Using Agile for Sustainable Impact: Lessons from Housing to Formula 1 with Mike Wrathall

Welcome to another episode of the Going Zero podcast, where we dive into the real-world challenges and bold solutions shaping the future of sustainability. In today’s episode, host Christy Cook is joined by Mike Wrathall, an sustainability strategist who’s helped organizations across sectors—from social housing to defense—navigate complexity and accelerate their impact on the environment.Mike shares his journey from a childhood passion for recycling to leading sustainability and climate strategy efforts at major firms like Deloitte. We’ll uncover how agile methodologies, often associated with software development, are transforming traditional business models, enabling organizations to adapt, innovate, and make sustainability central to their mission. Mike brings us behind the scenes of organizations that have reinvented themselves, including a charity that spun out a for-profit enterprise and the Formula 1 powerhouse McLaren’s shift toward circularity.Whether you’re running a business, working in government, or simply passionate about driving positive change, this conversation is packed with actionable insights. Mike explains why seeing sustainability as an opportunity—not just a compliance hurdle—unlocks new avenues for growth, cost savings, and resilience. Plus, he offers real steps for anyone looking to integrate agile thinking into their sustainability journey.