Innovation Forum podcast

Monday briefing – Circular conversations: the latest innovations and progress in sustainable packaging

This week: Innovation Forum’s Lia Da Giau and Ian Welsh highlight the growing integration of research and development commercial value within the packaging sector, driven by legislation such as Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Schemes. They discuss exciting innovations in flexible packaging, particularly from the likes of Unilever, which are focusing on reducing material complexity while enhancing functionality.

 

Plus: Dieuwertje Nelissen, chief program officer at Enviu, talks with Lia about the Mission Reuse Coalition’s efforts to transition from a disposable economy to a circular one, emphasising the importance of reusable and refillable packaging solutions. They highlight latest progress, including new legislation and successful pilot projects, plus factors needed for broader adoption.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Reality check: the role business plays in driving responsible sourcing and ethical trade

At the recent Responsible Sourcing and Ethical Trade Forum in London, industry experts joined Ian Welsh to share key takeaways from the conference. They discussed supply chain frameworks for human rights remediation, the current regulatory landscape, and progress on worker protection and responsible recruitment.  

 

Hear from:

• 00:59 – Duncan Warner, senior responsible sourcing and human rights manager, ASDA
• 05:22 – Lise Smit, business and human rights adviser, Norton Rose Fulbright
• 12:46 – Andrey Sawchenko, regional vice president forced labor programs, Asia Pacific, International Justice Mission
• 17:21 – James Sinclair, director of human rights, Verisk Maplecroft

Supply gaps in transition metals: The investments required to deliver a clean energy transition

In this webinar recording, experts discuss the emerging supply shortages, investment trends, and the impact of geopolitics on the future of transition metals crucial to the climate agenda.

As demand for critical minerals surges due to accelerating clean energy initiatives, the landscape is becoming increasingly complex. Current and looming supply gaps are emerging alongside shifting political dynamics that are pivotal to the climate transition. In this webinar, the panel explored supply gaps, the projected investment trends, and how geopolitical factors are shaping the future of critical minerals.

Hear insights from:

• Anna Fleming, consulting project manager, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
• Caroline Avan, head of just transition and natural resources, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
• Jonathan Horrell, group head of sustainability, The Weir Group

To continue the conversation, secure your place at the inaugural critical minerals innovation forum (London, 5-6 November). Click here for information on how to get involved.

Weekly podcast – What it takes to align apparel brands, manufacturers and retailers

This week: Colin Browne, CEO of Cascale, talks with Ian Welsh, exploring the state of sustainability in the apparel and textile sector. They discuss the challenges of decarbonisation, impact of emerging legislation and share insight on how companies can navigate trade disruptions and prepare for the future of sustainable supply chains.

Plus: companies drop “ESG” term but sustain green efforts; US farmers struggle as USDA funding freeze hits; companies raise climate targets but struggle with scope 3; and, nutri-score gains support despite EU rejection, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Ian Welsh

Through the ag investor lens: the shift towards nature-based solutions

Sajeev Mohankumar, senior climate and biodiversity specialist at the FAIRR Initiative, talks with Ian Welsh about key findings from the initiative’s latest report on climate and nature-based interventions in agriculture. They discuss the importance of investors in driving change by assessing material risks and transitioning to net-zero solutions. They highlight the benefits of nature-based interventions over tech-based ones, particularly in livestock production, while addressing the barriers to funding and adoption of these solutions.

Monday briefing – Unravelling fashion, sustainability and supply chains

This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about key themes shaping the apparel sector in 2025. They discuss the shifting legislation, greenwashing crackdowns, supply chain resilience and innovations in next-gen materials.

Plus: at the 2024 apparel conference, CottonConnect’s Alison Ward and Ian explored how to deliver climate resilience in cotton farming. They discussed sustainable practices, the role of technology, local adaptation, and government influence in shaping a more resilient and regenerative cotton supply chain.

Host: Ian Welsh

Alison, Niamh and Ian will be at this year’s sustainable apparel and textiles conference in Amsterdam on 29-30 April. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Palm oil progress: addressing challenges and breakthroughs in sustainable agriculture

Rob Nicholls from Musim Mas, Livelihoods Venture's Sébastien de Royer and Rizki Pandu Parma at NGO SNV, talk with Ian Welsh about the transformative efforts in regenerative agriculture within the palm oil sector. They explore how multi-stakeholder collaborations are reshaping traditional practices and empowering smallholder farmers in Sumatra. They discuss the challenges of soil degradation, the importance of sustainable farming techniques, and the innovative financial solutions being developed to support farmers through replanting phases.

Weekly podcast – Bridging the gap: the equity challenge in farming in the US

This week: Seanicaa Edwards-Herron, executive director at NGO Freedmen Heirs Foundation, talks with Innovation Forum’s Diana Kim about the challenges minority farmers face in securing financing and land ownership. They explore innovative funding models, the role of agtech, and how consumers and companies can support equitable and resilient food systems.

Plus: at the responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum in London this week, Lise Smit from Norton Rose Fulbright talks with Ian Welsh about the EU’s evolving regulatory landscape. They discuss the omnibus regulation proposal and its implications for corporate due diligence and supply chain responsibilities.

Host: Ian Welsh

Monday briefing – Navigating responsible sourcing and ethical trade

Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar and Ian Welsh talk about the responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum, coming up in London this week. Key topics include the importance of survivor voices in modern slavery discussions and the collaboration between responsible sourcing professionals and procurement teams.

And, another chance to hear Peter McAllister, Ethical Trade Initiative, and Sam Ludlow-Taylor from John Lewis Partnership reflecting on key discussions at the 2024 conference. In conversation with Ian Welsh, among the topics they explore include the effectiveness of social audits in manufacturing versus agriculture, highlighting the unique challenges each sector faces.

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – From waste to worth: circular solutions for sustainable packaging

This week: Willemijn Peeters, CEO and founder of Searious Business talks with Ian Welsh about what a sustainable approach to packaging looks like. They discuss how businesses can transition to circular systems by prioritising design for reuse and recycling while considering existing infrastructures.

Plus: Brazil's highway sparks outrage before COP30; Ghana's cocoa crisis fuels illegal gold mining; rising biodiesel demand threatens palm oil supply; and, California revises plastic rules amid cost concerns, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

Continue the conversation with Willemijn at the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum in Amsterdam (6-7 May) to explore practical solutions and innovations in sustainable packaging. Click here for information on how to get involved.