Innovation Forum podcast

Weekly podcast – Why regenerative agriculture needs a farmer-centric reboot

This week: Simon Haldrup, co-founder and CEO of agri-tech company Agreena talks with Ian Welsh about how scaling regenerative agriculture hinges on farmer incentives, customised practices and financial support. They discuss how to move beyond pilot programmes into large-scale adoption and how to make sense of data.

Plus: at the scope 3 innovation forum this week, Ian talked with Kim Schoppink from the Science Based Targets initiative about the core challenges and emerging solutions around scope 3 emissions data.

And: EU nations push to ease EUDR rules, while EU companies resist to dilute CSRD; deposit schemes slash litter as Pepsi pull reuse target; and, beanless blends brew up a buzz, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Diana Kim

The global plastics treaty: are we getting warmer?

Jodie Roussell, global public affairs lead of packaging and sustainability at Nestlé and co-chair of the Business Coalition for the Global Plastics Treaty working on the treaty, shares the current state of progress toward a global plastics agreement. In conversation with Ian Welsh, they highlight murmurs of negotiations on the ground and behind-the-scenes progress. Jodie notes the overall heightened energy from governments to move forward, despite discrepancies in ambition levels among member states.

This interview was recorded in May 2025.

We’ll be continuing the conversation at the sustainable packaging innovation forum in Chicago on 28-29 October. Join alongside the likes of Amcor, Kraft Heinz, Amazon, TerraCycle, Estée Lauder, Ameripen, Lush and many more. Click here for information on how to get involved. 

Weekly briefing – What beverage giants, beauty brands and chemical companies have in common

This week: Innovation Forum's Natasha Bodnar and Ian Welsh discuss the importance of a cross-industry insights in building partnerships, candid insights and fresh thinking on scope 3. They talk about what to expect at this week's scope 3 innovation forum, taking place in Amsterdam.

Plus: Bertrand Conquéret, chief procurement officer at Henkel talks with Ian Welsh about how Henkel is leveraging procurement to lead cross-functional change and embed sustainability in product development. They highlight how to build supplier partnerships, particularly through coalitions such as Together for Sustainability — a now 50+ company coalition driving transparency and carbon data sharing across the chemical industry.

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – Inside the sustainable packaging strategy of a beverage giant

This week: Dave Lütkenhaus, global sustainability and innovation director at Diageo, talks with Ian Welsh about the company’s approach to circular packaging and how it’s working to reduce scope 3 emissions. They highlight innovations in refill systems, reusable formats, and new materials being trialled across markets.

Plus: at the Future of Food and Beverage conference this week, Ian talks with farmers Jocelyn Schlichting and Carla Schultz about the need for deeper partnerships between growers and food manufacturers. They explore risks in regenerative agriculture, the importance of regional nuance and how marketing decisions shape practices on the ground.

And, major brands may be exiting the US Plastics Pact; EU nears 2030 climate goal, doubts remain; Italian fashion brands act on labour abuse; and, AI mineral demand threatens South American ecosystems, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Diana Kim

What digital product passports roll-out really means for apparel brands

Tara St James, senior director of sustainability at Moose Knuckles talks with Ian Welsh at the recent sustainable apparel and textiles conferences. They discuss the implications a digital product passport introduction will bring and the specific requirements businesses must fulfil. They highlight practical steps in achieving this and what consumer experience would look like.

To continue the conversation, join the sustainable apparel and textiles conference, taking place in New York City on 24-25 June. Click here for information on how to get involved.

From data gaps to compliance: the role of Geospatial AI in sustainability (webinar recording)

Sustainability claims are facing increasing scrutiny, with rising costs, data uncertainty and growing pressure on businesses to provide verifiable proof of their efforts. Supply chain blind spots, outdated data and manual processes leave sustainability teams struggling to confidently meet compliance requirements.

This webinar, hosted in partnership with Picterra, explored how emerging technologies such as Geospatial AI (GeoAI), remote sensing, and satellite data analytics can empower sustainability teams with trusted insights, enabling them to move from reactive reporting to proactive oversight.

Our panel of experts discussed:

• The key hurdles businesses face in achieving sustainability compliance
• Strategies for moving from outdated, manual processes to more scalable, data-driven solutions
• An overview of Geospatial AI and how it is changing the landscape of supply chain transparency and monitoring
• The role of geospatial monitoring in identifying high-risk landscapes and improving compliance
• The future of AI in sustainability: opportunities, concerns and limitations

Panel:

• Alicia Sullivan, product manager – Earth Engine sustainability solutions, Google
• Pierrick Poulenas, CEO and Co-founder, Picterra
• Andrew Wilcox, associate director for sustainability – procurement strategy & insights, Unilever

The conversation was moderated by Ian Welsh, publishing director, Innovation Forum.

Balancing the critical minerals equation: emissions reduction meets supply security

The race to secure critical minerals is accelerating—but so is the urgency to reduce their carbon footprint. Mining, refining, and processing are energy-intensive, often reliant on fossil fuels, and responsible for significant emissions. Paradoxically, as the demand for net-zero metals grows, so too does their footprint.

This webinar explores the practical pathways for decarbonising critical minerals supply. Our panelists share tangible insights, from electrifying operations and adopting renewable energy sources, to using low carbon mining technologies.

The panel:

• Urishani Govender, chief sustainability officer, Harmony Gold Mining Company
• Arend Van Der Goes, senior sustainability manager, Eramet
• Reza Rahmaditio, critical minerals project lead, WRI Indonesia
• Moderator: Ian Welsh, publishing director, Innovation Forum

Weekly podcast – Inside the Forest 500: who’s failing – and who’s leading – on deforestation?

This week: Emma Thompson, Forest 500 and tracking lead at Global Canopy, talks with Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh about the newly released 2025 Forest 500 report, a deep dive into how the world’s most influential companies are disclosing and performing on deforestation. They discuss the differences in action across commodities, how regulation is influencing corporate behaviour and expectations for further progress on key climate targets.

 

Plus: gen Z and millennials demand purpose and sustainability; dairy giants lag on methane action; and, Hyundai Motor Group expands mineral tracing amid scrutiny, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

What it takes to build resilient, sustainable food systems in the US

Ahead of this year’s future of food and beverage forum in Minneapolis, Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag talks with some of the participants. She is joined by Julie Kunen from Oatly and Walmart’s Michelle Zackin, and they discuss how food and beverage companies are integrating climate and nature-smart practices into supply chain strategies. They highlight how to align nature-based solutions with regenerative agriculture, and how the industry can drive circularity, risk reduction and collaboration across the value chain.

 

Julie and Michelle will be at the future of food and beverage forum next week in Minneapolis (28-29 May). To continue the conversation, you can find full details on how to get involved.

Monday briefing – Tackling packaging systems and commodity supply chain shocks

This week: Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag and Ian Welsh talk about how companies are tackling supply chain volatility and advancing supply chain resilience. They discuss emerging themes including digital innovation, collaborative land-use strategies and the growing role of AI and cybersecurity in sustainability.

 

Plus: Dries Van Aerde from Coca-Cola Europacific Partners talks with Ian at the recent Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum about how the company is navigating complex investment decisions, scaling refill and reuse models and responding to shifting regulatory and consumer expectations.

 

Host: Ian Welsh