Building a Greener Future: Carbon Capture with Neustark’s Anna Haas
“We are turning a waste stream into a carbon sink — that’s the real magic.”
️ Guest: Anna Haas, Business Development & Partnerships at Neustark Topic Spotlight: Carbon Capture️ Release Date: Tuesday 20th May 2025
Episode Summary
In this powerful follow-up episode, Jackie De Burca sits down once again with Anna Haas from Swiss climate tech company Neustark.
If you thought concrete was the end of the story, think again. Anna explains how Neustark is turning demolition waste into a carbon sink — and why this matters now more than ever.
From CO₂ mineralisation and circular construction practices to global expansion and the nuances of regional policy, this episode dives deep into the tangible side of carbon removal. Anna brings clarity, passion, and pragmatism to one of the most pressing topics in the built environment.
Whether you’re in construction, sustainability, or just curious about where climate tech is headed, this conversation offers real-world insights and hopeful innovation.
“It’s one of the hardest things to explain: We’re not just avoiding emissions — we’re actually removing carbon from the atmosphere.”
What You’ll Learn
How Neustark’s solution works: storing CO₂ in recycled concrete through...
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27:42
Zurich A Living Lab for Sustainable Cities With Anna Haas
In this insightful episode of Constructive Voices, Jackie De Burca sits down with Anna Haas from Neustark to explore the city she calls home—Zurich. Known for its efficient public transport, green infrastructure, and direct democracy, Zurich has long been a sustainability frontrunner. But how is it maintaining its reputation amid global competition?
Anna unpacks the urban planning, mobility strategies, carbon removal innovations, and deep-rooted community involvement that define Zurich’s approach to sustainable development. With firsthand insight into both public policy and grassroots action, Anna shows us why Zurich isn’t just following green trends—it’s setting them.
Often perceived as a pristine financial hub, Zurich is also quietly one of Europe’s most forward-thinking green cities.
Beneath its polished exterior lies a living lab of urban experimentation—where bicycle highways weave through the city, schoolchildren are raised on recycling habits, and carbon neutrality isn’t just a goal but a work in progress.
From lakefront green spaces to car-free infrastructure and community-driven pilots, Zurich integrates nature, governance, and innovation in a way few cities manage.
As Anna puts it,
“Pla...
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21:27
Building Sustainability Into the Bottom Line with Kathleen Egan of Ecomedes
“At the end of the day, we have limited resources. This issue isn’t going away—so dismantling sustainability programmes is a short-term decision with long-term consequences.”
“We’re trying to accelerate innovation by helping sustainable products get to market faster—and make sustainability a sales advantage, not a cost.” Kathleen Egan, CEO and Co-Founder of Ecomedes
In this episode of Constructive Voices, host Jackie De Burca is joined by Kathleen Egan, the dynamic and purpose-driven CEO of Ecomedes. This platform connects sustainability data to real business outcomes in the built environment.
Kathleen’s journey from Harvard MBA grad to serial entrepreneur to sustainability tech leader is compelling in itself—but it’s her mission to embed sustainability into every purchasing decision in construction that truly stands out.
What triggered her shift toward sustainability? How does Ecomedes simplify compliance and empower sales teams with data? Why is backing away from ESG investments short-sighted—even in politically uncertain times?
Kathleen doesn’t hold back in this engaging and deeply informative conversation.
“The only way to avoid greenwashing is through third-party certifications. Yes, they’re messy—but they’re necessary.”
“No one wants to deal with 100 certifiers, but everyone wants valid data. That’s where we come in.”
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27:50
Floating Urban Residences With Rutger De Graaf
We’ve fought water for centuries, but maybe it’s time to live with it—and even on it.” – Rutger de Graaf
Imagine cities that rise with the sea instead of sinking beneath it.
In this eye-opening episode of Constructive Voices, host Jackie De Burca speaks with visionary Dutch engineer Rutger de Graaf, co-founder of Blue21, about how floating urban developments can offer real, resilient solutions to the climate crisis.
Floating Developments Aren't Just A Back Up Plan
“Floating developments aren’t just a backup plan for climate change; they’re innovation platforms for decentralised energy, housing, and community.” Rutger de Graaf
For over 18 years, Rutger has been leading the charge in designing, engineering, and implementing floating infrastructure in the Netherlands and beyond.
This episode delves deep (pun intended) into how floating neighbourhoods, ports, and even social housing could redefine our relationship with water—and why this isn’t science fiction but a rapidly emerging reality.
What You’ll Learn From This Podcast
From Fight to Float: How Dutch engineering is shifting from battling water to embracing it—and how other coastal cities can follow.
️ Floating Cities 101: What they are, how they work, and how they’re being built today.
Innovation Meets Ecology: The hidden ecosystems growing beneath floating platforms, and why...
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49:29
Life Inside Cloughjordan Ecovillage – A Blueprint for Sustainable Community Living
In this special and historic episode of Constructive Voices, we hand over the mic to our first-ever volunteer, Sarah Austin, a sustainable development practitioner with a passion for biodiversity, food systems, and rural regeneration. Sarah takes the lead in this fascinating deep dive into Cloughjordan Ecovillage, Ireland’s only eco neighbourhood designed to model regenerative, low-impact living.
“We seek to live in a regenerative and respectful way, sharing these 64 acres with many other species... to live with as light a footprint on the planet as possible.” – Peadar Kirby
Sarah is joined by Peadar Kirby, a resident of Cloughjordan Ecovillage and a retired professor who has spent his academic career studying development models and climate policy. Together, they explore the origins, vision, and everyday life of this pioneering community—and how its lessons can be shared with the world.
“Our greatest asset is one another. The technologies can help, but it's our creativity and collaboration that will truly see us through.” – Peadar Kirby
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
What Cloughjordan Ecovillage is: A 64-acre eco neighbourhood integrated into the rural village of Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary.
How it began: From an idea in 1990s Dublin to a vibrant, regenerative community.
Sustainable living in action:
Homes built to top ecological standards
A district heating system powered by renewable energy
A community-run organic farm feeding residents fresh, local food
The power of community: Insight into how genuine interdependence creates resilience, creativity, and a rich cultural life.
Governance with purpose: A flat, nature-inspired governance model that supports active participation and shared responsibility.
Global connections: Cloughjordan's role in the Global Ecovillage Network and its importance as an educational charity.
Tips for other communities: How towns and neighbourhoods can implement small but powerful changes for sustainable living.
The Constructive Voices Podcast is all about inspiring change within the construction industry. Television builder, Peter Finn, is our man on the ground who injects his decades of construction experience with his unique sense of humour into the topics he covers. Then we have the gritty, investigative journalist, Henry McDonald, who spent over 25 years writing for The Guardian Newspaper in the UK. These days he does podcasts for us and the Sunday Times and is a freelance journalist for a number of top publications. Behind the scenes, we have Jackie De Burca, who is a creative director, author, media consultant, podcast creator and presenter. We focus on finding great stories within the construction industry about organisations and people who are doing something constructive. Topics include but are not limited to inclusivity, mental and physical health, investigating organisations that are ahead of the pack when it comes to sustainability, collaboration and team building, and initiatives that do social good. We also have our eyes and ears alert for cutting edge technologies and new updates on the industry’s economy and outlook.