HappyPorch Radio: Circular Economy & Technology
The Circular Economy technology podcast that explores how technology can enable the transition to a circular economy. As we face major global issues such as climate change, waste crises, and biodiversity loss, it's clear that the traditional linear economy needs to change. We must transform how we manage resources, make and use products, and deal with materials at the end of their life. A circular economy offers part of the solution, and technology can help make it a reality. Join the podcast to hear from leading experts and digital leaders about the role of technology, software, and digital in achieving a circular transformation. Learn about the latest developments in circularity and how they can be implemented in real-world contexts. Together, we can work towards a more sustainable future. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Episodes
Technology isn't magic. But sometimes dropping your spoon in a bowl of soup during a pandemic leads you somewhere extraordinary.
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O'Kane speaks with Thierry Sanders, founder of Kolekt, a platform connecting waste collectors, buy-back centres, and recyclers across the Global South. Thierry's background spans fintech, microfinance, and living in developing countries from Ecuador to Pakistan to...
Technology isn't magic. And neither, it turns out, is circular strategy.
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O'Kane speaks with Amelia Woodley, a sustainability leader with 25 years of cross-sector experience, and Vin Sharma, a researcher whose doctoral work examined why the social dimension of circular economy so often gets left behind.
Amelia introduces her "logic versus magic" framework: the logic side covers strategy, syst...
Technology isn’t magic. And neither is circularity.
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O’Kane speaks with Lieke van Kerkhoven, co-founder of Green Pulse.
Lieke explains how Green Pulse is helping hospitals extend the life of medical equipment by connecting them with a global network of buyers. The platform combines logistics, marketplace dynamics, and technology to make reuse viable in a complex and highly regulated environme...
Technology isn’t magic. It does not fix a fragmented circular economy on its own.
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O’Kane speaks with David Watson, founder of Circular Connect.
David explains how Circular Connect developed from a newsletter into a platform that helps circular businesses become more visible and easier to connect with.
They discuss the practical challenges of scaling circularity, including fragmented markets, ...
What if repair wasn’t an afterthought, but a core part of how fashion works?
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O’Kane speaks with Nancy Rhodes, CEO of Alternew, a platform embedding tailoring and repair into the shopping experience.
Nancy shares how her experience in the fashion industry led her to rethink the role of care and repair, not just as a sustainability initiative, but as a way to improve customer relationships and...
Circular economy platforms promise simple solutions to complex problems, but what does it actually take to make them work in practice?
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O’Kane speaks with Cathy Benwell, co-founder of A Good Thing, a nonprofit platform helping businesses donate surplus items to charities in their local communities.
Cathy shares the journey of building A Good Thing from scratch, including the early challenges ...
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is rapidly expanding into the textile industry, but how will it actually work in practice, and how can brands prepare?
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, Barry O’Kane speaks with Gerrard Fisher, co-founder of WEFT, a company helping brands understand the circularity of their products and prepare for future EPR systems.
Gerrard explains how eco-modulation could link the design of products direc...
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, hosts Barry O’Kane and Jo Weston talk with Frans Biegstraaten, co-founder of BIYU, a modular rental, subscription and PAAS platform helping businesses build circular systems that scale.
BIYU started as a consumer rental service in Amsterdam, offering same-day delivery on everything from drills to electric bikes. When the business had to pivot, Frans and his team transformed their operational know...
What if attending a wedding, gala, or an important event didn’t mean buying something new, but instead allowed you to rent a designer-quality outfit?
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio we are joined by Büsra Zanner, the founder of Wearr. Wearr is a German-based startup reinventing circular fashion rental for special occasions.
Büsra shares how her tech background shaped Wearr’s customer-first approach, from prioritising flawless eve...
What if you could arrive at your ski chalet and find premium ski wear waiting for you, no suitcase, no hassle, and a lot less waste?
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, hosts Barry O’Kane and Tandi Tuakli talk with Anna Smoothy and Anders Bergenstrand, co-founders of Cirkel Supply, a Swiss startup rethinking ski holidays with circular rental.
Cirkel combines technology and circular design to make ski wear rental simple and sustainab...
What does it take to run a business that keeps millions of garments in circulation every year? And why should rental, resale, and repair be part of every fashion brand’s strategy?
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, we’re joined by Andrew Rough, CEO of Advanced Clothing Solutions (ACS), Europe’s largest provider of circular fashion fulfillment. From RFID technology to ozone cleaning, ACS combines logistics, technology, and sustaina...
What does it take to bring rental models into the world of large household appliances (white goods) and why might this be a key step in scaling the circular economy?
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, we’re joined by Valentin Lheureux, COO of HomeCycle, a French startup pioneering rental for washing machines, dryers, fridges, and other essential “white goods.”
Valentin shares his journey from working in retail to founding Home...
What have we learned so far this season about the realities of rental and product-as-a-service models, and where does technology really make the difference?
In this special mid-season reflection of HappyPorch Radio, hosts Barry O’Kane, Jo Weston and Tandi Tuakli look back at the conversations so far, drawing out the common themes, challenges and opportunities from entrepreneurs, academics and technology providers working at the fore...
How to Build Circular Commerce Infrastructure with Bob Jansen
What makes a rental or product-as-a-service (PaaS) business model work, and what role does technology really play in making that happen?
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, we’re joined by Bob Jansen, founder of Firmhouse, a recurring commerce platform enabling subscription, rental and PaaS business models. Bob shares lessons from his journey, from building MVPs as an age...
How Tech Enables Circular Innovation – with Patrick Hypscher
What does it really take to build circular business models — and how can technology accelerate that transformation?
In this episode of HappyPorch Radio, we’re joined by Patrick Hypscher, a circular business strategist, advisor, and the voice behind Circularity.fm. Patrick brings unique insights from working at the intersection of digital innovation and the circular eco...
Welcome back to HappyPorch Radio: the circular economy technology podcast!
In this episode our hosts Barry O’Kane and Tandi Tuakli are joined by Katie Hanton-Parr, the visionary founder of Baboodle - a circular rental platform specifically designed for baby equipment.
Katie’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and innovation—born out of her own experience as a parent grappling with the challenges of accessing safe, high-quality b...
Welcome back to HappyPorch Radio: the circular economy technology podcast!
In this episode our hosts Barry O’Kane and Jo Weston are joined by Yann Toutant, CEO and Co-founder of Black Winch who are the world's exclusive authority in Product-As-A-Service (PaaS) solutions.
At the beginning of the conversation Yann explains Black Winch’s work and how they engage, inspire and empower intrapreneurs to achieve their PaaS ambitions by...
Welcome back to HappyPorch Radio: the circular economy technology podcast!
In this episode our hosts Barry O’Kane and Tandi Tuakli are joined by Ryan Atkins, the co-founder and CEO of Supercycle - a circular commerce platform that enables rental and resale natively in Shopify.
Ryan explains that scaling circular business models depends on overcoming integration challenges between physical product flows (repair, refurbishment, cleanin...
Welcome back to HappyPorch Radio: the circular economy technology podcast!
Our hosts are joined by Lucy Wishart, lecturer in Circular Economy and Sustainable Transformations at the University of Edinburgh. In this episode they explore how rental models fit into academic, practical, and social aspects of circularity.
From the idea of “consumption work” (and how rental reduces it) to what makes circular systems messy by nature, this co...
Welcome back to HappyPorch Radio: the circular economy technology podcast!
In this episode, our hosts Tandi Tuakli and Barry O’Kane had a fascinating conversation with Leah Pollen, a specialist in profitability and circular strategies within the used electronics market, particularly mobile devices.
Leah shares deep insights into how the mobile phone industry's leasing and trade-in programs—especially driven by OEMs like Apple a...
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