Meet Bernardo Carreira, founder of 8000Kicks—the brand behind the world’s first waterproof hemp sneakers.

In this episode, Joy speaks with Bernardo about the personal story behind the company, how he (with the help of his grandmother) launched an innovative hemp footwear brand, and what it takes to build a business rooted in sustainability, ethics, and performance.

8000Kicks is one of Sustainable Jungle’s Top Rated brands—recognized for its use of innovative materials like hemp, strong supply chain transparency, fair labor practices, and commitment to reducing its footprint.

Members-only bonus: In the extended bonus segment, we go behind the scenes to discuss the personal challenges of running a mission-led company, how Bernardo balances innovation with business realities (and a grueling workload), and some more killer advice for other sustainability focused entrepreneurs. Stay tuned for details on how to access this exclusive content or register your interest here: https://forms.gle/cJEE2Q1vAxW6yYpdA

Important Links

• See 8000Kicks' Rating: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/brand-ratings/8000kicks/
• Visit 8000Kicks (affiliate link): https://www.sustainablejungle.com/8000kicks-brand-rating-and-review/
• Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/newsletter
• Show notes: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/podcast/episode-76/
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pODntNv5zRY
• Find other rated brands: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/brand-directory/
• SJ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablejungle/

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• Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
• Leave us a review on your favorite platform
• Share it with someone who cares about conscious consumption

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We’re continuing our series of conversations with the founders and leaders behind the brands we’ve rated—this time with Aram Terry, the Co-founder of MasayaCo.

MasayaCo is a regenerative furniture brand rooted in reforestation, craftsmanship, and long-term impact. Top Rated through our Brand Rating System, MasayaCo is built on a vertically integrated model that largely controls its entire supply chain—from seedlings to finished furniture—ensuring both environmental and social responsibility.

In this episode, Aram shares his journey from his Peace Corps service in Nicaragua to founding MasayaCo, and how the company grew into a full ecosystem that now includes Masaya Homes and Masaya Teak, and what it really takes to build a values-led business.

We talk about: ✔ Reforestation, regenerative design, and vertical integration ✔ The realities of supply chain control and staying mission-aligned ✔ What helped MasayaCo become a Top Rated brand ✔ Why long-term thinking and transparency are so important

🎧 Members-only bonus: Aram reflects on the challenges of leading a mission-driven business, how he manages difficult trade-offs, and what he believes needs to shift in our culture of overconsumption. Stay tuned for details on how to access this exclusive content or register your interest here: https://forms.gle/cJEE2Q1vAxW6yYpdA

Important Links

• See MasayaCo's Rating: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/brand-ratings/masayaco/
• Visit MasayaCo (affiliate link): https://www.sustainablejungle.com/masayaco-brand-rating/
• Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/newsletter
• Show notes: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/podcast/episode-75/
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DQJ1jKhnlqg
• Find other rated brands: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/brand-directory/
• SJ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainablejungle/

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please:

• Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
• Leave us a review on your favorite platform
• Share it with someone who cares about conscious consumption

Your support helps us keep the conversations going 💚

We’re continuing our new chapter of the Sustainable Jungle Podcast—where we dive into the real stories behind the brands we’ve rated on their sustainability efforts.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jennifer Roberge, co-founder of The Kind Pet— the first online marketplace devoted exclusively to sustainable pet products—and co-owner of Boba & Vespa - a plastic-free, zero-waste pet toy brand made in the USA that was recently Top Rated by Sustainable Jungle. Jennifer shares how her passion for conscious consumerism and animal welfare led her to launch The Kind Pet. We explore her journey from founding the retail platform to acquiring Boba & Vespa.

We talk about:

• What makes a more sustainable pet brand
• Why circularity and end-of-life design matter
• How to build trust in an industry full of greenwashing
• The challenges—and rewards—of staying true to your mission

🎧 Members-only bonus: In our extended conversation, Jennifer opens up about the personal challenges of running a mission-driven business, tough trade-offs, and what it really takes to keep moving forward. Stay tuned for details on how to access this exclusive content or register your interest here: https://forms.gle/cJEE2Q1vAxW6yYpdA

Important Links

• See The Kind Pet Rating: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/brand-ratings/the-kind-pet/
• Visit The Kind Pet: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/the-kind-pet-brand-rating-review/
• Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/newsletter
• Show notes: https://www.sustainablejungle.com/podcast/episode-74/
• Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hwFIi3V_Jtg

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please:

• Follow or subscribe wherever you listen
• Leave us a review on your favorite platform
• Share it with someone who cares about conscious consumption

Your support helps us keep the conversations going 💚

We’re back! In this relaunch episode, we introduce the new direction for the Sustainable Jungle Podcast—one that dives into the real stories behind the brands we rate for their sustainability efforts.

Joining us is Sara Redmond-Neal, founder of Small Mighty CSR, a sustainability consultancy that helps small and medium sized businesses build practical, credible, and values-driven sustainability strategies. With nearly two decades of experience, Sara makes sustainability accessible to every business with low-cost resources and practical training.

Through Small Mighty CSR, she offers services such as sustainability strategy development, ESG maturity assessments, coaching for internal teams, and communication support to help avoid greenwashing and build trust. Sara also provides practical free resources including her Quick Start Checklist, CSR Check-up and Sustainability Strategy DIY Guide.

Sara provided valuable feedback in shaping our sustainability rating framework. We talk about Sara's career path, what she sees as critical for more sustainable brands, what businesses often get wrong, and why credible sustainability claims are more important than ever.

Sara also shares actionable advice for brands working to improve their impact and thoughts on how the industry can shift toward real change.

🎧 Members-only bonus: In our extended conversation, Sara shares some of the emotional challenges of working in sustainability—including eco-overwhelm—and shares practical strategies for staying grounded and optimistic in the face of slow progress... along with even more advice for brands and consumers. Stay tuned for guidance on how to join!

💚 Learn more about our brand ratings 📹 Watch on YouTube 🔒 Member content coming soon – stay tuned or register expression of interest here 👩‍💼 Connect with Sara ✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter 📝 Show notes

How To Support The Podcast

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please:

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• Leave us a review on your favorite platform
• Share it with someone who cares about sustainability

Your support helps us keep the conversations going 💚

Meg Carney is an outdoor and environmental writer with a passion for environmental advocacy. She primarily covers topics within the outdoor industry ranging from the best new products and greenwashing to the scientific coverups of hazardous chemicals. Her work can be found in digital publications such as Field and Stream, Popular Mechanics, and GearJunkie, and her environmental journalism extends into podcast production with her original shows, Outdoor Minimalist and Forever Chemicals.

We discuss Meg's deep connection to the natural environment, her book, The Outdoor Minimalist and her podcast by the same name but mostly we focus on her current original podcast show called Forever Chemicals which dives deep into the history and impact of PFAS and the direct actions we can take to make a difference to planet and people.

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Dr. Saleem H. Ali is currently Chair of the Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences and the Blue & Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment at the University of Delaware (USA). His career in academia, industry and as a National Geographic explorer has exposed him to a range of industries, professions and over 160 countries. Dr. Ali is a Member of the The United Nations International Resource Panel and a nonprofit board member for Adventure Scientists and Mediators Beyond Borders. He has written several books that deal with sustainability themes and his latest book Soil to Foil: Aluminum and the Quest for Industrial Sustainability delves deep into the significance of aluminum in our lives and its profound implications for our planet's health.

In this episode, we cover his educational and career highlights, we go deep on his new book which is applicable to a wide range of audiences from industry professionals to consumers. We also touch on COP28, climate change anxiety and actions we can all take to build a better future.

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Find the show notes here and the video here.

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Kate Flynn is an entrepreneur passionate about creating a more sustainable future. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Sun & Swell, a Certified Women-Owned, B-Corp based in Santa Barbara, CA with a mission to eliminate single-use plastics from the packaged food industry and build a more circular food system.

Kate earned her MBA from Harvard and holds a BA in Economics from University of California - Santa Barbara. Prior to launching Sun & Swell, she was a Management Consultant and CPA. She lives in Ojai, California with her husband and co-founder, Bryan, two small children, and labradoodle.

We cover a bunch of juicy topics including: the evolution of Sun & Swell into a mission based B-Corp, making low waste living more accessible, Kate’s personal journey, sustainability in the food industry, Kate’s advice on building a business with meaning and so much more.

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Find the show notes here and the video here.

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Daphna is the co-founder and CEO of TIPA, a global compostable packaging company providing innovative solutions for the fashion and food industries. Daphna established TIPA in 2010 and was ahead of the curve when she recognized that there was an urgent need to revolutionize packaging systems and reduce plastic pollution around the world. Daphna has received multiple awards for her work, including being named as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2019.

In this episode we cover Daphne’s journey, TIPA and their product range, the complexity and nuances of the industry, what it takes to be truly compostable and Daphne's advice for budding entrepreneurs.

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Find the show notes here and the video here.

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