Episode 12: The EU Omnibus, Circular Design, and Agrivoltaics with William McDonough, CEO of McDonough Innovation and Nicolas Weber, Co-founder and CEO of Voltiris

Episode 12 of The Smart Society Show: Circular Design, Climate Capital, and Agrivoltaic Innovation

In Episode 12 of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Rt Hon Chris Skidmore explore the evolving world of climate finance, regenerative design, and agrivoltaics. They’re joined by two visionary guests: William McDonough, pioneering architect and co-author of Cradle to Cradle, and Nicolas Weber, founder and CEO of agrivoltaics startup Voltiris. Together, they map out a future where commerce fuels sustainability, design redefines waste, and agriculture becomes a powerful engine for clean energy.

What’s News: Shifting ESG Regulations and the Capital Gap

This week’s What’s News dives deep into the shifting landscape of sustainability regulation and finance. Chris and Brynne unpack the EU’s new “Omnibus” reform, which significantly raises the employee threshold for CSRD and CSDDD compliance—removing around 80% of European companies from sustainability reporting obligations. While some call this a step backward, Chris argues that the core reporting frameworks remain powerful tools for supply chain accountability and long-term climate investment.

The UK’s newly published Carbon Budget 7 also makes waves, showing that the projected cost of reaching net zero is now just £108 billion—far lower than previously forecasted—of which over 70% is expected to be financed by the private sector. Meanwhile, capital is moving: $28 billion was reportedly withdrawn from State Street due to its ESG pullback, and redirected to Amundi and Invesco, reaffirming that sustainable investing remains a priority for many institutional investors.

But a new challenge emerges: while capital is available, it's not always being deployed efficiently. Chris highlights his role co-chairing a working group under the UK Transition Finance Council to help solve this. Brynne points to a persistent $63 billion capital gap at the scale-up stage for European climate and energy tech companies—an issue that demands urgent attention if we’re to build the next generation of net-zero infrastructure.

Chasing Net Zero: William McDonough on Designing for Circularity and Abundance

Renowned architect and circular economy pioneer William McDonough joins the show for an enlightening conversation about how design can be a force for regeneration. As co-author of Cradle to Cradle and The Upcycle, McDonough has long challenged the idea of "end-of-life" for materials—advocating instead for perpetual cycles of use and reuse.

He shares stories from his upbringing in post-war Japan and water-scarce Hong Kong that shaped his philosophy: that waste equals food, and smart systems must also be wise. From the principles of biological and technical nutrients to the importance of designing products as services, McDonough explains how businesses can “discover the obvious” and transform liabilities into assets.

A highlight of the segment is McDonough’s design for NASA’s Sustainability Base, a next-generation building inspired by space station engineering, geothermal energy, and birdsong. He challenges us to think beyond “less bad” sustainability toward design that creates genuine abundance—and to embrace commerce as an engine of systemic, scalable change.

Chasing Unicorns: Nicolas Weber on Voltiris and the Power of Agrivoltaics

In this week’s Chasing Unicorns segment, Brynne speaks with Nicolas Weber, co-founder and CEO of Voltiris—a Swiss agrivoltaics startup turning greenhouses into clean power plants. Voltiris has developed a unique spectral filtering solar solution that enables energy generation without compromising crop yields. The company recently raised $4.8 million in seed funding, with backing from 3M and other partners.

Nicolas outlines the three major priorities post-fundraise: scaling a landmark commercial tomato greenhouse project in Switzerland, improving solar panel performance and cost-efficiency, and building a robust commercial pipeline across Europe. He also shares how Voltiris partners with firms like 3M, emphasizing intellectual curiosity, shared vision, and a collaborative spirit.

With agriculture accounting for one of the largest land uses globally, Nicolas sees massive potential for agrivoltaics to bridge the food and energy transition. He envisions a future where agricultural land plays a dual role in sustainability—and believes that Voltiris, with its innovative technology and resilient team, is poised to lead that transformation.

Final Thoughts

Episode 12 brings together three powerful forces shaping the climate economy: bold capital, visionary design, and agricultural innovation. From William McDonough’s challenge to “design for next use” to Nicolas Weber’s mission to make every greenhouse a solar plant, this episode offers a compelling roadmap for creating a circular, energy-positive future.

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