Sustainable Business Podcast by Innovation Forum

Leading the way for systems change: Helena Helmersson on making sustainability a core business imperative

Few leaders in the apparel and textiles industry bring as much hands-on experience across buying, production and CSR as Helena Helmersson did during her time at H&M Group. Her unique position as the only fashion industry executive to move from CSO to CEO gives her a rare, end-to-end view of how sustainability and commercial strategy intersect at scale.

Helmersson’s long-term vision at H&M was clear: sustainability had to be embedded at the heart of the business. Building on work initiated in the 1990s, she helped advance a strategy that increased supply chain transparency, while also expanding textile collection and recycling programmes. Under her leadership, initiatives such as the H&M Conscious range were debuted, reinforcing the belief that sustainable fashion must remain accessible while serving as co-chair of The Fashion Pact.

A consistent theme throughout Helmersson’s leadership has been the need for structural transformation. Sustainability, she argues, should be a mindset that is woven into every part of the organisation. In times of external turbulence, however, delivering on that ambition becomes harder. Helmersson is clear that progress cannot be achieved through brand commitments alone; new systems need to be built, and deep, cross-industry collaboration is essential.

Since stepping down as CEO of H&M in January 2024, Helmersson has continued to shape the industry. She has joined the boards of MANGO, Quizrr and On, and serves as Chair of Circulose.

In this webinar with built in Q&A time, Helena Helmersson shared reflections on:

• What leadership looks like when driving structural change within large organisations
• What enables, and inhibits, CEO action on sustainability, including navigating the tension between profitability and sustainability
• Collaboration in practice: how deep coalitions can work for business
• Where the industry goes next, and the role each stakeholder must play in delivering change

Avoiding double counting in agricultural scope 3

Kendra Tolly, chief product officer at Athian talks with Ian Welsh about how to ensure scope 3 agriculture projects are credible, scalable and defensible. They discuss methodology validation, third-party verification, liability, co-claiming, benefit sharing and the systems needed to prevent double counting while delivering real impact at farm level.

Weekly podcast – How Europe can truly scale flexible packaging recycling

This week: Dana Mosora, senior consultant at CEFLEX talks with Ian Welsh about the push to make flexible packaging in Europe circular. They discuss PPWR targets, infrastructure gaps, recycled content demand and the policy changes needed to scale sorting and recycling by 2030.

Plus: Innovation Forum's Lia Da Giau about some of the emerging themes and corporate innovations that are working to advance circular packaging initiatives.

And, polypropylene coffee cups now widely recyclable in US; Unilever P&G L’Oréal join Ottawa reuse trial; sustainability reporting rises despite policy uncertainty; and, fashion risks losing third of profits by 2030, in the news digest.

Host: Ellen Atiyah

AI and technology: How digital transformation is driving the energy transition

Digitalisation is no longer a side enabler — it’s becoming central to system-wide acceleration, efficiency and optimisation. At the same time, questions remain around scalability, cost, and how quickly the sector can realistically move.

 

We’ve asked the panel to explore:

• Where digital tools and AI are already delivering tangible value in the energy transition

• How digitalisation can help address system bottlenecks such as grid integration, storage optimisation and demand flexibility

• The key barriers to adoption, including upfront costs and organisational or cultural challenges

• How partnerships between energy companies and technology providers can accelerate scale while sharing risk

• Which digital breakthroughs could have the biggest impact over the next decade

 

Speakers:

Carsten Sonne-Schmidt, managing partner, Digital Energy AI

Adele Ara, group chief technology officer, Lightsource bp

Dr Gianna Huhn, Group Strategy, Innovation Strategy & Technology Foresight Lead, SSE

Shipping decarbonisation: steering fuel transition progress

This week: Jan Dieleman, president of Cargill’s ocean transport business, talks with Ian Welsh about the decarbonisation challenge facing global shipping. They explores fuel choices, energy efficiency, customer demand, regulation and why policy clarity is critical to scaling low and zero carbon solutions in a highly competitive sector.

Plus: Innovation Forum’s Natasha Bodnar highlights how the energy transition is shifting from ambition to delivery, with companies focusing on infrastructure, energy security, capital discipline and system-wide innovation as 2026 unfolds.

And, UN warns water crisis threatens fashion supply chains; researchers say ultra processed foods should face tobacco-style laws; and, Oatly and McCain push deeper food decarbonisation, in the news digest (compiled by Ellen Atiyah).

Host: Ian Welsh

Building credibility in sustainability storytelling: How NGOs can strengthen trust through transparent communications

As scrutiny of sustainability claims rises, NGOs are under growing pressure to communicate impact clearly, explain complexity, and be transparent about challenges — all while maintaining trust with donors, communities, and partners.

This webinar, the third in the Sustainability Communications and Engagement series, explored how NGOs can build credibility through transparent storytelling, evidence-based communications, and accountable engagement. Hear practical insights from leading sustainability communicators on balancing compelling narratives with accuracy, navigating partnerships, and meeting evolving stakeholder expectations.

What we discussed…

• How NGOs are communicating impact, progress, and setbacks more transparently

• Using data, evidence, and verification to strengthen credibility without overcomplicating messaging

• Balancing compelling storytelling with accuracy, nuance, and accountability

• Managing communications around corporate partnerships while maintaining trust and independence

• Evolving expectations of NGO communications across donors, communities, and business audiences

Can carbon markets recover as standards tighten

Verra's chief programme development and innovation officer, Candace Vinke, talks with Ian Welsh about the improvements that can strengthen carbon credit project credibility and market confidence. They discuss how emerging SBTi guidance could open pathways for climate activities beyond traditional carbon credits, particularly within scope 3 supply chains. They also highlight how role standards bodies can play in bringing rigour to value chain emission.

Innovation for resilient food and health systems: how bioscience is driving transformational impact (webinar recording)

The world faces mounting pressure to accelerate sustainable innovation at the intersection of food, health and industrial production, but moving from scientific discovery to scaled impact remains complex.

From improving crop resilience and reducing environmental footprints to building healthier communities and more sustainable supply chains, bioscience innovations have become critical tools in tackling global sustainability challenges. This webinar, hosted by Innovation Forum in partnership with the Iowa Economic Development Authority explored how some of the latest bioscience breakthroughs are addressing these pressing issues. We look at emerging trends shaping the next wave of sustainable innovation, the technologies driving impact, and how organisations are applying bioscience.

As a case study, we examined how Iowa is emerging as a key hub for the biosciences, bringing together agriculture technology, medical innovation, and industrial biotechnology in one ecosystem.

What we discussed…

• Which bioscience breakthroughs from the past year are driving measurable sustainability impact, and how they came about
• What to watch for in 2026: scaling technologies, new applications, and the role of advanced technology in enabling sustainable innovation
• What drives success in biosciences: fostering innovation internally, building strategic partnerships, and leveraging ecosystems to deliver sustainable solutions

Weekly podcast – Inside Michelin’s scope 3 strategy and supply chain transition

This week: Reflecting on the recent climate resilience innovation forum, Michelin's director of sustainability strategy North America, Kara Fulcher, talks with Ian Welsh about the accelerating pace of corporate scope 3 action and how Michelin is reducing emissions, improving materials and protecting natural rubber supply chains.

 

Plus: Innovation Forum’s Niamh Campbell discusses emerging apparel and textile sector trends, including the growing focus on tier two decarbonisation, supplier equity, resale expansion, water stewardship and performance material innovation.

 

And, UK grocers warn Amazon soy rollback risks deforestation; scientists warn climate research locked behind language barrier; and, Vinted enters US market targeting unworn fashion clutter, in the news digest with Ellen Atiyah.

 

Host: Ian Welsh

Why forest conservation cannot wait for perfect carbon markets

Nathan Truitt, executive vice president of climate funding at the American Forest Foundation, talks with Ian Welsh about how climate finance can unlock sustainable management of family-owned forests in the US. They discuss why carbon finance remains critical despite controversy over carbon credits, arguing that action should not wait for perfect systems. The conversation explores carbon pricing, credit quality, the role of standards and buyers and why scaling credible forest-based climate solutions will depend as much on financial infrastructure as on science.