Épisodes

  • Brewing Palm Oil in a Lab: Tom Collier on the Future of Sustainable Ingredients with Levur
    Mar 3 2025
    Episode Summary

    🌿Brewing a Sustainable Future with Lab-Grown Palm Oil – Mick Liubinskas sits down with Tom Collier, CEO and co-founder of Levur, to uncover how precision fermentation is transforming the palm oil industry.

    Palm oil is found in 50% of supermarket products and 70% of cosmetics, yet its production is a major driver of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and carbon emissions. Levur is tackling this crisis by using synthetic biology to brew palm oil in a lab, eliminating the need for rainforest destruction. Tom shares his journey from molecular biology to entrepreneurship, the challenges of scaling biotech solutions, and why global regulations and corporate demand are accelerating the shift to sustainable alternatives.

    From waste-to-feedstock innovation to mass fermentation at industrial scale, this episode explores how lab-grown palm oil could reshape the future of food, cosmetics, and climate tech.

    💡 Tune in to learn why regulation, consumer pressure, and cost-efficiency are aligning to drive massive change—and why sustainable solutions must not only be greener but cheaper and better to win the market!

    ⏱️ Time Stamps

    00:00 – Introduction: Live from Macquarie University’s Synthetic Biology Lab

    00:24 – Meet Tom Collier and Levur’s mission to brew palm oil

    01:07 – The devastating impact of palm oil production

    02:05 – Why global demand for palm oil is set to quadruple by 2050

    03:12 – How microbes and precision fermentation create sustainable palm oil

    06:11 – Why palm oil is used in everything from chocolate to shampoo

    08:43 – Scaling up: From lab samples to industrial fermentation

    12:03 – Overcoming biotech manufacturing bottlenecks

    16:01 – The challenge of making sustainable products cost-competitive

    18:44 – How waste feedstocks can power a circular economy

    19:38 – Why Europe’s palm oil regulations are a game-changer for Levur

    22:08 – The $70M ton problem: Can lab-grown palm oil scale fast enough?

    24:14 – 2025 goals: Delivering first samples and proving market fit

    26:29 – The path to mass adoption and commercial success

    Resources Mentioned

    🔗Levur – Brewing sustainable palm oil with precision fermentation

    🤝Levur’s Linkedin🙋🏻‍♂️Tom’s Linkedin🌱 EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) – Banning unsustainable palm oil imports

    📊 Australian Genome Foundry – Supporting synthetic biology startups

    🔬 Macquarie University’s Synthetic Biology Lab – Cutting-edge research in bioengineering

    📖 Net Positive by Paul Polman – How businesses can lead sustainability transformations

    🌍 Ready to discover more innovative climate tech solutions? Here's what you can do:

    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode featuring amazing founders solving climate challenges! → / @climatesalad. .

    🎧 Follow The Mix on your favorite podcast platform to listen on the go → https://the-mix-fm.captivate.fm/listen📧 Visit dayone.fm/shows/the-mix/newsletter and sign up for our newsletter to have these stories delivered straight to your inbox

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    33 min
  • Scaling Sustainability: How Enaxiom is Driving Industrial Change with HydroCOOL
    Feb 9 2025
    Episode Summary

    💧Revolutionising Water & Energy Savings in Industry – Mick Liubinskas dives deep with Tia Collings, co-founder of Enaxiom, to uncover how hardware innovation is transforming industrial water and energy usage.

    Tia shares Enaxiom’s mission to reduce water and energy consumption across industries like mining, data centers, and green hydrogen production through their breakthrough technology, HydroCOOL. Discover how her journey from sustainability consulting to hardware entrepreneurship led her to co-found Enaxiom with engineer Bijan Rahimi, and why they believe building better products is key to driving climate-positive change.

    From navigating risk-averse industries like mining to tackling the rapid growth of data centers, Tia explains how Enaxiom balances commercial value with environmental impact. Plus, learn how regulations in the EU and Asia are accelerating demand for sustainable industrial solutions, and why Enaxiom is gearing up for global expansion in 2025.

    💡 Tune in to explore hardware’s crucial role in climate tech, the challenges of scaling globally, and why sustainable solutions must make financial sense to drive real impact!

    Time Stamps

    00:00 – Introduction: Meet Tia Collings from Enaxiom and their mission to save water & energy

    00:27 – What is Enaxiom? The tech behind HydroCOOL and its industrial applications

    01:46 – From Antler to entrepreneurship: How Tia and Bijan co-founded Enaxiom

    03:57 – Why hardware innovation is key to climate solutions

    06:16 – Building better products: Saving money and the planet

    08:42 – Tackling mining vs. data centers: Navigating slow vs. fast-moving industries

    12:04 – Balancing venture funding with self-sustaining sales growth

    13:10 – Data centers' growing water & energy crisis: How Enaxiom is stepping in

    16:41 – The global expansion roadmap: Piloting in Australia and scaling abroad

    18:56 – Why EU regulations and U.S. market size both matter for climate tech

    22:07 – Enaxiom’s 2025 goals: Scaling technology, closing funding, and growing the team

    23:46 – The challenges of building a hardware team in climate tech

    25:46 – The inevitable transition to net zero and what it means for businesses

    28:52 – When will climate tech become the norm? Predictions for the next decade

    32:17 – Advice for future climate tech founders: Validate fast and build better

    Resources Mentioned

    🔗Enaxiom – Learn more about HydroCOOL and their industrial solutions

    📊Gartner Report – On data center growth and sustainability challenges

    🌍EU Data Center Regulations – Mandating energy and water efficiency

    🌱Climate Salad – Supporting climate tech founders and startups globally

    🌍 Ready to discover more innovative climate tech solutions? Here's what you can do:

    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode featuring amazing founders solving climate challenges! → / @climatesalad. .

    🎧 Follow The Mix on your favorite podcast platform to listen on the go → https://the-mix-fm.captivate.fm/listen📧 Visit dayone.fm/shows/the-mix/newsletter and sign up for our newsletter to have these stories...

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    37 min
  • Fintech Meets Climate Action: Janet Salem on Scaling Carbon Transparency
    Feb 2 2025
    Episode Summary

    🌍 From UN Policy to Climate Finance Innovation – Mick Liubinskas sits down with Janet Salem, co-founder of Footprint Lab, to explore how fintech and environmental data are shaping the future of climate finance.

    Discover how Footprint Lab is embedding carbon tracking into everyday transactions, making it easier for businesses, institutions, and individuals to measure their carbon footprint. Janet shares her journey from the UN to entrepreneurship, the global shift towards mandatory ESG disclosures, and why fintech solutions are accelerating climate-positive decision-making.

    From Singapore’s ESG mandates to Vietnam’s lost exports, this episode unpacks how sustainability policies impact global markets and why nature-positive finance is the next big frontier. Plus, get a sneak peek into Footprint Lab’s 2025 roadmap to expand beyond carbon and integrate biodiversity, water, and social impact metrics.

    💡 Tune in for bold insights on fintech, climate data, and the future of sustainable spending!

    ⏱️ Time Stamps

    00:00 – Introduction: Wrapping up the year with Footprint Lab.

    00:31 – What is Footprint Lab? How fintech meets climate finance.

    02:42 – How businesses can track their carbon footprint through financial data.

    05:16 – Why Janet left the UN to build Footprint Lab.

    07:06 – The rise of mandatory ESG disclosures & why companies must act now.

    13:41 – How fintech is making sustainability mainstream.

    16:58 – Asia-Pacific’s climate momentum: Why India, Singapore, and China are leading the way.

    22:31 – Expanding beyond carbon: The future of nature-positive finance.

    32:41 – Why government procurement is key to scaling sustainable solutions.

    39:48 – The carbon footprint debate: Individual vs. corporate responsibility.

    42:49 – Challenges for sustainable startups in traditional markets.

    45:59 – Behavioural science & making sustainability an easy choice.

    📌 Resources Mentioned

    🔗Footprint Lab – footprintlab.io🌱UN Carbon Data – Used in global sustainability policy & ESG reporting.

    📊Global Growth Program – Supporting startups tackling climate challenges.

    💰Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) – EU’s carbon import regulation.

    💳Open Banking & Open Energy – Fintech innovations making carbon tracking seamless.

    🥤Refilled – Sustainable beverage vending machines disrupting traditional supply chains.

    📖Nudge Theory – The science behind making sustainable choices easy & attractive.

    🌍 Ready to discover more innovative climate tech solutions? Here's what you can do:

    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode featuring amazing founders solving climate challenges! → / @climatesalad. .

    🎧 Follow The Mix on your favorite podcast platform to listen on the go → https://the-mix-fm.captivate.fm/listen📧 Visit dayone.fm/shows/the-mix/newsletter and sign up for our newsletter to have these stories delivered straight to your inbox

    🔄 Share this episode with others who care about climate innovation!

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    50 min
  • Powering the Future of EVs: How Alchemy Charge is Making EV Charging Smarter
    Jan 26 2025
    Episode Summary

    ⚡ Dive into the world of EV charging innovation with Mick Liubinskas from Climate Salad as he chats with Yasemin, co-founder of Alchemy Charge. Discover how a “monetised PowerPoint” idea sparked a revolution in EV charging, enabling smarter and more accessible charging solutions across Australia and beyond.

    Yasemin shares the fascinating journey of launching Alchemy Charge, the challenges of scaling a climate tech startup, and the opportunities in electrifying global markets like Southeast Asia. From addressing Strata complexities to introducing game-changing solutions for two- and three-wheelers, this episode is packed with insights on entrepreneurship, climate tech, and sustainable innovation.

    🔌 Tune in for inspiring stories, lessons learned, and bold predictions for the future of EV infrastructure!

    ⏱️ Time Stamps

    00:00 – Introduction and welcome.

    00:25 – What is Alchemy Charge?

    01:08 – Levels of EV charging and why ABC—“Always Be Charging”—is the new mindset.

    02:16 – The idea behind Alchemy Charge: “Monetised PowerPoint.”

    04:12 – Yasemin’s and Merrick’s journey from remedial building to EV charging innovation.

    08:00 – Global ambitions: Expanding Alchemy Charge to Southeast Asia and beyond.

    10:22 – Challenges of scaling in Australia vs. global markets.

    13:22 – Government incentives in Indonesia: Converting petrol scooters to electric.

    15:36 – Patience in startup life: Navigating corporate processes and climate tech challenges.

    16:29 – The critical role of partnerships in scaling Alchemy Charge.

    18:14 – Big corporations and their evolving priorities for sustainability.

    21:38 – Why perfection shouldn’t be the enemy of progress in climate solutions.

    24:44 – What’s next for Alchemy Charge in 2025?

    27:35 – The tipping points driving EV adoption globally.

    33:06 – Advice for aspiring climate tech entrepreneurs: Know your “why.”

    36:19 – Reflections on the collaborative spirit of Climate Salad.

    🌍 Ready to discover more innovative climate tech solutions? Here's what you can do:

    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode featuring amazing founders solving climate challenges! → https://www.youtube.com/@climatesalad...🎧 Follow The Mix on your favorite podcast platform to listen on the go → https://the-mix-fm.captivate.fm/listen📧 Visit dayone.fm/shows/the-mix/newsletter and sign up for our newsletter to have these stories delivered straight to your inbox

    🔄 Share this episode with others who care about climate innovation!

    ---

    The Mix is part of the Day One podcast network - dedicated to founders, operators and investors building a better tomorrow.

    🌐 Website: https://dayone.fm/

    The Mix is powered by Climate Salad. Join the Australian Climate Tech Community.

    Together, we help Australian companies build innovations to solve global environmental problems.

    🌐 Website:

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    39 min
  • The Future of Ethical Shopping: Insights from Good On You’s Gordon Renouf
    Jan 19 2025

    🌱 Join Mick Liubinskas from Climate Salad as he chats with Gordon Renouf, founder of Good On You, the global platform revolutionising sustainable consumer choices by rating brands on their impact on people, the planet, and animals!

    Discover how Good On You empowers shoppers to make ethical decisions while encouraging brands to improve their sustainability practices. Gordon shares his inspiring journey from consumer advocacy to building a social impact business, discusses the challenges of fast fashion, and explores the future of sustainable production and consumption. Learn about their global partnerships, innovative tools like Good Measures, and the pivotal role of shopping malls in driving change.

    ⏱️ Timeline

    00:00 – Introduction and welcome.

    00:30 – The elevator pitch: What is Good On You?

    02:13 – How the platform works: From mobile apps to web directories.

    04:17 – Good On You’s early years and evolution as a social impact business.

    05:36 – Working with retailers and brands: Partnerships that scale impact.

    06:49 – The significance of consumer-driven choices in sustainability.

    08:17 – Addressing overconsumption and fostering durable fashion.

    12:05 – The role of regulation vs. consumer power.

    14:14 – Brands leading the way in sustainability: From Patagonia to Nudie Jeans.

    18:32 – Exploring innovative business models and circular fashion solutions.

    29:11 – Electrifying the supply chain: A lever for impactful change.

    31:55 – Good On You’s vision for 2025: Expanding into new sectors and global markets.

    38:09 – Reflections and advice for entrepreneurs entering the climate tech space.

    🌍 Ready to discover more innovative climate tech solutions? Here's what you can do:

    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode featuring amazing founders solving climate challenges! → https://www.youtube.com/@climatesalad...🎧 Follow The Mix on your favorite podcast platform to listen on the go → https://the-mix-fm.captivate.fm/listen📧 Visit dayone.fm/shows/the-mix/newsletter and sign up for our newsletter to have these stories delivered straight to your inbox

    🔄 Share this episode with others who care about climate innovation!

    ---

    The Mix is part of the Day One podcast network - dedicated to founders, operators and investors building a better tomorrow.

    🌐 Website: https://dayone.fm/

    The Mix is powered by Climate Salad. Join the Australian Climate Tech Community.

    Together, we help Australian companies build innovations to solve global environmental problems.

    🌐 Website: https://climatesalad.com/



    This podcast...
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    42 min
  • Building Big Batteries and a Climate-Positive Future: Thomas Nann on Allegro’s Energy Solutions
    Jan 12 2025

    🌏 Join Mick Liubinskas from Climate Salad as he interviews Thomas Nann, CEO of Allegro Energy, a pioneering Australian cleantech company redefining energy storage with long-duration batteries!

    Discover how Allegro Energy is tackling the challenges of renewable energy integration with innovative flow battery technology. Thomas shares his inspiring journey from academia to entrepreneurship, discusses the limitations of lithium-ion batteries, and highlights Allegro's global ambitions. Learn about their partnership with Origin Energy, Australia's leadership in cleantech, and the essential role of collaboration in building a climate-positive future.

    🎯 Key Topics:

    • The founding story of Allegro Energy

    • Why long-duration batteries are critical for renewables

    • Overcoming the limitations of lithium-ion batteries

    • Partnering with utilities like Origin Energy

    • Australia’s role as a global cleantech leader

    • Expanding globally and scaling climate solutions

    • Advice for aspiring climate entrepreneurs

    ⏱️ Timeline:

    00:24 The Story Behind Allegro Energy

    01:18 Why Long-Duration Batteries Are Key to a Renewable Future

    03:19 The Transition from Academia to Entrepreneurship

    05:08 Lithium-Ion Limitations and the Case for Flow Batteries

    07:26 Partnership with Origin Energy and Its Importance

    10:12 The Challenge of Matching Supply and Demand in Renewable Energy

    12:35 Leveraging Newcastle’s Industrial Expertise for Cleantech Innovation

    15:08 Global Opportunities for Australian Climate Tech

    17:42 Australia’s Role as a Renewable Energy Leader

    20:18 Expanding Allegro Energy’s Reach Beyond Australia

    23:14 Government Support and Cleantech R&D in Australia

    26:05 Advice for Aspiring Climate Entrepreneurs

    28:14 How Transferable Skills Are Powering Cleantech Growth

    30:48 Closing Thoughts: Collaboration and Optimism in Climate Tech

    🌍 Ready to discover more innovative climate tech solutions? Here's what you can do:

    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode featuring amazing founders solving climate challenges! → https://www.youtube.com/@climatesalad3378?sub_confirmation=1

    🎧 Follow The Mix on your favorite podcast platform to listen on the go → https://the-mix-fm.captivate.fm/listen

    📧 Visit dayone.fm/shows/the-mix/newsletter and sign up for our newsletter to have these stories delivered straight to your inbox

    🔄 Share this episode with others who care about climate innovation!

    ---

    The Mix is part of the Day One podcast network - dedicated to founders, operators and investors building a better tomorrow.

    🌐 Website: https://dayone.fm/

    The Mix is powered by Climate Salad. Join the Australian

    Climate Tech Community.

    Together, we help Australian companies build innovations to solve global environmental problems.

    🌐 Website: https://climatesalad.com/



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

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    39 min
  • Revolutionising Energy Transition: A Conversation with DNA Energy’s Co-Founder Dan Barber
    Jan 5 2025

    🌍 Join Mick Liubinskas from Climate Salad as he interviews Dan Barber, co-founder of DNA Energy, a pioneering startup driving the energy transition through cutting-edge solutions!

    Discover how DNA Energy is revolutionising energy management with innovative hardware and software that integrate renewable assets, optimise energy efficiency, and monetise demand response programs. Dan shares insights into their journey from startup challenges to scaling, the critical role of economic incentives in sustainability, and strategies for expanding globally.

    🎯 Key Topics:

    • The DNA Energy founding story

    • Overcoming challenges in energy transition

    • Economic drivers of sustainability adoption

    • Collaboration with energy retailers and utilities

    • Global market expansion strategies

    • Business model innovation in climate tech

    • Building the right team and fostering collaboration

    ⏱️ Timeline:

    00:00 Introduction to the Episode and DNA Energy’s Mission

    01:10 The Big Benefits of DNA Energy’s Solutions for Businesses

    03:05 Where We Are in the Energy Transition Journey

    05:09 Overcoming First-Mover Challenges and Gaining Traction

    07:17 Why Economic Viability Drives Sustainability Decisions

    12:08 Business Model Innovation and Scaling with Retailers

    14:45 Global Market Nuances and DNA Energy’s U.S. Expansion

    19:17 Collaboration in the Climate Tech Industry

    21:35 Building the Right Team: Hiring Gradual Growth and Systems Thinking

    26:27 Breaking into Climate Tech Without Traditional Credentials

    🌍 Ready to discover more innovative climate tech solutions? Here's what you can do:

    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode featuring amazing founders solving climate challenges! → https://www.youtube.com/@climatesalad3378?sub_confirmation=1

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    📧 Visit dayone.fm/shows/the-mix/newsletter and sign up for our newsletter to have these stories delivered straight to your inbox

    🔄 Share this episode with others who care about climate innovation!

    ---

    The Mix is part of the Day One podcast network - dedicated to founders, operators and investors building a better tomorrow.

    🌐 Website: https://dayone.fm/

    The Mix is powered by Climate Salad. Join the Australian

    Climate Tech Community.

    Together, we help Australian companies build innovations to solve global environmental problems.

    🌐 Website: https://climatesalad.com/



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
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    30 min
  • Innovating Sustainable Textile Dyes: A Conversation with Newera Bio's Co-Founder Lucie Semenec
    Dec 29 2024

    🌿 Join Mick Liubinskas from Climate Salad as he interviews Lucie Semenec, co-founder and CEO of Newera Bio, a groundbreaking startup revolutionizing textile dyes!

    Discover how Lucie transformed her academic research into an innovative business creating sustainable microbial dyes to replace harmful fossil fuel-based alternatives. Learn about their journey through UNSW Founders 10x Accelerator, partnerships with Main Sequence Ventures, and exciting plans for global impact.

    🎯 Key Topics:

    • The founding story of Newera Bio

    • Challenges and breakthroughs in sustainable dye development

    • Environmental impact of textile dyes

    • Startup accelerator experience

    • Funding and mentorship journey

    • Global expansion plans

    • Team collaboration and industry insights

    ⏱️ Timeline:

    00:00 Introduction and Greetings

    00:24 Founding Story of Newera Bio

    01:15 Challenges with Natural Dyes

    03:17 Impact of Textile Dyes on the Environment

    05:16 Experience with UNSW Accelerator

    08:32 Support from Main Sequence Ventures

    12:36 Global Growth Program and Future Plans

    33:28 Team and Collaboration

    36:11 Conclusion and Contact Information

    🌍 Ready to discover more innovative climate tech solutions? Here's what you can do:

    ▶️ SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode featuring amazing founders solving climate challenges! → https://www.youtube.com/@climatesalad3378?sub_confirmation=1

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    📧 Visit dayone.fm/shows/the-mix/newsletter and sign up for our newsletter to have these stories delivered straight to your inbox

    🔄 Share this episode with others who care about climate innovation!

    ---

    The Mix is part of the Day One podcast network - dedicated to founders, operators and investors building a better tomorrow.

    🌐 Website: https://dayone.fm/

    The Mix is powered by Climate Salad. Join the Australian

    Climate Tech Community.

    Together, we help Australian companies build innovations to solve global environmental problems.

    🌐 Website: https://climatesalad.com/



    This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

    Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp
    Spotify Ad Analytics - https://www.spotify.com/us/legal/ad-analytics-privacy-policy/
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    38 min