mastering this art, social impact leaders can effectively amplify their voices and generate the desired impact.
On this episode of RENEWables, we sat down with Eric Ressler, the visionary founder and creative director of Cosmic, a design agency focused on empowering social impact organizations to catalyze real world change by helping them nail their impact story, build brand awareness, and inspire action.
Learn more about this intersection between marketing, branding, and social impact and how it serves as a call to action for organizations to prioritize their brand strategy and digital experiences as integral components of their overall business strategy. By adapting to the attention economy, social impact organizations can elevate their message, connect with their target audience, and create positive change on a larger scale.
Tune in and subscribe.
Show Notes:
Website https://designbycosmic.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/designbycosmic
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2830454
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RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation. Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here. |
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RENEWables #58: Propane: Multifaceted Environmental Benefits of a Low-Carbon Fuel Alternative
New Podcast Episode Alert! Join us for an energetic conversation with propane industry trailblazer, Tucker Perkins, President & CEO of Energy for Everyone Propane.
With a passion for innovation and a commitment to safety, Tucker has been instrumental in transforming the propane landscape through informative safety and training programs designed for anyone that uses propane at home, in the field and on the farm. From transportation to agriculture, commercial landscaping to residential and commercial building sectors, PERC’s programs have made a remarkable impact on the low-carbon fuel market.
In addition to their safety and training programs, the non-profit also has a successful clean energy podcast called Path to Zero where they discuss topics including the clean energy continuum, “new urbanist” perspectives on clean energy, the challenge of a 2 centigrade change in the earth’s temperature poses, the science of warnings, and cities of tomorrow, just to name a few!
Join RENEWables and discover more about the multifaceted environmental benefits of propane and the advancements shaping its future as a low-carbon fuel alternative.
Tune in and subscribe.
Show Notes:
Website https://propane.com
Path to Zero Podcast – https://propane.com/environment/podcast/
Propane for Everyone Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PropaneEnergyforEveryone
PERC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PropaneCouncil
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/propane-education-&-research-council/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/cleanamericanenergy
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RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation. Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here. |
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RENEWables #57: Decarbonizing Industries: Mars Materials’ Mission to Reverse the Carbon Footprint
Join this episode of RENEWables and meet the Co-founder and CEO at Mars Materials, Aaron Fitzgerald. Aaron, a natural born problem solver, shares his inspiration for starting the public benefit corporation, the impact his team of dedicated climate solutionists is having on the world, and their vision of creating a future where the use of polluting carbon becomes more costly than adopting their sustainable technologies.
Tune in and subscribe.
Show Notes:
Website: https://www.marsmaterials.tech/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marsmaterials/
Twitter” https://twitter.com/MarsMaterials
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RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation. Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here. |
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BioStar Renewables and Castillo Engineering Partner on 15 MW Solar Project in Kansas
Partnership enables renewable diesel plant to power its operations with on-site solar energy.

BioStar Renewables and Castillo Engineering Partner on 15 MW Solar Project in Kansas
Maitland, FL, April 25, 2023 – Castillo Engineering announced today that it has partnered with BioStar Renewables, a national leader in financing, engineering, procurement, construction and asset management, to provide electrical design and engineering for a 15 MW solar project in Kansas. This behind-the-meter project utilizes a single-axis tracker and will power a recently built renewable diesel plant with on-site clean energy year-round. BioStar Renewables has engaged Castillo Engineering on three other solar projects throughout the country, making this their fourth project together. Now under construction, the project is expected to be complete in Q2 of 2023.
“We chose Castillo Engineering for this project because they have proven themselves to be an exceptional partner on the variety of projects they have supported us with in several different states,” said David Smart, Chief Commercial Officer of BioStar Renewables. “They are extremely detail oriented during each step of the design process, and we are excited to be able to work with them to provide more sustainable energy for this state-of-the-art renewable diesel plant.”
Domestic renewable diesel capacity, which can be derived from fats and oils, is expected to double by 2025, as this new plant substantially contributes to this growing trend. Given the inherent sustainable focus of the plant, it was important to the owners to power the majority of their electricity needs with solar energy and replace the facility’s prior 22 MW steam generator. In order to accomplish this, Castillo Engineering efficiently overcame the project’s key challenges, including directly interconnecting into a substation as well as site planning within a railroad loop, which required the firm to minimize rail crossings by optimizing conductor routes.
“We are honored to have been selected by BioStar Renewables for this exceptional project, which is contributing to a more sustainable future in more ways than one,” said Christopher Castillo, CEO of Castillo Engineering. “Although we have projects throughout the entire country, we are especially looking forward to providing our design, engineering and site optimization expertise for additional impactful projects in the Midwest region this year and in the years to come”
About Castillo Engineering
Founded in 1998, Castillo Engineering is a leading design and engineering firm that delivers expertise in full service solar and energy storage design, engineering, and consulting services to developers, EPC contractors and utility companies. Castillo Engineering’s services cover electrical, structural, medium and high voltage for residential and utility-scale projects ranging from 5 kW to 500 MW. The firm’s experience completing 1.5 GW of solar and energy storage projects and unmatched expertise has made it the go-to solar engineering firm for utility-scale ground mount system construction documents for the industry’s top EPCs and developers. The firm was ranked by Inc 5000 two years in a row as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., as well as the 9th fastest growing engineering firm in the nation. Castillo Engineering is based in Maitland, Florida, and is licensed in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Learn more at castillope.com.
About BioStar Renewables
BioStar Renewables is a clean energy company dedicated to playing a leading role in ensuring a lower carbon future. BioStar provides financing, turnkey engineering, procurement, construction and asset management of renewable energy assets. BioStar’s team has successfully financed and/or developed more than $200mm in transactions across the renewable electricity, renewable natural gas and organic fertilizer markets. BioStar helps its customers achieve their environmental and sustainability goals by delivering low cost renewable energy and seamless operations and maintenance services.
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RENEWables #56: From Field to Fork to Field – A Plant-Based, Zero-Waste Composting System
The food industry generates a substantial portion of not only food waste, but also packaging waste. In the United States alone, the food and beverage sector accounts for approximately 23% of all packaging waste. Plastic is the most widely used material for food packaging, representing around 40% of total plastic usage, which comes with several challenges, including environmental pollution, resource depletion, and health concerns. Therefore, there is a growing movement to reduce the use of plastic in food packaging and promote more sustainable and circular packaging solutions, such as compostable plastics, paper-based packaging, and reusable containers.
Better Earth is a Georgia-based company committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship through composting. Its main goal is to create more sustainable systems by providing 100% plant-based products and services to customers all around the world. Through the distribution of zero-waste packaging solutions, Better Earth is providing the ability to revitalize, regenerate and replenish local economies, while supporting carbon sequestering and addressing public health concerns all around. This starts in the fields where the plants are grown, to the food service establishments where the products are used, and then back to the fields where they compost the materials and start the entire process over—creating a closed loop, zero-waste system.
Join this episode of RENEWables and meet VP of Sustainability at Better Earth, Savannah Seydel to discover more about composting, plant-based packaging, and how food waste reduction and resource efficiency improvements can have significant economic, social, and environmental benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving natural resources, and improving food security.
Tune in and subscribe.
Show Notes:
Website https://becompostable.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BetterEarthCompostable
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/becompostable/
Savannah’s Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannahseydel/
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RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation. Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here. |
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RENEWables #55: Innovative Technology for Enabling Highly Efficient Carbon Capture
As most of us already know, CO2 is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change. The production processes that yield CO2 are considered highly valuable to society, but their emissions into the atmosphere have negative environmental consequences, reducing their overall value.
With the issue of climate change, reducing CO2 emissions is more important than ever. Technologies designed to mitigate these emissions, such as carbon capture, storage, and utilization, allow for the continued use of these production processes and resources, while minimizing their environmental impact. One company leading this charge is Mantel Capture, a company with a new technology that creates materials designed to operate at the high temperatures, found inside boilers, kilns, and furnaces – enabling highly efficient carbon capture that has not been possible until now.
Join this episode of RENEWables and meet Co-founder & COO of Mantel Capture, Danielle Colson to discover more about this remarkable technology and their future plans for saving the atmosphere.
Tune in and subscribe.
Show Notes:
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/company/mantelcapture/
Website https://mantelcapture.com/
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RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation. Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here. |
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RENEWables #54: A New Hydroponic Farming System Controlled by a Smartphone App
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water as the growing medium instead. These controlled environments provide the plants with all the essential nutrients they need directly through their roots. This highly sustainable technology has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to produce high yields of crops while using significantly less water than traditional soil-based agriculture.
Using a combination of sensors, software, and LED lighting to create an optimal growing environment for plants, Babylon Micro Farms is revolutionizing the hydroponics industry and forever changing the way we grow and consume food. The Virginia-based startup manufactures indoor hydroponic farming systems designed to minimize waste and maximize energy-efficiency by providing customers with everything they need to grow their own fresh produce, including the hydroponic equipment, seeds, nutrients, and software to monitor and manage the system from a smartphone app.
Join this episode of RENEWables and meet Alexander Olesen, Co-founder and CEO of Babylon Micro Farms to discover more about his remarkable team of entrepreneurs and engineers, who are committed to making fresh and healthy food easily accessible to everyone, regardless of gardening experience or available space.
Tune in and subscribe.
Show Notes:
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/company/babylon-micro-farms/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BabylonMicroFarms/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/babylonmicrofarms
Website https://babylonmicrofarms.com/
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RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation. Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here. |
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RENEWables #53: Creating Pathways Out of Poverty & Advancing a Green Economy
According to a report by the Urban Institute, about one-third of Americans have a credit score below 620, which is considered to be a subprime credit score. The same report found that low-income individuals are more likely to have subprime credit scores than those with higher incomes. In fact, about 52% of households earning less than $30,000 per year have subprime credit scores.
These statistics show that low-income communities are more likely to have subprime credit scores and other negative credit events, which can make it difficult for them to access credit and financial services. This highlights the importance of organizations like Capital Good Fund that focus on serving underserved communities and providing access to affordable loans and financial coaching.
Capital Good Fund is a non-profit financial institution that provides affordable loans and financial coaching to individuals and families who might not have access to traditional banking services. They offer a variety of loan products, including personal loans, emergency loans, and small business loans. These loans are designed to help people meet their financial needs and improve their financial stability. Capital Good Fund also offers financial coaching services to help borrowers develop good financial habits and achieve their financial goals.
Join us on this episode of RENEWables and meet the Founder and CEO of Capital Good Fund, Andy Posner, to learn more about how the organization focuses on serving low-income and underserved communities, and their work to promote financial inclusion and economic empowerment for communities in need.Tune in and subscribe.
Show Notes:
Linked In
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Email Andy Posner
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RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation. Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here. |
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RENEWables #52: Reusing Solar Panels for the Communities, Organizations & Individuals That Need Them the Most
As the world’s utilization of renewable energy increases, so does the waste that is created by manufacturing the materials needed to generate the power. Most solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years and 75 million metric tons of solar waste are projected to be landfilled by 2050. However, solar panels should not be disposed of in landfills as they contain potentially hazardous materials and other toxic substances that can leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater if not properly handled. In addition, solar panels contain valuable materials such as silicon, aluminum, copper, and silver that can be recycled and reused in new products, so it is important to properly recycle them at the end of their life cycle. Although the amount of waste generated by solar panels is relatively low, recycling programs are increasingly being developed to address this issue.
The Coldharbour Institute have taken the idea of recycling to a whole other level with their Equitable Solar Solutions (ESS) program. ESS focuses on providing affordable solar energy solutions to underserved communities, particularly low-income households and communities of color, through the acquisition of surplus solar panels from solar companies or individuals that are looking to upgrade their current solar system. While these panels are not new, they are still able to produce energy and thus still have immense value. By acquiring older panels, costs are drastically reduced, making financial feasibility far more achievable.
Join us on this episode of RENEWables and meet the Co-Founders of Equitable Solar Solutions, Rich Stromberg, CJ Gooderham and Maria Agazio, to learn more about how the 501.3C non-profit program finds and repurposes these usable solar panels and their plans for ensuring the sustainability of the solar industry while minimizing its environmental impact for the future generations.
Show Notes:
Linked In
Website: EquibableSolarSolutions.com
Email: ess@coldharbourinstitute.org
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RENEWables, A Sustainabilty Podcast is a new podcast focused on the energy landscape of today. Everything from emerging renewable energy technologies to sustainability practices to why brands are changing the way they think, RENEWables is a source for current and dynamic conversation. Be the first to hear new episodes by subscribing to our email list here. |
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