Innovation Forum podcast

Monday briefing – Creating sustainable apparel supply chains: collaboration, circularity, accountability

This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh highlight the upcoming sustainable apparel and textiles conference (Amsterdam, 29th-30th April), featuring thought leaders from leading brands including ASOS, Adidas and Burberry. From actionable strategies for decarbonisation to scaling circularity initiatives, they preview some of the key conference sessions and talk about how to get involved.

 

Plus: some insights from the 2024 apparel conference from Aldi Sud’s Hasan Uz Zaman, who discusses the company's approach to addressing human rights risks within a global supply chain. He highlights Aldi Sud's commitment to consumer accountability and ethical sourcing, through social auditing and transparency.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – Enhance soil health, feed the planet and protect the environment

This week: Marina Ettl and Simon Pogson, from fertiliser business Yara International, talk with Ian Welsh about the role of the careful use of fertilisers in long-tern soil health, and the impact on international food systems.

 

Plus: alleged child labour in cotton sourced by major apparel brands, such as Adidas and H&M; Danish biologists reveal the effective use of ants in combating climate-change-induced crop diseases; nearly 90% of Norwegian new car sales now fully electric vehicles; 2024 was the hottest year ever; and, BBC investigation reveals inhumane working conditions in Shein factories in China, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Circular solutions: navigating legislation and innovation for sustainable packaging

Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle, talks with Ian Welsh and discusses the company’s work in global waste management and the circular economy. Tom discusses TerraCycle's focus on recycling non-traditional items and advancing reusable packaging systems to scale reuse systems and the economics of compostable materials. They highlight the need for systemic change and collaboration to address sustainability in packaging at both local and global levels.

 

Join Tom Szaky and other packaging innovators at the Sustainable Packaging Innovation Forum in Amsterdam on 6th-7th May. Full details here. https://www.innovationforum.co.uk/conferences/sustainable-packaging-eu

Monday briefing – Collaboration to drive sustainable food and beverage amid climate challenges

This week: Innovation Forum’s Anamya Anurag and Ian Welsh highlight some new themes and features at this year’s future of food and beverage US forum, taking place in Minneapolis on 28th-29th May. They share latest confirmed speakers including senior representatives from General Mills, Danone, Kraft Heinz, USDA, Smithfield Foods, Kellogg Company and many more.

 

Plus: Kansas farmer Dwane Roth speaking at the 2024 future of food and beverage  forum in Minneapolis. He covers the farming challenges on-the-ground and the importance of farmer inclusion in improving agri-food systems, and highlights innovative solutions and collaborate water management efforts to sustain farming for future generations.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Weekly podcast – How to stay ahead of the legislative curve for responsible sourcing this decade

This week: Ian Welsh talks with Scott Poynton, CEO and founder of A Different Way and founder and former CEO of the Earthworm Foundation. They discuss the current and future challenges, and some positive thoughts as we look into the second half of the decade. Scott highlights how regulation might develop and what companies should do to stay ahead of the curve (listen from 21:06)

Plus: Wayne Jordash, managing partner at Global Rights Compliance, talks about the challenges for business in changing regulatory climates. In conversation with Ian, they discuss the importance of getting risk assessments right (listen from 01:17).

And, Brazil halts Chinese vehicle manufacturer BYD’s factory construction due to labour law violations; UK Business and Trade Select Committee question big brands such as McDonald’s and Shein on their labour rights policies and sourcing practices; UK generated its cleanest electricity ever in 2024, with renewable energy supporting 45% of the country's electricity; and, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil expands its certification scope through a jurisdictional approach, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah (listen from 16:29).

Host: Ian Welsh

Transforming agricultural practices towards sustainable land use

Tropical Forest Alliance executive director Jack Hurd and Gustavo Idigoras, president of the Argentinian Edible Oils Association, join Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh to discuss the critical role of land use in addressing climate change, particularly in light of recent regulations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation. They explore how agricultural practices and corporate responsibility can align with sustainability goals, emphasising the potential for cross-sector collaboration to drive meaningful change.

Weekly briefing – Tackling 2025’s emerging responsible sourcing challenges

This week: Innovation Forum’s Ian Welsh and Natasha Bodnar share some updates about the upcoming responsible sourcing and ethical trade forum, taking place in London on 19th-20th March. They talk about the developing conference agenda and the latest confirmed speakers. For full details on how to get involved, click here.

Plus: a preview of Ian’s conversation with Wayne Jordash, managing partner at Global Rights Compliance. They discuss how companies face challenges in demonstrating compliance with human rights legislation, requiring comprehensive and adaptable risk assessments to meet regulatory demands. The full interview will be in the Innovation Forum podcast on 10th January.

EUDR unpacked #3: palm and soy plantations under the lens (webinar audio recording)

In the third webinar in the 'EUDR unpacked' series, we addressed critical questions surrounding the regulation. This session focused specifically on the impact of EUDR on palm oil and soy plantations, putting these sectors under the spotlight.

Panel:

• Heleen Van Den Hombergh, senior policy advisor at IUCN NL, coordinator at Collaborative Soy Initiative 
• Michelle Desilets, executive director, Orangutan Land Trust
• Mansuetus Darto, founder and national board, Indonesia's Palm Oil Smallholder Union (SPKS)
• Ruben Brunsveld, deputy director EMEA, Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
• Susanne Fromwald, board member of The Collaborative Soy Initiative, general secretary of Donau Soja  
• Wei Peng, global head of sustainability - grains & oilseeds, Louis Dreyfus Company
• Will Schreiber, representative of the Retail Soy Group, director of 3Keel

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

Weekly podcast – What to expect in 2025 for sustainable business

This week: In the latest state-of-sustainable-business series conversation, Brendan May, business expert and founder of Robertsbridge, talks with Ian Welsh about emerging trends for 2025. They highlight disclosure fatigue, and the importance of streamlining business efforts and focus on impactful environmental actions.

Plus: quick-fire insights from palm oil business Golden Agri-Resources chief operating officer Tony Kettinger at the scope 3 innovation forum in Washington DC. In conversation with Ian Welsh, he discusses how value chain actors can collaborate and engagement on decarbonisation.

And, Coca-Cola is retreating on plastic sustainability goals, focusing instead on weaker recycling efforts; theEuropean Union approves the new packaging and packaging waste directive; according to the World Economic Forum, climate change can threaten business on economic loss; the Democratic Republic of Congo has filed criminal complaints against Apple for allegedly using conflict minerals in its supply chain; and, the European parliament signs off the year delay for EU’s Deforestation Regulation, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Ian Welsh

Monday briefing: What does best-in-class procurement strategy look like?

Monday briefing: What does best-in-class procurement strategy look like?

This week, Innovation Forum’s Hannah Oborne and Ian Welsh reflect on some of the conversation in Washington DC a at the recent Scope 3 Innovation Forum. And, speaking at the conference, Altruistiq CEO Saif Hameed shares some thoughts on what makes for good supply chain engagement and procurement practices.

Plus: details about the next in the Scope 3 Innovation Forum series, coming up in Amsterdam on 3^rd and 4^th May 2025.