NatWest have teamed up with Spotify and Vayner Media to present the UK’s first completely carbon neutral podcast series, which launches today. Green Business Builders, hosted by Paralympian and broadcaster Ade Adepitan, gives listeners on all major platforms the opportunity to hear from climate champions from across the UK business community, in turn helping individuals and businesses make meaningful and long-term changes to their impact on the environment.

As a principal banking sponsor for the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in November, NatWest also aims to use the new four-part series to demystify sustainable business practices, encouraging the UK’s 5 million strong business community to become Net Zero.

Businesses from across the UK landscape will share their story and challenges in each 25 minute episode, ranging from disruptive and distinctive UK entrepreneurs such as Green Tomato Cars, Beeswax Wrap Company and Too Good To Go; to large multinationals aiming to transform their operations for the better, such as BT, advertising giant WPP, and Coutts, who were recently appointed a B-Corp business.

Together, NatWest and the Swedish-born streaming platform Spotify have ensured that the series is entirely carbon neutral, offsetting carbon emissions generated by the production and streaming of the podcast. It’s believed that this is the first production of its kind in the UK, and will offset 480 tonnes of CO2 output. The initiative forms part of Spotify Advertising’s sustainable audio offering ‘Sustainable Sonics’ - utilising carbon offsets to zero-out the environmental impact of a brand’s audio advertising on Spotify. NatWest and Spotify will be working with Forest Carbon to support reforestation projects across the UK.

Solange Chamberlain, COO, Commercial Banking and Executive Climate Sponsor, NatWest Group said:

“We are very excited to be launching this new series and are thrilled that such an inspiring variety of business leaders took the time to speak to Ade about their experiences in this undoubtedly challenging space. Becoming a more climate responsible citizen or business is an imperative, and it is now about how quickly we can work together to make the changes that matter. 

As a leading bank in the UK helping to address the climate challenge, it’s crucial that businesses have the information they need to help them make decisions that are good for them and for the planet, and that they feel empowered and ready to take action. We look forward to hearing about where the fantastic businesses featured in this series have inspired the wider community to go greener.”

Clare Beddow, Spotify UK/IE, Director of Sales, said:

“Action on climate change is imperative, and we’re committed to tackling it, together with the brands we work with. Audio advertising is already the greenest advertising format, and we can make it even greener together with carbon offsetting. That’s why we launched Sustainable Sonics, utilising carbon offsets to zero-out the environmental impact of a brand’s audio advertising on Spotify and making it even easier for brands to further their environmental commitments with us.”

The Green Business Builders podcast series is the latest public initiative from the bank to help its customers embrace sustainable practices. In March, the bank announced it had launched its Green Accelerator initiative, reserving 25% of all spaces on its UK wide Entrepreneur Accelerator programme for businesses whose core practices are related to sustainability. At the end of July, NatWest Group surpassed its climate and sustainable funding target of £9.5billion, achieving its 2020-2021 target of £20billion in total, six months early.

NatWest’s Green Business Builders was produced with Vayner Media, will run for four episodes from 9 August until 30 August, and is available on Spotify and all major podcast platforms from today.