The Eco Sheroes Podcast

Her daughter had rashes for months, but every test came back clear. In this episode, I sit down with Bhavika Thadani, founder of Priyankara, a slow-fashion label built on organic cotton, herbal dyes, and artisan craftsmanship. Bhavika worked as a personal trainer in Bombay, then spent more than a decade as a kindergarten teacher in Dubai. Everything changed one afternoon when she opened her washing machine and smelled petroleum on a brand-new top. We talk about what your skin absorbs when your pores open in 40-degree heat, a burn test you can do at home with a lighter, why herbally dyed fabric never holds one perfectly clear color, and how she spent two and a half years searching for a GOTS-certified unit after seeing a vendor at a Delhi fabric fair demonstrate the entire organic process without a single certificate. We also discuss the honest limits of it all. Her own wardrobe isn’t fully organic, and she’ll explain why that’s fine. Watch the full conversation and see what you would change first. #theecoloop #theecosheroespodcast #sustainableliving #organiccotton #herbaldyes #slowfashion #greenwashing --------------- Explore Priyankara clothes here, Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/priyankara.online/ Website - https://www.priyankara.online/ ---------------- Sustainable living makes life healthy, wealthy, and happy! Live in sync with nature :) ➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter - "The Eco Experiment," for tips on sustainable living. I'll help you navigate misleading marketing and identify genuinely sustainable brands for informed purchasing decisions. https://www.theecoloop.com/the-eco-experiment-newsletter Let's connect on my other social media channels, too :) https://www.instagram.com/theecoloop https://www.facebook.com/theecoloop https://www.tiktok.com/@theecoloop https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavisanthapuram/ https://medium.com/@pallavi.ecoloop ------------- Visit the website https://www.theecoloop.com/ ------------- Disclaimer: This video is for information purposes only and is not intended to change anybody’s personal views. All the information provided in this video is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but there may be omissions, errors, or mistakes. The video should not be seen as medical, legal, or any other type of advice. THE ECO LOOP and the guest are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in this video. The suggestions or opinions appearing in the video are just the host and guest’s views. THE ECO LOOP does not assume any responsibility or liability for them. -----------------

I have friends who tell me they should really start separating their waste, and then don't. For years I thought I just wasn't explaining it well enough. Enas Sobhy Ali has spent 14 years at Tadweer, the waste management company that has diverted over 5.2 million tons from landfill in Dubai. She built their education and CSR programs from the ground up, then trained as a coach with the International Coaching Federation—because she'd realized the thing she believed about people was wrong. In this episode, we get into what actually drives behavior, why contamination is the biggest problem in household recycling, what really happens to your waste after the chute, where the tissue and the coffee cup and the pizza box are supposed to go, how landfill emissions come back to the air you breathe, and the one change she'd have you make in your kitchen this week. She refused to give me a list. She gave me one thing instead. If you have ever stood at a bin genuinely unsure, this one is for you. Watch the full conversation and tell me in the comments how many bins are in your kitchen right now. #theecoloop #theecosheroespodcast #sustainableliving #wastesegregation #circulareconomy #dubai Sustainable living makes life healthy, wealthy, and happy! Live in sync with nature :) ➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter - "The Eco Experiment," for tips on sustainable living. I'll help you navigate misleading marketing and identify genuinely sustainable brands for informed purchasing decisions. https://www.theecoloop.com/the-eco-experiment-newsletterLet's connect on my other social media channels, too :) https://www.instagram.com/theecoloop https://www.facebook.com/theecoloop https://www.tiktok.com/@theecoloop https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavisanthapuram/ https://medium.com/@pallavi.ecoloop ------------- https://www.theecoloop.com/theecosheroespodcast ------------- Disclaimer: This video is for information purposes only and is not intended to change anybody’s personal views. All the information provided in this video is accurate to the best of our knowledge, but there may be omissions, errors, or mistakes. The video should not be seen as medical, legal, or any other type of advice. THE ECO LOOP and the guest are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in this video. The suggestions or opinions appearing in the video are just the host and guest’s views. THE ECO LOOP does not assume any responsibility or liability for them. -----------------

She picked up a bottle of laundry detergent during lockdown, turned it around, and couldn't understand a single word on the back. Three weeks earlier, she had left her corporate job. What she did next was start a company. Olivia is the founder of Because You Care, a toxic-free, plastic-free laundry brand manufactured in Dubai. She built the first formula in her own kitchen, from a bar of traditional Marseille soap and the method her grandmother used before detergents existed. Four years on, her customers keep coming back — and she is clear that they keep coming back because it works, not because it is clean. Her story matters to this audience because she sits on both sides of the shelf. She is a mother making the same choices we are, and she is also the person who knows exactly what the industry is allowed to put on a label and still call it true. What you'll learn: • How to judge any detergent in under ten seconds, using three things you can check on the back of the pack • What optical brighteners actually do to your clothes, and why "whiter" and "cleaner" are not the same claim • Why a bottle marked "fragrance free" is legally allowed to contain fragrance • Whether dissolvable laundry sheets are the eco swap they look like • How to work out what your laundry really costs per wash, and what to do about it if the answer stings Episode highlights: "Everything is made to look clean, but it's not made to be clean." "If some stains are not working with this one, it means that it's not working with others either." "Don't expect anyone to tell you. You have to count on yourself to look for the truth." Connect with Olivia: www.becauseyoucare.ae — also on Amazon and Noon, and soon in ten Spinneys stores across the UAE Connect with Pallavi & The Eco Loop: 🌿 Instagram | TikTok | YouTube @theecoloop 🌿LinkedIn @pallavisanthapuram 🎙️ Subscribe to The Eco Sheroes Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube www.theecoloop.com/theecosheroespodcast

Did you know that manufacturing just one smartphone uses around 12,000 liters of water? And globally, less than 20% of electronic waste is formally recycled — even though it's the world's fastest growing waste stream. In this episode, I sit down with Mukul, founder of R3 Factory in Dubai — a company that has spent years quietly reshaping how we think about old electronics. We dive into the questions I've been too nervous to ask: What actually happens to your personal data when you hand over an old device? Is buying a secondhand phone really worth it? And what does "data wiping" actually mean — and why is it completely different from formatting? Mukul breaks down how refurbished electronics are graded, busts the myths around buying pre-loved gadgets, explains why a simple factory reset is NOT enough to protect your data, and shares why Repair always needs to come before Recycle. We also get into planned obsolescence, the environmental cost of constantly buying new, his Eco-Warrior program in UAE schools, and why he believes e-waste isn't just a problem — it's one of the biggest opportunities of our time. This conversation genuinely changed how I see the devices sitting in my own drawer at home. I think it'll do the same for you. If this episode resonates with you, please share it with someone who still throws their old gadgets straight in the bin — they need to hear this! And don't forget to follow The Eco Sheroes Podcast for more conversations that make sustainable living feel genuinely possible. GUEST Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mukulanand.r3/ https://www.instagram.com/r3factory4all/ Sustainable living makes life healthy, wealthy, and happy! Live in sync with Nature :) ➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter - "The Eco Experiment," for tips on sustainable living. I'll help you navigate misleading marketing and identify genuinely sustainable brands for informed purchasing decisions. https://www.theecoloop.com/the-eco-experiment-newsletter Let's connect on my other social media channels, too :) https://www.instagram.com/theecoloop https://www.facebook.com/theecoloop https://www.tiktok.com/@theecoloop https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavisanthapuram/ https://medium.com/@pallavi.ecoloop ------------- Visit the website https://www.theecoloop.com/ Find links to Spotify and Apple Podcasts for The Eco Sheroes Podcast on this link https://www.theecoloop.com/theecosheroespodcast ------------- Chapters 00:00 - Episode Snippets 01:27 - Introduction 02:57 - What does R3 factory stand for? 11:10 - Grading secondhand electronics at R3 Factory? 17:25 - Planned Obsolescence: Are Phones Designed To Break? 21:29 - Is Your Personal Data Safe When You Give It For Recycling? 22:21 - Data wiping vs. formatting — why factory reset isn't enough 26:30 - What Electronics Can You Bring To R3 Factory? 27:47 - Why smartphone repairs feel expensive? 32.20 - How To Buy Secondhand Electronics Without Getting Scammed? 32:21 - The Real Environmental Impact Of Buying Refurbished Electronics 37:30 - Conscious Quick Takes — rapid fire round 37:48 - Repair Vs Reuse Vs Recycle: Which Has The Biggest Impact? 38:40 - The Oldest Device Ever Brought To R3 Factory 40:23 - Mukul's one item he won't throw away 44:40 - R3 Factory's vision for reverse logistics

Marita Peters, Executive Director of Search for Water UAE, reveals why the global water crisis affects all of us—even in water-rich cities like Dubai. From women walking kilometers daily to fetch water in Uganda, Indonesia, and Haiti, to the hidden cost of desalination in the UAE, this conversation connects the dots between privilege, climate change, and our daily water habits. Surge for Water provides holistic solutions: water access, sanitation, menstrual health education, and soap-making workshops that empower entire communities. Their annual Design, Dine & Make a Difference gala (November 27, 2024) brings together the design industry to fund life-changing water solutions. Marita shares powerful insights on women's leadership, coral bleaching from ocean warming, and simple water-saving habits we can all adopt today—from filtration systems to reusable water bottles. Water is fundamental to life. When 8+ billion people overuse, it affects the whole planet. Small changes create a big impact. 🎧 Listen to the complete episode for actionable tips and discover how you can support Surge for Water's goal of reaching 1 million people by 2030. 🔗 CONNECT WITH SURGE FOR WATER: Website: https://surgeforwater.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surgeforwater/ Marita Peters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marita_peters/ View the Nov 27 Gala Collection: https://surgeforwater.org/view-the-designs-for-surges-12th-annual-design-dine-make-a-difference-gala/ 🌿 ABOUT THE ECO SHEROES PODCAST: The Eco Sheroes Podcast interviews women making positive environmental impacts through sustainable services, products, and eco-conscious living. Hosted by Pallavi Santhapuram, Founder of The Eco Loop. 🎙️ Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube 💚 SUPPORT THE PODCAST:If this episode resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share! Your support helps us amplify these important conversations. 📩 Let's Connect: Instagram: @theecoloop Website: www.theecoloop.com/theecosheroespodcast Sustainable living makes life healthy, wealthy, and happy! Live in sync with nature :) ➡️ Subscribe to my newsletter - "The Eco Experiment," for tips on sustainable living. I'll help you navigate misleading marketing and identify genuinely sustainable brands for informed purchasing decisions. https://www.theecoloop.com/the-eco-experiment-newsletter Let's connect on my other social media channels, too :) https://www.instagram.com/theecoloop https://www.facebook.com/theecoloop https://www.tiktok.com/@theecoloop https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavisanthapuram/ https://medium.com/@pallavi.ecoloop ------------- Chapters 00:00 - Episode Snippets 01:25 - Introduction 03:17 - Marita's Journey & Search for Water's Mission 04:59 - Why Women's Leadership Creates Lasting Impact 09:48 - Why Save Water in Dubai When Taps Never Run Dry? 13:48 - The Holistic Approach: Water + Sanitation + Menstrual Health 18:24 - Soap-Making Workshops & Community Health 20:44 - Design, Dine, Make a Difference Gala Explained 25:01 - 2030 Goals & How You Can Help Make Them a Reality 29:54 - First Priority With Unlimited Funding 32:32 - Biggest Misconception About the Water Crisis 34:19 - Water Access vs. Menstrual Health: Which Comes First? 35:12 - New Wells vs. Maintaining Existing Systems 37:02 - Simple Water-Saving Tips You Can Start Today