Podcast: Reflections on 30 Solutionist Spotlights
Special Episode: Reflections on 30 Solutionist Spotlights
Thirty episodes. Thirty innovators. And one growing movement toward a more sustainable way of living.
This week’s Seeing Green podcast marks a milestone — the 30th Solutionist Spotlight since we launched the podcast episode series to showcase the companies, creators and changemakers redefining what it means to live lighter on the planet. These 30 conversations collectively tell a story that’s bigger than any one brand. It’s a story of innovation, optimism and the power of informed consumer choice.
Looking Back: Five Themes That Stand Out
Across these 30 innovators, a few clear patterns have emerged — common threads that connect industries as different as food, fashion, mobility and home.
1. Vertical integration and total supply-chain control
From Avocado’s farm-to-mattress transparency to Harmless Harvest’s direct coconut sourcing, many Solutionists are proving that deeper visibility isn’t a marketing play — it’s the business model.
2. Waste as the new raw material
Upcycling has become a rallying cry for progress. Whether it’s Barnana’s banana-rescue mission or Nothing New’s footwear made from repurposed leather, waste is increasingly where innovation begins.
3. Technology removing friction for sustainable choices
Platforms like Beni and ThredUp show how smart tech can make the greener option the easier one — while Pebble’s electric RV pushes that frictionless future into new terrain altogether.
4. Holistic climate accounting and net-positive goals
Two Drifters Distillery inspired us with its internal carbon tax and commitment to carbon-negative spirits, while brands like Ruffwear and Avocado are measuring — and reducing — impact across every dimension.
5. Collaboration for systemic change
From Credo Beauty co-founding Pact to Rad Power Bikes’ partnership with Redwood Materials, collaboration keeps showing up as the secret ingredient. These Solutionists understand that collective progress beats competition.
Favorite Episodes — and Why They Stuck
To mark the milestone, our co-hosts also had an opportunity to select and share their three favorite episodes. Here’s a sneak peek (but check out the episode for more discussion):
Barnana, for turning agricultural waste into opportunity
Pebble Flow RV, for merging design and clean technology into mobile sustainability
Two Drifters Distillery, for building climate accountability into every bottle
Nothing New, for proving that sustainability and style can coexist
Credo Beauty, for setting new industry standards around transparency and packaging
Harmless Harvest, for showing that fair trade and fair treatment can power growth
Each story holds something different — purpose, creativity, courage — but together they remind us that sustainability isn’t a trend. It’s a reinvention of how business gets done.
Looking Ahead
As Seeing Green continues to evolve, from the daily Spotlights to the “Greening My…” series to the new Recipes library, this milestone is a moment to pause and celebrate what’s already happening. The solutions exist. The innovators are out there. And every time we make an informed choice, we help accelerate their success.
Here’s to the next 30 Solutionists… and to the power of informed consumer choice.