Innovation Forum podcast

Monday briefing – Fashion’s circular future and verifying claims with geo AI

This week: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about some trends and hot topics in the apparel sector. From major tariff changes reshaping sourcing strategies, to growing momentum behind extended producer responsibility, they explore what’s hot and what’s next.

Plus: Pierrick Poulenas, CEO of Picterra talks with Ellen Atiyah about how geospatial AI helps verify sustainability claims. Ahead of a complimentary webinar on 20^th May, they discuss how to turn remote sensing into real supply chain insight.

Host: Ian Welsh

 

Join the conversation at the sustainable apparel and textiles conference USA in New York City on 24-25 June. Click here for information on how to get involved.

Join our complimentary webinars:

• Click here to join the webinar on geospatial AI with Picterra on 20^th May.
• Click here to join a webinar on critical minerals decarbonisation on 15^th May.

Weekly podcast – Treaty or stalemate? The race to curb plastic pollution

This week: As negotiations for the global plastics treaty continue, Nestlé’s global public affairs lead for packaging and sustainability Jodie Roussell talks with Ian Welsh at the sustainable packaging innovation forum in Amsterdam. They discuss the political will, the regulatory stakes and why time is running short to reach a meaningful agreement.

Plus: pushback against US rollback of climate-focused policy; new BNP Paribas fund for indigenous people-led forest conservation projects with Everland; Coca-Cola and Lavazza UK respond to greenwashing claims; and, circular fashion continues to grow in Europe, in the news digest by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Ian Welsh

Why leading businesses are treating sustainability as a financial strategy

Ellen McCormack, head of Europe at Watershed talks with Ian Welsh about how sustainability is moving closer to core business functions, the evolving carbon removal market, and why clean energy is increasingly a financial imperative. They explore how major companies are embedding climate strategy into operations, not just for compliance – but to unlock long-term value.

Weekly podcast – How apparel brands can prepare for digital product passport compliance

This week: Tara St James from Moose Knuckles and Ian Welsh unpack how digital product passports are reshaping supply chain transparency and compliance ahead of incoming EU regulations. They explore the challenges of supplier onboarding, data collection and engaging consumers with evolving sustainability tools.

Plus: UK food sector urged to adopt AI; US secures Ukraine minerals access deal; B Corp overhauls standards to fight greenwashing; and, Brazil launches indigenous climate leadership circle, in the new digest, by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Ian Welsh

Climate accounting’s blind spot: why super pollutants demand a new metric

The Global Heat Reduction Initiative's Kiff Gallagher talks with Ian Welsh about 'Total Climate Accounting', a framework created by GHR to address critical gaps in current climate metrics by incorporating super pollutants like methane and black carbon. They discuss how this approach provides organisations with actionable data to reduce near-term warming while maintaining long-term decarbonisation goals – revealing why traditional carbon accounting falls short in today's crisis.

Monday briefing – Lessons learned and what's next for sustainable apparel

This week: Innovation Forum's Niamh Campbell and Ian Welsh talk about what to expect at this year's sustainable apparel and textiles conference in Amsterdam. From exciting new sessions on textile waste solutions and Dragon's Den-style material innovation pitches to important debates on greenwashing, Niamh highlights what's new at this year's conference.

Plus: reflections from last year's apparel conference with Amy Nguyen from Sustainable & Social and Christine Goulay from Sustainabelle. In conversation with Ian, they share their key takeaways, such as the evolution of circular business models, scope 3 challenges, and the growing importance of better data and regulation.

Weekly podcast – Voices from the field: how US farmers are shaping sustainable farming

This week: Kevin Burkum, CEO of US Farmers and Ranchers in Action, and Michael Crinion, a South Dakota-based farmer and chair of USFRA, talk with Ian Welsh about the evolving challenges facing US agriculture. They explore how climate volatility, trade policies and supply chain pressures are reshaping farming, and why resilience, community and innovation are key to long-term success.

Plus: Apple slashes emissions and boosts recycling; EU deforestation law sparks enforcement fears; new Suntory water spinoff to tackle groundwater loss; and, the Guardian gives silent climate majority a voice, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Ian Welsh

To continue the conversation, USFRA will be at the future of food and beverage forum in Minneapolis on 28-29 May. Click here for information on how to get involved.

System change: the state of sustainable plastics and packaging

Sebastian Munden, chair of the environmental NGO WRAP, talks with Ian Welsh about the potential for transforming packaging systems. They highlight innovative strategies that can reduce plastic pollution and promote responsible use, ultimately paving the way for more sustainable and circular plastic systems.

To continue the conversation, Sebastian will be at the sustainable packaging innovation forum (Amsterdam, 6-7 May). Click here for information on how to get involved.

Weekly podcast – Unlock business value via carbon measurement and decarbonisation strategy

This week: Ellen McCormack, head of Europe at Watershed, talks with Ian Welsh about how major companies are integrating sustainability into finance and operations. They discuss the shifting narrative from climate goals to ROI, challenges in renewable energy infrastructure, and trends in carbon removal and investor demand.

Plus: vegetable oil prices surge amid instability; rare earths weaponised in US-China trade war; global shipping strikes weak emissions deal; and, leaked PR campaign sparked diet backlash, in the news digest, by Ellen Atiyah.

Host: Ian Welsh

The ripple effects of challenges and tariffs for the apparel sector

Colin Brown, CEO of Cascale, talks with Ian Welsh about challenges and opportunities within the consumer goods industry, particularly in apparel and textiles. They discuss the need for collective action to reduce environmental impact and improve social justice, emphasising the importance of collaboration among brands, manufacturers and retailers to weather the potential tariff storm.