HappyPorch Radio: Circular Economy & Technology

Curiosity Before Technology: Building Kolekt with Thierry Sanders - Exploring Circular Tech: Technology isn't magic

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 Indonesia, and Kolekt grew directly out of two weeks spent riding around Bali on a motorbike with informal waste collectors, learning how their world actually works. What makes Kolekt's story unusual is the order of operations. Thierry didn't arrive with a product looking for a market. He started with cigarettes, lunch, and genuine curiosity, and the technology followed the problems he discovered: collectors wasting half their time searching for materials that weren't there, workers without phones or bank accounts locked out of digital systems, and facial recognition tools that didn't work for the people who needed them most. The conversation is direct about the harder edges of this work: the fossil fuel industry flooding markets with cheap virgin plastic, governments demanding surveillance data on immigrant workers, and the gap between EPR policy and what actually reaches the people doing the collecting. ✨ In this episode: * Thierry tells the origin story of Kolekt, from a pandemic soup bowl in Jakarta to 14,000+ waste collector profiles across six countries * We explore the practical technology challenges of serving users who have no phone, no bank account, and no reliable connectivity * Thierry explains how Kolekt discovered and worked around racist bias in open-source facial recognition * Barry and Thierry discuss the economics of informal waste collection and why recycled materials cost more than virgin plastic * Thierry shares his work advising South Asian governments on EPR legislation and the $100 billion opportunity it represents * We hear how Kolekt chose to lose contracts rather than hand over user data to governments targeting immigrant collectors 👤 About our guest: Thierry Sanders is the founder of Kolekt (kolekt.com), a platform that connects waste collectors, buy-back centres, and recyclers across the Global South. With a background in fintech and microfinance across developing countries including Ecuador, Pakistan, and Indonesia, Thierry built Kolekt after spending two weeks with informal waste collectors in Bali during the pandemic, learning how the waste economy works from the ground up. Kolekt now operates in Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, Mozambique, Kenya, and Ghana, with around 14,000 active waste collector profiles and close to 100,000 transactions processed. Thierry also advises governments across South Asia on Extended Producer Responsibility legislation and has developed Kolekt's EPR compliance platform for Mozambique. 🌍 About HappyPorch HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy. Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.happyporch.com [https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology. Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/ [https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/] ▶️ Listen and subscribe Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/happyporch-radio-circular-economy-technology/id1138288705], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7gptVvOvovOTSWCuSUUpsM], Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/en/show/1627642], iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-happyporch-radio-circular-28753135/], Pocket Casts [https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/8d381850-c4f8-0134-10da-25324e2a541d] — or wherever you get your podcasts.. Visit https://www.happyporchradio.comhttps://www.happyporchradio.com [https://www.happyporchradio.com] to explore more episodes. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Logic and Magic: The Human Side of Circular Transformation with Amelia Woodley and Vin Sharma - Exploring Circular Tech

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, systems, KPIs, and measurement; the magic side covers the storytelling, brand identity, training, and people-led change that make sustainability mean something inside an organisation. Her argument is that most organisations over-invest in the logic and underinvest in the magic, and that is exactly where circular transformations stall. Vin's research adds depth to this picture. Across companies at different stages of their circular journey, he found that social value tends to be bolted on rather than built in, and that the organisations making genuine progress were the ones who treated crises as learning events rather than problems to recover from. The conversation is unusually direct on the financial dimension. Both guests push back on the idea that circular solutions come with a green premium: with good data and whole-life cost thinking, the commercial case can be made. The challenge is building the analytical and organisational muscle to make it properly. ✨ In this episode: * Vin explains the social blind spot in circular economy thinking and why it is structural * Amelia introduces the logic-versus-magic framework for sustainable change * We explore the three stages of circular maturity and what moves organisations between them * Barry, Amelia, and Vin discuss the role of finance in circular business cases * We explore how technology and data need to mature together, not in sequence * Vin and Amelia share what makes them genuinely hopeful about where circularity is heading 👤 About our guests: Amelia Woodley is a sustainability leader with nearly 25 years of experience designing and embedding sustainability strategies across sectors including construction, rail, infrastructure, nuclear, and retail. She has led major circular economy and net zero transformation programmes and is a strong advocate for making circular thinking accessible and commercially credible inside organisations. Vin Sharma is a researcher whose doctoral work examined how organisations integrate social value into circular economy transitions. His research identified consistent patterns across companies at different stages of circular maturity, and proposed frameworks for understanding how reactive responses to crises can build long-term capability. 🌍 About HappyPorch HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy. Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.happyporch.com [https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology. Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/ [https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/] ▶️ Listen and subscribe Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/happyporch-radio-circular-economy-technology/id1138288705], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7gptVvOvovOTSWCuSUUpsM], Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/en/show/1627642], iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-happyporch-radio-circular-28753135/], Pocket Casts [https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/8d381850-c4f8-0134-10da-25324e2a541d] — or wherever you get your podcasts.. Visit https://www.happyporchradio.comhttps://www.happyporchradio.com [https://www.happyporchradio.com] to explore more episodes. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Circular Marketplace for Medical Equipment with Lieke van Kerkhoven - Exploring Circular Tech: Technology isn't magic

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 environment, an example of what we mean by Exploring circular tech: technology isn’t magic, where technology plays a role, but only as part of a much bigger operational and human system. They discuss the practical realities of building a circular business, from managing operations and growth to creating trust between buyers and sellers. The conversation also explores a broader idea: how businesses can move beyond treating sustainability as an add-on and instead integrate it into their core commercial model. The episode highlights Lieke’s concept of “integrative business”, the role of AI in reshaping work, and the importance of aligning incentives across the value chain. ✨ In this episode: * Lieke explains how Green Pulse started and how it works * We explore the challenges of running a circular marketplace * Lieke shares insights into the global demand for reused medical equipment * We discuss why donation is not always the best solution * Barry and Lieke explore the realities of scaling a startup * Lieke explains how AI supports operational efficiency * We discuss aligning commercial and circular incentives * We explore the gap between personal and professional values * Lieke shares her vision for the future of Green Pulse 👤 About our guest: Lieke van Kerkhoven is the co-founder of Green Pulse, a platform focused on the reuse of medical equipment. She has a background in medicine and has spent years working at the intersection of healthcare, sustainability, and the circular economy. Through Green Pulse, she is helping hospitals recover value from unused equipment while making it accessible to buyers around the world. Lieke is particularly interested in what she calls “integrative business”, bringing together commercial and sustainability thinking into a single, aligned model. Her work focuses on reducing friction, building trust, and creating systems where circularity becomes a natural outcome of doing business. 🌍 About HappyPorch HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy. Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.happyporch.com [https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology. Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/ [https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/] ▶️ Listen and subscribe Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/happyporch-radio-circular-economy-technology/id1138288705], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7gptVvOvovOTSWCuSUUpsM], Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/en/show/1627642], iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-happyporch-radio-circular-28753135/], Pocket Casts [https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/8d381850-c4f8-0134-10da-25324e2a541d] — or wherever you get your podcasts.. Visit https://www.happyporchradio.comhttps://www.happyporchradio.com [https://www.happyporchradio.com] to explore more episodes. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Connecting the Circular Economy with David Watson - Exploring Circular Tech: Technology isn't magic

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, limited awareness, and the need for better connections between organisations. The conversation explores where technology helps, and where human relationships do most of the work. The episode highlights emerging opportunities in areas such as traceability, digital product passports, and circular M&A. ✨ In this episode: * David explains how Circular Connect started and how it has evolved * We explore why the circular economy is still fragmented * David shares how networking can be made more consistent * We discuss the role of human relationships alongside technology * Barry and David explore the circular talent gap * We look at current M&A activity in the sector * David explains why traceability is becoming more important * We discuss the role of policy and commercial drivers * David shares how Circular Connect may develop further 👤 About our guest: David Watson is the founder of Circular Connect and Chief Client Officer at RL People and RL Equity. He has spent close to a decade working in the circular economy across recruitment, mergers and acquisitions, and media. Circular Connect was created to make it easier to find and understand what is happening in the circular economy. It brings together a newsletter, directory, and network to support better connections between organisations. David focuses on reducing friction in the industry and helping circular businesses grow through better visibility and collaboration. 🌍 About HappyPorch HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy. Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.happyporch.com [https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology. Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/ [https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/] ▶️ Listen and subscribe Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/happyporch-radio-circular-economy-technology/id1138288705], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7gptVvOvovOTSWCuSUUpsM], Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/en/show/1627642], iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-happyporch-radio-circular-28753135/], Pocket Casts [https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/8d381850-c4f8-0134-10da-25324e2a541d] — or wherever you get your podcasts.. Visit https://www.happyporchradio.comhttps://www.happyporchradio.com [https://www.happyporchradio.com] to explore more episodes. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Repair, Retention and Rethinking Fashion with Nancy Rhodes - Exploring Circular Tech: Technology isn't magic

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 business performance. Alternew’s approach is to make repair easy and accessible, combining AI-powered guidance with a network of local service providers. The result is a system where brands can support customers beyond the point of purchase, while also gaining valuable insights into how their products are used, worn, and sometimes fail. The conversation also explores the broader implications of this shift, from reducing returns to rethinking how products are designed in the first place. ✨ In this episode: * Nancy shares the story behind Alternew and the “invisible pitchfork” that pushed her to build it * We explore how repair can reduce returns and increase customer retention * Nancy explains why “buy smarter, wear longer” is a more useful framing than “buy better” * We discuss how care and repair can become part of the core customer experience * Barry and Nancy explore the role of technology in enabling, not replacing, human expertise * We look at how data from repairs can inform better product design * Nancy shares her vision for making care and repair aspirational and mainstream 👤 About our guest: Nancy Rhodes is CEO of Alternew, a platform embedding tailoring and repair into the fashion shopping experience. After nearly two decades as a footwear designer working with brands ranging from Costco and Target to Beyoncé, Nancy shifted her focus to sustainability, driven by a growing awareness of the waste created by the fashion industry. Alternew combines AI-powered guidance with a network of repair specialists to help brands support customers beyond the point of purchase, reducing returns, increasing retention, and extending the life of products. 🌍 About HappyPorch HappyPorch is a purpose-driven software engineering consultancy focused on the circular economy. Learn more: https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.happyporch.com [https://www.happyporch.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] 💌 Subscribe to HappyPorch Circular News HappyPorch Circular News is our monthly newsletter for people working in and around the circular economy and technology. Subscribe at: https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/ [https://www.happyporch.com/newsletter/] ▶️ Listen and subscribe Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/happyporch-radio-circular-economy-technology/id1138288705], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/7gptVvOvovOTSWCuSUUpsM], Deezer [https://www.deezer.com/en/show/1627642], iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-happyporch-radio-circular-28753135/], Pocket Casts [https://pocketcasts.com/podcasts/8d381850-c4f8-0134-10da-25324e2a541d] — or wherever you get your podcasts.. Visit https://www.happyporchradio.comhttps://www.happyporchradio.com [https://www.happyporchradio.com] to explore more episodes. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy