Episode 4 Jo Godden – recycled ocean plastics

Podcast Sections

[02:22]  Jo tell us a bit about her background, and her decision to start a business so she could be ‘part of the solution’:  offering alternatives to fast fashion and poor supply chain ethics.

Responsible manufacturing and consumption

[04:37] We move on to talk about the issues in fast fashion supply chains, and how clothing manufacture is returning to Leicester in the UK.  We discuss the problems of long-distance supply chains and the difficulties of audits and inspections if your suppliers are overseas.  In the light of these challenges, RubyMoon only sources and manufactures in Europe.

Be citizens, not consumers!

[08:58] Jo talks about the mind-sets of citizens versus consumers, and how changing our mindsets means we can be responsible for what we buy, eat and what we do with our lives.

[11:50] Valuing your clothing is at the forefront of the sustainable fashion movement.  How can we change the psychology of what we buy and use?  RubyMoon’s approach is to design for durability, using certified fabric and giving great value in terms of price per wear.

[14:16] We ask whether consumer guides could help make the lifetime cost transparent, for lots of products.

Using recycled ocean plastics

[16:35] Jo talks about how she came across the issues of ghost nets and ocean plastics in the ‘noughties’, becoming (probably) the first UK company to use recycled ocean plastics for clothing.  The project, supported by volunteer divers, helps marine life as well as reducing the need for virgin synthetic materials from petrochemicals, and saving energy too.

The circular economy is the future of fashion!

[19:59] Jo is involved in Circular Brighton and Hove (part of the Circular Economy Club), and we talk about the circular fashion events she organises.

[23:43] Catherine mentions a BBC interview with Dr Patsy Perry of the University of Manchester, and Hannah Carter of the Love not Landfill UK initiative.  They encourage people to think differently about how to create a unique look using vintage and being creative, instead of just buying what the fast fashion brands try to sell to you.

[26:10] There’s no fashion on a dead planet!  We discuss how Extinction Rebellion, YouthStrike4Climate and Greta Thunberg are making sustainability cool.

The Circular ECONOMY – social enterprise and microloans

[26:59] Jo tells us about how RubyMoon invests 100 per cent of its profits in women entrepreneurs, through charity Lend with Care. The loans are repaid (no interest is charged) and lent out again to benefit more businesses.  Jo is able to follow and share the stories of the businesses, spread across 14 developing countries so far.

Jo also works with social enterprise FotoDocument which provides photography for the Rubymoon website.

The right to repair and Tech-Takeback

[29:10] Finally, we talk about Fairphone, the circular economy, repairable and upgradable phone.  Jo tells us about another of her favourite circular examples:  Tech-Takeback in Brighton, organised by Cat Fletcher with David and Judy Greenfield.